I often sit and wonder, wonder about anything that pops into my ever-wandering mind.
Winter here is very fickle. One day it’s sunny and I wish with every ounce in me that I could wear shorts. Then one day it’ll be gray, cloudy, with a few sprinkles of rain and I dream of curling up with some hot chocolate. I find that these gray days are the best to reflect upon those contradicting hot ones.
I left behind my queen-sized mattress, my never-ending food options, having people be able to communicate with me whenever and the freedom to do whatever I wanted to do for a day. Now I live in a grass-roofed hut on a twin bed, eat mostly rice & beans, struggle with a language barrier, and spend most of my days with kids helping them with whatever is hard in school. The truth is sometimes I wish I was back in the States but honestly I wouldn’t trade this summer for anything.
I wake up every morning and my ceiling isn’t concrete but grass, and I fall in love with it every time I gaze upwards. I am surrounded by the 10 most God loving women ever who have become a second family to me, and stretch me in my faith every day. I get to explore a once unknown country that becomes familiar with every trip, showing me God’s beauty which amazes me when I travel. I see beautiful, big, brown eyes that light up with joy and excitement just at the sight of having someone care for them through playing games, singing, learning, and just being loved. Even though there is a language barrier there are a few universal things like smiling, sadness, and love that can always be communicated without words and that’s the beauty of being out here: it doesn’t matter what you speak or look like because everyone wants to be cared for and to feel loved.
This summer has been a crazy ride and it’s not always easy but God told us that we will struggle. With God by my side though, I can get through the toughest days just to see all the bright, joyful days here that warm my heart. Swaziland has captured my ever-wandering mind and heart.
