There are more than 50 African nations and I've only visited three so far, but I can't imagine any of them being more beautiful than Swaziland. This is a small country about the size of New Jersey, but besides the sea and desert, Swaziland is home to every kind of geographical feature of Africa's terrain. I'm currently staying in a valley full of sugar cane fields and surrounded by mountains. It's much greener here than I expected. Many mountains are speckled with unique rock formations. It's totally picturesque.
Swaziland is the last true monarchy on the continent. Many people have a strong allegiance to the king and when my passport was stamped, the gentleman at the border smiled warmly and said, "Welcome to the kingdom!"
Some mornings I'm greeted at my door by several neighborhood kids who are intrigued by the color of my skin and the texture of my hair. They jump on me, stroke my cheeks and hair, and say, "Shoot me! Shoot me!" which means they want their picture taken. These Swazi kids seem very open and curious and playful.
To my American [read: I only speak English] ears, the native language in Swaziland is incredibly complex. They use three different clicking sounds which make their words hard for me to pronounce correctly. I know I am butchering their language, so I don't even like to attempt the words and names that contain tongue clicks.
Because Swaziland has the highest HIV transmission rate in the world, most people you meet here have been affected by the virus whether by being infected themselves or having a loved one contract it. The place I'm working this month reaches out to children, many of whom have been orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic. When I look into these kids' eyes, it's hard to think about what they've been through already in their short lives. I didn't think my heart would respond this way, but I could totally see myself taking some of these little ones home with me to care for them and love on them for more than just three weeks.
I pray these young lives will be blessed by the kind of rich beauty and fullness of love that only God can provide. Meanwhile, I hope to become more involved in AIDS awareness and education when this trip comes to a close.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to live and work alongside the Swazi people this month. I am moved by their tremendous hospitality and focus on relationships. They have much to teach me.
