I have always felt a call to serve others, but it wasn’t until 20 years ago in 2003 that I felt a specific call to go on a mission trip to Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland). In fact, it was that whispering call, what God used to highlight missions in my heart.
Around 2010 God laid in my heart to create a vision board…and so I did! My desire to go on a mission trip to Eswatini was part of it…
Habakkuk 2:2-3 says “Write down what I show you. Write it clearly on a sign so that the message will be easy to read. This message is about a special time in the future…and it will come true. Just be patient and wait for it. That time will come; it will not be late”.
I finally had the opportunity to go on my mission trip to Eswatini this past summer (20 years later) I had the blessing of leading an Ambassador mission trip (14-17 years). 8 teenagers said HERE I AM LORD! SEND ME!
We showed up and God showed off!!
On Mondays we spent time walking through Manzini and praying with people at the market.
The rest of the week we did home visits and Carepoint ministry. During our home visits we gave away boxes of food (fortified rice) and solar lights and prayed for the families.
During Carepoint Ministry we helped feed the kids, played with them and loved them.
Carepoints is where the orphans and the poorest from the community come to eat their 1 and only meal a day after school and where they get to be loved and also learn about Jesus.
Carepoint ministry is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
We were serving between 200 and 350 children daily. During that time we honored and loved on the Carepoint sheppard and the Ùgogos.
The sheppard is the administrator of the carepoint, she is in charge of attendance, teaching about Jesus and ensuring the well being of the children at the Carepoint.
Ugogo means grandmother, these faithful women volunteer their time, energy and resources daily from Monday to Saturday and cook for the children and tend the garden. When they are not cooking, they are busy collecting firewood or doing home visits.
On the last day of ministry, we had a feast! The typical one meal a day that the care points serve the kids consists of mainly fortified rice, and occasionally something else. But, they rarely see meat or fresh fruits.So, the feast we served was chicken, beans, rice, fresh fruit, potato chips, and candy!
During down times we went through the Beauty for Ashes curriculum, went to church, did laundry and bonded as a team with worship, prayer, games, laughter and snacks.
It was an amazing experience to see how God was working through us to make a difference in the lives of these people. We were able to meet the need, build relationships with them and share the love of Christ with them.
The mission trip to Eswatini had a profound impact on my faith. It taught me the importance of prayerfully waiting for God’s promises and trusting HIS leading and HIS perfect timing.
The verse from Habakkuk that I shared at the beginning of this blog is a message of hope. It tells us that God has a plan for the future, and that He will not be late. This is a message that I want to share with everyone, especially those who are struggling.
The verse says…” it will come true. Just be patient and wait for it. That time will come; it will not be late”.
We all have promises from God that we are waiting for. Some of these promises may be specific, such as a promise of healing or a promise of financial provision. Others may be more general, such as a promise of peace or a promise of guidance.
No matter what the promise is, it can be difficult to wait patiently for it to be fulfilled. We may start to doubt God’s faithfulness or wonder if He has forgotten about us.
But God is faithful. He always keeps His promises. He may not always fulfill them in the way we expect or when we want, but He will always fulfill them in His perfect timing.
The Bible is full of stories of people who waited patiently for God to fulfill His promises. Abraham waited 25 years for a son, even though he was too old to have one. Joseph waited in prison for 13 years for his freedom. And the Israelites waited 40 years in the wilderness for their promised land.
These are just a few examples of how God’s people have waited patiently for His promises. And in each case, God was faithful to fulfill His promises in His own time.
So if you are waiting for a promise from God to be fulfilled, don’t give up. Keep trusting in His faithfulness. He will not disappoint you.
Here are some things you can do to help you wait patiently for God’s promises:
- Meditate on God’s promises. Read the Bible and focus on the promises that God has made to you. This will help you to remember that God is faithful and that He will keep His promises.
- Pray for patience. Ask God to give you the patience to wait for His promises. He knows how difficult it is to wait, and He is willing to help you.
- Trust in God’s timing. God has His own perfect timing for fulfilling His promises. Don’t try to force things or get impatient. Just trust that God is working in your life and that He will fulfill His promises in His own time.
- Serve others. When you focus on serving others, it takes your mind off of your own problems and helps you to be more patient.
- Be thankful. When you are thankful for what you have, it is easier to be patient for what you are waiting for.
Waiting for God’s promises can be difficult, but it is also an opportunity to grow in your faith. By trusting in God’s faithfulness and patiently waiting for His promises, you will grow closer to Him and learn to rely on Him more.
I hope this blog has encouraged you to keep trusting in God’s faithfulness, even when you are waiting for unfulfilled promises. Remember, He is always with you and He will never leave you or forsake you.
I believe that God is calling us all to be agents of hope for the hopeless. We can do this by serving others, sharing the love of Christ, and living our lives in a way that reflects His love wherever He is calling you or wherever you are already planted.
If you feel a call to go on a mission trip or serve others in any way, I encourage you to follow it. It is an amazing way to experience God’s love and make a difference in the world by sharing God’s hope and love!
And if God has given you a promise, in the waiting… I encourage you to keep the hope and keep trusting GOD!
Prayer Requests:
- Join me in prayer for the orphans, widows, and the most needy in Eswatini. For God to provide for their basic needs and give them hope for the future. Pray for them to open their hearts to God’s love and grace.
- Pray for the people who are serving the needy in Eswatini. Pray for God to give them strength and courage to continue their work. Pray for God to bless them with joy and satisfaction as they see God’s love at work in the lives of others.
