We have
unexpectedly returned to civilization again so we can use the internet! We dropped off our rental car and in a few
hours head back to the camp site.
So far
the time in Swaziland has been amazing. We were able to see the AIM headquarters. It is a humble and discrete building where
the food sent from The States is stored.
We loaded up the van with boxes and headed to the Care Points. These points are little shacks seemingly in
the middle of nowhere. Hungry kids from
the area walk miles to be fed and taught valuable life lessons. Some of the kids have families and some are
orphans.
We showed up at our first stop and started
unloading the big boxes of food for them.
The children’s eyes lit up and they smiled to see all of the food they
were receiving. There was something
about lifting those heavy boxes walking it to a small dirty room and knowing
the kids would be fed. At each stop the
GoGos (Grandmas) and a teacher cook food and nourish their minds and little
bellies. If the GoGos don’t show up the
kids don’t eat. They have been having a
problem with this. They don’t know how
to keep them coming and taking care of the children.
There
is a teacher at each one there to teach the kids life skills and about Jesus’
Love. The teachers are fantastic. They give the kids so much energy and love
that it is so inspiring. They are
enthusiastic and loving. The teachers do
all of this on a strictly volunteer basis.
Imagine getting up in the morning and walking miles in the dirt to get
to a broken down smelly shack to pour out all you have into kids that are not
yours. You cook and clean and love on
them until you have no more to give.
Imagine doing all of this everyday without ANY pay. Just the satisfaction of seeing kids grow and
mature in the way they should go.
-Wow!
The
GoGos work very hard at cooking and seeing that everyone gets taken care
of. Their only compensation is after
they have worked for a long enough time (undetermined amount of time) they earn
a sowing machine. So after their long
day in the sun working with kids they get to go home and make purses and
hopefully sell them for some profit.
They are beautiful purses. Our
team bought a box full of them.
We are
so blessed to be here. Every morning we
get up out of our damp tents drive to see the children and help with lessons,
encourage the teachers and GoGos and help with cooking. We give them a Bible lesson and help them
learn by doing an entertaining skit to help the kids understand the message
better. (Nothing like looking undignified for Jesus.) At the end of the day the kids go home and we
head back to camp. There is usually
enough time to go for a walk with the wild animals before the sun goes
down. We are camping in a safari area so
we are all to close to lions, giraffe, zebra, warthogs, kudo, deadly snakes and
the ever-present (and huge) ostriches, just to name a few. Seeing these sights and living for the God
that created them gives new meaning to life and encourages and strengthens us
to go love on the kids the next day.
Thank
you for all of your prayers and support!!!
I can feel the prayers and wouldn’t be here helping others if not for
your selfless donations.
