So I meet a woman on a prayer walk, and it changed my whole time in Swaziland.
Her name is Bongiwe Kunene. Six children are under her care. They are Hlengiwe (Esther), Simo (Elliot), Sonto (Primrose), Mlamuli (Austin), Phile (Gift), and Nkhosingvile (Nicolas). They are all fantastic. I love them very much.
But when I meet Bongiwe and she was asking for help, I didn’t know any of them. I didn’t even know her.
It would have been easy to walk by. It would have been really easy to just pray for her, walk away, and forget all about it. I mean she might not even need help anyway, right? But if she did, the people there prayed for her, right? Did any of us need to do anything else?
I don’t know how, but I knew she was telling the truth. And I felt I was supposed to help. So we got her phone number, and had our amazing ministry contact, Xolani, call her to figure out what was up.
He told me she didn’t have money to send her 3 oldest children to high school. I asked him if he knew how much it would cost. He didn’t, but he said he’d ask. Then he asked me if he should tell her we would be sponsoring them. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t have much money, and I had no idea how much it would cost. So he found out how much, $1,397 for tuition alone. I knew school cost money in Swaziland, but I had no idea how much it cost.
I was so sad. At first I didn’t think it would be possible. I mean I knew there was no way I could do this. But then I did some math and found out if everyone on the squad could give or get just $40, we’d have enough. So I told the squad about, and I prayed.
A few people and myself shared about. And we raised what I thought would be more than enough. I figured we would have enough to pay for their uniforms and supplies, too.
But when I went to Simo’s (Elliot’s) school to make sure everything was good and to buy his uniform. I found out we had only for half the school year and also students have examination fees. I started to feel the weight of not having enough. We were able to buy Simo (Elliot) the uniform supplies he needed.
Then when I went to Standard Bank to try to pay his exam fees, I was told the account was closed.
I was getting frustrated at this point. I felt called to do this. And I didn’t get why it wasn’t working out.
So shared about how we needed more money. It didn’t seem like it was coming in.
Then one day I wanted to go to Mangwaneni Carepoint, so I asked a couple people who were gonna go later if they’d tell me when they were leaving. But I guess they forgot. So I asked around until I could find someone who would go down to the carepoint with me. Lexi and Kaitlyn said yes!!
Before we got to the carepoint, we bumped into Bongiwe. She asked us to go to her house, so we followed her.
It was amazing just walking through the Mangwaneni community and being there. I’ve realized I’m called to not just the Mangwaneni Carepoint but also the community. I’ve realized I’m called not just to the kids but also to families and people of all ages.
Anyway, we saw Bongiwe’s one room house where 6 people live. Simo (Elliot) lives in one just like it. We got to spend time with Bongiwe, Hlengiwe (Esther), Phile (Gift), Nkhosingvile (Nicolas), and a few other people in the community. I saw Noxolo (Precious), too!
We talked. We took some pictures. I invited them to church at Living Waters on Sunday. They walked us up to the carepoint, and we hung out with the kids there.
So I first I was a little annoyed people forgot to tell me they were leaving, but if I had gone with them earlier, I wouldn’t have bumped into Bongiwe and ended up going to her house. So I was happy it all worked out just as it should.
Then as I was walking to church, Bongiwe was walking up the path, too. So we walked to church together. This was our last Sunday, and she got to see a few of us helping the youth led the service!
After church she told me they were running out of food, and I remembered not seeing any food when at her house. So Kaitlyn came with me to Spar to get some food and hygiene supplies for the family. Elliot showed up, too.
We had to take a taxi down to their house, because it was too much for us to carry down there. When we got there, we carried in the groceries. After we just sat outside in the shade and enjoyed the day. We paid for 2 months rent and water for the family.
One day we went to town and got the kids school clothes and shoes.
And again we ended up raising more money than our goal. So I was excited.
But then I was told Hlengiwe’s (Esther’s) school fees were gonna cost more than twice as much as before. I hadn’t factored that in. And Bongiwe had a long list of supplies for all the kids, and I also found out Elliot needs textbooks. Again I felt the weight of not having enough.
And I was having trouble withdrawing money and contacting my bank to figure out why I was having trouble withdrawing money. And I really felt the weight of not having enough. And it seemed we were running out of time.
I was just so tired. I was drained. I felt I had nothing left. I was at the end of me. I was sick of having this occupy most my time, doing math, staying up late to share about it online, getting up early to do stuff,
missing time at the Hope House or the carepoint, etc etc.
Somehow I didn’t give up even though I really wanted to. God helped me keep going. And it worked out.
One afternoon I had a great time, hanging out with Bongiwe’s children and a tag-a-long from Mangwaneni. We talked, took pictures, took videos, and made plans for them to come say goodbye the next day.
This reminded why I was trying in the first place. I care about this family, and I was called to them.
Hlengiwe (Esther) and I cried when we said goodbye. Bongiwe and Nkhosingvile (Nicolas) came the morning we were leaving Swaziland. I saw her crying as the bus drove away. It’s heart wrenching to have to say goodbye, but I know I’ll be back.
So even though it was crazy and not easy. It was good. I learned to ask for help. I learned to rely on God more. I learned to keep trying and keep loving even when it seemed there was no point.
Oh and we were able to pay for Simo’s (Elliot’s) Term 2 school fees and exam fees, Hlengiwe’s (Esther’s) school fees, and a little bit of supplies for all the kids. Sonto didn’t have more fees we needed to pay.
YEBO! (Yes in SiSwati)
Please join me in praying for them. Please pray for the their studies and for continued providence.
Thank you for everyone who helped make this happen.
Much love! 🙂
