Swaziland– the mysterious country that sounds like something out of a fantasy book series. It's located within South Africa and also borders Mozambique.
But let's face it, you probably hadn't heard of Swaziland until this blog. The sad part is, you probably won't hear about it in twenty years, because it won't exist.
We've been here for a little over a week now. I have seen a lot of brokenness on the Race, but I think Swaziland tops it all.
It's called the Swazi Secret.
AIDS is running rampant here. It's shameful to say that you have it, so people simply live in denial, continuing to pass it, until they die. Witch doctors tell people not to take prescribed medicines. Rape is not a problem in the country, rather its acceptable, something girls must submit to when I a man needs to 'relieve' himself. Its passed from parent child through more than just childbirth. Ancient practices say that the cure is to cleanse yourself by having sexual relations with a virgin child, the younger the better.
Nearly everyone has it. And it's estimated in the next few decades, Swaziland will cease to exist at all.
Even after all the stories, people and places I have been, Swaziland is breaking my heart.
This month we are working with a wonderful woman named Corine, an America whose heart broke for Swaziland. She runs Hope Rises, an organization that opens preschools to give young children an education, teach them about Jesus, feed them lunch, and most importantly get them out of their house.
Hope Rises is trying to prevent the spread of AIDS and bring the true hope, Jesus, to a hopeless and dying nation.
So this month I am singing songs and teaching bible stories to preschoolers. We are getting these sweet children to school, to simply get them out of their houses.
We are also praying like crazy for redemption, revival and hope for Swaziland. The oppression is almost unbearable. Please partner with us by praying for this place.
