Ministry in Swaziland had been three-fold. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we make our way into town to visit a hospital and a ministry called “Hope House”. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays we stay here in Timbutini to help feed and love the children at a “care point” – established by the combined efforts of Adventures in Missions and Children’s Hope Chest.
My favorite…The Hope House…It is a beautiful ministry. It is for terminally ill patients who need HOPE and that is exactly what this place provides. Most patients enter the Hope House extremely skinny and sick. They have illnesses such as Tuberculosis or HIV and by living at home without medication, sanitary surroundings, or education relative to health they just become more and more ill…and they pass their diseases on to their family members who all live in very close quarters. When patients come to the Hope House they have a chance to get better with medications and clean surroundings. Most patients stay in the Hope House for about three months before re-gaining enough health to return home and lead a fairly normal life. These patients remain terminally ill, but with medication and health education, they lead a much healthier life for many more years than they would have without the intervention.
Each patient at the Hope House has one caregiver living with them in their home, usually a family member. So far I have met: Khosi (29 years old), Timbekile (27 years old), Margaret (my swazi grandma), John (my swazi grandpa), and Kunisile. Khosi is a woman of joy and strength. She knows the Lord well and has such a passion for her family coming to know the Lord through her trial with sickness. Timbekile has a beautiful smile and enjoyed being sung the song “I’ve Got Peace Like a River”. She is being taken care of by her 11 year old sister. Margaret is a hoot! She is strong and speaks her mind and reminds me of my step-grandmother, Margaret at home (happy 100th birthday, Margaret. I love you!). John is a pastor and has a soft, kind spirit…just like my Grandpa did. Kunisile is the most sickly of all the patients I have met so far. She loves to smile and hold our hands. Her mother is her primary care-giver but the day I met her, other family members were visiting her as well. We met her sister who is also sick with HIV and her three-year-old daughter who is ill as well.
Swaziland has the highest HIV rate in the world and the numbers are increasing every day. It is said that one in ten people are infected with the disease and that life expectancy is 35 years of age. This country is said to be a “dying country”. It is expected that in 50 years there will be no more adults in Swaziland due to AIDS. But, I have seen that…
…hope is in a house… and most importantly; it is in Jesus our Savior and Redeemer.
Amen!
