This past month was spent at El Shaddai Orphanage in Mbabane, Swaziland with our entire squad.
Swaziland is one of the last kingdoms on earth. (Brunei, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are also ruled by monarchs who hold a great deal of political power in their countries) Sadly their HIV rate is higher than anywhere else in the world and, if things don’t change, the nation will not exist by 2050. Free condoms are offered in all the public places in a last ditch effort to curb the downward spiral. Posters along the roads and at gas stations encourage anyone with information to call the government’s human trafficking hotline. Evident physical and sexual abuse seem accepted as common place. The seriousness of the problem is unchallenged, though the sketchiest part of our surroundings were limited to some fields of weed (the drug) near the orphanage and that we (well the women) couldn’t leave the orphanage gate without multiple people and clothing covering to at least below our knee. If a woman wears shorts there and she is raped, she is considered to be at fault b/c dressing like that is ‘asking for it’ to them. With that background in mind, El Shaddai is a tall island growing future leaders while waves wipe out everything around it.
God brought Charmain to start the orphanage about six-teen years ago. Ever since then she has seen what could only be God’s provision for El Shaddai. The ministry has come a long way. And yet needs are only met minimally and at the last minute. God has provided all that is there, but conditions do not speak well of God’s ability to glorify Himself by providing for His children. The individuals in the church have failed to come through and care for these orphans as God commands us to. I want that, barely scraping by, to change. I think He wants it to change too. He has so much more for this place! Their need is great. Thinking of the needs is daunting. But He wants to provide over abundantly. I don’t know how He will come through, but it would be awesome if you could pray expectantly for this place.
Please pray for:
– crazy hearts to leave everything to teach, lead, and support at El Shaddai
– mattresses for the kids
– school teachers (the school is based out of the orphanage though children from all over the area also attend for free)
– encouragement and support for Charmain, Rachel (past WRer), Katie (Peace Core), Destiny (volunteer from CO), and all the native teachers, woman who care for the children, cooks, caretakers, a nurse etc.
– someone to come teach trades (any very basic trade is welcome) to the older kids before they get pushed into the real world
– funding for maintenance, food, clothes, educational resources, … everything
– prayer against spiritual attacks (when we first arrived the atmosphere of the place was a dark burden, but it was transformed by fervent prayer throughout our stay)
– for the kids to desire understanding of their school work and have needed help to thrive
– for healing and protection from abuse and abandonment for the adults and kids
– for God to saturate the place and people
– for success with sustainable farming – starting it and transforming the way Swaziland grows crops
– for success with utilizing their birds, chickens, pigs, goats and geese for resources, not just caring for them
– for the kids to have hearts for God
– praise for the support Adventures in Missions has been able to provide this ministry
– praise for all the work that is going on in El Shaddai: for the orphans (loving relationships with authority figures and learning about God and growing up in relative health and safety), for the local community (gift baskets, church, free school for children, a place to mill corn (the core to their diet)), and potentially for the whole nation
Thanks you guys! Please share this request with others and remember to pray for them this week.
I love you!
Mere
