I thought Swaziland was going to be poor, completely brown, and dessert like. While it isn’t the richest country in the world, it holds beautiful landscapes and beautiful people. You may not know that Swaziland is a Kingdom. King Mswati III reigns Swaziland with his 14 wives. Swazi law permits polygamy, and Swazi culture encourages it. The more wives you have, the more money and status you attain within your community.
Swaziland is the most cultural place I have ever been: Traditional dress is worn daily, complete with animal skins and boldly beaded jewelry. The engagement/ marriage process includes 5 complicated steps: Stealing the bride-to-be, holding her captive, hurling insults a her, sending a goat to her father’s house, and awaiting him to eat it. Then the deal is sealed. Also, the festivals and parties get everyone quite excited (Currently, Swaziland is celebrating the Marula festival, which is basically a month long drinking party. The kick-off was two days ago). Everyday, I learn a little more what it is like to live in a true African country.
Along with Swazi culture, comes problems. You may have heard that every 1 in 2 people have AIDS, which brings me to why I am here. This month I am working with an organization called Hope Rises. The founder is a wonderful lady named Corine, who lives here is Tshaneni, Swaziland. My team and I are working alongside Corine to further the progress of her preschool. Corine has built a beautiful preschool that now has 70 students. Of course schooling is important, but Corine’s goal is to love the people of Swaziland and pray for change for the country. My team and I have been attending the school with her, planning arts and crafts, singing songs, and teaching Bible stories. But we have all recognized that the biggest thing we can do to help the Swazis is to pray that our BIG God will change the culture, rise up Christ following leaders, and send His Holy Spirit to change the peoples’ hearts.
Other than spending time at the school and praying with out ceasing, I am blessed beyond belief to live where I do. I am currently living on a game reserve/ golf course/ resort. Corine lives in a quaint little house where the workers of the resort stay. I have the pleasure of staying here as well. We have a shower, a kitchen to cook in, a running trail, a swimming pool, a tennis court!!!, and ANIMALS. There’s zebra, giraffe, water buffalo, impalas, warthogs, and monkeys. For the first time on the Race, I am running everyday, swimming, playing with our pet zebra Hobbs, an playing tennis (which I LOVE). God withholds no good thing!
On a personal note, I am seeking a few thing right now: 1) I am asking God to show me what my anointing is. I know that it is with women, but that is obviously extremely broad. So, I am seeking the deeper plans He has for me and I feel that He is answering. 2) I am thinking and praying about what He has for me when I return home. I know it is 4 months away, but 4 months for me on the Race seems like a week. I’m listening for where I am to live, what I am to do, and anything else He wants to tell me.
I know I just shared a lot, and a lot of it was pretty jumbled. However, you can certainly be praying for all these things: The change of culture for Swaziland, salvation and peace for the people, strength to keep going strong everyday, and what God has in store for me in the coming months. I love you all ad I appreciate your love and support as I walk this crazy journey. I’m thankful that I am not journeying alone.
God bless you!
Nolala
(My Swazi name said with a lisp… It means “very lucky”)
