Bending the Bow Int'l

This is our third time in Nelspruit. We LOVE it here. It feels very much like home, and has each time we have stayed in this area. The Lord is deepening and expanding our relationships here, and we are grateful. It has been nice to "park" in one place for several weeks just to get to know these beautiful friends on a deeper level. It is amazing that you can be so far from home and yet feel so "at home". That's what happens when God knits your hearts together with others that love Him and serve Him, huh?

I thought it would be fun to tell you a little about the Nelspruit area. Over the Past two weeks we have seen a lot of different geography and architecture. There are mountainous areas that get small amounts of snow. There are swampy areas with crocodiles; spectacular waterfalls; warm people; wonderful music; tons of animals; and lots of GREAT food. Nelspruit has around 80,000 residents with as many as 200,000 people in the city working during the day. There is middle class and upper class on one hand and EXTREME poverty in the other; a STARK CONTRAST, really. There are homes and restaurants that would compare to and surpass our American standards; and on the other side of the fence...within very close proximity there are homes made of cardboard, dilapidated wood, with concrete slab floors; where toilets are a luxury and one drinkable, running water faucet is a commodity shared by many families. The beauty of it all is that Jesus lives and breaths in every individual and in each community that calls on His name; race, income level, education...none of these really matter in the Kingdom; our King longs to walk with each of us where we are; and He longs to use us where we are. It's not about what you have or where you live; it's just about knowing Him and falling more deeply in love with Him as you travel on your journey. That's why we can feel so at home regardless of where we are, as long as we are with His people. That's rich!