Our first Swazi Women’s Camp came and went 2 weeks ago. This blog should have done the same, but I’m a little slow. Colds, coughs, and too many public holidays have kept me away from the internet café quite a bit lately, but I’m finally getting a chance to catch up.
Let me fill you in a bit on how the camp went…
First of all, remove from your mind any preconceived ideas of what you think a women’s “camp” might look like:
Cabins?
No, a one room concrete church.
Bunk beds?
Nope, grass mats on that concrete floor.
Singing songs around the camp fire?
No, but every meal cooked over on one!
Shower house?
Oh no, just grab a basin of water and go take a sponge bath out behind one of the giant aloe plants out back.
Bathrooms?
Not what you’re used to, but functional, and with a great view of the surrounding mountains.
Late night refrigerator raids?
What fridge? What Kitchen?
Lights out by 10pm?
No lights at all! (actually we did have a generator some in the evenings).
But of course, no matter where you are in the world, women are women…ready to enjoy a break from the normal routine of life, ready to be refreshed, needing their worth affirmed, enjoying pedicures, needing prayer and encouragement from their sisters in Christ, ready to laugh, appreciating pretty things, eating sweets, whispering til late at night, going to the bathroom in groups, singing sweetly, praying, crying, laughing…
It was such a good three days.
My friend Jacci came and spoke with the women about how we are “Created with a Purpose.” All we are and do is to be focused on bringing glory to God. We were created “by him and for him,” and when we are doing what we were created for, it gives value to our lives, purpose to our circumstances, and precious unity to our fellowship. Many women commented on how what Jacci shared was just what they needed to hear. Our desire was that the women would leave encouraged and challenged, and it really seems that they did. As our missionary interns interacted with them in the days following they said they could tell the women had new joy and energy to serve.
Even the logistics of the weekend went well. It’s interesting to plan an event in a culture that is much more “event oriented” rather than “time oriented,” as we are in the States. Very rarely did we say what time something was supposed to specifically start at. We just knew the order of events: the first thing we did together was breakfast (usually at eight-ish), after that was games and a teaching, and after that was lunch…we were never stressed out about something starting late, because it was just supposed to start when the previous event was finished! Somehow it all worked out and we were able to fit in all we’d planned.
I spent Monday and Wednesday of this past week out with the women again. We’re trying to get some craft projects finished to hopefully sell to the short term teams that will be coming through at the end of the month, and throughout the summer. This week we were learning how to make hand bags out of some of the typical African fabric used here (mostly to strap their babies to their mother’s backs). One woman agreed to bring her hand pumped sewing machine to use for the demonstration. I don’t how many kilometers she walked with that heavy sewing machine balanced on her head! Crazy! The best part of the day was watching the women strut around the room modeling the hand bags we are making.
In the past they’ve told me their meetings start at 9am. When I first started meeting with the women I would arrive at 9am, and sometimes wait until after 1pm before they’d actually be ready to start. Since then my arrival time varies anywhere from 10am to noon. I think the women must really be enjoying learning to make the crafts, because the last time we met they told me to try to be on time for our next meeting. I’ve never had an African ask me to be on time before! Pray that the women would catch on fast, and that they would be encouraged by some good sales at the end of the month.
I continue to enjoy my time with the women, and am amazed at the way God is accomplishing his purposes in them and through them. Pray that I would have continued favor in my relationships with them, and that we would all be drawing closer to Christ!
