As I walk down the streets of Swaziland, there is an obvious absence of fathers. There are babies everywhere I look. Infants are being taken care of by three year olds. Teenage boys living on the street, with no father figure. Twelve year old girls pregnant… abandoned. There is an oppression that I can hardly put into words. Grandmas take in children off the streets. Mothers taking care of dozens of children. This country is in survival mode. Men are manly enough to make babies… but not manly enough to stick around. I often ask the children who they live with… trying to...

As I walk down the streets of Swaziland, there is an obvious absence of fathers. There are babies everywhere I look. Infants are being taken care of by three year olds. Teenage boys living on the street, with no father figure. Twelve year old girls pregnant… abandoned. There is an oppression that I can hardly put into words. Grandmas take in children off the streets. Mothers taking care of dozens of children. This country is in survival mode. Men are manly enough to make babies… but not manly enough to stick around. I often ask the children who they live with… trying to...

This past week we have been visiting a care point unlike any other carepoint I?ve ever seen. It?s across from the dump in Manzini. This part of the city is poverty ridden and basically disgusting. Since I?ve been doing ministry over seas, and specifically in Africa, I?ve seen a good bit of poverty? but nothing quite like this. These children literally live in filth. They smell like urine, They always have a runny nose And they?re covered in dirt. This would make most people hard to love, but not these kids. As soon as we show up to the carepoint they are all smiles, they just want to be...

My heart is aching currently.  This first week of ministry has already wrecked my heart and made it stronger in more ways than I could have ever imagined.  The beautiful babies here love with an unconditional love that I wish I could emulate.  They remind me of Jesus. I am so thankful for that.  I want to learn to love like these children.  They have literally nothing and still smile, giggle, and shine the light of Christ in every moment. My days usually consist of me sitting on a rock, tree, tire, or simply in the dirt holding the hands of at least 3 babies at a...

Here In Swaziland… You Learn to go the bathroom on a squattie. You take a shower once a week because it’s just to difficult to wash your hair and body in a bucket. You get used to your feet being dirty all the time and having dirt tan lines. You don’t get flattered when a man asks you to be his wife because they ask ALL Americans. They all need “just one” Washing dishes doesn’t work very well at night without a headlamp because there is no outside lighting. Instant coffee is drank because it’s needed not because it tastes delicious.  You fall...

One of the many things that God is teaching me this summer, in Africa, is to not put limits on the God I serve. So why is it that I doubt Him? Why is it that I find my self settling for the comfortable and the norm? I have no idea either… I was struggling at the end of two weeks ago about why I decided to pack one 50lb suitcase and travel to the middle of Africa for two months with a bunch of strangers. I found myself easily falling into routine so suddenly, but as always God shows Himself in the most amazing ways. This last week God provided me with ways to “keep me on my...