Currently we are in Bangkok, Thailand
having our eight-month debrief. Looking back on my month in Swaziland I am so
grateful for all that the Lord has taught me. While the month had its
challenges, God has revealed so much; and from this side of the world I can see
that He used the month in a huge way. As they say, hindsight is 20/20. Some of
this review will explain what I mean:
Weather – Unpredictable. It
started out really hot, but dry. Then it rained a few times with several
storms, and seemed to cool off for the most part. One day it was really windy
and cold and we were looking for sweatshirts! The last 2 weeks were comfortable
with a few hot days thrown in.
The sunrise as we came into Swaziland.
Cultural Food – We were cooking
for ourselves this month so we didn’t eat too much Swazi food. We were still on
a budget though and had rice and beans many times. But the common food here is
beans and pup (the stuff that is like grits). Rice to many of the Swazi people
is a luxury so we were blessed to have any verity in our diet.
Beans and Pup
Common Transportation – Cumbi’s. These are
like the Truffi’s in Bolivia or the Shapta’s in Mozambique. Basically 15+
passenger van taxi’s. And of course walking which is mostly what we did.
Housing/Bed – This month we were
paired with another team. The men shared a room and 12 girls shared a large
round hut with bunk beds.
The ceiling of our large, thatched house.
Ministry – We were working
with AIM and local care-points and other ministries they are involved in. It
was a blessing to have an ATL (Ask The Lord) month were we could pray and seek
God for where He was leading us for the month and/or on a daily basis. We
worked at care-points helping serve, teaching, and playing with the kids. We
also visited with patients and abandoned children at the hospital and the Hope
House (a rehabilitation center for patients who need additional care before
transitioning home, many with HIV.) But my main ministry this month was as a
prayer warrior for Swaziland and for my team and squad in the field. You can
read more about that HERE.
Ministry at the hospital with the orphaned children.
Team – This month our team experienced
it’s ups and downs. We did continue to grow but we also had to fight for unity
within our family. It was hard but we learned a lot and grew because of it.
Our awkward family!
Spiritual Growth – I feel like so much
happened this month but if anything the Lord showed me more of His
faithfulness. This lesson mostly came through my foot that I will talk about in
a second. The other big thing the Lord showed me this month was the power of
prayer. He has given me a new faith for that power and a passion to grow as a
prayer warrior.
Greatest Challenge – By far the
greatest challenge this month was my foot. I wrote a blog about it that you can
read HERE. This is a paragraph that I wrote at the beginning of my month in
Swaziland:
Africa has been a
continent that has brought on many an injury for me. It started in South Africa
when I fell off of a horse and had a bruised hip for a week. Then the snowball
effect became a reality in my life. A week after being in Mozambique the warts
on my foot spread and got infected (which I didn’t know at the time), I got a
rash on my arm that stuck around for 3 weeks, I have had 2 cases of pink eye, I
vomited randomly with out reason, stepped on barbed wire, got shocked by an
electric fly swatter, and by the end of the month could barely walk. When we
got to Swaziland my foot continued to get worse to the point where I spent most
of my day in bed and fought pain to go to sleep at night. When I went to the
doctor and found out it was an infection and was given antibiotics and painkillers
I thought that things were looking up. Then, I fell out of a hammock and landed
on the sorest part of my foot. After most of the pain had passed I just sat and
chuckled at the ridiculousness of my situation. On top of that I have had 2 more cases of pink eye since
then. As hard as it will be for you to believe if you don’t already know me,
I’m really not that clumsy of a person and I really don’t get sick or hurt that
often; but Africa has changed that, now I’m the poster child for injuries on
the W-squad!
Needless to say it was a rough few months.
This month, I got to my lowest low on the race, and maybe even in my life.
Never have I been so emotional about anything (I’m pretty sure I have cried
about my foot, or at least that was the catalyst of the tears, more than
anything else). But God used it for great things and taught me even more about
His faithfulness and His perfect will.
My great fashion statement for the month.
Verse – “But when you pray,
go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
Favorite Moment – There were 3 days
in the month when I was totally alone (a rarity on the WR) for 4 – 8 hours.
Those days I spent all the time I could in prayer. The times I spent alone with
God, interceding on behalf of Swaziland and the ministry my team and squad were
doing, were my favorite days of the month.
Favorite Adventure – One day our team
went for a hike up to a cave together. We spent the whole day exploring, having
fun, and just spending time together. I loved it!
Angela and I excited to be at the top!
Fun Fact – Here are some fun
facts/weird things that happened in Swaziland:
1. Got proposed to
by a very drunk man. It was not uncommon for any of us women to get proposed to
every time we went out. The best question that was asked was, ‘How many cows do
you want for her?’ This is because in this culture to marry, the man must pay a
dowry to marry a woman. The average cost is 15 cows ($500 USD per cow). (…they
deal in cash but talk in cow’s.)
2. We saw two
sightings of double rainbows two days in a row.
The double rainbow.
3. I saw the
largest snake of my life… if I had to guess probably 4 feet and 3+ inches in
diameter… it was black and was probably a Black Mamba which is a snake that’s
venom will kill you in 20 minutes if you don’t either get to a hospital or kill
the snake and eat it’s liver.
4. We saw a
marriage proposal which in Swaziland is a very big surprise event that happens
in front of the entire church. Also learned that there are very strict rules on
dating here… (ex: you can’t hold hands until you are married and if you want to
see each other during your 6 month engagement you have to have a 3rd
party accompany you.)
5. Heard a symphony
of goats farting one night. No joke… it was ridiculous and kind of impressive
in a way.
If you are still reading, God bless you!
Can’t wait to tell you all about Thailand!
Many Blessings,
Kim
