Saturday in Eswatini was a sweet day for our team.
After a slow morning, we headed out to Mkhaya Baptist Church for a full day camp of ministry. As Casey called it, “organized chaos!” I’ve never heard a more true statement. Groups of kids, youth and adults learning Scripture, doing crafts, playing games and worshipping Jesus.
After an amazing Swazi lunch (chicken portions, rice, cabbage, beetroot and potato salad) part of the group headed out for home visits – and then accent crashed a Swazi traditional wedding (a blanket ceremony.) See the hilarious photo below!
At the end of the day, we had the opportunity to give each child a brand new set of school supplies – a rare luxury at this midyear point. The excitement demonstrated by these kids for pencils, pens, erasers and crayons was overwhelming, truly.
It was a sweet day, full of joy, abundant in smiles and laughter and all sweet.
At this point in the trip, the team is feeling a little rough. We’ve been going hard for days. We are truly exhausted, and digging from empty cups. We need rest, but there’s not much in sight.
Earlier this week, a team member shared Psalm 121 with us. I will offer the Psalm in full here:
I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.
4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.
5 The Lord protects you;
the Lord is a shelter right by your side.
6 The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.
7 The Lord will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.
8 The Lord will protect your coming and going
both now and forever.
On the rocky terrain of this country, we seek help. We look to the mountains, the hills. With our empty cups we come to the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. We seek His filling. We come tired, slipping, needing rest and we find shelter in the most high. God does not sleep, he cover us in ours.
Pray for sweet rest tonight friends, pray for the Lord to fill our empty cups, pray that we would sing our song to the Lord, our song of ascents. Amen.
Praying for renewed strength.