Week of Highlights

A review of the previous week...

Sunday highlights: Kayla brought some frisbees, so Sebe and Sindi joined our team in a game of frisbee football up and down the dirtroad... It was a lot of fun, but we had to call it a tie because it was getting dark.

That night, I spent time with Tenele. I am writing a book about Swazi adventures, and she's at the center of the story, obviously, so she's been reading through that and we've been talking about it.  She's now very open when I ask questions about her past. When you look at her, you'd never imagine the life/hell she's been through. Even I forget sometimes. Even I like to think it's just a story, it's in the past, it's something she won't have to deal with again.  But it's not just words on a paper, it's the torn pieces of her heart and soul that are still on the mend. As she answered some questions about her past and Cedric, at one point, she started crying. Tears streamed down her face and she put her head on my shoulder.  I forget that she is still in dire need of healing.

Monday:
-Teaching Tenele English and Math and entertaining Lucia at the same time. It was so precious!  I gave her a journal to write it.  Her assignment was to write an entry tonight and she eagerly completed her writing assignments.  She uses it to process through the day.
-We went to Hope House and prayed over Bosisiswe, a woman with a stroke who spoke no English. I could really feel the Holy Spirit moving and then we sang with a group of 4 Swazis that were so joyful.  They sang and danced filled us with joy.
-Finally got to spend some time with sweet Jojo
-Monday's bible study with the girls was about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. We talked about how the woman left her water jar at the well to go share the news about Jesus with others.  We made our own makeshift well and had the girls leave their worries, sin, etc. at the well.  Then we challenged them to share the good news like the woman did. Tenele chose to tell her friend Tiny (Tiny is the girl who brought me to find Tenele two years ago).

Tuesday:
-I was sick and had to stay home. Chris, Kayla, and Rachael took Tenele to find Tiny in squatter camp and share the story of the Samaritan woman with her. Though I wasn't there to experience it, it was beautiful to see Tenele beaming about her time with Tiny and sharing the hope. She said that Tiny recognized that Tenele really did change her life and felt empowered that maybe she really could change her own, too.

Wednesday: Lauren, Laura, Andy and I went to Mangwaneni to get some girls. We found Khanyi on the way in!  Khanyi is a girl who was also a prostitute with Tenele and one I tried to put back into school without realizing she couldn't even identify the alphabet.  We also met Sandile's sisters and heard about Nonsikelolo's blind eye... This poor, incredible young woman was going to an evening prayer service and was walking in the dark to get there.  A man jumped her and asked for her money.  When she told the man she didn't have any money, he choked her and then slashed her eye with a knife.  We prayed over her, but her joy and confidence in the Lord was astounding.  Now that is unshakable faith.
Later that night, the electricity went out and we turned it into an awesome time of worship! Ayanda gave her own sermon about love during our bible study (it was an assignment from her religion class) and she did...wow...just wow.  The electricity finally came on as we ended our jam session to the song "Yes, Lord."

Thursday: We all went to the hope house, and EVERY time you go to the Hope House, you can feel the Spirit moving in incredible ways.  As Chris prayed over Bosisiwe, chills came over my body like a wave of the Spirit came down in that room.  It was a feeling I'll  never forget.
I call my brother, Garret, "Harry" as  his nickname and Tenele has caught on and LOVES calling throughout the house, "Harry! Harry!"  And just the other day, Lucia said it, too!

Friday: A bit of a rough day...I had a terrible headache and just felt heavy...like I've had bricks in my head all day... :/  We had our second meeting with MYC about our partnership with running the home and drafting a MOU.

Saturday: We went to Mlilwane Game Park to swim, have a picnic lunch, (where Lauren and the others fed wild impalas), and we also went to Ezulweni market...where I bought an AWESOME djembe drum!

Sunday: We hung out with some other Americans!  We met a high school AIM team that has also been here this summer.  They had us over for a lasagna dinner and fellowship.  We were able to really lift them up and pray for them.  It was mutually encouraging as several of the high school girls told me how important teachers are.  They encouraged me in staying in that mission field by saying that's where the battle is for the younger generations and that teachers have an incredible platform for impact.

Much to Celebrate

Simple celebrations

We added some structure to the routine in the house for the girls so that Mondays and Wednesdays are bible study days, Tuesdays/Thursdays are skill building days, and Fridays are activity days.  The purpose of these activities are to create better unity and community among the girls themselves along with Titi and Gogo, the house sister/mother.  It has been extremely successful so far and is something to celebrate!  As a large group of volunteers, we have split into two smaller groups to create more intimacy during the lessons.  Our group started the first Bible study by tying in the song, “Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord,” which is a song they know and love singing.  We decided to read the story of Blind Bartimaeus and how Jesus asked him plainly, “What do you want me to do for you?”  And he responded, “Master, I want to see.”  The use of the word Lord, translated Master is significant as it shows his humble and already faithful relationship with Jesus.  We had great discussions, thanks to the translations from Titi, during the lesson and the girls really started to understand the words of the song “Open the eyes of my heart.”  In fact, the following Sunday as I sat next to Tenele at church, I heard her pray that the Lord would continue to “open the eyes” of her “heart and mind.” (more on that Sunday service later...)
 

On Tuesday and Thursday we continued teaching the girls how to make small hand purses, using the materials and skill building my mom left behind for us all.  The girls take so much pride in their work, even Gogo!  They adore the products and one girl in particular, Nonhlanhla, has made bracelet after bracelet after bracelet, and she beams with the spirit of joy and hope.  You can't look at her without smiling, and it's incredible to have the opportunity to live alongside of girls like her, who have a depressing past but don't let that affect their joy in the present.  

Friday was Ayanda’s birthday, so we had the men on our team build us a braai stand and make a fire so we could cook.  Titi seasoned and flavored the meat and Garret, Andy, and Kayla all helped cook it, and the girls engulfed it.  In fact, they liked it so much that they started singing about the meat and how much they like eating meat!  Now that's something I don't encounter back in the States. After our yummy dinner, we had a dance party, of course!  We all took turns dancing, and when it came to Chris' turn, he busted out some hip robot moves and wowed the crowd.  Ayanda's mouth dropped as her eyes popped and she gasped, "Wow! I wish to do like that!"  After dancing we wound down with nothing other than the movie Pitch Perfect!  Ayanda whispered, "This was the best birthday ever!"

As we wrapped up the weekend, we all went to Living Waters Church, the church that Ayanda always attended with Christina.  The service was "Kids Church" so they had all the children leading the prayers, worship, and even the preaching!  I was full of awe watching them because this is a culture that puts children last, especially young girls, so the girls really were inspired by hearing a girl a little older than them up in the front preaching.  At the end of the service, the pastor started praying and Tenele whispered her own prayers outloud.  As she prayed, I thought, "Oh, it'd be so nice to know what she's actually praying."  A few seconds later she started praying in English!  It was incredible listening to her ask the Lord to open her eyes and fill her heart.  She thanked God for changing her life, she asked God to bless me, bless my mother and my family, and then asked God to help change the lives of her friends as well. Tears of joy started streaming down my already smiling cheeks.  

On this trip so far, there has been so much to celebrate.  I got to celebrate Ayanda's birthday with her and get to celebrate Tenele's new birth of hope, faith, and love. We get to celebrate the opening of Hope for Life home and get to celebrate what it means to live as a body of Christ with my teammates.  I get to celebrate all the answered prayers from years before.  Join me in praising God for all the reasons He gives us to celebrate life and celebrate hope!

"The joy of the Lord is my strength." -Nehemiah 8:10

Miracles in the Making

Because I have been busily occupied with our incredible team, I haven't had much time to dig into the relationships with my girls. My teammates, being as supportive and empowering as they are, encouraged me to get some time alone with them, so I took full advantage.  For a morning I took Tenele and Ayanda with me into town and we got a few things they needed and enjoyed one another's company.  There was nothing profound that happened, but the sharing a simple daily activity was everything I needed.  It was wonderful to pour into them, encourage them, and challenge them.  I told them they need to be role models in the house because the younger girls need to know how to behave in certain situations.  Tenele is such a hard-worker.  Our whole team has been in awe of her servanthood.  Halfway through the week Tenele took my clothes while we were out and washed them.  Then, each day this week, she has asked another teammate for their dirty clothes, and she gets up early and washes them for us.  So, in addition to taking care of two kids, a six week old baby who was very sick (but now is MUCH better), she cleans the house, does laundry, and today she was even washing the van.

She is a living, breathing miracle.  Every time I look at her, I can hardly imagine she is the same girl a year and a half ago.  Her strength, and her newfound faith, humbles me.  She has changed my life in so many ways, and I told her today that I can't wait for her to one day be the house mother of Hope for Life home; when I told her that, her face lit up and she smiled from ear to ear, "Yes, yes!" While so many people have said no to her and turned her away and thrown her out again and again, she still says yes; her yes is precious to the Lord.

After talking with the girls about being role models, I shared my own thoughts, struggles, and triumphs with the girls.  We talked about a particular male friend of mine, whom they adore and asked if he was going to be their "daddy."  I laughed and explained that you can't have a good relationship with someone if there isn't any trust, and they agreed.  But then I said, "One day the Lord will give me my husband, your father.  One day.  But until then, 'my Maker is my Husband, the Lord Almighty is his name, the holy one of Israel is my redeemer, my very great reward,' (Isaiah)."

They both smiled.  Ayanda grew quiet and then said to me, "I wish to worship God as you do."
I was shocked.  I have never met anyone more full of the Holy Spirit than Ayanda.
"Oh, you do, Ayanda, you already do!"

My girls are my blessing.  I praise God for using them to lift my heavy heart.  I praise God for allowing me to see and be with his miracles in the making. What an encouragement for us all; that nothing is impossible for God, that we are all called to be his miracles--examples of his Lordship over our lives.

[I am in the process of writing a book about Tenele and all my Swazi adventures, called Every Day a Miracle.  I brought copies with me to edit/revise and I showed them to Tenele.  She ate it up!  She's been reading and reading and realizing that I know more than she thought I knew.  Titi, also read every page of parts i and ii and asked for the rest of the book when I'm finished. It was so neat to see Tenele reading a story about her and to be reminded and encouraged of her redemption in Christ.  That she indeed can believe she's a miracle.]

True Beauty

After a plane ride from Chicago to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Paris (a full day layover which included a picnic and nap at the base of the Eiffel Tower!), and Paris to Johannesburg, we packed the shuttle bus with all eleven of us and embarked on a five hour bus ride home to Swaziland.  We arrived Friday night to the girls waiting on the dirt hill right outside the girls home.  It was a precious reunion as I embraced dear Ayanda and finally got to meet the other girls in the home: Nomhlanhla, Sindi, and Sebenele.  Titi greeted us and Gogo had already prepared an incredible Swazi meal for us.

It took awhile to get adjusted and caught back up on sleep (truth be told, I'm still exhausted) but by Sunday most of the team was good to go.  We went to church in Timbutini on Sunday and Musa invited our team in front of the church and asked me to introduce them.  We didn't have anything prepared but it was beautiful!  I took that opportunity to explain Hosea's Heart and the prophet Hosea and God's heart behind our organization and what we are doing in Swaziland.  Later, Musa told me that when I stared talking about the prophet Hosea and the pursuing love of Christ, he knew that's exactly what they all needed to hear and was so uplifted by our group. "Out of all the groups that come and go here, MK, I can tell this one is special."  It was neat to hear Musa already encouraged by our group though he hardly had time to really meet us.

The timing of our return could not be more perfect as there is lots and lots of work to do.  There are four girls in the home right now because two had been kicked out previously to our arrival here.  Since then, I have met with both girls who have been kicked out and am arranging plans to help both.  Tenele is one of them, and if you know my Tenele story, you know that I won't let that happen.  So on Saturday, I took Rachael (who had been on our trip last year) with me to go pick up Tenele at her homestead.  About halfway there, I asked Rachael if she remembered if we were going the right way.
"I've never been to her home," she replied.
"What?" I had totally forgotten that the only person who knew where Tenele lived was Christina, who is now back in the States. I thought Rachael knew, so that's why I brought her with.  But despite my poor sense of direction, we eventually made it somewhat near Tenele's homestead and we met her sister who took us to her home.  There I met her mother again, and tried to be very kind, but it was hard knowing what her mother had done to Tenele.  Her mother tried to kiss Lucia, but Lucia pulled away, so then she kissed the baby Luciano and pretended to be very loving in front of me, but I could tell it was all a show.  So we took Tenele back with us and she is living at the home with us until we can meet with MYC to make permanent plans.

While there are many stories I could write already, there is one person I think deserves mentioning: Gogo (grandmother).  Gogo is the house mother, an older woman who cooks and cleans and keeps the girls in order.  Titi is the reinforcer of rules, helps the girls study, and keeps Gogo company.  Gogo doesn't speak any English, but she has a quiet, loving presence about her that is so powerful.  She loves the girls, it is evident.  She wants Tenele to stay in the home because she enjoys her company and she adores Lucia and Luciano.  In fact, when Gogo holds baby Luciano, the whole room lights up.  Titi told me that Gogo and Tenele have a very good relationship and are friends because they keep each other company during the day and Gogo also teaches Tenele some mothering skills that Tenele has never been taught/shown.  Also, when I helped Dlasile and sent her off with some food and money for bus fare so she can go to school, Gogo put her hands over her heart and thanked me again and again.  She cares so much about these girls, and it's beautiful.  She is beautiful.  I can't wait to get to know her more.  She also is so excited about the skills my mom is teaching her.  She is making a purse and is so excited to have a project and sewing/crocheting, etc.  Gogo may be behind the scenes in many ways, but she is already making a profound impact in my life. It reminds me of the verse: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment...instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight."  -1 Peter 3:3-4  I hope I can follow in her footsteps of what true beauty really means.