**written on October 2 (I know this is a while after my birthday but oh well)
The morning of Saturday, September 21st is just like any other. I wake up, eat breakfast and get ready for my adventure day. But actually, it’s not totally normal. It’s my birthday and today is the day I turn 18 in Swaziland!!!!! WHAT?!!?!?!?!?!? At first I was really not excited for my birthday. I am really far from everyone I love and the people I would originally want to be around on my birthday. But, it turned out to exceed my expectations.
The morning of my birthday, my team surprised me with breakfast. They set up a cute table outside fixed up with Brooke’s sarong as a table-cloth and the breakfast we have available. There was a happy birthday sign they made in the shape of North Carolina. They got me chocolate bars and most everyone wrote me really sweet cards. And if you know me, words of affirmation is my love language, so those cards made me feel so special and loved.
After breakfast me and Gracie (it was also her birthday) had the opportunity to spend the day at David and Jenna’s (our hosts) house. We were each allowed to bring one person so at 10:00 am me, Gracie, Olivia, and Megan pile into David’s little car and head to his house. Once there, I got to use their wifi to call my family, they gave us really good food and coffee, I got to know David and Jenna better, play with their boys, and just enjoy the blessing of a home. I never realized how much I missed the feeling of a true home complete with couches and family. It was a great day of relaxation and a chance to get away from the craziness at the base. It was such a perfect blessing on my birthday. Also, bonus, David and Jenna washed my laundry and it was absolutely amazing to have clean laundry that didn’t smell like the outdoors after washed. (I never realized just how blessed we are in America to have washers and dryers, praise God). Anyway, at dinner time we headed back to the base for dinner.
Dinner that night turned out to be one of my favorite meals, rice, beans, and chicken (lol, how fitting for this trip). After dinner my team surprised me with a little camp out at the nearby training center. They set up tents, put together blankets, and decorated with anything they could find. We watched a movie and just had some really good quality time.
All in all I was originally dreading my birthday, and it turned out to be one of my favorites (ever probably). What made it extra special was the fact that my team had limited resources to make my birthday special, so they were extra creative in how they celebrated me. They really thought about what I would like and figured out a way to make me feel loved!
Birthdays on the field are a really special time for the birthday recipient, and for the team that gets to celebrate them. The team knows that the birthday person is missing their family, so the team goes all out to make them feel loved and important. For me it was such an encouraging time God used to remind me that I am supposed to be here, on this trip, and with these people. The weeks leading up to my birthday I was really discouraged. I questioned my purpose here, why God took me away from my family, and why I was even worth creating (I know that’s intense but the devil was going hard I tell you). My best friend (to clarify, my best friend is Jesus) used my birthday to remind me that He loves me and I am extremely worthy in his sight.
During my whole birthday experience, I’ve realized that birthdays are so much more than the day you were born. Birthdays are a time to celebrate you and who God created you to be. It can be a wake up call from God to remind you of all his blessings in your life. For me, I was reminded of all the amazing people I am here with in Africa. God showed me how much he has blessed me with. I am surrounded by people who love me, I get to meet new people and experience a completely new culture. I am able to love on kids who I need much more than they need me. The base has running water, toilets, hot showers and plenty of food. My birthday was a special time I connected with the Lord. He humbled me and reminded me of my worth and importance to him. For those of you who don’t like your birthday, or really for anyone on your birthday, I encourage you to use it as an experience to spend time with Jesus and let him show you why he created you to begin with.
Pslam 139:13-14
(look it up:))
Kate:)
