We Moved!

   Moving to Nsoko has been a good change. While its hotter here as the area is flatter and more like a desert, it has a unique beauty. We are spoiled with living in a team house that has indoor plumbing! While most of us have been a little sick the last few days do to not washing our dishes with bleach, everything else is going really well.
   They have a great ministry team of Swazi’s that go with us to care points and on house visits. These ministry partners do more than translate, they really minister to the people with us. The passion they have for their people and the Lord is really incredible.

   There are several differences between just outside of Manzini (where we were before) and here. Nsoko is only about 1 ½ hours drive from Manzini yet it almost feels like we are in a different country. The people have much less here. I’ve been told that 50 percent of the people have AIDS. Last week our time was spent in this pattern of care point ministry in the morning and house visits in the afternoon, we will continue this pattern in the weeks to come. There are 9 care points in this area and of course many houses to visit.

   I have really enjoyed the home visits.  Here are some stories from a few people I met last week on home visits and at care points. It has been surprising to us how open the people are and how much they love talking with us. My team was able to visit a man named Mapile last week who just last month was released from jail after being in for 4 years. While in jail he gave his life to Jesus and encouraged the men around him. Most jails in other places in the world don’t feed their prisoners forcing nearby family to bring food to their relative in jail. However, Mapile doesn’t have family and had no one to bring him anything. He trusted God to provide for his needs and as men that he had helped in jail got out they would remember him and have their families bring him food. Now Mapile is living with a friend and looking for work. He doesn’t look older than 30 and would like to go to South Africa because he would have an easier time finding a job there. We were able to pray for him and encourage him in the Lord and were also strengthened by his faith. Please pray that God opens up a way for him to get a job and that he is obedient to do as God directs him. I think that God is going to use him and his story to disciple other young men.

   Care points are great and the children are so excited and happy when we come but can be difficult to visit. It’s so hard for me to see child after child clothed in shredded dirty clothing looking up at us with dark hopeful eyes. Some smile and laugh when we are there, others just look so hopeless and sad. One child in particular really broke my heart. Her name is Nosipo and she’s probably only 2 ½ . We were able to go to her care point two days in a row. The first day I went over to her and gently picked her up in my arms. I noticed how dirty her clothes and face were. She had a very runny nose. I took out some tissues and my water bottle and washed her face and wiped her nose. After that she just rested her head on me and closed her eyes. I tried to get her to smile but she wouldn’t. A few of the girls and I prayed that God would fill her with joy. I held her for a few hours. The next day when we came back, she surprised all of us, smiling and laughing about many things while we were there! All of us were so happy to see our prayers answered so quickly. That day I brought nail clippers to clip her nails. When I went to do so she had a ton of mud just caked onto her hands and under her nails. Alison and I washed her hands. As I sat there and clipped her nails, I wanted to cry. It hit me how normally this is what a mother would do for her child. I’m not sure where her’s is or if she even has one but I’m thankful that God allowed me to take care of her and love her like a mother for a few hours.

   Keep praying! I know that these people aren’t forgotten by our Father in heaven and He is here loving them. Thanks for all your encouragement!