Nicholas picked us up this morning and the four girls and I rode in the back of his well-worn, white pick-up. Mark sat with Nicholas up front. As we rode along the bumpy, dusty roads we’re greeted by lots of Swazi people in a two handed wave. Everyone is very friendly here. Wherever you turn there are cows, donkeys, goats, pigs and chickens crossing or blocking the road. In the background rise huge, beautiful mountains and vibrant green leaves hiding sugar cane fields. We make our way from one Care Point to the next.
Care Points are places where orphaned children can come and get a meal and some schooling. Go-go’s (typically grandmothers) arrive early in the day to prepare the meal and lesson. The Care Points are called Fields of Dreams, School House, House of Rock and Garden Field. Field of Dreams seems to be the most poverty stricken and hopefully we’ll be able to spend a lot of time there. As we head out the Go-go starts singing “Oh Ley Ley”. It is a World Race favorite children’s song and we know she must have learned it from one of our friends that came before us.
We’re also hoping to assist in building and moving orphans (from all the care points) to a village that will be self-sustaining. They will receive an education, given all their meals, training in Christian values, and a home.
Nearing the end of our tour we pick up two young women heading home from school. Often they walk the 3 hours home. One of the girls is in fifth grade. She is beautiful at 19. The other is a pretty 16 year old who is in first grade. The older one asks us where Morgan and Jane Kim are? We all laugh in surprise and tell them they are in other places now (they are two of our world race friends that helped in starting this project).
God is doing amazing things here and we are excited and overwhelmed with the magnitude of this project. Pray for discernment as we seek to follow God’s leading in this and in everything.
