My Great African Adventure
(AKA: Top 3 things I learned from growing up in Africa.)

 I was born and raised in ESwatini (formally Swaziland) and lived there until I was 16 years old. Waking up every morning to mountains, nature, and overwhelming beauty, you learn, think, and ponder about many things. I am so proud of my heritage and who I am. Thanks to my father and mother, I learned so many fundamental lessons at home.

 Be Grateful, Always

Gratitude is a way of life. From having nothing to abundance, I always learned to be grateful, and I always found treasure in everything we had. Before we had a septic system, we walked every day to fetch water from a nearby aquifer. We were so grateful that we didn’t have to get our water from the far-away river. My grandma would always say, “In everything, be grateful always.”

 A Life of Service

Humility

The life of service and being there for others was at the heart of my dad’s principles. He made sure that we were not only there for family, but for others in the community. Every Sunday morning, my siblings and I would wake up early to clean and sweep the church and make sure it was ready for services. We would walk the mile and a half back home to eat breakfast and then get ready to go back to church. By the time church was over, it was our duty to stay and make sure everything was in order before leaving the church.

 Don’t Miss Out on Fun

Creativity

From handmade dolls to creative storytelling, we made sure we didn’t miss out on the fun. While we didn’t have books or flashy toys, we made good on using the nature around us to spark our creativity, and I told stories to my sisters every night.

 I learned so many life lessons growing up in Africa. It provided me so much grace, and each day instilled the fundamental values that made me the person I am today. I am so grateful for the life, family, and friends I have. I am exactly where I need to be at any given moment of my life, and I am grateful to live my life of purposes.