JOY, what is joy? Is it different from happiness, or are joy and happiness the same? I thought joy was an extension of happiness, maybe a step above happiness. I also thought I had experienced joy, but now know it was happiness. I learned the difference because of my time at Project Canaan (PC).
Four months ago, I did not know Project Canaan existed. The company I work for was purchased by another company called Ventra Health. At the time, Ventra was wrapping up a fundraiser they called Driving for HOPE (to raise money to purchase a vehicle for the PC clinic). An email went out looking for a volunteer from my division, to go on a trip to PC with 3 other Ventra Health employees. To be 100% honest, I was not exactly sure what I had volunteered for, and I could not imagine I would get selected, but I volunteered anyway.
To my surprise, I was selected and learned I would be heading to Eswatini in 6 weeks! I was so filled with joy (or what I thought was joy at the time). Everything moved so fast after that, I received my airline tickets the next day, and there was no turning back. That was when the other emotions started to kick in. I was happy, but also a bit anxious. Not only was I going to Eswatini in 6 short weeks, but I was also going with 3 other employees, who were strangers to me. I had only had my passport for a couple of months, and I had never been out of the US, let alone on a plane for more than 4 hours. Reality set in when I learned the flight would be 15 hours long (it never occurred to me how long the flight would be, can we say SHOCK!). Panic set in when it dawned on me, I had NEVER used a restroom on a plane before, how was I going to make it 15 hours????
Six weeks flew by; it was as if someone hit fast forward and the next thing I knew, I was arriving at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport. I was heading to Atlanta to meet up with the 3 other strangers, I mean employees, and the Heart for Africa executive director, who would be traveling with us. The 15-hour flight flew by (literally and figuratively) and we arrived in Johannesburg, where we stayed overnight. The next morning, we were up before dawn, and back to the airport to catch our final flight into Eswatini. We landed in Eswatini, obtained our luggage, and boarded the Quantum we would be riding in for the next 5 days.
We made a quick stop at Bush Baby Lodge, dropped our luggage off and then back in the Quantum and off to Project Canaan we went! From the moment we arrived at PC, it just felt different! The Quantum pulled up to the security gate, and that is where I immediately noticed a woman (Ncobile) jumping up and down with excitement and smiling from ear to ear. Her excitement was aimed for us, and you could immediately feel how infectious her enthusiasm was!
We piled out of the Quantum and were introduced to Ncobile, who would be spending the remainder of our trip with us. She was a stranger, but instantly felt like a long-lost friend! The next 5 hours were spent touring PC. We stopped and learned about the Kufundza Carpentry Center, egg farm, dairy farm, Lusito Mechanic Shop, Khutsala Artisans, the greenhouse where they have begun vanilla production, the children’s homes, Project Canaan Academy, and the El Rofi Medical Center.
Each time we stopped at a new sight on PC, Ncobile would introduce us to an employee of that sight, who would explain to us how their part of PC contributes to PC’s missions of self-sustainability, decreasing poverty to the people of Eswatini, caring and providing a safe haven and education for orphans, and improving health nationwide (providing primary medical care for each child and adult living at PC and education on HIV/AIDs). Each person would speak with such pride about the work they do and how that work contributes to not only the children at PC, but also the communities within Eswatini. When we toured the children’s homes and Project Canaan Academy, the kids were so well behaved, it was shocking to me how that many kids could be so pleasant.
By the time we arrived at the El Rofi Medical Center, my heart was already so full, but it quickly became overflowing. We met Anthony and the clinic staff and got to partake in the presentation of the new clinic car. The excitement and appreciation they each showed for the car was overwhelming, as they each spoke a little about what the car meant to them. We danced with excitement with all of them, shared lots of laughs, and took lots of videos and pictures.
Day 1 was still not over, it ended with a homestead visit, where we provided a family with food and clothing, toured their home, and ended the visit with a song of worship. The moment of worship was really, really, special and something I will never forget.
Our remaining days in Eswatini consisted of 2 Church Well Child Checks and Feedings, 2 church services at PC with the kids, and a game drive with 4 kids from PC. Every day filled my heart more and more.
Of all the days, attending church with the kids of PC will forever be rooted in my heart and soul! From the moment we got out of the Quantum, we were swarmed with the youngest kids of Project Canaan. From asking us our names, looking at our name badges, and phonetically pronouncing our names back to us as they read from the badge (they were not only polite, but they were extremely mature and smart for their ages), taking our hands and not wanting to let them go, to the infinite number of hugs and picture taking; they all had such happiness and a peace about them, and it was contagious. We sat amongst the kids, sang in worship with them, and witnessed them all interact with the Pastor and his message. After the 1st church service, we had to quickly get back in the Quantum and drive to the 2nd church service with the older kids but getting out quickly was impossible! The littles all wanted to walk out with us, I think I was holding 3-4 little hands in each of my hands; and they did not want to let go of my hand (to be honest, I did not want to let go either). Once we arrived at the 2nd service with the older kids, it was more worship, let me tell you, there is something powerful about singing ‘Praise’ by Elevation Worship with the PC kids. But that is not all, we learned during that service that there would be a couple of adults and 38 kids being baptized that afternoon; that was AMAZING!
After that 2nd service, I met a boy named Joshua; and again, he was so polite and well mannered. He asked me if I was going to attend the baptisms and if I was going to be baptized as well. Sadly, we could not attend the baptisms because we had the 2nd Church Well Child Check and Feeding to attend. But I shared with Joshua that I was, indeed, already baptized. The passion and excitement he displayed about baptism is forever engraved in my head! While talking with Joshua, I had a complete view of all of PC and it took my breathe away! It was in that moment, that I felt JOY for the first time in my life, not happiness, but true JOY! That is the day, I realized there is a difference between happiness and joy!
Although I think happiness and joy are both feelings, they are different. Happiness is the feeling you get from external favorable circumstances: a promotion at work, a raise, a new car; it is temporary and passes. Joy is much deeper, and it is rooted in Jesus. Joy is something you feel in the core of your soul, it is as if it makes your soul sing! As for me, I now know happiness was finding out I would be going to Eswatini, Project Canaan was witnessing God’s work and losing my breathe to true JOY!
Project Canaan is truly an amazing, breathtakingly beautiful place, and you see and feel God’s presence on all 2,500 acres, all 436 kids faces, and in the labor of love from all 475+ staff members. In addition to the beauty, you feel this overwhelming peace! And what is truly inspiring to me is all the hard work and commitment at PC is not just for PC, it is shared with rural church partners and people in the surrounding communities. My time at Project Canaan showed me the difference between happiness and joy. I received the gift of JOY while spending time with the children and staff of Project Canaan!
I left with a bond of 3 new friends (otherwise known as strangers), a forever soul sister (Ncobile), and a better human being! I have already expressed to my family and friends that we are going to Eswatini and PC for my 50th birthday, because I want to celebrate the greatest thing I have ever experienced, again!
Until we meet again – Ange Mann, Ventra Health employee and Project Canaan Volunteer!