Sometimes you forget how amazing “community” is until you no longer have it. This is the first AIM trip I have done that doesn’t involve me being on a team. I am alone in a house that could have easily accommodated my entire Kenya team of tweny-five. It’s huge, and a bit haunting when it’s so quiet. The last two nights I have had to leave the bathroom light on just so it isn’t completely dark upstairs. It’s strange. This is the first time I can recall living “alone.” And although I have a neighbor in the apartment next door, there’s still no one in this house. It’s even just unfamiliar to have a room to myself, let alone the whole place.
Nick, his team–Koinonia, and the other World Race team–Gentle Warriors left Swaziland early Tuesday morning. That was extremely tough. In general, I loved being with all of them. In fact, they may not know how much I appreciated them letting me be a part of their “team” for the week. In a way, it was as if they were investing into me by allowing me to join them in ministry and celebrate mine and Nick’s engagement. The other larger portion was just Nick leaving. I’ll spare you the details, but it was, by far, the most difficult goodbye I can recall. I really need you to be praying for that situation. We both desire to be fully engaged in our respective ministries in body and in mind.
I guess him leaving was kind of the straw that made me realize how different this time will be for me. It never registered until now how “alone” I am this time. I will be spending part of my time up here in Manzini (the “city”) and part of my time in Nsoko–where I ministered last year. That is where Moses’ family is. In both places I will not have roommates or any AIM staff/participants with me. It’s very surreal to realize that. Please be praying that God will use this time outside of my normal community to teach me to invest into the people that are around me. In Nsoko I will be residing at a hostel. I have no idea what that’s going to look like, but based on the area, I don’t anticipate too many other dwellers. Pray that God will allow me to be a witness to the owners and workers there, and that I will create my own “community”.
