This week was all kinds of crazy and a whole lotta good. We finally made it to Manzini, Africa after two-eleven hour flights, a nine hour layover, and a 5 hour bus ride. Our host home is beautiful and we have the kindest host family (Morgan, Bogani, Jonathan, and baby Esther). Morgan is from America and moved here 10 years ago after taking a mission trip here. On Sunday, we had a slow morning of Sabbath and I did my Bible study by the pool for three hours. I was enjoying my time with the Lord and then I realized I was BURNT as heck. After lunch, we had intake with Morgan and her family. She introduced us to what our ministry care points would be like and then explained that we would have a scavenger hunt in town tomorrow to get to know the place a little better. I was SUPER pumped. After our debrief and questions, we had the rest of the day to chill and explore the homestead. We sang worship songs after dinner and then I sat and watched the stars forever before going to bed so sleepy (the 10 hour time change was a lot to adjust to).
Monday we woke up and I had cereal with some whole milk (freakin barf, still getting used to the food here). Oh, I also had a plum for the first time ever. Mondays for our squad are called ATL days (ask the Lord) where we go to the town and listen for what the Lord has for us that day. The bus ride to town was so bumpy but enjoyable with all the girlies (and Dylan). We saw lots of donkeys on the side of the road. We made it to town and got dropped off at the SPAR market. Our first task was to find random items in the store that were American but with Siswati names. At first it was overwhelming but then a kind worker showed us around and was super helpful. Our team was kind of stressed out in general but then we finished and went across the square to get lunch. I ate chicken and fries and ordered a water and it was so cheap. We rested for a bit before continuing on our scavenger hunt. Sarah (our squad leader) left and went grocery shopping so it was just us 9 girls wandering the streets of somewhere we’ve never been (Cortland, Bethany, Trista, Emma Carl, Raelynn, Kelcie, Hannah, Lexie, Me). I ended up with the map so we started walking and ended up at the bus station (the one place Morgan told us to stay away from). By the time I figured out where we were, a lady came up to us and said it wasn’t safe and that we should leave. So we went walking the other direction quickly. We found a gas station so some of our team could use the restroom. A lady came up to me with her two kids and asked if we could give her money. We didn’t have any on us but we ended up praying for her and her family and she was very appreciative. We still needed to go drop off some laundry so we started walking that direction. After dropping off our laundry, I walk out to the lady from the bus station standing on the street. I was shocked but ended up being the first to talk to her. She started following us around and so I just talked to her along the way. I was definitely uncomfortable and knew that the whole group was but she wasn’t harming anyone and we were still getting things done. We walked to the bank and the lady was being very rude to our team and talking to everyone on the street in Siswati. It turns out she was on drugs, not in her right mind, and was very well known in the town. She told us her mom practiced Voodoo and she had a rough background of not feeling wanted. Our team quickly learned that we have different comfort levels and debriefed later about how to talk as a team while still showing God’s love.
Tuesday-Friday: Care point ministry days!! These 30 ish care points of AIM provide food for a community of kids after school from ages 3-15. AIM also pays for school fees, clothes, and shoes for the children who come to each and work to get each child sponsored (they call sponsors special friends). My team arrives at our care point (Enaleni) around 9:15 every morning. This week we’ve done a lot of yard work to get the fenced in area ready for the kids to play around. At first we had shovels, rakes, and a machete but then by the second day we had lost our machete and ended up chopping the grass around the care point with shovels (its a lot harder than it sounds). It’s been HOT hot since it’s the ending of summer but we push through the morning until lunch time. We have pb&js everyday and I’m thriving because they are my favorite. We help the Magi (the caretakers/leaders) make porridge for breakfast and then start on the rice mix that they use to feed the kids when they get out of school. The kids arrive around two after walking from school. They were immediately super excited to see us and we had a blast all week with them. Most of the kids speak english but the little ones aren’t the best so it makes it hard to communicate with them. My team planned some skits and acted out Daniel and the lions den one day and Shadrach, Meshach, Abendego another day. We had a translator so it was a little awkward but it worked out and the kids loved it. They sang worship songs in Siswati; their smiles were so so big and precious. They have the biggest hearts and are so so friendly immediately. I’ve loved all the hand holding and cuddles and dancing around with the kiddos. They live life with so much joy and love friends so deeply and so quickly. The girlies love doing my hair and the boys come find me everyday to play soccer with them. We spend most of our afternoon playing with the kids on the playground and running around. Our week nights consist of squad dinners and then team time. Forming deep relationships with these people has been so fulfilling and has opened my heart to so much more love that the Lord has for me.
Saturday was our adventure day so we went back into town to the market. Me, Molly, and Bella sat in the food court eating chicken wraps and updating our families and friends since we had wifi. I went and got yummy m&m ice cream and then we went to the bank to exchange cash for Rand. We went to the mall and I got two skirts for ministry days (everything is so cheap here). When we were walking the street to the grocery store, a man driving rolled down his window and asked if we could be friends, then the light turned green and he ended up driving away. Later on, when I’m shopping for fruit, I see the same man and he comes up to talk to me. His name was John and he loved that my last name was his name. He is a nurse who started a church plant for non-siswati locals so they could worship in their own language. He loves the Lord and his community so well and thanked us for being here. We left the market thanking God for bringing us to such a welcoming community. Our Saturday nights usually end in team bonding and preparing for our Sabbath the next day.
Sunday: These days are slowly becoming my favorite day of the week. Sabbath is not something I’ve ever practiced or thought I really needed but I think this is a season that the Lord has for me to grow in that. He has been so gracious with these rest days in refueling me for the busy busy week ahead and showing me how to reset with Him (another blog about Sabbath coming soon).
Random updates: I’ve learned to do my own laundry in a grated sink and hang it on a line, which is actually so relaxing. I’ve seen a zebra and some rhinos at a gas station driving from the airport. I’ve danced in the most refreshing rain during the hottest day here. After a week of trying, I caught a chicken at the care point. Oh, and to everyone who is curious, I’ve had the craziest foods here that I would have never tried back home. Some of them were fine and the rest of them I tried my hardest to keep down. Anywho, it’s been a blast and the Lord is so good.
Some prayer request for the week ahead:
- Continual growth in our relationships with the Magi and Shepherds at the care points
- Energy for my squad throughout the week during ministry times (it’s hot and exhausting work)
- Growth in unity with our squad and teams. Patience with each other during stressful experiences
- Comfort and peace for squad members who are getting homesick
- Boldness to share Jesus with everyone we come in contact to
- Personally, i’ve been leaning into more of a leadership role within the team. We all have different personalities so it’s been tough to adapt in certain situations with everyone. Prayers for wisdom to lead and guide well and to show gentleness in stressful times
