Imagine the garden of Eden was actually on a hilltop. Now imagine the beauty of God’s perfect Earth, yet to be cut or trashed by mankind.
That is the view we had at the mountain top at El Shaddai. Every night I would go outside my little room I shared with Jaime, Amanda, and Laura, and stare at the endless amount of stars. Such beauty there.
El Shaddai is an orphanage in the country of Swaziland. Around 65 children are housed there, ages ranging from 7 months to around 16 years. I could never forget those precious faces.
Before accending the mountain the first time, our squad was forewarned about the spiritual warfare there. God is doing mighty things in that place and Satan does not wish to relinquish control. Squadmates had nightmares and unfounded emotions placed upon them, including myself at times. Our faith was tested, but never shaken. If anything we became stronger in The Lord due to it. Backfire, Satan.
When I say God is doing big things at El Shaddai, I don’t think that begins to describe it. It has been prophesied that the future leaders of the nation will spring up from there, and I have no doubt that this is the truth. Those children are bright and beautiful and have hearts that crave love; El Shaddai gives them the abundant and eternal love of the Lord.
While there I worked with the preschool, helping to teach but mostly acting as the discipliner. That was a hard job. Partially because it felt like I wasn’t contributing enough, and partly because 4 hours of only disciplining is draining to the mind.
One of my sister squadmates pulled me aside one day, and I will always love her for this encouragement. She told me how much it truly helped that I was there and that it made so much of a difference. She said she thought I had the harder job than teaching.
What?! I was shocked. I thought teaching would be the harder job!
I began to praise God for what He was doing through me and in me.
I realized that this month was about discipline for me. Yes, God gave me wisdom in diciplining the children, but He also began working on my self discipline. He changed my heart for trying new things. God also opened my eyes to tenacity He brought within me in South Africa that I hadn’t noticed until then.
He is teaching me and growing my heart in ways I never would have thought possible. But the thing is…..God is bigger than anything we could imagine. He has no limits. Therefore what He does within us has no limits.
If we open our hearts to complete and utter vulnerability with Him, God will lead us to things and places beyond our wildest imaginations.
All you need is faith.
