In 2009 God told me to go to Swaziland. I didn’t know where Swaziland was so I googled it. I learned that it was this tiny kingdom in Africa. I learned that Swaziland had the highest AIDS rate in the entire world. I learned that over 8000 children are being orphaned every single month because of the epidemic. I knew that this is where I was supposed to be.
In December of 2009-January 2010 I traveled to Swaziland. I knew that God had something very divine for me. I knew that I would serve… I knew that i would love people with the love of God… I knew my heart would break… but I never expected that my life would be changed forever.
I met a little two year old boy named Benjamin, we call him Ben Ben. Ben Ben didn’t smile. The moment I saw him he was already on his way to embrace me, but without joy and without a smile… I knew, right then… that is why I had come… to bring gods love, touch his heart and watch joy flourish.
despite my efforts this was his usual face… sad, empty, alone.
But things began to change!
This picture is Ben Ben (on the left) and this moment is actually one of his very first smiles… It took me a few solid days of loving him and earning his trust… amazing moments of him brushing my hair and hugging me close, swinging him on the swing and just letting him entertain me. Then it came… the smile.
In college I wrote a memoir about Ben Ben. I like to call him my spirit child. I dont know if I will ever actually be his mother, but in spirit we are connected and I promised myself and him that I would do everything I could to come back at least once a year to visit. This meant more to me than him… he was two and not talking yet.
ENTER HERE a ton of life, graduating college and signing up for the world race… an 11 month trip that started in july. swaziland was not on my list of countries to visit and i was devastated… To the best of my knowledge i was obeying God and coming on this trip… but I wouldn’t be able to see Ben Ben like I had committed.
Then. Here I am in Malawi praying and asking God where he wants my world race team to visit for our “ask the lord” month in January. God is so good and faithful and he led us to Swaziland… to the very home that Ben Ben lives! We arrived EXACTLY a year to the day that I was there last!
I spent the entire month loving on him. He remembered me, i must admit i was afraid he wouldn’t… and it was like no time had passed. He fell asleep in my arms… we were together again, things were perfect. I love this little boy with everything I have. He has changed my life forever…
Enjoy some of the pictures of our time together!!
full of smiles and joy!!!
him helping me not fall as I come down the playscape… look how big he is getting!!! 
HELLO WORLD!
stylin with his cool beanie!
Just a typical day full of love!!!
Hope you enjoy these, they melt my heart every time!
