As I sit at debrief and reflect on this past month in Swaziland, what sticks out in my mind the most is the friendliness of the people and the invitations that we received in the community . . . ride with me, talk with me, share with me, attend church with me, and come to my house for tea! Removing the language barrier and being able to communicate in English with most that we met was a huge factor in facilitating relationships but it doesn’t trump the importance of their willingness to receive us. The friendliness of the people in Manzini and the surrounding communities, were I spent the past month, was a positive reflection of their culture and it enabled myself and my fellow racers to connect with the area in a way that we otherwise would not have.
A smile itself can go a long way. As I think of those I met, I remember those smiles that greeted me . . . smiles that reflected a positive and joyous attitude in spite of circumstances. They were the smiles of children at the Care Points that may otherwise not have access to education or enough food to eat. They were the smiles of the cooks that sacrificially volunteer their time to feed these children and the teachers that provide their education with minimal resources. They were the smiles of kombi drivers and market vendors working long hours for an unreliable level of income. They were the smiles of patients in the hospital where we visited and the smiles of the caregivers that sacrifice their own comfort, often spending weeks sleeping on the floor by their loved one’s bed, in order to care for them.
Whether we were travelling on a kombi, hitching a ride in a private car to work, walking down the street toward town, strolling through the markets, visiting at the hospital, or working at our Care Points, the locals not only greeted us with smiles but were always eager to strike up a conversation. This friendliness provided for some invitations and a few new friendships. There was Andy, the missionary, who provided us a ride to work one morning and subsequently invited us to his church where I enjoyed worshipping with him and his family the following Sunday. There was Prisca, the market vendor whom we met while walking down the street, which befriended us and accompanied us to visit and show the love of Christ at the hospice the following week. And I can’t forget Pepile, the Swazi lady that we met on a kombi ride, who extended an invitation into her home for tea and ginger cookies 
where two other girls and I were treated as honored guests as we chatted with her about life, travels, cultures, and our relationships with Christ.
The smiles, positive outlook in spite of circumstances, and genuine friendliness of the culture are what will stick with me most about Swaziland. Ultimately, it was a place where God’s love was reflected by the actions of the community. I wonder . . . Would people say the same if they visited my town? Would they say the same if they visited your town? Let’s make an effort each day to consider how our actions and reactions affect the perception which others have of our community to be sure that we are reflecting God’s love.
