I couldn’t get to internet for awhile, so I’m just now starting to post blogs from the first part of the trip. This was from 7/10/12 or Day 2 of the walk…
Today we were walking from near Matata
to Big Bend. It was beautiful; the morning started with fog that
shrouded every tree and highlighted thousands of shiny, bright and
slightly disconcerting spider webs. My legs were tired starting out.
Yesterday as we walked I kept thinking
about how hungry I was getting, and we had snacks at every stop. The
kids here often walk 12 miles in a day just to get food at a Care
Point and that might be the only meal they have. I can’t even
imagine that type of hunger. When it’s hard doing this and my feet
hurt, that thought keeps me pressing on.
about how hungry I was getting, and we had snacks at every stop. The
kids here often walk 12 miles in a day just to get food at a Care
Point and that might be the only meal they have. I can’t even
imagine that type of hunger. When it’s hard doing this and my feet
hurt, that thought keeps me pressing on.
My day as beautiful and painful. About
mile 7 I started to feel something huge growing on my foot. Mile 8
we stopped and I uncovered a dime size blister full of liquid. After
lancing it, which might have been a mistake, walking hurt! Then my
body did something amazing: it stopped feeling pain. All I had to do
was push through enough, walk through the pain and somehow it stopped
registering. What a gift! The last few miles felt long, but being
done with another 12 was worth it. In the last two days we have
walked about the distance of a marathon.
mile 7 I started to feel something huge growing on my foot. Mile 8
we stopped and I uncovered a dime size blister full of liquid. After
lancing it, which might have been a mistake, walking hurt! Then my
body did something amazing: it stopped feeling pain. All I had to do
was push through enough, walk through the pain and somehow it stopped
registering. What a gift! The last few miles felt long, but being
done with another 12 was worth it. In the last two days we have
walked about the distance of a marathon.
After walking we got to go to one of my
favorite Care Points to hang out with the kids and do a soccer jersey
distribution. As we drove up I flashed back to my first time at that
location almost five years ago. We were caked in dust after driving
a seemingly endless distance up a dry pothole and rock covered dirt
road. The Previa van our team rented pulled up to an 8 x 8 stone
building. It was a cold day and about 10 preschool age children
stood against the wall, trying frivolously to soak up heat through
the hard stone. They stood shivering in clothing appropriate for the
San Diego summer but hopeless against the Swaziland winter. Before
our ministry time began I squatted down and snapped a quick picture (see below.)
favorite Care Points to hang out with the kids and do a soccer jersey
distribution. As we drove up I flashed back to my first time at that
location almost five years ago. We were caked in dust after driving
a seemingly endless distance up a dry pothole and rock covered dirt
road. The Previa van our team rented pulled up to an 8 x 8 stone
building. It was a cold day and about 10 preschool age children
stood against the wall, trying frivolously to soak up heat through
the hard stone. They stood shivering in clothing appropriate for the
San Diego summer but hopeless against the Swaziland winter. Before
our ministry time began I squatted down and snapped a quick picture (see below.)
The scene as we pulled into the fenced
center today was a vast contrast. Hundreds of kids teemed around our
vans. They invited us into a new, warm building and exuberantly sang
for our group. Melodies and harmonies filled the room with joy. The
kids lined up neatly and graciously received their soccer Jerseys.
There was something beautifully complete about being able to give out
clothing at the exact place where the they once stood shivering.
center today was a vast contrast. Hundreds of kids teemed around our
vans. They invited us into a new, warm building and exuberantly sang
for our group. Melodies and harmonies filled the room with joy. The
kids lined up neatly and graciously received their soccer Jerseys.
There was something beautifully complete about being able to give out
clothing at the exact place where the they once stood shivering.
Sometimes progress here is hard to see
in the day by day, but over the years every little bit makes a
difference. All the small changes add up to something good. It’s
like the walk; somehow every step I take, no matter how painful, will
eventually add up and I will have walked across Swaziland.
in the day by day, but over the years every little bit makes a
difference. All the small changes add up to something good. It’s
like the walk; somehow every step I take, no matter how painful, will
eventually add up and I will have walked across Swaziland.
