A bucket, a smile and the Milky Way

Current Mood: in awe/ really, really tired--but in a good way!
Current Song: "Show Me", John Legend

Sanibonani!! (Hello in SiSwati to a group of 2 or more people)

I write to you from the beautiful country of Swaziland. Let me tell you, it was probably the first time that most of us had asked the question "are we there yet?" in our adult lives--you would too, if after a 7 hour flight to Paris, a 12 hour layover in Paris, and a 10 hour flight to Johannesburg, still had about 5 more hours to get to Swaziland. But we finally made it, and all of us are well--no casualties to date!!

I'm not sure if any of us realized how big this project really was before we signed up. I know i can say that for myself, anyway, because when we had our first meeting with out American counterparts (the majority of whom are from the Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma), I was very, very floored. This project that we are a part of is only a small part of a process that has taken many years, special people and their talents, government funding (both from the US and Swaziland), corporate funding (Coca-Cola had contributed funds to several aspects of the project) and most importantly, a lot of prayer and guidance from God. The fact that we are even part of this is really not a mistake or an accident, but part of a huge plan that God has for the kingdom of Swaziland--and for that, i am very humbled and thankful.

So, on to the good stuff...what have we been doing, you ask? Well, the question is probably better asked if you were to say what are we NOT doing. Since we arrived here, it's already been a whirlwind of pre-project meetings, celebration dinners and general mingling with local church staff and the general population. It's been pretty amazing learning to live in another culture, especially one whose customs are so different than ours--for example, when you do anything with your hands, you must use both. For example, when shaking hands, you use your right hand to shake the other's, but instead of letting your left hand fall to the side (and leave the other person wondering what you are doing with it), you hold your right arm with your left hand. if someone, really likes you, they will hold your hand as if you are about to have an arm-wrestling match!

Yesterday, we tagged along with the Nazarene Church's HIV/AIDS task force, which is a team that cares for those who have been affected by HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. The force goes and visits various homes every day and sometimes bring various basic items, like soap and cooking oil and also may help with various chores around the house that may not necessarily be done otherwise since they are sick. Everything is done with God's love in mind. We tagged along with a few teams, and it was an amazing experience. We delivered buckets with Swazi food staples--a bottle of cooking oil, peanuts, samp (kind of like chopped-up risotto rice), maize rice, peanut butter, sugar beans, toothpaste and toothbrush and laundry soap. And of course, they got to keep the bucket, which is very important in Swazi culture since they use them for everything. The best reaction for the team i was with was Annie--a mother of 16 children...yes, i said 16. You see, she only really has 1 child, but has taken on 15 others from her community that have been orphaned by AIDS. She is currently unable to provide for them properly now though, since she suffers from arthritis and diabetes and is in a wheelchair. The look on her face when she received the bucket was golden. She clapped her hands, smiled, laughed and finally cried tears of joy and gratitude, not for us, but for God. It really amazed me that we can go to the grocery store and pick up a bottle of cooking oil for 2 bucks and think nothing of it, but for her, it was literally a Godsend because she knew she couldn't afford it, but God knew she needed it to help take care of her adopted family., Little truly is much when God is in it.

Today, we painted a church that was in dire need of repairs, and also ran a day camp for about 400 kids....again, you heard me, 400. All of them were aged from 5-9 years old. The highlight of the day for most of us was probably when we had an open session and saw all of the kids singing with us and our lone guitar, but that's all they needed and were very happy with it....can't wait to show you all the pictures of that, since for me, they are what can convey what we saw today.

This trip has definitely shown me that God can be in the most unexpected places, even at a soccer game, which with a team of about 8, i ran today. We always seem to ask God for a sign about something--whether we'll find love, that new job we've always wanted or just a vacation--but fortunately, He's a little more real than Miss Cleo (Call me now!!!). Sometimes, all you have to do is just be still and look at the small things to realize that He's definitely around and is speaking to you--you just have to listen. I only wish that at times i didn't have to come from half a world away to realize it. Even tonight as we were leaving our friends in Balakhane, the sight of the Milky Way (no, not the chocolate bar) was a stunning sight...but again, we really shouldn't have to wait until we're at a point where everything is taken out of the equation, and it's just you and the universe.

Definitely makes me think of these lyrics:
Show me that you love me
Show me that you walk with me
Hopefully, just above me
Heaven's watching over me

Co-sign on those lyrics.

Definitely can't wait for the rest of the trip...but then again, i don't really want it to end just yet, and i think i speak for most of the team when i say that.

talk to you soon,
june.