This year is going to be hard…
Things you can be praying about:
–
Our host here has been sick lately, please be
praying for his health
–
Team unity and community
–
In two weeks our schedule picks up with Jon’s
friend Richard joining us for a week, after he leaves a World Race team
(another AIM program) comes in. And two weeks after that we have our first
debrief.
–
And everything that is written below
I’ve put off writing a new blog
for a while now. “This year is going to be hard. Sometimes you’re going to want
to quit.” Sometimes I wish I could remember more of what Tag (our former
director for the Novas project) warned us about.
I’ve become lethargic, my heart
isn’t here, it isn’t at home, and I honestly don’t know where it is. Most of
the time especially in our room it is incredibly hot, and sometimes I feel like
I’m just not making a difference here. Last week we went to Manzini and spent the
night with some long term missionary friends of ours. At one point we began to
talk about love stories and marriage and it finally hit all of us at once that
as girls in our culture we romanticize marriage and just about everything else
too. We have romanticized everything, including
what this was going to look like for all of us.
We’ve reached a point in Nsoko
where most us are fed up with our moods, our hearts are heavy with everything
we are seeing and we want to do more.
Life in the country in Swaziland is very slow for a fast-paced American and there
are only so many things you can do to fill the time.
I’m tempted to end this blog with
a great story about how God has taken me out of this mood that I’m in. But that
hasn’t happened yet, despite trying to focus on Him, despite trying to pull
myself out of this, and I want to be honest. So please be praying for us here.
Howdy Katie,
We would love to send you some of the artic air that has invaded central Texas over the last several days. Our water froze Thursday last week. We’ve repaired the leaks that were seen and am praying that the 50+ temperature will thaw out the pipes today. We’ve been roughing it like you. We’ve been without water to wash anything. I will pray for relief of your anxiety. You have the faith, listen to the silence and hear the Lord speak.
Yours in Christ,
Calvin
Katie,
I’ll be praying for you in these areas. I feel the same way about the youth in this country – the need is so great and I can do so little. A lot of the kids seem lost in what they believe (spiritual and moral). (Note: I’m not talking about Zalen). The schools lack discipline which gives them NO guidelines about behaving with civility to anyone. However, I keep going back to the scripture where Christ said that “whatever you do to the least of these my bretheren, you do to me”. Just treating those we come in contact with (I started to say minister to, but sometimes they minister to US), with respect and dignity is sometimes the greatest thing we can do. But – I’m not seeing what you’re seeing. Just feel my love and support.
Our church is full of families who have done missionary work in Central Mexico and South America. They seem to have the same urgency to reach those around them – to show people Christ’s love through tangible means and through love, and to share his message. A wonderful church family!
I love you very much.
Aunt Judy
Oh Mama.
I love you a lot. I miss hearing your voice. Courage, dear heart. Our Father has better things for you than these feelings of defeat. He wants to be with you. I’m sorry I’m not there to give you a big hug. Just remember that God will never let you forget who you are, no matter how far you feel away from yourself sometimes.
I love you. And I love you. And I love you.
JB
Katie:
This is Mike Richardson. I have been a missionary for 16 years in Mexico. I once read a quote that has encouraged me through the years of common day in and day out tasks. “A little thing is a little thing but faithfulness in a little thing is a BIG thing.”
Be strong and of good courage—even in the little things and God Almighty, the creator of the universe, will bless the work of your hands.
In Christ,
Mike