He has not forgotten the people of Swaziland

       We arrived in Swaziland last Saturday on the 19th. We moved into the AIM team house and I’m in a room with only three other girls, Ashley, Aubrey, and Lindsey. We’ve already decorated our room a little with pretty curtains and a rug, just to make things a bit more homey. I’m really looking forward to being stationary this semester and making a home for ourselves in one place. We live in a city called Manzini, our house is actually in a part of the town that is called Mandosa. We are just about a 15 to 20 minute walk from town. Everyday we walk from our house into town and take public transportation to our ministry site. Some of my friends are doing other things like working in the hospital, teaching in at a primary school, working with high school students, doing street ministry in the local squatter camp, teaching at other carepoints. .

           

            The ministry internship that I will most liking be doing is working a two carepoints, called Timbutini and Bhobokazi. At both I will bring vitamins for the children, clean up any scrapes or anything that needs to be cleaned and bandaged, and finding out if and which children need medicine. At Timbutini I’ll also be helping teach the kids. The days I go to Bhobokazi, I’ll be teaching a class and basically teaching the teacher who is already there how to teach, because her english is limited and is in need of new teaching methods! Teaching at carepoints is a major need because any schooling in Swazi costs money. There is no free education system, this obviously makes it extremely difficult for many children to go to school. I’m really looking forward to getting both of these jobs started! I’m excited to tangibly reach out to the Swazi people, but I’m more excited to share with them the love of God. I want them to know that I’m in Swaziland only because of the God I serve, and the God I serve has not forgotten them. He loves each and everyone of them so much, just as much as He loves you and me and He desires a personal relationship with them.

 

            Swaziland has the highest percentage of people infected with AIDS. A statistic says that if AIDS and HIV continues at the rate it’s going that by year 2050 the Swazi people will no longer exsist. That’s 47 years. I will be 65 years old and most if not all the friends I’ve made here will be dead. That means I will out-live most of the little chilren I’ll be teaching at the carepoints. I don’t know how that makes you feel when you read that, but as I’m typing it, I feel disgusted. Yes, I feel sympathy… but I feel anger that motivates me to be a warrior for the kingdom. That motivates me to pray that God would rise up men and women of God in Swaziland to spread His truth. Would you please join me in this prayer?

 

 

 

            P.S. Just want to let all family and friends know that sometime in March there will be an oppurtunity for visitors to come and stay with us for a week or so. Maybe you could just be thinking about this and if you think you’d be able to do make this trip.  (you know who you are if I’ve talked to you about this before)… also, any of you decide to write a letter or anything…please send pictures!