I Took My Sons to Africa (And Came Home More Rooted Than Ever)

An old mentor reached out after four years of silence and asked if I wanted to visit a permaculture farm in Eswatini, Africa, that supports thousands of vulnerable kids through local care centers and it turned into a coming‑of‑age trip for my boys and a heart reset for me. When I showed the invite to Rebecca expecting a laugh, she surprised me by saying, “You should go… and take the boys,” and then you all and our friends and family went above and beyond to “send” us there in every sense of the word.

In this film you’ll travel with us from Atlanta’s red‑eye to South Africa and on into Eswatini: jet lag, cold‑plunge‑worthy hotel pools, international breakfasts, and the moment humid African air hits you like Florida as you step into a country that is statistically poor but rich in spirit. On the ground we tour the farm’s greenhouses, banana circles, spiral gardens, and organic certification vision; hear leaders talk about building a “fountain, not drain” mindset; and watch the boys jump into real work as we document how permaculture, water, and trees are feeding care centers, staff, and guests.

We visit cultural sites and climb Execution Rock, go on safari, and fish in a spot where I kept thinking about my late mentor who loved both Africa and fishing. Most importantly, we meet the kids: hearing how one young man grew up in the centers and now serves there, watching rice and carrot meals be served whether sponsors exist or not, and seeing my boys finally come out of their shells laughing and playing with orphans over KFC and soccer.

By the end I realize soil is soil and permaculture is permaculture—mulch, trees, and diversity work in Eswatini like they do in North Carolina—but this trip also gave my sons a new worldview and confirmed something deep in me: travel can send you out only to send you back home with deeper roots and a clearer sense of where you’re meant to be. If this kind of missions‑meets‑regenerative‑farm story encourages you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who loves both homesteading and global ministry.

Links mentioned:

• Adventures in Missions: https://www.eswatinirising.com/

• Pour International: https://www.pourinternational.org/