For the last three years, New Life Downtown has been partnering with Children's Hopechest to provide financial and relational support to a community in Swaziland. This yearI'll be co-leading a group of 11 from NLD who will be travelling to Mankayane at the end of March to further the relationship that NLD has with the community.
When I was working on Indian Reservations a few years ago, a community elder made a statement to me that has stuck with me and formed my view of church partnerships and mission work. He said,
"The first time you come, we will be hospitable, the second time you come we can have a conversation, and the third time you come we will begin building a relationship."
New Life Downtown believes that part of the development of our relationship with this community in Swaziland is for us to continue to show up. To show through our actions that we are interested in true relationship building, where we mutually learn from each other.
I'm excited to be co-leading the third trip our church has taken to visit our partner in Swazi, and I'm hopeful that the relationship building will begin to thrive!
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