Grace

On Thursday, June 16, we had a day of appreciation for the gogos. The gogos are women who help out around the Bhalekane carepoint. On this day, we had lunch with them, gave them gifts, briefed them on how to use various first aid tools, talked with them, and shared with them a few thoughts on how much we appreciate them.

I was overjoyed to share the words of my Lord with these women. I read out of Isaiah 35, 

"They will enter Zion with singing; 

everlasting joy will crown their heads. 

Gladness and joy will overtake them, 

and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

These women greeted us with singing that sounded as if it were echoing the voices of heaven's angels. Joy was spilling from their hearts as they spoke with us. Gladness and joy had surely overtaken their souls and sorrow and sighing seemingly disappeared. 

Now let me introduce you to Grace.

 Grace is quite the character. 

She is a humorous woman with a big personality.

She is a lovely woman with a beautiful voice. 

She is a woman who praises the Lord with all that she is.

She is a woman who gives thanks to God with all her being.

I said sawubona to Grace as joy was flowing out of her. I think joy and grace walk hand in hand. When I have grace for myself and for others, joy finds a home. And when joy finds a home, grace can abide peacefully. Grace is a woman with much joy and I will forever think of her as a woman with much joy and grace.

Not only does Grace exude joy and grace, but she is also a woman of many thanks. The whole time we were sharing with the women, she said over and over, "Thank you, Lord, ngiyabonga kakhulu, Lord. Amen, hallelujah." She was thanking the Lord for every good word spoken, every hug given, and every gift received.

Grace is a woman with unending joy, overflowing grace, and relentless thanks.

Grace is another Swazi friend who I will always remember.

 This is yet another story of someone who is a part of the beautiful things the Lord is doing in Swaziland.