We’re home to the US. Again. I don’t know if there is a year in my life when I’ve been gone more from home. Marcia and I have begun telling people “we live in both places.” And it’s basically true as we indeed have lives in Georgia as well as lives in Swaziland.
This past trip to Swaziland was so full of activity I hardly know where to start. I lead a trip of 30 people where we worked at two care points. We had a fun day for the kids at on care point and 350 kids showed up. I was amazed. We played carnival games, had a short program, and had a meal. On the way there I bought what I thought were going to be enough oranges and apples for each child. When the number started to balloon someone asked me what if we don’t have enough fruit? I said we take 300 apples and cut them in half and we have enough for 600 kids – no problem!
One thing the group did was re-paint all the buildings. They did so well – the place went from dingy to bright and new in just a few days! This care point also recently received a new playground from Kids Around the World. I love seeing all the kids playing ALL THE TIME! They will probably wear this thing out in no time!
Throughout the week over 100 children came each day to be a part of the program and outreach. The group also went on home visits around the area meeting people and sharing the love of Jesus. It was a great 10 days. While a lot of good was accomplished I sit here back at home and try to calibrate myself to this reality. I am really tired. I mean that kind of tired when you don’t realize how tired you are until you sit down and sit still. I might describe myself as dull, numb, empty. That kind of tired where there is little emotional energy. Where it’s easy to be irritated and negative. Where you need to look back over some pictures and recount some stories from the activity that made me this tired just to remind yourself that there was reason and purpose.
I want to tell more stories about our trip in upcoming blogs. In the meantime could you pray for Marcia and I? Only those really interested would still be reading this right now – so I purposely waited to ask for prayer. While we were gone to Africa our support account went negative for the first time in many years. For those hard of hearing that sound was a thud from dropping a very heavy word. This is hard to communicate because so many incredible people have been so incredibly generous for so many years that I can only be incredibly grateful.
But to be honest support raising makes me more tired. Please pray for perspective – for energy – for opportunities to cast vision – for provision for our life and ministry.
Thanks to all who read this far!
