The whole team made it back safe and sound last night. We had a flight that was supposed to take us through Chicago from Frankfurt but we were able to get rerouted to avoid the snow craziness. Now that we are back and have a reliable and faster internet connection, I will try to get some pictures up here in the next week or so.
Yesterday (Saturday) was our last day at the carepoint. It was a special day for the kids. There was a bounce house, some special gifts (t-shirt, toothbrush, fruit), and the gogo’s prepared an extra special meal that included meat. As the kids were entering the carepoint, they were literally jumping up and down with excitement.
We were not able to submit our blog on Thursday, because internet access is irregular in Swaziland, but we want to give you a play-by-play of what our daily routine with the kids looks like at the Mpoli CarePoint. To make up for it, and because we are not sure if we’ll have internet access tomorrow, we’ll make today’s extra full.
Today’s post is written by Colleen Edwards:
After a rainy first day, the past two days have been beautiful and sunny.As we arrive in the mid morning, there are a few little children waiting for us and within a few minutes several more drift in to join us. They are getting more comfortable with our team and happy that the rain has stopped – so we get to play outside in the sun! Then the wonderful Mpholi D (Disciple) team Bhegi, Londiwe and Deli lead the preschoolers in song and hand motions – accompanied by our own Pastor Josh, Keith Penner and Tina Miller. You’ve never heard such sweet voices singing praises to the Lord! By that time the children are ready for a snack before working on a craft project.
We then spend time out in the sunshine playing ball, frisbee and soccer or coloring and painting fingernails until the older children start to arrive from school at 1:30. By 2:30 the yard is full of approximately 150 children playing and laughing. At that time the children all go up to the kitchen area to fill their little food containers with hearty rice and stew prepared daily by the wonderful Mpholi GoGos (Grandmothers). Most children eat a portion of the food and take the remainder home for dinner or to share with families.
After the children leave each day, the D Team organizes the mission team into groups for the home visits for some of the children at the CarePoint. At this point we head off with a member of the D Team and a GoGo - up into the hills and down into the valleys – through the waist high grass and fields to the family homesteads.
This year we have conducted 24 home visits so far, which gives us the privilege of meeting the caregivers of the amazing children at the CarePoint. The stories of these families reveal their undying faith in the Lord – despite their challenging lives. There is an incredible sense of community as caregivers step up to the responsibility of caring for many orphaned children who may or may not even be related.
At each of the home visits, we ask for their prayer requests and pray with them that God will answer their requests and continue to watch over them and provide health and strength to the caregivers and the family. Their stories are so powerful as you hear about the grandfather caring for 5 children who have lost their parents as he describes the CarePoint as a place where the children can turn should something happen to him. To show his gratitude, the family danced and sang for the mission team and presented a walking stick to a member of our team. At another home, we met a seriously ill grandmother caring for several children including a child who is suffering from an unknown disease. They are very worried about the child and as a result the Hope Chest staff plan to help them find additional medical treatment. Then there’s GoGo Ellen, the mother of 9, who started the Mpoli Carepoint. Even though she had little, she wanted to do something for other children in the community who were hungry and had less. Ellen’s story is full of faith that she could make a difference with God’s help.
Our team has been honored to provide a gift from Salem Chapel that includes basic food staples (such as beans, maize flour, sugar, oil, stock, juice, candles, soap, etc.) to help each family with immediate needs. But we have also received a much more inspiring gift from these children and families who are so special to God – as they share their stories and reach out to us in the most sweet, loving way which has touched us all deeply.
Know that your support and prayer is making such a difference in this community. We have seen first-hand the impact on the 160+ children and their families.
Today’s post is by Diana Pattisall:
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter…..Not only is that the sound of children coming to the Carepoint but the sound of rain coming down on us. My mind was saying how are we going to run a bible camp for these kids out in the rain? Oh what a blessing we had waiting when we arrived. We pulled in to see the shelter up along with the kitchen and classroom built! Yah we were out of the rain today! Thank you Salem Chapel for your giving, if you only knew what a blessing it is!!!
How do I put into words what I had the pleasure to be apart of today? I can say my eyes were opened wide. Seeing beautiful smiles and hearing amazing voices and knowing this all came from God. Our lesson today was on creation and one of the illustrations was to look at our hands and then look at your neighbor’s hand…as the little girl looked at my hand she turns to me and says “different”. We have a loving God who did make us different but loves us the same. My time here has been amazing and it is only the first day can’t wait for the rest!
We made it!
Departure day is here! Today we board the flight for the long trip to the small country of Swaziland. Here is an overview of our travel itinerary today:
