After one delayed flight, one extra flight, one rerouted bag, one briefly missing bag, one six hour drive and one strange border crossing, we have arrived in Eswatini. And finally we breathe!
There’s always a push-pull feeling coming back to this place – the push of preparation, travel, messages, packing, flying, breathlessly running through airports, getting across borders, pushing to arrive.
But theres also the pull – the draw of new faces and old friends, that familiar deep breath we collective inhale after pushing past the border gate, the unfamiliar experience of a new place, a new people, a new moment for a first-timer.
We’re being pulled in by the emaSwati towards this place and pushed to breathe Jesus in deeply here. To savor. To experience. To listen. To grow. To breathe.
The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’” — Ezekiel 37:1-6
We’re praying to see breath on this trip – to see the Lord bring bones to life, to call Swazis and us into life. To cause breath. Abundantly.
Lord, bring breath. Bring flesh. Change hearts. Do your work here. Amen.
