Swaziland sunrise. Get up. Breakfast with my team. Get ready. Morning devotion. Load up in the car. Head to the care-point.
We pull up and we can see little children running around, one Go-go stirring rice over a handmade fire, another Go-go washing dishes-sitting outside with three small tubs- dirty dishes go on the ground, a tub for washing, another for rinsing, and the third for the clean stack. "Go-go" is Swazi for "grandma." And each care-point has one to three of these precious women to cook for, feed, disciple, love, teach and clean after the, usually 25-50 sometimes up to 80, little ones that come to the care-points to be fed. There are about ten care-points in the Nsoko area. The children walk to the one closest to their home, which is still a long walk for some. It's crazy to see a 3 year old walking by herself.
We join in by playing games, singing songs, telling Bible stories, coloring, and just hanging out and holding the little cuties. This particular care-point's children have parents that are gone most of the day to get work, so they just crave our attention and are some of the sweetest I've been with this month.
I start the day cutting the grass with a scythe, and after my body tires of this, I walk over to Go-go Tholiwe washing dishes. I sit beside her and take over to let her rest. She speaks English, a gift! for not all of them do, and conversation opens allowing me to see into her life. She has volunteered at this care-point for 11 years. Volunteer? I thought they got compensation, no, volunteer. And my ear perks up. What does living her life look like?
They are allowed to eat the food they cook after giving the children their portion, and sometimes they are given cooking oil for their home. The church that sponsors this care-point usually comes at Christmas and will bring them some clothes and toiletries. I thought it was more like a job and it is volunteer work, but she adds, it's hard to find a job here. There is an orchard she can travel to and work in for a few months at a time if she needs. I ask her if it is difficult to support her family this way, and she said it became harder after her husband died years ago. That it is hard to support her five kids. She has a daughter that started the university but now works in a store cleaning to help, and she has a son she would like to send to secondary school but he is also having to work. Need money for the family at home, but also no money to send. She points to her home sitting on the hill across from the hill we're sitting on, separated only by a small valley. "That's your home?" I ask. She smiles and says yes. A simple home from what I can see. We both look down at the dishes we've been tending to, "God wants me here." Go-go Tholiwe says, "That's why I'm here. God wants me here."
I heard confidence in her voice, and in my spirit I heard 'provided for.'
This is the point where all the worries and frustrations I had this week, that I had been carrying with me, fell; they just left… I was… humbled. Here's this woman who has been volunteering for 11 years to care for the children of her community no matter how hard it's been for her or her family because it is where God wants her. And though it is hard, she is obedient, and God provides for her. Provisions come in different forms, in strength, favor, giving of material items and food, money, gifts, peace, hope, love, jobs, rain, comfort, confidence, health, manna, shade, a home. I looked at her and I thought, "She's obedient and God provides." Even when it's hard, she does because He is.
I looked at my beautiful, strong Go-go and responded with respect-filled eyes, "Yes…yes, He does."
I finished up the dishes, went and stirred the rice, and helped dish the food out to the kiddos, laughing with Tholiwe and the other Go-go. They dished me a plate of rice and beans before getting theirs last, and I walked over to the group and sat on a rock under a tree amongst my teammates and the children. We ate, talked, giggled, and laughed at the kiddos being silly. I looked around and took it all in… God wants me here. That's why I'm here. God wants me here.
Thank you for the lesson, grandma.
~Monica
