As I told you guys, the kids at my care point sang in a singing competition on November 2, and me and my team really wanted to go. The singing competition was two hours away in Manzini, and without cars it is a pretty far walk to say the least. At first we thought we would be able to rent out a whole kumbi (public transport), and go down with two of the other teams on my squad. The two other teams ended up not being able to go, and we could not rent out a whole kumbi for only seven people. So that plan was shot down. The day before the singing competition, Sithulele asked us how we were getting there. We all had it in our minds that we were not going, but he did not take that as an answer. So he then went through naming all these other options on getting there. It did not seem promising at first, but the more we talked about it the more hyped up I got about going. Sithulele called one of his friends that drives a kumbi, and told him to reserve seven seats for us. That kumbi was supposed to be at our bus stop at seven, but I guess it pasted it little bit earlier than seven, because we missed it. Sithulele gave us a back up plan on waiting for the big bus that passes our bus stop at 8:00 am and drives all the way to Manzini. In Swazi, you never know with public transport, and it was not looking promising that this big bus sithulele was talking about was coming. We mistook many moving trucks as the big bus getting our hopes up just to realize it was, in fact, not the big bus. Surprisingly, it came and it stopped for us!!! thank the Lord!!! I have never been so happy getting on a bus before in my life. We were all jumping up and down. I may have teared up with excitement. Haha We were on our way!!! Hurrayyyyy
The competition was allegedly suppose to start at 10:00, but in Africa you never truly know the exact time things are starting. We arrive in Manzini at 10:45, and the first person we see in a crowded market/ bus stop is our shepherd Sithulele running beside our bus. I have not idea how he knew we were on that bus, because there was a TON of other buses. He then gets on our bus, and rushes us off because we are late. We end up running through the crowd streets of Manzini as our shepherd continually turns around and says he is sorry for rushing us even though we were the late ones. He is such a big brother to us. We get there right as the kids were lined up, and they all rushed to see us and give us a hug. It was by far one of the best moments. We got there just in time. I am talking a minute later we would’ve missed them. I hope seeing us there got them more pumped up to go out there and sing their heart out. They did such a good job!! By far the best I had ever heard them, and one of our little boys busted out dancing and he KILLED IT. Everyone cheered so much. It was just such a special moment to be there for them. It was also sweet to see Sithulele’s love for his kids, and how nervous he was for them. He truly wants the best for them. It is like nothing I have ever seen, and they are not even his own kids.
After they went and did their thing we got to listen to a lot of other talented care points. We got to cheer on our squad mates care points who were not able to make it, and we also got to cheer on one of the boys who leads worship at our church. Swazi is just so so talented. These kids just sing so well, and they did not have a starting note or a conductor or instruments. It was just their voices, and it was so beautiful. I am going to miss hearing swazi people sing.
Me and my team went to Pick-n-Pay for lunch, and it. was. magical. Pick-n-pay is a grocery store full of everything you could ever imagine. It reminded me so much of Publix. Everything was neat and level. There was a bakery there filled with so much goodness. We all got donuts, apple pies, or brownies. We also brought back Sithulele a donut, and he was so happy, it was the cutest thing. There was also a deli, and I got to eat a chicken salad sandwich with cucumber and bacon. We also got real coffee. I repeat real coffee. I will never take real coffee for granted ever again. Such a blessing. This time was just such a good bonding time for the team, and just very refreshing.
The bus came to take us back to Nsosko at 3:00, which was perfect timing. We sadly were not able to stay and see the results of the competition, but you would be happy to know THEY GOT SECONDDDDD WOOOO HOOOOO. I am beyond proud of them, and all their hard work. I thank the Lord we were able to go. I know that it was the Lord who provided for us to go. Everything just went so smoothly. There was nothing at all I would change about that day. When I look back on Swaziland, I know this will be one of the days I will remember. The whole day was full of so much love and joy and contentment. I will never forget running through Manzni, and making it just on time. That was so the Lord. Also just the love Sithulele has for us to pick us up at the bus stop when he knows his kids are about to go on, and just how hard he worked and planned out things to get us there blesses my heart. My team is so blessed to have him as our shepherd.
