Rows of mountains stretched out as far
as I could see, deep into the distance. Trees with exotic red blooms
flanked a billboard. As I walked by I noticed that on one side it
showed a happy Swazi family, Grandparents, Parents, Children, all
smiles. The other side said, “funeral plans, have you made yours?�
In Swaziland you can buy funeral plans at the grocery store. Death
is a pervasive reality here.
Three years ago I witnessed Dudustruggle with the realization that the AIDS which ravaged her body
would leave her infant son Sinethemba orphaned. On that same trip I
sat in a dim hut holding Maswane’s hand. She was a beautiful 19
year old, her frail body covered by painful sores. Rape didn’t just
rob her dignity, it stole her life. (Photo is Matswana weeks before she passed away.)
Two years ago one of the families we
had done a legacy book for came back to the center. In 2009 we had
taken a picture of four generations, in 2010 two of those generations
were gone. The little baby and the 40 year old grandmother, dead. (http://morganmckeown.theworldrace.org/?filename=holes)
had done a legacy book for came back to the center. In 2009 we had
taken a picture of four generations, in 2010 two of those generations
were gone. The little baby and the 40 year old grandmother, dead. (http://morganmckeown.theworldrace.org/?filename=holes)
While I was in Nsoko this year one of
the mothers lost her 10 month old baby. Erica, the missionary we stayed with in Nsoko wrote her story beautifully. http://www.intheblinkofmyeyes.blogspot.com/2012/08/o-bla-dee-o-bla-dah-life-goes-on.html
the mothers lost her 10 month old baby. Erica, the missionary we stayed with in Nsoko wrote her story beautifully. http://www.intheblinkofmyeyes.blogspot.com/2012/08/o-bla-dee-o-bla-dah-life-goes-on.html
In a place saturated with death, how do
you fight for life?
you fight for life?
At the end of my time in Swaziland Brandon and I
had the privilege of staying with Steve and Amy McAdams, missionaries
who have been working with AIM for two years. They are fostering a
beautiful baby girl, Mukelo. Last year, Amy found Mukelo abandoned
at the hospital because of her Cerebral Palsy. In Swazi it’s the
families responsibility to take care of anyone in the hospital, so
children dumped there are often are left to die. Babies go to the
hospital to die! The injustice in that makes me want to scream.
had the privilege of staying with Steve and Amy McAdams, missionaries
who have been working with AIM for two years. They are fostering a
beautiful baby girl, Mukelo. Last year, Amy found Mukelo abandoned
at the hospital because of her Cerebral Palsy. In Swazi it’s the
families responsibility to take care of anyone in the hospital, so
children dumped there are often are left to die. Babies go to the
hospital to die! The injustice in that makes me want to scream.
When they found Mukelo she was severely
malnourished, her tiny body contorted into a backwards C shape, with
her head almost touching her butt. Her days were spent staring at
the wall, starving to death. At the time Mukelo was 17 months old
but was the size of a 3 month old. After a long battle the McAdams
were allowed to foster Mukelo.
malnourished, her tiny body contorted into a backwards C shape, with
her head almost touching her butt. Her days were spent staring at
the wall, starving to death. At the time Mukelo was 17 months old
but was the size of a 3 month old. After a long battle the McAdams
were allowed to foster Mukelo.
This precious girl has been with the
McAdams for almost 4 months. In that time her body has dramatically
straightened and she has put on weight. Mumu, as they affectionately
nicknamed her, continues to steadily improve. Steve and Amy’s
original hope was to foster Mukelo for a short time then find a
permanent place for her in a children’s home. Unfortunately, there
are no orphanages in Swaziland able to accept a child with
disabilities.
McAdams for almost 4 months. In that time her body has dramatically
straightened and she has put on weight. Mumu, as they affectionately
nicknamed her, continues to steadily improve. Steve and Amy’s
original hope was to foster Mukelo for a short time then find a
permanent place for her in a children’s home. Unfortunately, there
are no orphanages in Swaziland able to accept a child with
disabilities.
Despite horrible odds and no easy
solution the McAdams have fought for Mumu’s life. Through
their
actions they placed value on a tiny life that was deemed unworthy,
dumped off to die.
solution the McAdams have fought for Mumu’s life. Through
theiractions they placed value on a tiny life that was deemed unworthy,
dumped off to die.
While staying with Steve and Amy, I
spent time holding Mumu, feeding her, changing her. Cradling her
small body overwhelmed me with the love that Jesus has for people.
To God every life is worthwhile, every person His direct creation,
every being worth sacrificing His son.
spent time holding Mumu, feeding her, changing her. Cradling her
small body overwhelmed me with the love that Jesus has for people.
To God every life is worthwhile, every person His direct creation,
every being worth sacrificing His son.
In a place saturated with death; this
is how you fight for life!
is how you fight for life!
Mumu’s saga doesn’t have any easy
solutions or pat answers, but despite that, when the McAdams rescued
Mukelo, they chose life.
solutions or pat answers, but despite that, when the McAdams rescued
Mukelo, they chose life.
