At the end of last month, my wonderful parents got to come and join me for ministry in Swaziland for a special week called the “Parent Vision Trip.” I so enjoyed spending a little time with them, and was especially blessed by seeing them dive into ministry. They’ve always been a great example for me regarding missions, and I loved sharing what I was doing with them. Each day we did a half day of ministry, often feeding/playing with kids at one of many care points. The other half of the day was spent debriefing our time together, worshipping as a group, and just spending sweet moments together after 7 months away. We worked closely with the long-term Adventures in Missions staff in the area. It was a beautiful week full of beautiful revelation and relationship, and to top it all off, we even got to see elephants!
After a few awesome days celebrating their anniversary in Cape Town, my parents are back home now. I asked my mom to write something about her time here so you could get a taste of their experience from her perspective. She and I are both particularly passionate about women, so she wrote a bit about the wonderful women she encountered on this trip. Enjoy!
“Women I Got to Meet in Swazi:
Morgan… a long term missionary from the US, and newly married to Bongani, Morgan was working constantly behind the scenes (on top of her regular schedule) to provide an atmosphere and meals for all of us parents to be able to enjoy our racers.
The petite young soccer coach Begetelle was gently interpreting and drawing out the boys at the devotional before soccer training. She coaches them and plays on a women’s team too. She loves to preach, and we talked about Priscilla from the Bible. She quietly shared that she feels most at home at church: safe, loved, where she belongs.
Beautiful, beautiful Londiwe empowers kids from the care points, works with them and somehow (clearly in complete dependence on the Lord) the result is an incredible choir of young people bursting with joy & praise to the Lord. They carried us all along with them with our hearts overflowing; it was a foretaste of heaven around God’s throne.
Xolani & Sandi were Rachel’s hosts for the month in Manzini. They told us that our coming all the way to Swazi means a lot!
I met sweet Nomcebo the 1st day at Mpaga carepoint. When I went somewhere else for ministry the 2nd day she sent me a message: “Dody, where are you?” Fortunately, Monday we returned to her care point, and we got to talk and pray. She yearns to one day be a nurse, learning to walk with Jesus & give Him her whole heart and life.
Dombi was one of the shepherd these children and asks me to, “pray for purity toward God and strength to do His will”. Me too! She studied theology & loves to preach – like Priscilla! She thinks these kids deserve good strong teaching. That same day at the door of the church, I had a tall willowy young girl named Priscilla approach me. The Holy Spirit was weaving our hearts together.
At a home visit with one of the poorer families from the care pointtrong Grandmother in her 70’s blessing us by her prayers and concern for her great-grandson, connecting by our love and trust in Jesus. Her granddaughter, the boy’s aunt, works as a police officer and is the breadwinner for the family. She has strong opinions about the absent father, her brother, who drinks. Praying together draws us closer than anything could do.
Sharing thoughts about Jesus together with my roommate, a single mom who came all the way to Africa to see and be with her amazing daughter.
My own racer gave a wise, insightful, and practical talk on feedback and how we need it because we are part of Christ’s body. Feedback is a big part of the culture of the World Race and Rachel offered to
Rachel and Sam leading us in worship the last night together. How blessed I am to have my daughter lead me to Jesus our Savior, Who is high and lifted up, yet so close He will never leave us.
These amazing women all wanted to dive deeper with us, be with us, spend time with us, and share our hearts. These strong women are carrying a huge load, because they are yoked with Jesus and find their joy in Him. I want to be like them! And all of us part of the great cloud of witnesses with our eyes fixed on Jesus!”
