Update: THANK YOU to those of you that have donated money to send the kids to school for another year. I wish we had more time to have more donations, but we leave in two days! Weird. But it means SO much! Second, preaching went really well. I spoke on how God is good during suffering. One of my teammates told me she started crying and felt like my Moms prayers had been answered, that I would know God was good even though He let her die. Whoa.
Blogging about your spiritual journey on the World Race is always a little weird. Sometimes it feels almost Pharasaical and self-righteous. Like, `Ooh, look at me and all the sacrifices Im making and all the good that Im doing.` So, please know my heart. I share with you not for recognition, but because I asked you to partner with me. YOU are a part of changing the lives of widows and orphans, and YOU are a part of God changing my life as well. That said, here is something about next month in Swaziland that I absolutely do not want to do, but God has challenged me to do.
Swaziland
We find out the details for next month (location, ministry, etc.) ONE HOUR before we get on the bus to go. That leaves no time to change my mind about this decision. Im making this commitment before I know what to expect. (Side note, we drove through Swazi last month, and Ill just say, its going to be another you know youre on the world race when kind month.)
On the Worl Race, we have one big backpack (the hiking kind) and one smaller school-sized daypack. Normally, to be honest, theyre both stuffed. I mean, we did pack for an entire year.
But for the month of Swaziland, I will only be living off whatever I can fit in my small daypack. Im not getting rid of all my other stuff, I just wont be using it. Im learning that we can live off a lot less than we think.
So typically, what fits in a daypack?
Bible
Journal
Ipod
Pens
Raincoat
Wallet
Passport
Toiletries
Extra outfit
Computer
Camera
and…thats about it!
(The only exception is that IF we are camping again, I WILL use my tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. God has asked me to abandon, but He hasnt asked me to be ineffectiev in ministry because of backpain and sleeplessness.)
Why?
The Kingdom of Swaziland is LITERALLY dying. 40% of the population has HIV, which is the highest percentage in the world. It is estimated that if nothing is done to combat hunger and AIDS in Swazi, the entire country will die out by 2050.
Here is part of an article on the desperation in Swaziland…
Too poor to afford food, the patients have resorted to eating dung to fill their stomachs before they can take life-saving Anti Retroviral (ARV) drugs.
ARV drugs don’t work on an empty stomach, so patients mix the dung with water to help them digest it.
Aid workers are shocked to see how people have been forced to live, said
Siyabonga Sithole, from the Swaziland Network of People Living with HIV and Aids.
“HIV patients are told their drugs will not work unless they have something in their stomachs �” but many people are suffering an economic crisis, which means they are unable to buy food,â€� he told the Swazi Observer newspaper.
“I first saw two months ago residents drying dung and mixing it with water to eat before they take their pills. I was told three or four people were doing this but since then the number has grown. This is very disturbing and it’s an indication of how bad the situation has become,�
Eating cow manure is most common in the eastern Lubombo region, which has suffered a long stretch without rain, and where up to half of the population is HIV positive.
Hundreds of people are protesting in the southern African country, claiming that poor management by sub-Saharan Africa’s sole absolute monarch has caused a shortage of essential medical supplies and a failing economy.
Swaziland is one of the world’s HIV capitals �” a quarter of adults among its 1.2million people are HIV positive. The virus has killed many workers and farmers and has created thousands of orphans. Many have been given antiretroviral drugs �” but these could soon run out as the economy collapses. Aids groups have already warned that the country faces a shortage of anti-retroviral drugs.
About 70 per cent of people in Swaziland are so poor they live in abject poverty, earning less than £1.20 a day. At least one third of the one million population get some sort of food aid each year.
Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, whose government has admitted it is running out of cash. But in 2009, Forbes magazine reported King Mswati III had a personal fortune of £122m. He has 13 wives, and each has a palace paid for by the Swazi people.
For NY Times articles on the situation in Swaziland, click here:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/swaziland/index.html
For a few pictures and facts about Swaziland, click here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/06/africa_battling_hunger_and_aids_in_swaziland/html/1.stm
I know that living off much less this month doesnt necessarily do anything to help. But I think God is going to teach me a lot, and Ill be able to focus much more on what He has to do this month in Swazi.
My dear daughter,
Cyndy and I will be praying for your safety, health, protection, and continued experience and fruitfulness seeing the world through the eys of God, and knowing his heart for the lost and suffering. Know this – that you’re thought of many times a day, and that each time, a prayer rises to our heavenly Father to be your guide, your sufficiency, and your protector. We trust him fully with your ministry and mission.
Psalm 139
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,â€
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
Love, Dad
Dear Stephanie,
My prayers will be (and have been) with you as you go into another difficult mission. May your time in Swizland and that of your teams be successful for God.
It is a blessing to how God has been using you and your team. Thank you for sharing such difficult parts of your journey. My God keep you strong.
Love,
Marjorie K.
Steph,
Our prayers are with you. Having been in that part of the worl and seeing the horrid conditions…there are simply no words. AND in the Western World, frankly, most go “Isn’t that a shame.” and that’s the last they think about them, after all…”It doesn’t affect me.” Christians are really starting to step up to the plate…you guys and your World Race, World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse are a few and what we do in our Churches. Jesus said, “What you do to these, the least of these my little ones, you also do to me.” So it does affect us, me!!! I think of Swaziland and that King Mswati III and the story of The rich man and Lazarus! Steph, thank you for making us aware of the ‘ugly’ things of this world, and making us WANT to do something about them. May, as the Lord reveals these things,you store them in your heart, bring them home and then let us share in the blessing of trying to do something and making a difference to ‘These, the least of my little ones’….may we see Jesus in each one! YOU GO GIRL!! We love ya!!! SueMac
Dearest Stephanie, you touch my heart with each blog you send.This one is especially poignant,seeing the desperate existence of these fellow human beings. I will commit to pray for them, as I do for you and the team. Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord, and you are faithfully serving Him, may He be praised in what you accomplish in His power.
May you feel His peace as you go on to the next chapter of the World Race. Love, Peg
Rom 15:16-17 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.