Maba 1 will forever have a special place in my heart. The kids, the gogos, sithulele is something so indescribable I can’t put it in to words. Putting them in the Lord’s hands and trusting his timing on moving us along to Asia is something I am working on not only believing in my head but feel in my heart. If I had my way id want to watch my baby’s grow up, but I know i was just a planter. The Lord’s plan for me and my time in Swazi was to be exactly where my feet were, and plant seeds that he will use someone else to sow in the future. My last day at Maba 1 will be one I will never forget. I have never felt so loved by a group of people in my entire life. The best word to describe it is bittersweet.
First of Sithulele is the best. Emily became super close with a baby named phathizwe, and two days before our last day his mom picked him up and took her to her house in Manzini which is like two hours away. Emily was crushed, because she did not get to say goodbye. Sithulele with his MASSIVE heart arranged for Phathizwe’s mom to bus all the way back from manzini just so Emily could spend her last day with him. This was by far the best surprise I have ever whitenessed. We got off the bus at our care point the morning of our last day, and sithulele asked for five dollars to pay for transportation for over special guests. We were all so confused until we see little Phathizwe running into Emily’s arms. Again and I won’t stop saying it Sithulele is the best.
We then went down to the water pump, because the care point was out of water, and I see all of our kids in line to pump water. I don’t know if you have ever pumped water before, but 30 pumps in it starts getting hard. This was a sweet sight to see that truly showed the hearts of our precious kids that would joyfully pump water for the whole care point. Community am I right?
After that we walked with our kids Tando who Is in the fifth grade, and Amanda who is in second grade to their gogo’s house. These two little boys have hearts of gold I love them so much. We have been going to gogo Mariahs through out our whole time in Swaziland. She has such a heart for the Lord, and it has been really cool to see her trust in him. She loves to hear the guitar being played, but sadly no one on my team knows how to play just yet. (Brooke is learning) So most the time we would just sing to her. Our time with her was just a special time of us not only encouraging her, but also her filling us up. Breathing a breath of fresh air and true hope in the Lord to us.
The Last day that we saw her, I have never seen her more healthy or upbeat. She is normally achy, and barely able to stand, but this day she was so proud of the yard work she did that day she took us outside to see it. “ Ninja gogo” as Sithulele would say.Saying goodbye to her was defiantly a hard one, but leaving her doing so Well brings me so much peace. The last thing she told us before we left was “ go on and have a happy journey” We much go on and do as our gogo says.
When we got back to the care point from gogo Mariah’s, we were locked out. The kids finally let us in when the team was all together. We walk into paper strips on the floor that look like confetti, and signs on the wall saying “goodbye chickens” , and art work the kids did. They also got a bumping speaker, and had a huge dance party. We then got PINK ICE BLOCKS. WWWWWoooooooo HHHHHooooooo I love pink ice blocks. They are a rare gem!! They brought us all in the room, and one of the gogo’s gave a goodbye speech to us, and our friend Fuhnti translated for us. The local pastor Calvin, who is so funny and free spirited, came and prayed over us and the rest of our journey. The gogo’s suprised us with the yummiest meal for lunch. They cooked us rice, beef, chicken, and a traditional spinach dish. They brought fine china plates and spoons!!! Spoons are such a blessing.
Sithulele got our special kids to take our phones, and go outside. Ten minutes later our kids come in and cover our eyes to surprise us with our phones in these bags the gogo’s make!!!! They are like Vera Bradley but Swazi style bags. Sweetest gift I have ever received. Totally unexpected. Fifteen minutes before 4, Sithulele got a group together to sing us songs goodbye one that went like this “It has been nice to be together sharing ideas together now its time to say goodbye” Then we heart the bus rolling up the dirt road, and the tears come hard. The many goodbyes, and hugs that I wish I could bottle up and remember forever. The gogo’s whipping our tears, and the kids running on to the bus for the last goodbyes. I have come to realize no matter how many times you say goodbye it is never enough.
I wish I could express how much my heart bursts for the people in this community. The genuine relationships formed from mama 1 are like no other. incomparable. I am so blessed to have been able to spend three months at the best care point in the world. Ill miss you maba 1.
