I’ve been in Swaziland (or now known as eSwatini) for a few weeks now and I’m hoping most of you are wondering. . . where I am? And whats going on? So where do I start?
Well first off, we have zero wifi or power at our compound. My team blog gives details but it’s currently under construction so we have no power source yet. There is a restaurant near by that has wifi but you must purchase the wifi. Which is fine and I am willing to! But it didn’t work on my phone last weekend and it’s only one hour. One hour, once a week I might be able to talk to everyone! If not, give me grace.
Being away from power and wifi is a large adjustment. I mean, largeee. But also so completely freeing. I don’t have a choice if I want to compare my life right now to social media. I don’t get to see what everyone in Ohio and America is doing. I get to stay present here in Swaziland with my team and squad. And we are all in it together. Our time together has been so special, especially with my team of seven. Not being distracted by home (although I love you all so very much) has caused our team to grow close and run to the Lord, then each other before simply grabbing our phones to reach our friends and family.
Being away from my phone and all of social media has been interesting, but I am so thankful this was the start of the race. It’s teaching all of us how to better balance phones in our life. And teaching me especially what being present really means—and it doesn’t mean social media.
Four days a week my team and I go to a “care point” and have the privilege to hang out with kiddos all day long. This week I even had the honor to take photos of each child, something I love to do, for organizational purposes. We are planning on building a garden at the care point, doing home outreach, and hopefully start teaching lessons to the kids all in the next week and so on! We have big ideas and can’t wait to see the way the Lord moves! A huge goal for us is to build relationships with the older girls and get too know them and their stories.
A few random things from being in Swaziland for now roughly two weeks—
– hand washing clothes takes a LONG time (and they never really get as clean as you want them)
– dirt. dirt. dirt. So much dirt here. It has been windy, which isn’t good because it blows the dirt straight into your mouth and eyes
– the weather is not consistent, but was hot this past week
– we watched a red moon (literally the most red moon I’ve ever seen) rise from behind the mountain that is behind our compound. We all ran outside and praised Jesus
– our bus driver Jerry is the best (future blog to come)
– It’s gets dark at 6 every night and since we have no power (so no lights except flashlights) it always feels much later, good for me though I’ve gone to bed before ten every single night (except once)
– kids love to touch your arm hair
– I can’t count the amount of pb&j sandwiches I’ve eaten so far
Thanks for reading my blog, friends1 Comment what you think. Miss you all of course, but I know this is where I’m suppose to be. Thank you so much to my beautiful prayer warrior and supporters! I can’t believe how close I am to being full funded!
So. Much. Love.
Lexi:)
