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“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“Mom wants to go to Syria. She wants to go into the warzone where people are dying every day to tell them about Jesus.” These words were spoken by my sweet Swazi friend, Nono, this weekend as we stood in her kitchen waiting for the wood burning stove to heat the pot of water for our baths. She was speaking about her mother, one of the most precious Swazi women I know. I have gotten to know Make Ngidi over the last 8 years and love her deeply. This weekend, I saw her heart in action. I remain speechless at the way this woman shows Jesus to those around her. On Saturday, I met Nono in town and we took public transport out to her homestead. We still had to walk another 30min or so with our weekend bags and groceries after being dropped off at the “station.”  When we arrived at her homestead, Nono immediately began caring for her brother’s 14-month-old while also working in the kitchen to help prepare dinner. As the guest, I was instructed to sit and relax and was given the largest mango I have ever seen. I enjoyed catching up with Nono’s brothers, Sakhile and Thokozani. We’ve been friends for years, and I feel like I have watched them grow up. Make Ngidi then asked me to go do homestead visits with her. There is an American girl who is a Peace Corps volunteer living in the same area. Make heard she had been sick so she wanted to go check on her knowing that seeing another American would likely be comforting. We walked to her “neighbor’s” homestead where she was staying. After meeting her and then talking some with the Swazis who are hosting her, Make Ngidi wanted to go sit and share the Gospel with this American girl. Unfortunately, she already had a visitor and did not want to have more people over at that time. Instead of being discouraged, Make decided it was a great opportunity to encourage the Swazis that were hosting her and then walk to another homestead where there was someone else who was sick. This neighbor was an older lady who had just gotten back from the hospital. She wanted to go check on her and pray over her. Just another Saturday afternoon for Make Ngidi. This is her rhythm of life. Nothing out of the ordinary. People are sick or hurting or in need in her community, and she is right there to encourage and pray…and if she has something extra to give, she gives it. This is the same woman whose asthma is so severe she has to stop every 2-3min while walking to catch her breath. This is the same woman who has single handedly raised 4 children not knowing if her husband is alive or dead. She is now raising her first grandchild as well. This is the same woman who lives miles off the main road with no car and no income. This is the same woman who was searching her kitchen for the nicest tea cup to give to her American guest (me) when Nono began telling me about her dreams to share the Gospel in Syria. Standing in the kitchen Sunday morning, tears filled my eyes. I want that kind of perspective. Make Ngidi doesn’t always know where her next meal will come from but she wants to go to Syria…and I have a hard time talking to the neighbor in my apartment building. Thank you, Make Ngidi, for your example and for being Jesus to those around you.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I can commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20
 

 

"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you."  Isaiah 41:9

                                             Tires and wires make great toys in Swaziland

                                       Sunset while walking back from our homestead visits

As you can imagine, I had a wonderful weekend at the Ngidi’s homestead. Saturday night, we enjoyed potatoes, pap (corn meal mixture), carrots, and goat. After dinner, we had family worship, Scripture sharing and prayer. Saturday night, I had the rain on the tin roof as my background noise, and Sunday morning, the rooster was my alarm clock. I had lots of new experiences over the weekend but these are stories for another time. However, one of the most well documented events was learning to make thin porridge Sunday morning. This is another corn meal-based dish that is a staple in the Swazi culture. Nono taught me how to make it, and I taught her how to use a camera.

                                                               Cooking thin porridge

After breakfast, Nono and I walked over to church following our mini photo shoot.  Make left ahead of us as she has to stop multiple times for her asthma. When we arrived at church, Make taught the children and I taught the youth. I was excited to see about 20 or so young people that came early for the lesson. The church was full for the worship service, which was so encouraging. We had a wonderful time worshipping together. After church, Nono, Thokozani, and I headed back to town, and then I went back to Baylor. This weekend was one of the highlights of my trip without question. I was so thankful for the opportunity to literally do life with this family. I loved spending time with my friend, Nono, and growing our friendship. I was literally treated like royalty all weekend and given the best of everything, which is the Swazi way but is simultaneously very humbling. I was also definitely challenged by Make Ngidi’s faith in action and willingness to go...to whomever and to wherever.

 

                                        Nono, me, Make Ngidi, and Tibusiso before church

                                                                        Homestead

 Sunday night, Andrew, Nina and I all reconvened at the cottage. Nina had been in Mozambique and Andrew had visited a game park. We ate dinner together and watched Harry Potter.  I also had a friend stop by Sunday night – Mpumelelo Dube. I had not had the chance to see him yet, so it was good to catch up. Monday and Tuesday have been clinic days for me. They have been super busy, and I have been seeing my own patients to help with the patient flow. If we have down time, I hang out with some of the Swazi staff.  A few are trying to teach me medical siSwati. Tomorrow I will head to a satellite clinic in Hlatikhulu and will likely be doing homestead visits. I am hoping Thursday will be spent at one of the local hospitals doing inpatient rounds. Friday will be my last day at Baylor and the team from FBC-Washington will arrive on Saturday. I continue to learn a ton medically, culturally, and spiritually. Each day brings an incredible amount of opportunities to be taught something and to grow somehow. Praying I continue to be open to what the Lord is saying and where He is working. I love every minute of being here while missing my friends and family back home at the same time. Can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Hunter

                                                                      Nono and me