Last month was the best time I’ve had all year! I told you guys briefly about the place we stayed It’s a division of Lighthouse Care Centers (www.swazitc.com) that cares for
orphaned and abandoned children. I thought I’d fill you in on what our day-to-day looked like:
We’d wake up to
the sweet voices of childr
en leaving for school. I’d stumble into the kitchen for breakfast, grab some coffee and toast and head back to my room. I’m a bit grumpy in the morning, so it’s good for me to avoid people as much as possible. We’d then have individual time to read, pray and get ready for the day (that rhymed).
At 8am, some of the kids on the farm who aren’t healthy enough to walk to school come to our house for home-school. We’d either leave then or sneak out the window later so we wouldn’t disturb class.
Our morning activities varied from day to day. For a few days we painted a kitchen that would soon be a coffee shop that would raise funds for the farm. Other days we’d assist in a community pre-school held onthe premises or helped organize donations in the store house.
One day
a fire broke out, so we had to leave the kids to go help. Swaziland is really dry in the winter, so it is not unusual for fires to break out and spread like crazy with all the dry grass. Luckily, all the homesteads were okay and no one was hurt. Below are the kids in preschool and a sweet pic Hannah took of a woman and the fire. This lady was so calm when the fire was closing in around her homestead.
We’d take a break for lunch…usually soup because it’s cheap and we got to use vegetables from the garden.
I want a garden when I get home! After lunch we’d
love on the kids which was my favorite pastime. We’d play soccer, Net Ball (kind of like monkey in the middle), sit and talk, hike up to the nearby mountain spend time with the moms…basically build relationships.
Most nights we’d have good dinners because we had a stove and oven! Our team was so excited when we moved in that we literally danced around the kitchen table. After dinner we’d either sit around and talk, hang out with people on the farm, go to Bible Study, or help tutor. One night some of the missionaries working there had a Spa Night for all of the house moms. I got the privilege of decorating the Hospice for the event and was in my element! I’ll have to post a picture of the women later, it was great. Many of them had never had face masks or massages. I think it really made them feel special and loved.
During our stay we were able to spend a lot of time with the people who work at the farm. They are amazing people with great vision and a strong commitment to God. It was cool to walk amongst some of the greats of the Christian faith today. If you guys read this,
I’m so thankful for you!
Why was it such a sweet time for me? I got to do what I love: help, learn, and love. I got to be a part of something great…answering God’s’ call to visit orphans and widows in their affliction (James 1:27). It was so precious to see a tangible picture of Christ’s redemptive power.
He brings light where there used to be darkness!
