I honestly had no idea what God had in mind sending our team into the bush in Swaziland. From what I knew the ministry would be hard and probably unfruitful and frustrating. Our living conditions were supposed to be far below par: no toilet, no running water, no electricity, and no to very little security. Okay, did I mention this is our first project as a team? Talk about jumping right into the fire!
But God has literally flung doors wide open since we got into town! It’s been amazing! We have a toilet! Let me tell you how happy I was to see this. We also have a shower (it’s just a stream of water – very very cold water, but it’s a shower), we are tenting but it’s in the most beautiful land (stars fill the night sky, the sunsets are amazing, we live near zebras—come on now that’s cool) and we have access to a room that has electricity to boil hot water and charge things. And we actually have a guard who stays on the property at night.
As far as our ministry goes, God has far surpassed any expectations that I had coming into Nsoko (that’s the name of town). We’re working with four care points (we may try to combine 2 of them later). Care points are places where children usually orphaned, sometimes with only one parent, can come and learn and have a meal. For most of these children it’s probably the only meal that they will have that day!
God has truly made the impossible possible. We have been blessed with an incredible contact, Troy. We have an awesome translator, Nicholas. Nicholas had even made a comment at one point that even us being here was helping and making a difference. So even on the days that we’re feeling like we haven’t accomplished anything, God has! It’s the coolest thing!
Right now here are some of the things that we are working on:
1. Share Jesus’ love for these people (I asked the children at one care point how many of them had ever even heard of Jesus, probably about 4 of them raised their hands)
2. We’re setting up a teacher training program that the teachers at the care points (and those interested in teaching) can come to and learn how to teach and what to teach
3. We’re also starting a teen program. The teens don’t get anything poured into them either, so we thought about teaching them in a series of programs solely for them. Programs that we’re looking at include AIDS education, family, self esteem, etc.
4. Provide immediate needs. Two of the four care points have already needed more food, as in the children weren’t going to have anything to eat the next day.
5. Build fences. Sounds a little different from everything else were looking at, but water is very scarce here. Most of these care points have big tubs that catch rainwater, the probably is that there’s not much rain and when there is anyone can come by and take the water. Fences are the only way to protect their water. Plus, fences are needed to keep the children from running into the road at some places.
