Currently I’m sitting on my bunk at our ministry site here in Swaziland. I still can’t get over the fact that we are in Month 8 of the Race! This year has been blowing by and it’s hard to believe that in 4 months I’ll be back in the States. But I’m not there yet so let’s save that for a future blog.
We are finishing up the last country in our Africa leg of the Race. Africa has been great just like I was hoping it would be. Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to go to Africa. It’s just always attracted me for some reason, but I was always nervous as to whether I would like Africa or not as it is very different from home. And yeah, maybe southern Africa isn’t the “legit” Africa like you first think of, but it has been an amazing experience and I would love to return someday.
This month looks a little different than the previous seven. For this month we have split the guys and girls up into separate ministries, which has created a new excitement and the opportunity to really go deep with the people around you. I’ve loved my time with the men so far (it’s only been 3 days) and I’m excited to see the places God will take us during this month if we are surrendered and obedient to His will. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the women on my team and the squad as well and I can’t wait to see them again and live life with them once more, but having all the men around has been such a blessing and I think a lot of personal growth will occur during our time in Swaziland.
We are working at an orphanage a little north of Mbabane (the capital) called El Shaddai where a South African lady runs it with her children. I’m not completely sure on all that goes on around here, but the orphanage has about 60 kids ranging from infants to adolescents. Here the kids are provided a home and the opportunity to get an education while being exposed to the Gospel message and the person of Jesus Christ. The orphanage is situated in the mountains, which provides for some incredible views over the valleys, some amazing sunsets, and a brilliant display of stars unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Every night I’m able to see parts of the Milky Way and a handful of shooting stars.
The month also looks different as the ministry is not focused on relationships as much as it is on physical labor (I guess that’s what happens when you put all the men together). It’s nice to have a change of pace as relational ministry can be very exhausting at times, but there are times where I’m going to (and have already) miss it because I enjoy getting immersed in the culture and sharing in peoples’ lives. El Shaddai has a lot of projects being worked on as they are expanding and trying to put up new buildings to accommodate the children. Our work includes painting, digging, clearing construction sites, etc.
As I said before, I have high expectations for this month and am looking forward to the places where God is going to take us to. But this month is only going to be what we make it to be. We can just go through the motions and live alongside each other for another month and not really experience that much growth or we can really press into one another as men and really come alongside each other in our spiritual journey’s and see a lot of growth and chains being broken this month. And that’s what I want for this month. I want to come out of this a changed man…one that’s more like Christ than at the beginning of the month and more like the man of God that He’s called me to be. I know that it’s only by His grace and power that growth comes, but I also think that we play a role in providing Him the opportunities to let His work take root in our lives.
The guys have split up half and half. When vision casting with my team of 5 we all had this desire of pressing in to each other’s lives. We want to sharpen one another, fight alongside one another in each other’s battles, build each other up in the love of Christ, teach each other, learn from each other, be vulnerable with one another, etc. We named our team “Collision” and the definition that stuck out to us the most was “two particles coming together and exerting a force on one another.” That’s what we want our team to look like not only this month, but for the rest of our Race and afterwards if circumstances allow. Relationships are a two-way street and we all want to be in a place where we are giving ourselves to each other and also receiving from each other.
So yea this month has been a lot of fun so far! We have added more meat to our diet. We have worked with our shirts off in the afternoon sun. We have been unashamed with our bodily noises (at least some of us have). We have built bonfires and sang worship songs. We have even found a way to play poker using our malaria medication! I’m excited to grow alongside these men the next couple weeks and my prayer is that God would unite us and make us one just as Jesus is one with His Father.
