I just want to say, thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. I have really appreciated your daily little notes that some of you sent me! I wish you all were here to experience the Swazi culture and the amazing people.
Swaziland is nothing like I imagined. We are
staying in the most populated city called Manzine. There are lots of city
lights, so I have unfortunately not been able to see massive amounts of stars.
I was able to see a pretty sweet sunset right outside my room on the balcony.
We are staying in a nice house with clean running water and bunk-beds and
electricity. Manzini is fairly modernized, paved roads, grocery stores, electronic
stores, car dealerships, etc/. On the way to Swaziland we ate breakfast at
McDonalds. There food is better here than in America. We spent our first
Saturday exploring the city, trying to adjust to the world around us. We have
been attending a local church the past two Sundays. They are very welcoming and
genuinely loved having us there to worship with them. The service is bi-lingual
so we are able to understand, which makes the experience that much better!
staying in the most populated city called Manzine. There are lots of city
lights, so I have unfortunately not been able to see massive amounts of stars.
I was able to see a pretty sweet sunset right outside my room on the balcony.
We are staying in a nice house with clean running water and bunk-beds and
electricity. Manzini is fairly modernized, paved roads, grocery stores, electronic
stores, car dealerships, etc/. On the way to Swaziland we ate breakfast at
McDonalds. There food is better here than in America. We spent our first
Saturday exploring the city, trying to adjust to the world around us. We have
been attending a local church the past two Sundays. They are very welcoming and
genuinely loved having us there to worship with them. The service is bi-lingual
so we are able to understand, which makes the experience that much better!
This past week we have visited a few different Care Points, where the
children come to get there one meal for the day. We spend a lot of the
afternoon playing with them and loving on them. It is a lot of fun. The kids
are full of energy and hope. They absolutely love love love stickers! A few of
them like to put the stickers on their earlobes as earrings. It’s SO cute. A few days ago Kelsey, Erin and I were able to teach a lesson on Nehemiah to the little ones. It was a lot of fun!
children come to get there one meal for the day. We spend a lot of the
afternoon playing with them and loving on them. It is a lot of fun. The kids
are full of energy and hope. They absolutely love love love stickers! A few of
them like to put the stickers on their earlobes as earrings. It’s SO cute. A few days ago Kelsey, Erin and I were able to teach a lesson on Nehemiah to the little ones. It was a lot of fun!
I expected to be SO broken and not able to function, instead I’m finding it really easy to love on these kids and see them the way Jesus sees them. They are just as normal as any child I’ve played with in America. They all just want love and attention. The majority of them have very little, and I have seen and held some children who don’t even have panties on. It is really easy for me to see past the material side and just share the love of Jesus with them.
My first day at the Care Point, I definitely saw Jesus the first day we went out to the care
point. I know very little Siswati (which is the language they speak) but I do
know how to say Jesus loves you. The first day all I kept saying to each child
I hugged and held was ,”Jesus loves you”. I told each child I came in contact that phrase. Most of them just looked at me with big bright eyes. The care point is fenced
in, and I noticed this one little girl in particular, before she even walked into
the care point. She was wearing a bright yellow skirt. When she reached the gate, I walked over to her and
knelt down to her level and said, “Jay-soo Ooo aaa Goo tanza (that’s how
it sounds when you say it in Siswati). She gave me the biggest smile and the
loudest laugh. It was at the moment that I saw Jesus! It was amazing. The next
day I worked at the same Care Point and the little girl remembered me. I was
able to get a little video of her amazing laugh and her singing “Jesus is
so Wonderful”.
point. I know very little Siswati (which is the language they speak) but I do
know how to say Jesus loves you. The first day all I kept saying to each child
I hugged and held was ,”Jesus loves you”. I told each child I came in contact that phrase. Most of them just looked at me with big bright eyes. The care point is fenced
in, and I noticed this one little girl in particular, before she even walked into
the care point. She was wearing a bright yellow skirt. When she reached the gate, I walked over to her and
knelt down to her level and said, “Jay-soo Ooo aaa Goo tanza (that’s how
it sounds when you say it in Siswati). She gave me the biggest smile and the
loudest laugh. It was at the moment that I saw Jesus! It was amazing. The next
day I worked at the same Care Point and the little girl remembered me. I was
able to get a little video of her amazing laugh and her singing “Jesus is
so Wonderful”.
This past weekend Angela, Anna, Kelsey and I went and helped with a womens retreat. AIM has a ministry with a group of about 90 women that make purses. The retreat was a chance for them to take a break from their lives and just be able to relax. The women were so cute. They were like little school girls during the games. It was so refreshing to hear so much laughter. Also, the culture here is to sing sing sing. The women sung and danced around a lot, a few times, we were pulled into the dance lines as well. It was a nice break from the large group of our team and a really good chance to get to know a few of the girls on my team better.
God is showing me a lot, but I feel like it’s still a time of input. I have not been able to comprehend the mass amounts of information He’s loading me with. I’m expecting to have it all sink in and hit me hard once I get back. It’s amazing that when I’m with the children nothing else matters in the world. I love that joy!
I am also amazed that the same sky I see at night is the exact same sky everyone else sees no matter what country! That just blows my mind the vastness of God! I am very open to God and am learning to become more aware of His voice.
I appreciate your prayers, they are carrying me through. It is your prayers that have allowed me to be this far from home and barely notice that I’m halfway around the world!
Ashley.. I’m praying for you!! Please send me your e-mail so I can e-mail you next Saturday.
I miss you all! It’s crazy not talking to you guys each day!
I pray for you guys as I go to bed. I’m 7-8 hours ahead of you!
Love you All!
~Autumn
leave me comments, so I can hear from you when I check this next weeK!!
Love you, Autumn! Your detailed entry helps me to see a glimpse of what you are seeing…wow! So proud of you! Praying continuously for you & the team 😉 Got your cards & I’ve been good-they remain unopened! May God bless you today and strengthen your faith in new ways 🙂
Autumn-I loved reading your post and got misty eyed about the part where you described telling the little girl that Jesus loved her. I lived in Swaziland in the 80’s as a single missionary and then returned on a short trip with Children’s HopeChest last year. I totally get where you are coming from about the children. Such beauty and joy!
My daughter Anna is going to Swaziland next week with an AIM Ambassador team. If you think about it, please pray for her (and us) as we prepare for her trip and then that God will do amazing things in her heart and life this summer.
Praying for your team!
Elysa “Thandeka Dlamini” MacLellan
Autumn~
Wow!!! It is so good to hear from you. Dad says it was great to hear your thoughts in your post. The Sparky’s song about shining for Jesus as we tell each boy and girl came to Dad’s mind. He knows that you are shining for Jesus. I loved the story about the little girl in the yellow shirt. I could just see you sharing your heart with her. I can hardly wait to see your photos of these amazing children.
Savanna says she loves you and she is so happy for you that you got to do this mission. She can’t wait to see you again and she is counting the days (15 to go). Mason has not heard your post yet but I know he would send his love as well.
Have you had a chance to teach any of the old songs from Bible school to the kids? You always did so well with the motions and such.
You mentioned seeing Jesus when the little girl smiled. Please know that you are the image of Jesus’ love to all of those children and people. Your whole team is represting our LORD. We wish we could be there and witness this amazing outreach. We love you and are praying for all of you. God is good all the time. Stay safe and stand up straight 🙂
Love,
Mom,Dad,Mason,Savanna,and Polo
Autumn!!!
I’m praying for you each and every day. It was so good to hear more about your trip. I can’t wait to see all your pictures and hear all the stories (hopefully in person!!) Keep shining for Jesus! Love you, roomie and I look forward to hearing from you again!!!!!!! Only a little while left so soak up all the moments you have left in Swaziland!
Love ya!
Rose-
Hey Autumn,
So exciting to hear what God is teaching you and showing you.
I’m so excited to hear more about the vastness of God, and how He continues to amaze you!
Love you!
Tuzin! It is so good to hear you voice online! I’m so happy for you and for the joy you are experiencing!! I knew that this would be amazing for you!!! You are much loved and much prayed for here in WA!! Love, love, love you!! Remember to use a squatty when you get the chance, to eat random food when you get a chance, to love through the dirty hands and feet and my all time favorite advice from my mom, “Scream if anyone looks at you!” I’ll tell you the story when you come home! Love you!!!!
AUTUMN!!!
I LOVE reading all the posts everyone is putting up! Although it makes me EXTREMELY jealous that I am not there. My heart is so grateful for all that God is doing through you! No doubt by now you have felt the power of the spirit in a real and new way. I LOVED hearing about the little girl in the yellow skirt, and can’t wait to hear more of these stories! I get to actually see you and hang out with you in about 14 days!! YEA! I can’t wait to see pictures and hear stories!
For now, I just want you to know that I am praying for you and your team for health, unity, passion, strength, and humility as God continues to break you and mold you all. Knowing that in heaven that little girl (although probably a tab bit bigger…like full grown) is going to RUN into your arms and you both will be praising God together. Your building amazing relationships that will not end when you leave, they will last for eternity! Im so proud of you for catapulting yourself out of the American comfort zone, and into the real world! Your an amazing ambassador of God! Keep Shining! Phil. 2:1-16
Ethan
Autumn, I am so proud of you and the work you are doing to bring light and joy to the people whose lives you are touching. They won’t forget you or your friends who have chosen this amnazing path. Peace be with you all as you continue to do good things! I loved reading your blog and look forward to reading more and seeing your pictures! Stay safe and God bless you! Love, Aunt Kathy
Sweetheart I am so proud of you. You bless this ole heart you always have. I can hardly wait to hear about all the things you encountered on this trip.I loved the story about the yellow shirt.You are in my prayers you and the whole team. Gods blessing on you.You have always been a good example to the rest of us.This grandma be PROUD.