How do you explain something that is unexplainable?
How do you describe something that is indescribable?
Well this is my attempt to do just that.
My trip to Swaziland was far beyond anything I’d ever thought I’d experience in my life. Prior to the trip I tried to clear my mind of any expectations. I wanted to allow everything that happened to really soak in and not have to be compared to any pre-conceived ideas. From the very first day I could see how God was using this trip to completely blow my mind. I saw so many things that most people will never see; I experienced so many things that most people will never experience. And through it all I discovered the true definition of words we use so flippantly but don’t fully understand.
Beauty. Oh how I was overwhelmed by beauty; it swept me off my feet. The mountains, the waterfalls, the creatures, the sky, the stars, God’s creation couldn’t help but radiate His matchless splendor. We had a chance to go hiking one day up a mountain and gaze out at the scenery. Once we reached the top I found myself needing to seclude myself. I sat down and looked out at everything. It was breathtaking, and couldn’t hel
p but sing praises to my Creator.
Joy. In the face of death, sickness, and extreme poverty I saw kids that were exuding a light that contradicted their circumstances. I had never seen such pure joy before. To me it seemed like that they lacked so much, but still they sang at the top of their lungs and they danced with such enthusiasm. Delight was in their eyes, and I was in awe at what I saw.
Love. God is Love. I thought I understood what love was, but a whole new dimension of this word was revealed to me during this trip and as a result, a whole new dimension of who God is. I experienced the selfless love that these missionaries from Children’s Cup had for these kids. It was so evident by their commitment and willingness to serve and do whatever was needed to help these kids. I experienced the love that each child was so eager to give away. They didn’t judge anyone; they just loved and embraced you without any agenda. It was so precious and refreshing. I also experienced real love between brothers and sisters in Christ. There was a group of interns from a church in Zimbabwe that came and met up with us halfway through the trip. We became one working body the instant we all met. It was a seamless unity the entire time and we each genuinely loved one another. It was as if we had known each other our entire lives. This was an amazing image God had given each of us from this experience—a small glimpse of what eternity in heaven will be like with one another.
Hope. In what seems to be a hopeless situation—a country with the highest percentage of AIDS, a generation of parentless children, and a people lacking basic needs to survive—I learned what hope was. When we rise up and begin to act, when we become Jesus’ hands and feet, when we stand in the gap no matter what the sacrifice, that is where hope is birthed. Children’s Cup has been the pioneer for standing in the gap to bring hope to this desperate generation, and they propelled me to do the same.
Before this trip I had never felt so satisfied before. Through everything I did, learned, and experienced, I was being used. I was answering my commission and from that came such an abundant amount of contentment. I found beauty, joy, love, and hope, but ultimately I found myself in all of it. It defined me.
Since I've gotten back from Africa God has really been speaking to me and revealing new layers of Himself and His love that have just left me in awe. So Monday morning at about 5:30am God woke me up with a chorus in my head. In about an hour and a half I had finished the song. I thought I’d share the lyrics...they were totally God-breathed!
