I am writing this as we are driving away from the place we have tenderly called home for the past 29 days. Swaziland has been so sweet. It is beautiful physically and culturally; we are surrounded by mountains, cotton and sugar cane fields, orange soil, and unending sky; we are greeted each day by children running full speed towards us, leaping into our arms, and giggling gleefully as we squeeze them tight; the older women (called Gogos) are quick to wrap you into a big hug and rock you back and forth, saying “Helloooo my friend! How are you?” The friendliness and joy richly embedded into their culture is unrivaled.
Most of our ministry happens at a plot of land called a Care Point, consisting of a playground, a concrete building with two small rooms where they teach the preschoolers, and a hut where the cooking happens. Forty Care Points have been established throughout Swaziland, serving as hubs where kids come to be fed physically and spiritually. My team of 14 was split into two subgroups and each was assigned a Care Point that they would serve at throughout the trip. My group served at one 5 kilometers away in Mahangeti, while the other served at a closer one in Mbutfu. I found that having the farther one was a gift; not only did my group have the chance to utilize that hour walk to prepare our hearts for the day and pray, but we also got a glimpse of what so many children do on a daily basis. Because we lived was near the main primary and high school the path that we took was the same as the hundreds of kids who walk back and forth between their homes in Mahangeti and school. I had a greater appreciation for the strength, endurance, and commitment of each of the young men and women I met. One of the friends I made, a fourteen year old named Sindiswa, told me it typically takes her 2 hours to get the school each day from her home. Sindiswa is more driven than any student I have ever met; she dreams big and fully believes in the power of having an education. No sacrifice, even long walks in the heat each day, was going to stop her from attaining what she so desperately sought after.
A daily prayer of mine was that the children would not be attracted to me for any reason other than being drawn to the light of Christ that shone through me. I have nothing special to offer; I am just a regular 18 year old girl. But what I do have is a loving and perfect Savior who offers them an “abundant life” (John 10:10). I prayed they would remember me by the love of Jesus that I showed to them. A typical day at the Care Point began when the Preschoolers were released from class. Bouncing out of the classroom, their faces lit up at the sight of me and my team, for they knew that a day of laughter, tickles, games, and stories awaited them. While I have been on a few week-long mission trips to other places in the past, there was something different about this. Spending week after week with the same children allows for a real relationship to be established. A special, deeply personal connection was fostered. By the end of the last week, we knew each child by name, and they knew ours. We knew what would make them laugh and could tell when they were having a rough day. We told Bible stories to them, diving into roles of the classic Bible characters, from David and Goliath, to Jonah, Zacheus, and Paul, acting out the plots to these wide-eyed, attentive preschoolers. We played on the playground. We helped them across the monkey bars. We picked them up and twirled them in circles as they shrieked in pure happiness. I loved simply holding these cuties in my arms. Often, they would look me in the eyes, push hair back from out of my face, and trace the outline of me features in pure admiration. Through the interactions with the kids, I felt a glimpse of God’s love for me, how God looks at me, with the purest love, declaring that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). After playing, its lunch time. We serving them hearty portions of rice and beans.
After lunch, the primary kids would begin to show up. I absolutely love this age group of children, from 8 to 15 years old. They would often come carrying their school books (which are in English!) and we had the opportunity to sit with them on the playground and read, teach, and guide them based on the content of the book. My favorite conversations spawned from going through the Religious Education course books with them; I focused on emphasizing the importance of having a relationship with God rather than just being knowledgeable about Him. They also readily showed off some of their talents, like singing and dancing, making for a fun afternoon!
So many incredible moments and friendships were made at these Care Points, I am so grateful for the time I got to spend here!
