I still find it hard to believe that God took me to Africa, used me, and changed me. I loved getting a taste of the Swazi culture. Being in such a different place, so unlike what I am used to, made me see how narrowly I view the world. teaching Swazi childrenSeeing people who actually experienced day-to-day trials, such as poverty, AIDS, and poor education made all these concepts real to me. Now, when I see a picture of a kid in Africa, or hear a story about someone dealing with AIDS, my heart is touched.

There were many unforgettable experiences in Swaziland. One thing that struck me the most was how the children have such difficult responsibilities, and how they must work hard to live. Many children are responsible for taking care of animals all day long, many must travel long distances for water, and many care for their brothers and sisters. At one of our children's camps, two young girls, surely not older than nine, had full responsibility for their two brothers, who were less than a year old. These girls did not have suitable clothing or shoes, either. At the same camp, a few children showed signs of malnutrition. Seeing these things, plus knowing that there was little hope for them to live any differently than they were, nearly broke my heart. I longed to stay, to get to know these kids and try to somehow give them help and hope, both for their physical situation and spiritually. I could not do any more, because that was not God's plan.    

One thing that greatly encouraged me were the local believers. We attended a local church, and seeing those believers give, worship, and speak was so good. I know that God has committed followers in the regions we visited, and He will continue to work among those people. Knowing that the children are in God's hands, and that He will continue to use the local believers, made it a little easier when it was time to leave. I pray that God will continue to send His laborers into these fields.

Adrienne Butler and Miriam Selph led children's day camps in Swaziland from Dec.28- Jan.9 

Click here to read Miriam's story