Hi friends!!!! We are two weeks into being here in precious Swaziland !!! Time is just flying, but OH has the Lord been on the MOVE here. This place has truly been the biggest blessing and one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever dreamed of. Praise God!
These past two weeks have been full of community, fellowship, kids ministry, worship, prayer, laughter, and of course, Jesus.
We have gotten the opportunity to go to town and share the Gospel, pray over people, buy them meals, and buy them bibles!!! What a blessing!!!!
In Swaziland, we are deeply involved in kids ministry!!!! 4 days out of the week we go to Care Points, where we get to love, play, pray for, and connect with hundreds of kids. These kids we get to encounter are just the most joyful, loving, energetic, and content souls you could ever imagine. These sweet kiddos get 1 meal a day, which we serve to them at 3pm each day. It’s a meal from Feed My Starving Children, so it’s highly nutritious!!! We spend most of the day dancing, talking, sharing Bible stories, and pouring Christ’s love onto these precious people. This is such a contrast to what they are used to at home, and it is such a privilege to show them Jesus in this way.
One sweet child in particular has really pulled at our heart strings this week — his name is Anele, pronounced Ah-ney-lay. He is 4 years old, he doesn’t speak much, he loves snuggles, but he is severely malnourished. He’s shown up at ministry in the same clothes each day that are a couple sizes too small, and two different pairs of shoes that don’t fit him. We believe he walks by himself to ministry just to get something to eat. On Friday, one of my teammates was able to give him a bath —something we’re not sure has happened for him in a long time. It was a powerful way for her to show Christ’s love to him. While we don’t know much about his home life, please keep this sweet boy in your prayers. Anele’s story is one of many here, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to love on these kids and share the life changing love of Jesus with them over the next couple of weeks.
Prayer requests:
– our team’s health! The enemy has been attacking us through our physical health
– our team’s hearts! That we stay open to the Lord’s guidance and direction
– our strength — we are running 100 miles a minute and we don’t want to get burnt out!! The sun & lack of shade and wind can easily get us down, but the Lord is our strength!
– the kids at ministry & the people in town — that we may be a vessel of the Lord to them & show them Christ through actions and prayers! & that the Lord would soften their hearts to hear the Gospel and allow Christ into their life!
A verse that has been on my heart from this past week is Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”. This verse is just so incredibly encouraging and incredibly true. Where we may fail, HE is willing and able to do far more than we may ever dream, think, or ask for!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. I can’t wait to continue updating and sharing these fun moments and stories!
I love all you are experiencing and sharing! Thank you for giving us this great update. I have prayed specific and will continue to pray for those specific requests! Love you!
love you catherine, so proud!!
Praying for you always!!
Cat, what a gift you are to this world! Just about cried in class while reading this post because it is just so evident that the Lord is using you in mighty ways. Love you!!
It is so incredible hearing of your time and work over there! Anele’s story really touched my heart and I will be keeping him and the team in my prayers this week!