Dear friends and Family,
It has been difficult getting to the Internet. From where we’re staying it’s about a 3 mile walk round trip. The Internet at the café is very slow, so loading pictures is difficult at the moment. I hope to share some photos within the next week. In the mean time, here’s a mental picture of what it’s like in Swaziland for me… 80 people are living in a 6-bedroom home. All the men sleep outside in tents while all the women sleep inside. We have 2 showers to share among all 80 of us. We cook all our own meals, as a whole. Most of our days have been spent in trainings at a small, local hotel called Global village. Our life is very comfortable at the moment. AIM rents the home we’re staying in for missionaries during trainings, debriefs, and other various times of mass gatherings.
Living this comfortable won’t be common in Africa. It’s hard to swallow that less than a block away are kids living and eating out of the dump and rumors of kids being abducted into the sex trade. One out of two people have AIDS. Despite being surrounded by such tragic things, it still hasn’t hit home that I’m in Swaziland. Most of my time has been spent around Americans in training. I’m so thankful for all the training and feel like I can’t get enough, but my heart aches for those around me who are much less fortunate than I. At times, I still feel like I’m looking through a TV screen. “Am I really in Africa, in Swaziland?” But I remind myself that preparation is just as important as implementation.
I desire to be sharp and calculated for those I come to serve. I’m not here to hold an African baby and get a photo with them. I’m not here for myself; I’m here for them and what can be given to them through my life that I’ve willingly surrendered to God. As troops prepare for battle so must we. We go in the name of Jesus battling a very real evil. Although we are in the shadow of the battle just being present stirs my heart.
Just yesterday, I met a young man named James Harrison, who’s in his late 20’s and the son of the CEO of the Coca-Cola Company. He just returned from the Sudan. He, his dad, and two other people filmed a documentary on the ever-growing conflict in the Sudan, specifically Darfur. No words can describe what we saw in that film. Mass genocide is what’s taking place. Eleven of us had the privilege to see the rough-cut film. The name of the film is “With Open Eyes.” The young man sat, prayed, and talked with us. Bill Clinton is going to do the opening for the film. Denzel Washington will be the Narrator along with other well-known names to help spread the awareness of the conflict and to bring resources and hope to the people of Sudan.
What I saw in that young man’s eyes was a life sold out to God and to a life of Servant-hood. After we prayed hand-in-hand with him, he told us that he had never been in a circle of prayer like that for the people of Sudan. He was greatly moved. He said, “Through prayer Jesus can do anything! Please pray that this will reach the right people, and that millions would see this film.” Please pray for him and his work. Keep your eyes and ears open for the film “With Open Eyes.”
I found out yesterday that I’ll be leaving in 4 days bound for South Africa where I will spend at least the next 6 weeks. Most of our ministry will be working with orphans and youth from the community in a camp setting. My team, along with two other teams, will be going down to South Africa. The rest of the teams will stay in Swaziland mostly working with orphans. They will be going out to very rural areas with no water or electricity. Those of us going to South Africa will have water & electricity and will be working with a very structured program. The other teams won’t have very much structure.
Initially, I wanted to stay in Swazi. We don’t have much say as to where we go during the beginning of the year. As the year progresses, we’ll get to choose what we want to do. After finding out more about the program in South Africa, I can’t tell you how excited I am. I think it will be a great transition into the missionary life. The people we’ll be working with sound amazing and really want to pour into us. Ultimately, we could go anywhere and I know God will use us. I’m open to anything and don’t expect to do any one thing. When I think of Africa I don’t think just of orphans or AIDS. There is endless need here. I’m willing to do anything and go anywhere. I feel free of entitlement of what I think I “should” be doing and open to what I could be doing.
Before we leave, we’ll spend the next few days doing local ministry. On Monday three of my teammates and myself will visit a school in the country with a local Pastor. The school has 169 kids ages 3 – 14. The Pastor asked us to come and share who we are and what were doing. On Tuesday I’ll be going with my team to work in a local hospital for the day. I’m really excited. Please keep us in your prayers…
Friends, it’s so hard to write all that’s in my heart at the moment. I wanted to share the general view of my life up to this point. My plan during this next year isn’t to write blog after blog of how “hard it is” or “how weird the food is” or “how much fun it is to travel the world.” That’s not my style and they’re all a given anyway. I will share intimate perspectives of my life and what God is doing in it, much of which will be uncomfortable and uncensored. Along with their permission, I will share with you intimate lives with names, faces, and how their lives are being changed. I’m not on vacation nor did I come seeking an adventure. Adventure is subsequent to living the life I believe God called me to live.
Thank you all for your comments, prayers, and support.
I Love you all,
Sean
