We’re still in Swaziland! It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written and those weeks have passed in a blur. It seems that as I get closer to home time moves exponentially faster. Since I’ve written last we’ve been to two separate Care Points (for a week and a half at each). It’s been difficult. We know kids for a short time, see their wounds and get to love them for a bit, then move to another Care Point. This isn’t the trend for all the teams, but the team of guys has broken up for Swaziland ministry so we rotate through the women’s teams stationed at each Care Point. Ministry has been really good. There’s still the same difficulties of being immersed in the brokenness of world, but there have been a lot of really sweet moments with the kids and people from surrounding communities. Last week we passed out new work shoes to a lot of the men from a nearby community. It was a cool experience of seeing the community that we’re affecting with our ministry and being able to give something tangible that also gives a gateway into people’s lives. The shoes opened the door to talk with families and pray with them, it led to a lot of really cool interactions.
Outside of that, we’ve still been doing kids ministry. I’m at a place where the kids really do have my heart. Which can be difficult when that leads to heartbreak over heartbreaking wounds and patterns consistent at different care points, but I’m also really grateful for this time and for whatever impact I’m able to make in their lives.
Past ministry, the Race is coming to a place of conclusions and processing. I’m starting to work through resolution for this season, but that can be hard since day to day life still feels like the normal World Race. We still have normal ministry and team times, but the thought hangs overhead that in two weeks I’ll be lying in my own bed without my team sleeping next to me, seeing my family’s faces without a screen separating us, and listening to music on the radio that will be foreign to me. I’m excited. I know there will be mourning for this time, there’s no going back to here and now. But I’m excited to be with family. Past the first few days of initial excitement, I’m genuinely ready to be with my family. I’m still present through the end of the Race, I’m really glad to be here, but I’m also ready to spend nights with old friends, grabbing dinner and catching up with my siblings.
I’m not totally sure how to process the end of the Race yet since it hasn’t yet happened. But I’m starting to reconcile the Race with home. In two weeks I’ll be in my own bed. That’s crazy. Thanks for reading! I’ll post another update soon about the end of the Race, final debrief, and going home… HOME!
