Driving in on the bus, the kids all notice that it is white Americans. They know that once we get off, they will receive love, hugs, and most of all candy. They tug at you and say "sweets...sweets" knowing if you have some in your pocket, you will give them a sucker or candy of some kind. Some will start to dance with you, run with you, jump rope, just about anything they can to get you to play with them. They are starving for attention, and they know that you will give it too them.
While playing you notice that they are just like normal children from around the world. But what tugs at my heart the most about the children of Swaziland, is no matter how much love you are planning to show them, they show more towards you than you could ever give. Makes you forget just who the missionary is out of the group.
I sat on a pile of sand and dirt one day after playing one day. I girl around the age of 4-5 came and sat in my lap. She probably didn't weigh about 35 pounds. She was all smiles. She never said a word. Just came right over and sat down. She had a cute little shirt on that was plaid. She had a shaved head, and just cute as can be. She would rub the hair on my arms. Men of this region don't have hairy arms so the kids are just amazed at the people who come in with it on theirs. She would play with my watch and make the numbers change and beep. But no matter what, she wouldn't leave or let anyone disturb her from this moment. She finally grew a little tired and kinda drifted off to sleep on my shoulder. She spoke no english so communications was none, but it didn't matter, the communication of love was there. I didn't have to talk, and she didn't have to talk. She felt safe, loved, and thats all that mattered.
The same love that was shown is the same love Christ shows. You're going to have that day where out of the blue in some form or another He shows himself to you. Remember to be just like the little girl and climb in His lap and let His love be shown. It's because of Him I am the person I am today. When I need that feel of love or feeling of safe, I just pray that His love be shown.
There are hundreds of these moments everyday in Swaziland. I could write hours upon hours of the love these children show. Most of them are HIV positive or have some kind of illness that could end their life soon. The only hope they need is the love of Christ. Everytime I visit them, no matter what their life faces, they become the missionaries to me.
