This is Swazi

THIS IS SWAZI…A PROMISE FULFILLED

What a sweet season this has been. What a hard and trying and painful and beautiful and fruitful and faithful and prophetic season of life I’m living in. I wish I could explain to you every little detail of this life I’m living. I desire to set your eyes here for just a moment, to see the beauty that surrounds me. I want to tune your ears in to hear the giggles coming from a hundred little voices. I want to sit you down in the presence of the sweetest people. I want your heart to connect with theirs and your hand to hold theirs and your hair to be done by 10 kids at once. I want you to walk in their houses and sit on their floors and hear their stories. I desire for you to know the heart of God expressed in the sweet land of Swazi.

Until you can come, one day, I’ll do my best to explain the beauty surrounding me and the heart He’s put in me.

I could share for hours of the faithfulness and tender little moments I’ve experienced while being here, but I’ve picked just a few that touched me deeply. I hope they stir you on to see the way the Lord sees and love the way He loves.

MY MINISTRY

1st, I’d like to tell you about my team’s ministry. Our care point is on the base that we stay on, which means that we don’t get to leave base. At first, it was devastating to me and I wondered why the Lord would keep me here, again. (Remember back to base ministry in NC). I clearly understood that the Lord was doing something and there was a lesson in this, but I didn’t know what it was. Since then, as I’ve walked through the doors He’s opened, I have much more peace.

My ministry looks like playing with kids after school, teaching lessons, visiting homes, gardening, and prayer walking in our spare time. Each day has been completely unique and completely beautiful. Each moment feels consecrated and so intentional.

I’ve learned through doing all of these things, that my ministry is just to connect with people. I get to sit and listen to those around me. I get to empathize with those He’s out in my path. I get to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. It’s not my job to fix everything, it’s my job to love well, and sometimes that looks like being willing to hurt with others.

HE IS MY HOME

Have you ever seen an Acacia tree? In person? In my mind, an Acacia tree and a red dirt road are the pictures of Africa. Those, mixed with a little circle hut are what I’ve thought of as home.

When I got here, i was overwhelmed with the faithfulness of my God to bring me to a place that houses all of the things I listed above. But, I still wrestled with the feeling of loneliness and felt completely stuck. You would think that I’d be content, coming to a place promised as home, but, really, I was struggling.

During worship on Thursday, I stood at the window and looked out on His creation. I simply said, “ thank you Lord for bringing me home.” He replied, “THIS is not your home.” I asked what He meant, and He responded by reminding me that the whole world belongs to Him—every crevice. He reminded me that He resides everywhere, and He is my home. Therefore, everywhere I go is home. Not because of where I am, but because of who I’m with. This touched my heart in the exact way I needed and took me from feeling scared and out of place to being completely content with the Lord. I now feel ready to go wherever He does, and not attached to any one place. Swazi isn’t my home—He is. Maryland isn’t my home—He is. He is with me so I will go with Him:)

NGIYAKUTSANDZA

The word you see above means “I love you” in Siswati. On Thursday, I spent a while chatting with a 10 year old boy from my care point. He told me about his brother who had been hit by a car just 2 days prior. I got to hear this little boy’s heart and sit with him as he needed comfort. Later that day, he was teaching me siswati, and taught me how to say “I love you.” Then, he ran off and came back with a pen. He grabbed my hand and wrote “I love you” in English on the palm of my hand. He then gave me a hug and ran off as he said goodbye. What an honor it is to be used by the Lord to bring hope to someone who’s hurting.

RUNNING IN HEAVEN

I think it’s safe to say that home visits are some of my favorite things. This past week, we had the opportunity to sit with many women in and around their homes to hear their stories and have sweet moments of prayer. One visit in particular was a time so tender. As my team and I walked into the home of an elderly woman, we witnessed her lying half on her mattress and half on the floor, unwell and unable to walk. We asked how long she’d been sick and she told us 5 years. She hadn’t walked in 5 years. We heard encouraging stories of how the Lord came through for her and we listen to her heart in pain. Towards the end of our time there, my team layed hands on God’s daughter and prayed for healing. The Lord gave me the sweetest vision of this precious women running down the street. Heads were turning in awe as the neighbors witnessed such a miracle. I then asked the Lord if that was on this side of heaven or when she’d gone home. All of a sudden, the streets turned white and the light surrounding her shone brightly. She ran in freedom down the streets of heaven with a joy that radiated from her whole being. As I saw this, I was instantly comforting, seeing the beauty that’s waiting for she who loves the Lord. Excited rushed over me and I saw her future of freedom. What a blessing it is to be a beloved of the Lord!

IM SO SORRY

On Friday, I encountered a little boy with the sweetest face and eyes that were hurting. He came up to me and asked if my father beats me. My response was shock, and I replied with, “No. Does yours?” He told me that his father beats him and his little brother. At this my heart broke. I stood there and all I could say was “I’m so sorry.” This was such a tender moment and the genuineness in my heart for him came out through my three words. He told me how much it hurt and I couldn’t stand to see this little boy in pain. I realized that I couldn’t do anything about it, and my heart just broke. This is the culture here. It’s way too common and something not surprising to most. I was reminded, once again, that my ministry is to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. This moment happened to be one of mourning, and I’m so grateful to be a safe space for a boy who so desperately needs it. Please pray for him🥺

CHANGE MAKER AND CHAIN BREAKER

Also on Friday, I met a girl who is 18 years old. She graduates in just a few weeks and then more of her adult life starts. She asked me if I’m married and I told her no. Someone chimed in and said how the age to be married in Swazi is 17 or 18 years old. At this, the girl responded in defense and a hurt that flowed through her. I could see in her eyes and hear in her voice how she had been affected by this statistic. My heart broke for her as I saw her pain. But, as I brought this to the Lord, He told me that because of this hurt and the passion she feels, she will be a change maker and a chain breaker. Praise God for redeeming all hurt and using it to bring His kingdom to earth. I can’t wait to see how He works in her. 😊🙌

JUST SEE AND SMILE

I’ve learned how far a genuine smile and sweet eye contact can go. The way we lock eyes with those around us shows that we truly do care. As my team and I were in front of all of the kids, about to perform a skit, I saw one girl in particular who felt alone in a crowd of so many. I looked her strait in the eyes with a gentle gaze and smiled tenderly at her. She responded with eyes that soften and a heart that melted. Her sad face turned into one that felt seen and cared for. I got to love her well just by looking at her.

Sometimes ministry looks like doing a silly skit and being laughed at. Sometimes it looks like sitting in the hurt with those who are hurting. Sometimes it looks like making them feel seen by a smile. Sometimes it looks like laying hands on those on the floor. Either way, He is my home, so ministry is everywhere. Thank you Jesus for ways to love your people. Thank you Jesus for allowing me to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.

All flows from Him. When I intentionally spend time with Him, I get to see the way He sees and hear the way He hears. His ministry becomes mine and relationships around me flourish. Thank you Jesus for time with you.

Thank you, friends, for hearing my heart. I hope you got to see a piece of the beauty in Swazi through my words on this page.

I love you all,

Rissa🫶