Swazi

Wow! Where do I even begin to explain something that words cannot ever come close to describing?

Swazi.

Swazi is not just a place on a map. It’s the people. It’s the culture. It’s the places. It’s the memories.

I was asked what the theme for my time in Swazi was and at first I did not know what to say, but as I reflected it came to me.

Stillness.

The culture is so much slower here than in America. It is not the hustling and bustling that I am used to but everything is slower. The work will get done when it’s done, you’ll get there when you get there. People are not always scrambling to get to the next thing. Everything is taken one step at a time.

My whole time in Swazi was surrounded by this idea of stillness. Being still even in the chaos. Putting my peace in God and being able to be still even as kids ran around me and clung to me. Being able to focus on God and the peace He offers me in every circumstance.

Swazi has taught me how to just sit. Sit in the Lords presence. Sit in worship to the King of kings. Sit in stillness and peace.

As I leave Swazi, I carry this stillness with me. A reminder that God meets me when I slow down enough to listen. These memories, these moments, and these lessons will stay with me long after my trip is done.

The people. The women, the children, the men. There is something to be said about people in every one of the categories. Memories to be shared and never forgotten. First the women. My shepherd Makegee. Makegee was the women in charge of the carepoint I served at. She had been working there I think for three years and was currently serving her last year there. She loved the kids as though they were her own. She sacrificed for them everyday. She had a husband and a baby of her own that she sacrificed her time with so that she could care for the children of the community and love them when others were not. She showed up everyday with a smile on her face ready to love not only the kids but me and my team also. She never failed to show the love of Jesus each and every day. Also some other important women from Swazi are the Gogos. The Gogos are the grandmothers that came and cooked and helped look after the kids at the carepoint. I think my carepoint had four different Gogos that would rotate throughout the week. These women came not because the had too but because they wanted to. They wanted to help the younger generation. They wanted to be there and help provide. These women were also filled with so much joy. They were also at the carepoint before we arrived already cooking and they stayed longer each and every day after we left. Both Makegee and the Gogos welcomed us with open arms and made us feel as though we were a part of their family.

The children. No words can describe my time with the kids and my love for them. Each day the kids came ready to love us. Even though we were there to love the kids the kids loved us just as much as we loved them everyday. They always showed up full of energy and smiles. Each day was a new day with them. Some days were spent with children braiding my hair while other days were spent playing double double this this. Some days I just sat and held children that needed to be held and loved. Others times I ran around playing. This time with the children has helped show me that love can be shown and received in so many different ways. What an absolute blessing the children have been the me.

The men. My bus drivers, Madoo and Cbo. Each bus ride was filled with joy and laughter with these two. From dance parties in the bus to singing Ed Sheeran. They never failed to but smiles on our faces. They bought us all ice pops and bought and cooked us chicken. They did not only drive us from base to carepoint each day, an hour drive each way. They became our friends. They even gave each of us Swazi names and taught of some Swazi words. The name I was given is Mandlenkosi which means Gods strength. Some words I learned from them are:

engoocoo – chicken

engomo – cow

enbootee – goat

enja – dog

yebo – yes

Swazi has given me more than I could have ever imagined. The people, the culture, the memories, the stillness. All of it has left an imprint on my heart that I will carry forever. I came to serve, but I left having been taught, stretched, loved, and changed. As I step into life beyond Swazi, I take with me the stillness, the joy, and the love that this beautiful nation and people have gifted me