We’ve been in Swaziland for a full month now! We never know exactly what to expect (our ministry schedule is constantly changing…TIA), but we do have set things that we generally do every week.
We spend our time at:
– The Hope House – A home for terminally ill patients. Definitely a heart-breaking place, but also an amazing place. The people that live there are well cared for and have their own bathroom and a large room that serves as a bedroom, living room, and kitchen for themselves and a caretaker. We enjoy visiting the same friends twice a week, and have a church service for them on Mondays. Going to the service may be the only time they leave their rooms all week.
– The Nazarene Hospital – The local hospital. Also a heart-breaking place, probably the hardest place for me to go. It is very different from hospitals in the US; there are separate wards where children, women, and men are separated, but everyone in the ward is crammed into one room. There is no privacy and the care is not good. Family of the patients sleep on the floor or outside on flattened cardboard boxes, because the hospital does not provide most basic care or food.
– The School – A very prestigious school in Swaziland, one of the king’s sons goes there! The kids are very cute in their uniforms and speedos (yes, they have swim class!). Our team teaches the students Bible stories and basic life skills while forming relationships.
– Carepoints – A place where grandmothers in the community cook a meal of pap and beans, and orphaned and vulnerable children come to eat. We spend our time mostly at Timbutini, Thuwane, Dabbas carepoints. The team plays with, teaches, and loves on the kids. We also lead Bible studies for specific age groups/genders a few times a week. The Timbutini carepoint is special to us because it is right down the road from where we live, and we get to see the kids there almost every day.
– Timbali Crafts – This is a ministry specifically to the grandmothers (gogos) in the community. These women work hard, and give of themselves selflessly. Timbali Crafts makes it possible for them to earn a little income by making purses and jewelry to help pay for the school fees and other needs of their grandchildren. Two of the girls on our team go help and spend time with them twice a week.
– Devotions – Thursday and Friday mornings our team leads the devotion at the local elementary and high school. We especially have an impact at the high school, since some on our team are very close in age to the students there.
