This poem was written by 13 year old Claire Peterson. She spent a few months last year in Swaziland with her family. In just two weeks, they will be moving there to minister for two years at Nsoko, located one of the poorest, neediest areas of that African nation. Claire realizes that it isn't only her parents that are called to love the least and the lost. She realizes that she, as a follower of Jesus Christ, is also called to love the widows and orphans even if she isn't a grown-up yet. Despite her age, she is not just a missionary's kid, she is a missionary.SWAZILAND IS...
Swaziland is...need.
The people NEED to be fed God's nourishing spiritual food.
They also need enough physical food each day,
and water,
Swaziland is...grief.
Children raising children because their parents have died of AIDS.
Sexual sin among teens.
Infants dying of simple diseases because of a lack of adequate hospitals.
Swaziland is...hardship.
Sometimes not having enough food for the day.
Or water.
Or working hard all day in the hot sun for little pay.
Yet, in the midst of all these things,
Swaziland is also...
...Love.
Filled to the brim with love.
Radiating to those around them.
Children.
GoGos.
Men.
Women.
...Peace.
In all circumstances.
Not wondering, or worrying about what will happen,
But in the midst of everything,
Peaceful.
...Beauty.
The people.
The landscape.
All of it SCREAMS with
Absolute
&
Total
Beauty.
And most of all,
Swaziland is HOPE.
Dripping,
Sopping,
OVERFLOWING,
with hope.
For the future and for today.
Hopeful faces,
smiles,
and dreams
are everywhere in my beloved Swaziland.
Swaziland will always be my true home.
Where I can truthfully say,
"I am at peace with the world"
Surrounded by love,
Surrounded by peace,
Surrounded by beauty,
and
Surrounded by
HOPE!
SWAZILAND IS
HOPE.
and sometimes they don't have these things.
Swaziland is...need.
The people NEED to be fed God's nourishing spiritual food.
They also need enough physical food each day,
and water,
Swaziland is...grief.
Children raising children because their parents have died of AIDS.
Sexual sin among teens.
Infants dying of simple diseases because of a lack of adequate hospitals.
Swaziland is...hardship.
Sometimes not having enough food for the day.
Or water.
Or working hard all day in the hot sun for little pay.
Yet, in the midst of all these things,
Swaziland is also...
...Love.
Filled to the brim with love.
Radiating to those around them.
Children.
GoGos.
Men.
Women.
...Peace.
In all circumstances.
Not wondering, or worrying about what will happen,
But in the midst of everything,
Peaceful.
...Beauty.
The people.
The landscape.
All of it SCREAMS with
Absolute
&
Total
Beauty.
And most of all,
Swaziland is HOPE.
Dripping,
Sopping,
OVERFLOWING,
with hope.
For the future and for today.
Hopeful faces,
smiles,
and dreams
are everywhere in my beloved Swaziland.
Swaziland will always be my true home.
Where I can truthfully say,
"I am at peace with the world"
Surrounded by love,
Surrounded by peace,
Surrounded by beauty,
and
Surrounded by
HOPE!
SWAZILAND IS
HOPE.
and sometimes they don't have these things.
You can read more of Claire's writings at her blog: http://adventuresinnsoko.blogspot.com/
To read more about her family's ministry in Swaziland, visit their blog: http://ericandjen.myadventures.org/
To read more about her family's ministry in Swaziland, visit their blog: http://ericandjen.myadventures.org/
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