Yesu Anakupenda!! (Jesus Loves You!)
I’m officially in Swaziland and absolutely loving it! 🇸🇿
Also, a little bit about me personally: I have a team of 6 amazing girls and my squad leader Abby (our leader), Kynsie, Avery, Jaydin, Carlee, and Karen. Our team name is Gili which means spontaneous joy!
But let’s rewind a bit. Our travel days were October 4–6, and what a journey! It took about 60 hours to get here. Long? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely! Every hour was filled with laughter, exhaustion, and memories I’ll never forget.
One of my favorite moments was in South Africa when we stopped at KFC and saw rhinos right outside! How wild is that?!
When we finally arrived in Swaziland, our first day was orientation learning all the essentials like rules, schedules, and what to expect. It was also a time to rest and prepare our hearts for what was ahead.
Ministry Begins
And speaking of ministry it’s been absolutely amazing. Every day, we visit our carepoint, spending time with the kids playing games, laughing, and simply loving them.
We’ve already met so many incredible people.
Our shepherd’s name is Happiness (how perfect is that?), and she truly radiates joy in everything she does. Then there’s Lindu, a sweet girl who’s been teaching us traditional Swazi dances she shines so brightly!
we have a friend named Sporo who is a local boy who grew up in the carepoint and he is just the sweetest ever. His parents both died when he was very young and So he lives with his aunt and uncle, But he is such a blessing and just has been so good with all the kids and is such a great friend to me and my team. I’ll never forget Zola, a blind man at our carepoint who radiates the Holy Spirit. Every Sunday, he sings at church and his worship fills the room with such beauty and faith.
The kids here are such a gift from God. They’ve taught us games like Spider, Ice Cream, Policeman, and Teddy Bear. Our days may look simple, but every moment is full of purpose and love.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
The Lord keeps reminding me that love is the universal language. Even when I can’t understand the words, holding a hand or sharing a hug speaks louder than anything. These children are yearning for a Savior and I’m so thankful to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them.
At the same time, God is showing me new depths of His love through their laughter, resilience, and joy.
You don’t need a stage to make an impact. You don’t need a microphone to preach. You just need a willing heart. Love loudly where you are today in your home, your school, your community because someone needs the Jesus they see in you.
“We love because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
Availability Over Ability
Even though our main ministry is with kids, it’s more than that. God’s heart is for everyone the adults, the teens, the GoGos (grandmas), and the shepherds.
I’ve realized that the Lord doesn’t use special people He’s the One who’s special.
He uses the available the ones who simply say, “Yes.”
So, are you available to the Lord?
You don’t have to have it all together for God to use you.
You just have to be available.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” — Isaiah 6:8
When you say “yes,” He’ll take care of the rest. Your “yes” may look small but in God’s hands, small obedience moves mountains. Don’t underestimate what He can do with a willing heart.
So how can you be available today?
Swaziland: A Place of Faith and Beauty
Swaziland is such a beautiful and unique place. The hunger for the Lord is so evident. Every smile, every song, every prayer it’s all filled with genuine faith.
The journey is just beginning, but I can already feel God breaking my heart in the best ways opening my eyes to His love, His people, and His purpose. Lately, I’ve been praying,
“Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.”
He truly has. He’s opening my eyes to see His people the way He sees them beautiful, beloved, and worth it all. My heart has been completely wrecked for these people in the best way. His blessing have come through my tears for these people and kids. They long for hope, for a Savior. Many don’t even have clean water, yet they show up each day full of joy and faith. Even in hardship, the people here shine with hope. They may lack clean water, but they overflow with living water faith in Jesus.
Ask God to give you His eyes for the people around you. Sometimes, the greatest mission field isn’t across the world it’s across your street.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
Ask God to break your heart for what breaks His.
When you ask God to break your heart for what breaks His, He’ll transform how you see the world. It’s painful, but it’s beautiful.
Ministry in Manzini
Friday was a day I’ll never forget. Instead of visiting our carepoints, we went out to do evangelism in Manzini and wow, God showed up.
We met a man, a pastor who has to be discreet about his faith because his employers hate Christianity. We weren’t allowed to talk about God or pray openly, but of course God always makes a way.
So I asked him if he could “help me find something,” and as we walked through the aisles, I quietly prayed over him. It reminded me that the Lord places people in our paths intentionally.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10
His faith moved me deeply. He stands firm in a place where no one supports him reminding me of Job and Noah, who stayed faithful even when they stood alone.
Sometimes faith looks like standing alone.
Even when no one else is with you Jesus always is.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6
Stay faithful in your “aisles” the quiet, unseen places where obedience still matters.
We also met another man who was so hungry for love and encouragement. He was broken but open to hope. He couldn’t believe that Americans had come all the way to Swaziland just to tell people, “Jesus loves you.” His joy and gratitude reminded me that the Gospel is simple and powerful.
Falling in Love with Nsoko
I’ve fallen in love with Nsoko. It’s a place of deep beauty and deep need. Many families live in homes made of sticks some without roofs or walls yet their contentment is contagious.
It makes me ask:
Why do we, who have everything, still crave more?
These people, with so little, are overflowing with joy.
“Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.” — Proverbs 15:16
Church here is such a gift. The worship is raw and powerful. The message that day asked,
“Are you following Jesus or just walking beside Him?”
That question has stuck with me. It’s easy to walk with Him, but following means surrender. Nsoko is beautiful and I wanted to encourage each and every one of you that Joy doesn’t come from what’s in your hands it comes from Who’s in your heart.
ATL (Ask the Lord) Day
This past Monday, we had ATL Day, and I helped plan it with my sweet friend Ella. Wow what a testament to the Lord she is. We had morning devo, one-on-ones, worship, and letter-writing. I wrote notes to my team, our shepherd, and my leader it was such a sweet way to encourage others.
That night, we ended the day playing a game called Body Body and it was SO fun!
To top it all off this week, our shepherd gave each of us a SiSwati name. Mine is Tenele, which means Enough.
How special is that? A name that represents something I’ve struggled with for such a long time.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
God is reminding me I am enough, because He is enough.
So here’s my encouragement to you
Wherever you are say yes to God.
Love deeply. Serve humbly. Be available.
Because the same Jesus who’s moving in Swaziland is moving right where you are!!
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