A
few weeks back, I was brokenhearted by the lack of “childhood” that a lot of the
kids are able to experience here. I was discouraged and could not understand
why God’s plan for a child’s life could include TB, rape, AIDS, or a parentless
life. Last week though, I realized how rich of a faith that some of the
children truly have. Yes, they have to experience many difficult things, but
through them, God reveals himself to them in a powerful way. I have continued
to visit the 12 year old girl with TB, Senanile, at the hospital. The past few
times I have been blown away at her hope and joy. On Friday, I went in there
and was making her a sign with her name and a Bible verse on it. She whipped
out her Bible and looked up the verse with me. I saw her underlined Bible and
was so excited to see that she spent time reading it. After I had finished her
sign, I looked over and saw that she had made me one, including her own Bible
verse for me. One of the FYM girls came in and told me that she had been the
one to give Senanile the Bible. She said that she had felt God telling her that
Senanile needed it. She also told me that the other day she had walked in to
find Senanile praying over the other babies in her room. At age 12, orphaned
and sick with TB, she wasn’t sitting and feeling sorry for herself. She loved
the other babies in her room and she was using her time to pray over them and
to spread God’s love to them. At such a young age, she realized the power of
prayer. She realized that God was the ultimate healer and she truly believed in
his supremacy.
From
seeing her faith and hope, I sat there and wondered who I thought I was to
doubt God’s plan. I will always be heartbroken by the tragedies that have
occurred in some of the children’s lives here, but God has shown me that he
uses these terrible circumstances to develop the most real and pure faith. I
learned from a 12 year old that I need to just trust completely in God’s way
and in his power. Senanile could have easily felt lonely and angry at the fact
that she had lost her parents and was sitting in a hospital in pain. However,
she was filled with joy, hope, and faith in God. Through this precious girl,
God has shown me what it means to have the faith of a child. Please continue to
pray for Senanile. An American doctor has started to work in the hospital and
has provided Senanile with amazing treatment. She is progressing a ton and the
doctor said that the TB should be healed. However, she is still experiencing
back and neck pain, and a lot of times has a high fever. Pray that she will
always have the faith that she does now and that she would rise up to impact Swaziland and
spread God’s love to her people.
“Your ways, O God, are
holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the people.” Psalm 77:13-14
Wow! I am so tenderly touched…to the point of tears. Thinking of the verses in Romans (5:3-5) ….”We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance; character; and character; hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.”
It sounds like God has a wonderful plan for Senanile. I’m praying for you all!
Ms Zelda
thanks kyleigh..now i’m crying in the school library looking like an idiot 😉 that really touched me and its so true. we always try to understand why thing happen in life that seem horrible or undeserved, but really we just can’t see God’s ultimate plan. And sometimes it seems as though we consider physical illness to be the worst thing possible, when i know millions of people here who are perfectly healthy physically, but their spiritual health is waning. i pray that we will have the same faith of that young girl. thanks for your message ky. i miss you soo much!!
Kyleigh that 12 year old is already reaching people far awaylike here!!!! Wow! What a testimony. I’ll continue to pray for you, Senanile, and your other friends there. Also praying for the awesome ministry the Lord has given you there.
Much love
Glenda
Kyleigh that 12 year old is already reaching people far awaylike here!!!! Wow! What a testimony. I’ll continue to pray for you, Senanile, and your other friends there. Also praying for the awesome ministry the Lord has given you there.
Much love
Glenda
Dear Kyleigh,
Thanks for all your updates. You are truly making a difference over there. Stay strong and committed – God works wonders. I pray for your safety and the safety of all the people who live and work there. By the by, Happy Birthday …. late!
Love, Aunt Cheryl
THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR ENCOURAGING POSTS! KEEP PRAYING THAT I WILL FINISH THE LAST WEEKS STRONG AND THAT I WILL KEEP MY EYES FOCUSED ON HIM ALONE
Kyleigh, I am so proud of you and how you are allowing the Lord to use you in Swazi. You are a special young lady. I cant wait to see you in April.
ky, how great God is to be revealing these things to you! i rejoice in all the growth that is taking place in your spiritual journey. Praise Him!!!
Cannot, cannot wait for you to come home! 🙂
love
kj
Kyleigh,
We have been praying for you and reading about your amazing experiences in Swazi. May God continue to minister through you right to the very end of your time.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline. 2 Timothy 1:17
God bless you for being bold in your faith, for your willingness to love and (consequently hurt)for taking the focus off of yourself and allowing God to refocus you.
We love you and pray for your safe journey home.
Tim, Joan, Brett, Alyssa, Victoria & Andrei