TBT: Swaziland, September 2015

Country: Swaziland
Town: Sidvokodvo
Ministry: Heart for Christ, Project Canaan
Songs on Repeat: “Mighty” by Kristene DiMarco & “Christ the Rock” by Kim Walker Smith

This was the hardest month of the Race. I was blessed to never get homesick while being overseas. I didn’t ever want to leave the Race, except for 2 days at the beginning of this month.

My team was split up for the ministry days. Some worked in facilities and others in their craft department or Kindergarten teaching. My ministry was to work with 1 of my teammates and do what they called “physical therapy” for their children.

I thought to myself, “Yeah, I can do stretches with them.” That was definitely NOT what they meant. My ministry was to spend time with them and teach them basic English words (colors, objects, etc).

I love kids. But after spending 9 hours a day for 3 days with 70 children, I was convinced I could never be a teacher (not that I ever considered it). After 3 days I was exhausted by the crying and screaming. I just wanted out.

I leaned on my team (and the Lord). The word of this month was Faithfulness. I learned what it looked like to be faithful in something you don’t want to be part of anymore. There’s a level of heart change that came when I commited to saying “yes” everyday. When I said yes, I no longer wanted to leave the Race.

And I’m so glad I didn’t leave. This ended up being one of my favorite months with some children that I wish I could’ve taken with me and adopted. I love these kids and I still find myself missing them.

{Me and Michael}

{Samantha, Turtle}

{Me and Michael and Matthew}

{Me and Turtle}

We were blessed with some very nice living arrangements. We had bunk beds and a full, beautiful kitchen. We made our own food and were blessed to even make some American dishes – including our Labor Day 2015 Feast.

{That time we bought WAY too much bread}

We had bonfires, glow in the dark ultimate Frisbee, dance parties, and even went through the “Band of Brothers” series in the evenings. This was a month of laughter, hard conversations, holding babies, and not trying to have favorites (I miserably failed at that).

{Finger painting like a boss}