Here in Swaziland, teams Bamboo Brigade and S’mores are living at the G42 Ministry Center in Nsoko. Here we are working alongside Pastor Gift and his family to show love and share the gospel with the orphan children and families. As soon as we arrived at the center we were greeted warmly by at least 50 kids and probably half as many young adults. It’s not hard to fall in love with the people here.
The G42 Ministry Center in Nsoko
From morning until noon-ish we are split into 3 teams that visit 1 of 9 “care points” which have been established throughout the area. At these care points, approximately 5 GoGos (“grandmothers”) spend their time with the orphaned children and cook a huge cauldron of rice or ugali (a cornmeal mush), or some other type of food for the kids. In most cases, this noon meal is the only meal these children get in one day. Some teams have found out that there isn’t even that one meal to give them everyday. Our teams have been visiting these care points and playing games with the kids, holding them in our arms (which they never tire of) and tell them how much God loves them. In the afternoons, our care point teams go to homes/huts and visit with the people to pray over them and get to know them, build relationships between us and them and them and God. Our first home visit was with a man living with HIV. Warren shared his heart and the gospel with Sibusiso and on November 5th, Heaven rejoiced as we welcomed a new brother to the Kingdom!! We got to pray over his mother and sister who hosted us and listened too.
I’ve been asked to lead the 3rd/C care point team. My teammates are Cori, Warren, Kaleb and William. We’ve been working together to perform small skits and share the story of Jesus calming the storm (see the book of Matthew) and letting them know that when they are scared or afraid, they can always pray to Jesus and he will be there to take care of them and comfort them. I’m used to working with adults and older children so teaching kids from age 1 to 12 is a challenge, but God has been showing me that He is the source of creativity and teaching. We had fun usinge creation and accounts from the Bible to share the truth about God and His love for these orphans. My heart misses them when we have to leave to go back to our center. It’s sad not knowing if we’ll be able to go back to the same care point the next day, but that just makes each visit all the more special and important.
I’m learning a lot about all the extra baggage I tend to carry (literally and figuratively). I’m seeing that I have so much more than these kids, and I’m more than often ungrateful or not as appreciative and thankful as I could be. These kids survive on hope and the generosity of those more fortunate. I often feel helpless because I’m still holding so tightly to the things I brought with me…but what use are they for little kids? All I have are my hands and feet to get me around…and yet that’s all they want and so desperately need (other than food). The first week here in Africa was hard, but heavenly rewarding. I’m 1/2 way through this race and yet I’m still just scratching the surface of the woman God is transforming me into. And I’m learning so much more about God, Abba Father.
care point ministry fun
