This week our team split in half to serve at 2 different care points. My group had the privilege of teaming with a Swaziland ministry called Ambassadors of Hope, a ministry of young adults who travel around Swazi praying for revival. Together, we went out and visited homesteads to share the word. (A homestead is a plot of land that belongs to a family. They live, farm crops, and raise animals on this land.)
Often home visits consist of missionaries going out and being good company; they commonly do chores for the members of the community ( fetch water, clean , assist with laundry, etc.)- any way to build relationships.
One homestead we went to, a group of adults were lounging under a tree. We asked them if there was anything we could do for them, and one of the men asked us to read scripture. They didn’t want us to do any work, they only wanted the word. This particular man was so hungry for God. He sat closest to us, looking like he was going to jump out of his seat. One of the Swazi missionaries translated for us. We read Romans 5:1-10 and interpreted it, something I am typically hesitant to do. We went around asking for prayer requests – one man needed healing, the others wanted to feel closer to God, they wanted relationship with him but seemed unsure at how to get it. They spoke as though it was unreachable for them, or they were unworthy. We told them all they had to do was invite Christ in. He died on the cross, so that we were no longer slaves to our sin. We are sealed in him, and he longs to have an intimate relationship with us. There is no amount of striving, or good works that could change that.
Swazi culture is very shame based, there is pressure and expectation to honor the family name. So we emphasized grace, and forgiveness. We asked if anyone wanted to say a prayer of salvation, and enter in to new life. An older woman stepped forward,and we were overjoyed to walk her through the prayer, and have a new sister in Christ. No one is too old to receive the Lord!
It is heartbreaking seeing the poverty in Swaziland, yet it is impossible to deny the wealth that is abundant here. Their is so much hunger for something more, and the Lord is opening many doors for us to speak the truth. He is writing more people into His love story each day. Sharing the gospel in the states has been scarier for me, but the Lord is increasing my trust in Him that he will provide me with the words when the time is right. And it is simply a privilege that he uses us to further the kingdom.
He is revealing to me how simple the gospel is. That I do not have to fear saying the wrong thing, he is responsible for their salvation, I am just a vessel.
