This past July I had the opportunity to spend 2 weeks at Project Canaan. In the months leading up to the trip, I had so much anticipation for what God was going to do. He far exceeded my expectations. During the entirety of my stay the only word that could come to my mind was awe. I was, and still am, in awe of what God has done with the people who have chosen to say yebo and invest in the mission of Heart for Africa. I am also in awe of how He shows His kindness to us. 

Two months before the trip I graduated from dental hygiene school. When I originally decided to go to hygiene school, my intent was to have a skill that I could use to serve internationally. During my schooling it became more apparent that on most international dental trips, hygienists were not particularly useful. I started to let that dream die.

Through a series of events orchestrated by the Lord, I was able to go on the July trip with Heart for Africa. My mom was going a week early to prepare for Camp Canaan and get some other work done at Project Canaan. I was invited to go early and work in the dental clinic. From my first day in the clinic, the need for primary dental care became evident. I saw the results of a lack of primary care in the adults I treated. Many of them were past the point of a cleaning helping. If I had done a proper cleaning, their teeth would have fallen out. If the Project Canaan kids are receiving primary dental care, many issues could be prevented. This was exactly the dream that God set in my heart years ago, before I even knew Heart for Africa existed and here I was doing it. I’m in awe of the kindness of the Father who sets His plans into motion for our good and His glory. 

While I was serving at El Rofi Medical Center I had the honor of working alongside the medical director, Anthony. Anthony set aside time in his busy schedule to help us in the dental clinic. What I was most amazed by was his willingness to learn. During the year there is limited access to dental care, and frequently when people are in pain, they have nowhere to turn. We were able to help Anthony learn some basic dentistry to give him the ability to help if someone is in pain. Throughout the week Anthony shared parts of his story that led him to Project Canaan. It is not my story to share, but what I will say is that God has had His hand on Anthony’s life. I was blown away by how God ordained all of this for Anthony to be at Project Canaan providing the best care to the children. God has been so kind to provide staff who see the vision of Heart for Africa and have the willingness to say yebo.

During my trip, three new babies arrived. On Sundays during church, the new babies are dedicated. I watched as Ian and Janine prayed over these babies and promised to raise them to know the Lord. I sat in awe at how kind He has been. Instead of the uncertainty of what their life could have looked like, in His kindness, these babies were brought to a loving home and will be loved back to life. This is the gospel – that we are brought into His eternal family. 

Towards the end of the second week we went to Ekhaya, which is the traditional Swazi homestead built on Project Canaan. It provides a physical place where the children can be taught about life and their culture. We got to have dinner and spend quality time with the older kids. After we finished eating everyone started moving their chairs around the bonfire. We sat around talking for a little while and then the kids wanted to perform. After a few songs they asked if everyone wanted to sing “My Lighthouse” by Rend Collective. I had just come out of a season of feeling abandoned by God. During this time, I had to continually remind myself that He had not and will not leave me. In the song it says, “I will trust the promise, You will carry me safe to shore.” The timing of this could have only been ordained by the Lord. To hear the kids singing in faith that we can trust His promises was a great encouragement and was a display of His kindness to me.

I saw God’s kindness to me in big ways where His love for me was on display, but I also saw it in small moments. The whole time I was in Eswatini I really wanted to see a monkey. My friend Hannah told me a story about how she prayed to see something very specific on a game drive and God showed up. We had two nights left and I asked, “God, I would just love to see a monkey before I leave.” This is a small, silly request that doesn’t actually matter. That night as I was walking to dinner I heard monkeys. I looked to my left and I saw one. I stood there taking it in, saying a small prayer of thanks. I ended up standing there with my mom for 10 minutes and we saw at least 15 monkeys. How cool is it that God also cares about these little things? He may be showing us love by these extravagant events orchestrated over years, or it might just be as simple as seeing a monkey in Africa. 

As I reflect on my time at Project Canaan and all the ways I saw His kindness on display, I am reminded that God is working in my life here at home too, and I only need to pay attention to see His kindness to me and those around me. 

Emily Schreiner, Heart for Africa Trip Volunteer

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