In the middle of Swaziland sits a children’s home that houses around 50 kids age 2-18. It sits on a beautiful mountainside surrounded by witchdoctors, a growing AIDS epidemic, marijuana fields, and a man dominated culture that devalues women. It is unbelievable that in the middle of all this corruption; there is life. Being here has truly shown me that there is no one like Jesus. There is no way that this place could exist without Him. El Shaddai exists because Christ wants life to come out of this drowning country.
Currently 25% of the Swazi people are infected with HIV and of that 50% of pregnant women are infected. The average life expectancy is 32 for a person with HIV. In the area where El Shaddai is located almost 90% of the population gets their money from the illegal sale of marijuana. This country houses a sex trade filled with abuse and disease. There are actually laws written to keep women from having any value in the culture. There is so much sin and destruction here that you would think God had completely forgotten about these people. But then you see El Shaddai.
It is a refuge for children growing up in this horrible environment. The children here have experienced the unimaginable; physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, sodomization, neglect, malnourishment, and abandonment, but today at church the kids sang about how there is no one like Jesus. No one could love them more or show them more grace. I watched a girl singing about Jesus who at one point in her 12 years of life, fed her little brother dog poop to keep him alive. One child was laughing in the corner, when just a year ago he was found hanging in a tree, just left by his father to die. Another little boy is smiling at me with the brightest eyes you’ve ever seen, knowing that he has experienced the joy of adoption, only to be physically abused by his new family. They have all ended up at El Shaddai by the grace of our Father. Their stories are real and despite everything they know that God has not forgotten them. They know that their true treasure is in Heaven and this is only a temporary life. If a kid can live such a horrific childhood and still find joy in this life, then I know there is a God because no one can heal the wounds these kids have experienced, except an Almighty and powerful God.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. -John 14:18
The Holy Spirit is alive and well here at El Shaddai and that gives me hope for the rest of this country.
If He can reside here then He can grow in hearts anywhere.
with love from Swaziland,
Sam
