Joy Amongst The Broken

5/18/12

“…During debrief a question was asked: What have you enjoyed and/or what is God teaching you? I have really enjoyed the laughter. I think I lost sight of laughter and how it is so necessary. Life might suck. These kids could be HIV positive, not have parents, have alcoholic parents, be abused, have no food or water, etc and yet there is always laughter and joy. This is what I have seen amongst the kids as well as the adults and it has been so great. Joy amongst the broken and suffering….”

This was an excerpt from one of my journal entries I wrote last summer when I was in Swaziland and one of the reasons I chose to call this blog Joy Amongst The Broken.

In less than a month, I will be getting on a plane and heading back to a place that I have grown to love. A place that is filled with brokenness but filled with so much joy. This world is broken. It’s evident. Look at the news, talk to your neighbor. We see brokenness all the time. But the thing that amazed me about Swaziland and why I am so excited to go back is to hear laughter and hear about all the great things God is doing in their lives despite maybe the fact they haven’t eaten today, or they are still in pain, or whatever the issue may be. When talking to these people hearing about how they are so grateful they are still alive, or how they have a roof over their head or how we are with them just singing songs and sharing scripture. It is a lesson we all need to learn: to have joy in the Lord in all our circumstances.

I am excited to be able to have this opportunity to work with AIM and return to Swaziland this summer for 2 months as an intern. I am excited to see all the changes that have happened with all the construction projects and the work done on the community garden. I am looking forward to the opportunities to sing praise songs with the people. I can’t wait to be laughing and playing with the children again. I am excited to have the opportunity to deepen the relationships I made and to continue sharing in life together with those in Swaziland. But most of all, I’m so thrilled to see how God has, is, and will be working in Swaziland as He continues to tend to His children.

The plan is to use this blog while I am there and to share in stories and pictures of what is going on. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated as I go on this adventure back.

Also, if you would like to make a donation to support me, you can mail it to AIM at Adventures In Missions, 6000 Wellspring Trail Gainseville, GA 30506 or you go this this website, http://adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=partFund. If you choose to donate through the website, in the "program" pull down select "Vision Trip" and in the participants name box type Brianna Phelps-13BAS0605. If you mail in a donation please write Brianna Phelps-13BAS0605 in the memo.