It was only day three of outreach, and already things weren't going as planned. At least, things weren't going according to our plan. But that was simply the first of many lessons in store for us during our time in Swaziland. There comes a point where we have to simply let go of plans and be willing to say "yes" to wherever God leads. And that's where this story begins.
On our first week of outreach, we were stationed at a YWAM base on the outskirts of Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland. During this week we did a variety of different ministries, which included a soccer outreach, visiting widows, and a kids camp. On this particular day though, our team was visiting a local family that had 18 children (not all biological) and was involved with YWAM ministry in that area. Traveling to their home included a somewhat speedy taxi ride through the sharp turns of the surrounding mountains, finished off by a bouncy drive up a steep dirt road. But nonetheless, we were ready for the day of manual labor. Working in the fields, helping around the house, and being of use wherever possible was on our agenda.
But when we arrived, we started to realize that our day wasn't going to work out quite the way we had planned. We learned that this family was in one of the hardest spots they had ever been in. They were a hardworking, Christian family who loved the Lord, and His light and love were so very evident within their home. They fully trusted in God, and even in the midst of hardships of the past they had kept on pushing forward. But at this particular point, they were struggling and having difficulties making ends meet. Due to these complications, as well as some other factors, hope was beginning to fade. They believed that God is good and He is faithful, but it was getting harder and harder to trust. They were on the verge of giving up.
So they asked us if, instead of doing physical labor, we could spend some time encouraging them. To be honest, we weren't prepared for this. Our team spent some time alone in prayer and worship, asking God to give us wisdom and guidance for this situation. Thankfully God doesn't need people who have it all together, He simply wants willing hearts. It's in our weaknesses that God's power is revealed even more fully. Over the course of the next two days, we spent time with this family praying, worshiping our Heavenly Father together, sharing encouragement, and also hearing their testimonies. The amazing thing is that God works in ways that we could never imagine. He takes the insignificant little that we have to offer, and turns it into something beautiful. Something that displays His power and brings glory to His name.
What really touched me, as the second day came to a close, was when the father of the family told us that he had the strength to keep on pressing forward; to continue trusting in the Lord. It wasn't because of anything we did, it was because of the HOPE and PEACE that only God can bring. Not only were they blessed by what the Lord did, but I left those two days encouraged and challenged as well. I was challenged by the fact that this family was choosing to trust in God, despite the hardships they were facing, and encouraged by the truth that God desires to use us in powerful ways even though what we have to offer is so insignificant. Outreach didn't start off quite as planned, but the lesson I learned here was an important one which I would be reminded of over and over again in the weeks to come.
