Hello beloved friends and family!!
I’ve made it to Eswatini!!! Yay!! This is our last country before coming back to the states in May. I haven’t had service the past couple of weeks and just got wifi and wanted to send a short update! We had a long three days of travel, we flew from the Dominican Republic to the Newark airport and only by the favor of the Lord were we able to make it to our connecting flight to Johannesburg South Africa. We then traveled 14 hours over the ocean to arrive in South Africa. We spent the night at a hostile and our first meal in Africa was a classic greasy chicken leg from KFC. Yep you heard me right, KCF haha!! We woke up in the morning and drove across the South African border to Manzini, Eswatini. On March 4th we arrived at the Adventures in Mission base in Manzini and were met with a warm welcome from one of my squad mates family who are long term missionaries in Eswatini.
Ministry
The first day in Eswatini we went into town and had a scavenger hunt set up by our host. We got to walk around and talk to different people and learn about their culture. Everyone was so kind and welcoming towards us, it was helpful that the majority of people here speak English as well as their native language, siswati.
While walking the streets we stopped at a local fruit stand and began talking to the owners. They gave us all new African names, and mine was Bethsu which means “for us.” I was reminded that the Lord is for us is with us always even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Adventures in Missions has 34 different care points spread out throughout the country. A care points is basically an after school program for the children in the area, where they will be feed a meal that they might not receive at home. A lot of the kids we are working with don’t have families or are being raised by their older siblings. Working at care points has been such a blessing and an extremely humbling experience. The children are so full of life, joy, and laughter!! Jesus says in Luke 18:16 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
This past week we had PVT which is the Parent Vision Trip, where my mom along with all the other parents were able to come and do ministry with us!! It was so cool to get to see everyone parents and honestly a huge encouragement to see the reality of what David writes in Psalm 145:4-5, that “one generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”
Encouragement
It has been such a blessing to get to be here in this country and see even more of Gods heart for the nations!!!
Sometimes in ministry we get so busy trying to do things for the Lord that we don’t spend time to just be with Him. The Lord reminded me this week of Psalm 34 when He says “Be still and know that I am God and I will be exalted among the nations.” I encourage you this week to be still in the Lords presence and watch what happens!!
What’s next
This week my squad is meeting up with another World Race Gap year squad and will be having a 3 day time of revival and awakening where we will be spending time in prayer and worship. I am so expectant and excited for all the the Lord will do in this group of young adults and how He will continue to use us to bring His glory to the nations!!
After that we will only be in Eswatini for 6 more weeks, I know it’s so crazy how fast time flies. After that we are going to Fort Myers, Florida for 2 weeks to help with hurricane relief!! After that we have one week to debrief and transition back to life at home. I don’t know what God has in store for me in this next season, but I know that He is good and Has plans to prosper me and not to harm me, so all we need to do is daily seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
Prayer requests
I really appreciate all of your support through prayer! Prayer is one of the greatest ministry’s we could ever take part in!! Here are a few ways you can be praying for me and my squad.
- Pray for unity in our squad
- Pray that the hearts of the children we are working with would experience the love of Christ
- Pray that we would have eyes to see people as Jesus does
- Pray that any scheme of the enemy to come against what the Lord is doing in Eswatini would be brought down
- Pray that doors for the gospel would be preached
Remember to live in the moment and fix your eyes on the author and perfect of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)!!! I’ll continue to keep you guys updated on all that the Lord does, until then I love y’all and continue to be loved and love!!!!!
Maranatha
