Rejuvenated and Restored:)

Hey guys:)

Thanks so much for checking in-it truly means a lot.

I wanted to give a recap of what last week looked like for me! It was a real one. 😆 I wrote this last Sunday but am just now able to post it. Sorry it’s a little late!

After our little reset during the visa run, my squad and I have gone into this week feeling rejuvenated and ready to finish our race well. Praise God!

Here’s a look into my week…

SICK? YES. LEARNING? ALSO YES.

During my whole time in this beautiful land of Swazi I’ve been pretty sick. Not the typical runny nose but something a little more challenging to function with.

Going to care point each day has been especially challenging for me as my stomach has been nauseous, head has been hurting, and body crazy weak. It’s something I’ve needed to learn to navigate, as I’m finding out what my %110 is each day. All that I can give looks different than all my teammates can give, but is equally beautiful.

My time here and the way I connect often looks like sitting a kid on my lap or talking to my shepherd or coloring with the girls, rather than running around playing soccer. This has been a hard thing for me to grasp, as I do desire to be active with the kids. However, the Lord is teaching me that I get to have those tender and quiet moments of connection that I wouldn’t have if I were able to be more active. If I could run around, I would. His desire for me in this space is to sit in the simple moments and enjoy them.

This week, I broke down many times, with my teammates and on my own. I finally told them how I was feeling and that my body can’t do it anymore. I shared that it’s been so long that my body is physically exhausted and I don’t know how to move forward. Functioning each day is hard. Loving well is hard. Lifting the kids on the monkey bars is hard. Being present is hard.

After expressing all of this, my sweet teammates on so many occasions prayed over me with power and authority and anointed me with so much grace. I finally cried for mercy and told the Lord I can’t do this anymore. He’s walking me through healing and what that looks like. He’s teaching me how to navigate the stronghold of sickness that runs rampant in this country. He’s teaching me what it is to be restored.

Yesterday was the first day that I felt pretty good:) Today im not doing too well, but am continuing to plead for mercy. Please join me in this—prayer is powerful!! 🙏

PRAYERS ANSWERED

Yes, I’m still praying for healing, but there are many prayers the Lord has already answered. I asked Him to give me an opportunity to lead and teach, and He did:). I had a couple opportunities to lead the Christmas songs that we’re teaching the kids. I went to preschool and got to teach the sweet little ones English. My teammate Holly and I taught all of the kids a lesson on self discipline. We thought we were teaching a class on processing grief to a handful of kiddos, but ended up being called up to teach the lesson to a hundred kids. 😂

I asked the Lord to give me a Gospel conversation and He sent me TWO opportunities to share the Gospel that day.

God is so good and faithful to answer our prayers.

I sat in my bed recounting the answered prayers the other day, and I was stunned at all He’s answered. He reminded me that you have not because you ask not. He delights in and desires to answer our prayers.

BEING INTERRUPTABLE

Just the other day, some of the girls and I drove to the Safari restaurant for lunch. I have been waiting quite a while to post these blogs, as I haven’t had service. I bought service while there so that I could post them, but it didn’t work for the whole 3 hours we were there. Then, with 10 minutes until the bus came to pick us up, we decided to walk around and see the cutie little huts outside. As I walked with the other girls, the WiFi began connecting. With that, I quickly copied and pasted the blog in my notes to my website. I was about to hit publish when a man stopped me and asked where I’m from and where I’m staying. I looked up and told him that I’m from America and am here with Adventures In Missions. I asked if he’d heard of it and He said no. I told him that my squad and I are here because we love Jesus and want to share about him. He replied with “you haven’t told me about Jesus.” At that my heart was convicted and I asked if he’s a born again Christian. I then went on to ask about a scripture He liked and followed by reading the verses he told me (Matthew 25:31-42). I shared a verse (Genesis 50:20) and the story behind it. I thanked Him for the encouragement he gave through sharing that scripture and then hopped in the bus.

I didn’t get to post my blogs, but I got to share Jesus to a man right in front of me. Being interruptable is always worth it and always a blessing. That man’s name was blessing, by the way:)

This week has been HARD but worth every minute. My team has grown closer, my eyes have opened to what it looks likes to love well in this season, new kiddos have become my friends at the care point, sweet conversations have flowed with my shepherd, and He’s helped me be interruptable.

I have 1 week left in Swazi and am grateful for the opportunity to spend these last few days with the sweet people that my soul now loves. I’m excited to see what loving well looks like this week.

It may not seem like the title of this blog goes with what’s written in it, but I really did enter the week rejuvenated and am learning what it is to be restored. I’m learning what it is to be restored Thank you Jesus!

I would be so grateful for continued prayers—specifically for my health and the health of my squad. God is so good and such a healer, so I’m expectant!

Took this cutie picture at the Safari Restaurant. We saw a giraffe on the way home🦒

Me and Ella still at the restaurant🌺

So many cows outside😂

My friend as it started raining 🫶

Teaching the class at our care point:)

The sweetest little ladies:)

A little dude took this on my phone while walking to Church. I love seeing the kid’s perspectives and they love being photographers 📷