Hannah and Mapile: October 2018

I'm going to see Mapile this week. THIS WEEK. It has finally come. I'll fly down to Capetown on Wednesday, and see Mapile for their closing ceremony at ALICT on Thursday. We get to spend the weekend in Capetown before we come home together. Simo is going to stay here with some dear missionary friends of ours. My heart is so full, and I'm so excited that I can hardly bear it!

I've had some time to reflect on the last 3 months of Mapile being gone. This season has been extremely difficult, but in a super good, growing kind of way. One of my goals was to invest in friendships here during this time. God has allowed me to make new friends, and go deeper in already established friendships. I specifically prayed for God to bring Swazi lady friends into my life, as I have a tendency to always spend time with my western friends. It's been cool to see some of my Swazi friendships go to a new level too!

It's also been neat to see God's abundant provision in my life. I've bumped into so many people at just the right time... whether I was crying in my house after I put Simo to bed and someone knocked on my door, or friends being free to go out for lunch after church, or bumping into people at the grocery store, a phone call or message at just the right time... I feel like God's really seen me, even though I know He always sees me, it's nice to FEEL that way if you know what I mean.

There's also been big ways that God has provided for me - like a week ago when I got to attend a missionary ladies retreat in the southern part of the country. Someone was generous enough to pay for me so I could just attend the retreat, and a sweet missionary family was able to watch Simo so I could attend. The retreat was called Renew Me and it was such a blessing! I really felt renewed and encouraged after that weekend. I also made new friends!

The ladies who attended Renew Me

This has also been a cool season of me being able to connect with my Swazi relatives. I've been able to visit Gogo at her house 4 times. I think it's been good for our friendship because even though Mapile's not around, Gogo can hopefully see that I love her anyways. I was also able to have the kiddos from Gogo's house come up (5 of them) for a week in August during their school break. It was fun to have them here - we baked lots of sugary treats and celebrated 2 birthdays (Lungelo's 11th, and Mapile's 30th - we baked a cake for Mapile & ate it in celebration). They are a huge help with Simo, and we had a great time together. The week that we were together with the kids, Simo got sick with typhoid & a chest infection and was admitted for the day at Mkhiwa Clinic. She was discharged and able to receive IV outpatient treatment, but that made the week a little extra hectic.

Simo with the 4 boys from Gogo's house

Also, Mapile has had a great experience at ALICT. The training sounds like a very wholistic training - focusing on developing the individual along with the ministry. I believe that the classes he has taken will not only impact our ministry, but they'll be hugely beneficial in our family! I look forward to hearing more from him in person this coming week.

My heart is full, and the Lord has been so close during this time. You know, right before Mapile left I felt like God was speaking to me about idols in my life. He was reminding me that He needs to be my #1 in life. I've loved attending Liberty Church, and one specific Sunday the message was on heart idolatry. They asked us to pray & ask the Lord to reveal to us what our idols have been. I felt the Lord gently nudge me that sometimes Mapile is an idol in my life. It's been interesting to see that right after that, Mapile left for 3 months! It's also been really hard to communicate because of the tight schedule he has at ALICT, and so many times when I want to talk, or feel like I need to talk, we just haven't been able to. The Lord has reminded me often that HE is enough for me, and I can run to HIM with all of my issues.. and in fact, that's what He wants me to do.

I have a lot to praise God for! He is my abundant provider, my best friend, my faithful Father. There's absolutely nothing in life like knowing Him and following His ways. I've had so much peace through this season, my God is the Prince of Peace!

Thanks to so many of you who've thought of us & prayed for us! God has graciously answered your prayers.

Here's some pics of the kids visiting, and of course some extra of Simo. She'll be 2 years old on November 1st!