June 5 (day 14) - part 1

Sunday

I'm sitting here in church at Ntondoze. Their worship and love for God is so real and pure. It's incredible. The power you feel when they sing and pray together is so overwhelming and amazing.

The reason I'm writing right now is because I wanted to make sure I didn't forget to ask myself a particular question. Coming here to these churches and among these people has been so inspiring and fulfilling to me and I'm completely and utterly amazed by their love for God. The question is, how would these same people respond if they were sitting in my church back home? Is the Spirit ever-present at Marysville Naz? We come here to worship with these people and they are so grateful for our presence. Why? What do we have that they do not? When we go home, will we be the people that others see Christ's power in? Can we ever see God the way these Swazis see God?
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Just a minute ago we got up and introduced ourselves to the congregation. It was so awesome  to be up at the front and seeing a sanctuary that is packed full! Pews filled, people sitting along the sides, standing in the doorway, kids sitting on laps and kids sitting up on the platform....Awesome, awesome, awesome.
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After church everyone stayed for tea and cookies (the English thing to do, even though we're not English), which was just so enjoyable. Not often do people stay after church and drink tea, play with the kids, play soccer or netball, or just fellowship with one another. It was awesome and a great example of God's church. I wish churches in America were like this one, even though I know I'm guilty of rushing out of church to get home as soon as I can. There is just something about a church that feels real that makes me want to stay longer...

I'm sitting here now thinking about how my heart has changed for this country. More and more I think I could come back here and serve. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE! I cannot even describe how much I am not ready to go home yet. I'm going to miss being in this beautiful country. I'm going to miss the kids and the people. I'm going to miss the fellowship and community. I'm going to miss serving. I'm going to miss raw, ginuine love for God. God, please at some point in my life, send me back here or somewhere like it. I don't/want to stay in the US.

Before church we went to Melendela's for brunch, which was so good. We all sat at this really long stretch of tables and it made me so happy because it reminded me of home and my family :) It's crazy that when I think of my family (from being reminded of them through the people or the experiences), I don't actually miss them. (These people are my family too). I'm happy when I think of them and of how blessed I am to have my family, but I'm not ready to go home to them yet. I do wish they could come here, though, and experience all this. That would be the best life ever.

I just don't want to leave. I don't think I could say it enough to really show how much I mean it. There is something about the simple aspects of life and faith here that are just so compelling and that make life in the US seem so unattractive. It almost makes me sick thinking of going back to all my stuff and all the distractions back home or at school or wherever. Life is more peaceful here, more meaningful, and more valued.