Time seems to be flying by! Honestly, it's hard for me to realize it's almost July. Here in Swaziland we are now in Winter and where I stay at Hawane it gets quite cold, especially at night. I'm thankful for my hot water bottle and loads of blankets I snuggle during the night. :)
I realize I typically give updates on what ministry work or outreach I've been involved in, including counseling and mentoring the ministry children, house mothers, and LifeSkills students. While I love to share what's going on here, I feel the need to include some personal reflections in this post.
What's life like for me in Swaziland, Africa? I'm constantly reminded of how blessed I am as I encounter life stories of the people here. I've always had a roof over my head, warm clothes, plenty of food, safe drinking water, people who care about me and express love to me, a safe place to call home, a mother and a father, good health, an education, and friends and family who support me. Many of the children and adults I work with do not have or have not experienced these blessings that, for the most part, I've taken for granted my whole life. When working with the ministry's children who have been orphaned and are vulnerable my heart sinks in my chest to hear of their backgrounds of physical and sexual abuse. I'm beginning to think more young girls than not have been raped or molested before they reach adulthood. It's hard to imagine how these crimes go on day after day. The results are girls and boys who are left with damaged souls, poor self-images, distrust in people, and silent voices.
A project that is before me currently is to meet with each one of the nearly 50 children at the orphan care center to obtain a life story from them. The story will be from their point of view but will include social welfare records and other credible reports. Each child will then receive a copy of their story from me to keep. My prayer is that these precious children will begin putting a voice to their pain and that God will bring beauty from ashes. Nothing is impossible for Him. He is the Healer. He is love. He has come to bind up the brokenhearted. What a joy it is for me to see God repairing brokenness, healing hearts, restoring lives. God can truly bring good out of bad situations. He's doing it around the world one life at a time.
Our God has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.
He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow.
I will put beautiful crowns on their heads
in place of ashes.
I will anoint them with oil to give them gladness
instead of sorrow.
I will give them a spirit of praise
in place of a spirit of sadness.
They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight.
The Lord himself will plant them in the land.
That will show how glorious he is. - Isaiah 61:2,3
