The last few days have been filled with blessings and pain. As I sit at the computer at the internet café in the city I’m overwhelmed. It’s still a little odd to be back in civilization, back to beds, showers, toilets that flush. I’m still processing so much of what’s gone on in me and around me this month, while at the same time trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I will be leaving for ASIA in less then a week.
I had one of the best surprises of the entire race last week. About two weeks ago I found out that NCCC (North Coast Calvary Chapel) my home church was coming to Swaziland. It wasn’t even a question I had to meet up with the group. My team was gracious and reworked some plans so Chad Mast (who also attends NCCC) and I could be dropped off to spend the night with the mission team.
The group was overwhelmingly hospitable from the get go. I didn’t actually know any of the 80 people from NCCC but that didn’t matter at all. They willingly brought me a new sleeping mat, tent poles, letters, and lots of hugs.
I brought my sleeping bag thinking I could just crash on the floor of some ones room. At this point I am used to sleeping pretty much anywhere. When we arrived at the hotel, I went up to the room with Pastor Jeff Reinke, his wife Robin and their family. While Robin and I talked Jeff disappeared for a few minutes, then came back to explained that he had gotten me my own room. What an amazing gift! I was ecstatic! For the last month I’ve been in a tent bathing with buckets, sleeping on a deflated sleeping pad, and using hay bales as a chair. It was the first time all year I had a room all to my self! It had two giant beds, chairs, a balcony overlooking the mountains, a bathtub, and a toilet that didn’t require a bucket to flush and carpet, what luxuries.
The blessings didn’t end with the room; we had an amazing dinner that wasn’t cooked over a fire. After dinner they asked Chad and I to share with the group. I had been praying about what to share and instead of going on about missions or what God is doing in Swaziland like I normally would, I shared about freedom and how God uses missions to set us free.
That night I ended up in a room full junior high and high school youth and lots of parents. God was moving in an amazing way. Passion was being stirred in the youth while they were being broken for the hardships in this country. They ended the night on their knees in tears, asking God to take care of the orphans in Africa. I was so encouraged and inspired by their unrestrained prayers.
While I was there, Robin also gave me a warm winter jacket. She wanted me to have it to wear on cold nights at camp then leave it to bless someone I knew. I was so excited; Immediately I had a picture in my mind of a boy who desperately needed something warmer for the cold nights.
To be continued in… One Red Jacket – Blessings and Pain Part 2
