Sorry about that last bit. Let’s give it another go here.
The morning after our arrival in Swaziland, we packed up the car and headed to Nsoko. Of course I had all kinds of things pictured in my mind about what this children’s village would look like. When we arrived, I could quickly see that my imaginations were way off. When I heard the word village, I imagined just that. A whole village. When we arrived, I saw nothing more than a house and a few buildings in the middle of nowhere. If I’m honest, it was a bit dissapointing at first. I have quite the imagination, so that happens to me frequently. But once we met Pastor Gift and he began to tell us all that is in the works here, it was quite intriguing.
According to Gift, in the beginning, orphans were not really even in the picture. The original plan was to build a leadership school for Swazi nationals. There are so many challanges in Swaziland, and in order for any significant change to occur it will need to come from Swazis; not from foreigners. So the vision was to build a leadership school where Swazis could come and learn leadership skills along with a curriculum that would give them a foundation of faith and integrity. It was origanally planned to happen in the North of Swaziland, but one day all of that changed.
Gary Black was one of my mentors on the World Race. He and his family moved to Swaziland not long before we arrived there. His ministry, G42, was behind this whole vision. It was while on his way to one of the many meetings that God intervened and drastically changed the focus of the ministry.
In a hurry on his way to the meeting, he drove through Nsoko and noticed something he could not ignore. All around he saw starving children, dirty and alone. Instead of feeling bad and driving on as many no doubt have, he stopped and began asking questions. In that moment, he knew that something had to be done and his whole agenda shifted. He was informed of the governments solution in the form of carepoints where children could go to receive food and some care. The problem was that many of the carepoints don’t have food or anyone to run them effectively.
When Gary finally arrived at the meeting, he shared this heartbreaking reality with the other men and insisted that something had to be done. The primary focus was now to find a way to provide for these many orphaned and starving children. The vision for Nsoko village was birthed.
The vision has continued to expand, even including the original plan for a leadership training center. In addition for that, there is sports discipleship where young men and women can learn integrity and values through the relationships formed with the leaders. Most of these children are growing up without any parents to teach them even the basic values, much less the life skills needed to provide for themselves or a family. There are young kids, maybe only ten years old, raising their younger siblings alone. Who will teach them and lead them into maturity. The sports discipleship program is one way to allow them to enjoy their youth while also teaching them necessary skills and values. Most of all, they can learn to put their faith in Jesus Christ and in God their Father who will not fail them.
There is also a clinic to provide healthcare which is in desperate need in the rural areas. The clinic building is now complete, and awaiting the equipment, supplies, and medical staff to begin caring for these people.
There is also a vision to build a place where these orphaned children came come to live in safety. There are many things to take into consideration here, and finding “parents” to run it could be very challanging. There devastatingly few adults around to fill this role. Most are either sick or have already died from AIDS. It is the grandmothers, or “gogos” who care for the children at the carepoints. What will happen in a few years when there time has passed?
It can be overwhelming to witness such a high degree of devastation, and seeming hopelessness. But we serve a mighty and loving God, and our hope is in Him. It is encouraging to see people like Pastor Gift and his wife, who have given their lives to serve their people in Jesus name. But they will need much encouragement and support, for the needs are great and the workers are few. It is a good thing that our salvation is not dependant on mere men, for we would surely perish. But God has chosen to use us, as His body, to accomplish His will. It takes courage to respond to this calling.
Please take a moment to pray for Pastor Gift, G42, and all of the people involved in this mission. And pray for the children and young men and women who are being served and shaped by this ministry. They are the future leaders of Swaziland, and in Christ alone they are it’s hope.
