My favorite scene:
I love walking to the care point in the morning. The sun is always shining and there are no clouds in the bright blue sky. After we dodge chickens, roosters, dogs, goats, and cows, we lock the gate of the homestead behind us. As we walk down the dusty and rocky road, we increasingly hear shouts of joy mixed with Siswati phrase. Looking up from the ground, I see 30 Swazi children running full force towards us-shining white smiles, bare feet, arms outstretched-as a dust cloud follows them. Our hearts overflow with joy as we run, tripping in our long skirts, to them. They run into our arms, looking up a us with such love and innocence. Before we can even pick them up, they’re on our backs, hanging onto each leg, holding our hands, and wrapped around our waists. As we walk down the road with them, we tell them that we will see them tomorrow. They give us one last hug and kiss and then we are on our way to the care point, feeling God’s love permeate our souls.
Jesus models for us what missions should be:
–He knew who He was
–He knew His calling
–He lived
This trip to Swazi shouldn’t be called a missions trip; it should not even be labeled. If we are living Biblical, no matter where we are or where we go, we should be carrying out the Great Commission. We are simply living in and under the power of God in another wing of His kingdom. It’s so easy to default to the American mindset of going to a 3rd world country and making tangible change (building, handing out things). We strive to make life better for others, and that is good, but it usually ends up unintentionally harming the natives. They wait for the next white group to come because they know that they bring gifts and money. This changes the natives’ mindsets; they believe that they can no longer by self sufficient and that the white people bring better things. It has been so difficult not to cross this fine line because all 22 of us want to make a lasting change here. Our ideas for care point 2 have pretty much been shot down but now I completely understand why and I do agree. I only want to do God’s will and I don’t want to “get ahead of God.” Jut being here and walking no this soil is a privilege. I am here to live in a way that allows the Swazis to see heaven and become a part of God’s kingdom. I just need to be interceding on the people’s behalf because prayer is so much more powerful than any tangible thing we could do. I am here to love with the Father’s love and I need to trust that when I leave, God will be with them always.
My Swazi name given to me by our amazing translator, Pewow: Nothando (meaning that I have deep love in my heart!)
