Here is a glimpse of what daily life looked like for me in Swaziland last month…
7am is when my alarm went off and I got ready for the day. It was usually chilly in the morning so I dressed in layers to keep with the changing temperatures of an African winter. I read my favorite devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, while I ate our typical breakfast, which consisted of Mussli Granola and yogurt.
8am-12pm is when our first chunk of ministry happened for the day. I chose to work in the medical clinic they have here, which was so much fun! The clinic contained boxes upon boxes of medical supplies that needed to be organized and taken inventory of, so that they could be utilized by the volunteer nurses that come up to work in the clinic. Throughout the month I sorted countless medical supplies, organized hundreds of prescription eye glasses so they can be handed more easily, and helped our squad nurse, Kari Anna, with the patients coming in. I took blood pressure, temperature, and helped to sort and administer medications (which FELT illegal after my work as an STNA in the states but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do in other countries I suppose) 😉
12pm-2pm was lunch time and a daily break. Lunch was usually PB&J, chips, and fruit. Since we were located directly on top of a mountain, there were large rocks right in front of our living area which overlooked an incredible view of the mountains, valley, and river below. During lunch hour, the usual scene contained racers in pairs or in groups hanging out on the rocks having one on ones or team time. We also used that time to take naps if we needed one.
2-3pm was mandatory manual labor for our squad, which usually consisted of expanding, planting, or harvesting the sustainable garden on the property. This month I was working on gaining my strength back after being sick, so I opted out of manual labor. So, this was an hour I usually spent resting, reading, and spending time with God out on the rock.
3-5pm was “buddy time”! All of us on the squad were paired up with a youth to spend two hours a day tutoring, getting to know, and loving on. I had a sweet 9 year old girl. I helped her learn how to tell time and we worked on her reading. We also listened to music, played games, danced, and laughed a ton. These two hours were so precious to all of us racers and to the kids who were hungry for one on one time and really needed the extra help with their school work.
5-5:30pm was chapel. All of the teams on our squad took turns leading chapel. We taught the kids songs, did skits, and had discussions with them about Jesus and about loving one another.
5:30-6:30pm my team, Glory to Glory, had our team time and feedback. Each of the wonderful ladies on my team had an assigned day during the week to lead feedback and either lead a devotional, prayer, activity, or game. It’s a good time where we can catch up about our day.
6:30-8pm we had dinner made by our awesome kitchen crew. They made us anything from fried chicken to Thai fried rice to grilled cheese and soup. After we were finished with dinner we had worship and devo led by one of the U squad girls. This month was “Manistry” month which meant that the men on the squad had the month set aside to live and work together without the ladies, and support each other in things that women weren’t really meant to understand. So, us women, had “Womanistry” month. We pressed in as a community of women to what God has for us, to talk about healing in certain issues women face, without the guys. It was a beautiful time for us and God definitely used last month to strengthen us for this last month of the race.
After 8pm, we usually hung out in our team’s hut watching movies, journaling about the day, or going to bed early.
So, that was last month. It was truly an amazing month full of so many opportunities. Swaziland was definitely one of my favorite months of the race!
