The view is
breathtaking.
Across the
mountainous horizon, the sun hang lows, illuminating the late afternoon with an
orangey hue. A slight breeze plays with my hair and sends me hints of citrus;
the once-distant orange groves are getting closer. A long, bumpy stretch of
reddish dirt road lies before me, set between fields of fruit on both sides, beautiful
in its simplicity. Despite my scenic surroundings, the only thing I can process
is the pounding of a heartbeat ringing in my ears as I encourage myself to keep
power walking. At the head of our band of six is a small, older Swazi woman in
her sixties. On her back is a purse, its handles being used as backpack straps;
she carries a jacket in her left hand and a blanket in her right. She seems to
be moving at a normal pace, until you see the four Americans scurrying
desperately after her, like ducklings following their mother. Another Swazi
woman follows our group, desperately trying to hold in her laughter as
these white kids gasp for air and stumble in front of her. We’d been walking
for what seemed like ages and still had an hour or so to go until we reached
our destination: the home of Mona Lisa, the fastest sixty-something-year-old you’ll
ever meet (and one of the most joyful El Roi Baby Home caregivers).
For nearly two
hours we walked like this, near the point of collapse as Jimmy, Heart for
Africa’s president, surprised us in his car and took us the rest of the way to
Mona Lisa’s homestead. The trek we’d just experienced, nearly exhausting for Americans,
is her daily commute to and from her job at Project Canaan. She gets up at
three in the morning in order to make it to El Roi by seven a.m., having to
make breakfast for herself and seven grandchildren, all orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
Mona Lisa has one of the most fantastic smiles I’ve ever seen, and never
complains (except when she told us that we were too slow!). We spent some time
talking with her once we arrived, and I was blown away by her happiness in such
humble surroundings. She has seen such tragedy in her life, having to bury five of her own children, and yet she remains so very joyful, hardworking, and
strong all for her grandchildren’s sake.
She is the definition
of selflessness.
She is a reflection
of Christ.
“Do nothing from
rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the
interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a
thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
- Philippians 2:3-8
Though I only
got to spend one afternoon with her and few words were exchanged, Mona Lisa
taught me what true love is. She loves her grandchildren so much that she gives
everything she has—time, strength, energy, money, and food—to ensure that they
will survive and thrive. And you know what? She is one of the happiest people
I’ve ever met, no doubt because she is doing exactly what the Lord asks of her.
As I reflect on
my time spent with such a phenomenal lady and continue on with my summer here
in Swaziland, I must ask myself these questions:
(1) Am I living
for my own pursuits, or am I living to fulfill the Lord’s pursuits?
(2) What will it
look like for me to give Him everything I have all the time?
Thankfully for
me, I have two more wonderful examples of Christ-following individuals right
here in Swaziland who followed God’s will and gave Him everything. Absolutely everything. Ian and Janine Maxwell, the
founders and leaders of Heart for Africa, closed down their incredibly successful
business in Canada, moved away from family, and eventually ended up nearly
seven thousand miles away from home to start their work on Project Canaan in
2009. Now, four years later, they are seeing just the beginning of God’s
amazing plan for this nation, all because of their obedience.
I pray that I
can seek Christ’s plan for my life with bravery and faith like Mona Lisa and
the Maxwells, but I’m sure my summer internship is a step in His direction.
Thank you to all
who have reached out to me with encouragement and prayer; it means a lot and I
definitely need it!
With love,
Audrey
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