"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uniformed. ... Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  ... All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body,  so it is with Christ. ... If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. ... Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all thing, endures all things. Love never ends. ... So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Portions of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13

For the last 8 months I have been living amongst a diverse group of people. Whether I look at the first portion in South Africa as a member of a team of 34 or this semester as Team Kenya with 13 and our extended family of the Swazi Team with 15, I see the beauty of the body of Christ. Last night was our last big family dinner, where our team goes over to the Swazi Team house in Manzini for dinner and worship. As I looked at everyone I realized the beauty and precision with which the Lord builds His body. When we walk in our identity and have the same spirit, and above all love, the Lord moves mightily. Each of us are unique, each of us were brought to Swaziland for a specific and different purpose. And I am thankful to be surrounded by people who not only rejoice in what God has called them to do, but also rejoice in what God has called others to. It is a beautiful thing. I have been so blessed by this family!

Here is just a glimpse at the beauty of my brothers and sisters on Team Kenya:

dD: Pastor at the church under the tree, blessing and loving women at the market into a passion for the Lord! Has powerful visions and dreams for those here and prayers powerfully for them and speaks His truth into their lives.

Nicole: Teacher to some of the most challenging students at Mahlanya Primary School, challenging them and loving them pointing them to Jesus and showing them that they are valued and able!

This is Nicole with some of the children she walks with to the care point on her way to school.

Allison: Teacher and beloved friend to students at Mahlanya Primary School, showing them the compassion of Christ and giving everything she has to love them and bring them to Jesus.

Here is Allison with some of her students!

Teresa: One of the funniest women I know, who is also so wise and so giving. She has loved and taught young women in a high school that they are important, valued, and loved by the Lord, and also loved on the women at the market. She has been all over the place, and has brought the joy and hope of the Lord to each place.

Amber: She is gracious, compassionate, powerful, and persevering, and has shown this by ministering to the children and mothers at the hospital and being broken for them each day. She has experienced the death of so many children and has continued to love and serve and allow God to be her strength.

                                           Here is Amber with Mcosili an abandoned boy at Mbabane Government Hospital.

Chelsea: Teacher Chelsea is loving, challenging, and such a dreamer. She is the one who introduced me to Ezulwini Catholic Primary School. She taught English to grade 6 and 7. This was a huge job, and she gave it everything she had. She became not only their teacher, but also their friend. She also works with youth at her church and speaks truth. She dreams beautiful dreams and has the faith and the power to do great things!

Abby: She is real and honest and this spirit has enabled her to connect to the girls at the high school who she taught and also to the women at the market that she has loved on and encouraged. Her life is a testimony to the love of God and this has encouraged women here and has reminded me the importance of living life with people as a testimony to the Father!

Melissa: She has the heart of the Father. She has ministered with Amber in the hospital and also at an orphanage, and she is amazing! After loosing child after child and being frustrated and angry, she continues to love and continues to persevere. She allows God to be her strength and even though it hurts to love so much, she does it! Even when she doesn't understand, she keeps going and loving: she personifies the statement, "Love never fails".

Tessa: Full of love and dreams. Her voice speaks truth and is encouraging and powerful! She gives all that she has and more, and trusts God for the rest.  She loved on children at a drop-in center for vulnerable children in a very powerful way. She spoiled little kids in a way that beautifully displays the heart of the Father!

Here is Tessa and Lindo, a beautiful girl, at the SACRO drop-in center.

Michelle: A true heart of compassion combined with wisdom and power to work to change things. She loves on the children at the drop-in center as well. Teaching them, serving them, and praying on their behalf-- believing more for them, and allowing God to take them there.

Here is Michelle in Zinhle, a beautiful girl at SACRO.

J.B.: A heart for people. Able to build relationships with anyone, and willing to love the unlovable. Playing soccer with kids, men, everyone; encouraging and speaking truth to men in the bus ranks and youth in the church; and loving and blessing the homeless. He goes when he doesn't feel it, he perseveres despite challenges and trusts God to move! It is a powerful thing!

Michael: Personable and able to make friendships with everyone. Able to preach and speak truth to all people, and also willing just to listen. Goes where he is needed and gives what he has. He uses what he has or where he is to allow God to move.

Cassie (our leader): Giving and serving and obedient to the Lord. Willing to persevere when it is hard. Fights the fight and continues in the face of attack! She loves and encourages especially through sharing what the Lord is doing in her life. Has a beautiful excitement for the things of the Lord!

This is my team, my family, a body of Christ! I am blessed to see people walk in their identity and so thankful that above what part or role they play, they love! I am also so thankful for the whole body of Christ. The fact that brothers and sisters all over the world serve the same God; this is amazing, beautiful, and powerful! May we unite in love and grow in unity and fight for His kingdom to come! I thank my church, my community, my family, and friends who together form amazing bodies of Christ! What a beautiful thing, to work together with a single purpose, filled by one spirit, and known by love! I will miss my family here, but know that God has brought us together for a powerful purpose, and though we might now share a house in a month, we will still be united!