Verses of the Month:
1 John 4:10- “This is real love- not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as a sacrifice to take away our sins”.
1John 4:18- “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear”.
Ministry this Month: I have been working at a pre-school, playing games, singing songs and acting out classic Bible stories. Also, we have bee reaching out to the local community in any way that we can (example- taking many people to the hospital and visiting the sick in their homes). I have also been sharing Jesus with some of the neighbors where I live.
Favorite Moments:
1. Singing (or screaming) songs with the children.
2. Making grasshopper graves.
3. Portraying Jesus walking on water for 15 minutes strait (translation made the skit so much longer!)
4. Preaching at church about the parable of the farmer who went to sew some seed
5. Holding the children of a dying woman and giving them needed affection
6. Going on a safari
7. Eating steak! THREE times!
8. Swimming, playing tennis, and nature runs
Hardship of the Month: Finding myself in a lull as the eighth month of the Race comes to an end. The things that were once “new” and exciting have passed, and it can be easy to look forward to the things to come instead of really being here now! I’ve been praying for a rejuvenation from the Lord and I can feel that He is providing!
Cultural Moment: It is custom for a man to compliment a woman by proposing to her. Therefore, I receive a marriage proposal every time I go into town. Here’s my favorite interaction:
Man: I have a problem with my heart and I need you to fix it.
Me: Oh, I am sorry, but I cannot help you.
Man: I am serious, I love you! Please, will you be my wife?
Me: No, I am sorry friend!
Man: But, please! I really love you!
Me: Well, Ok… But you must pay my father 200 cattle.
Man: 200 cattle?! So Much!? Ok, maybe I can do it.
Me: AND ten elephants
Man: Ten elephants?! But you must know, Swazis are poor people!
Me: I am sorry my friend, but my father is a stubborn man and will take nothing less for my hand.
I have loved Swaziland. I am very thankful for my time here and all the wonderful opportunities I have had. The Lord has done great things, seen and unseen. Praise be to Him!
