Let me take this opportunity to wish you a blessed New Year.
Every year starts with a lot of hope, people making resolutions and commitments
on certain things. A new year is a new dawn. What does that mean for Nsoko?
Personally,
I started the new year very tired spiritually and physically. I felt emotionally
drained. Praise the Lord for his mercy and grace. He allowed me to be sick so
that I spent quality time with Him in a hospital bed. This is when I got the
chance to read, pray, and above all, think. I can assure you, there's a lot you
think about when you can do nothing but sleep. It was during this time that I
thought about my life and how can I make it count. Most of what I thought about
is private and personal, but I can tell you one thing- God is in control. There's
nothing anyone can do to alter his purpose for my life and for yours.
For
Nsoko there are a lot of prospects. Initially, there were supposed to be no
teams coming to Nsoko because of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that has
made things very expensive for us. When South Africa catches a cold, Swaziland
sneezes. God being God, we're having a lot of interest from people saying
expensive or not, we are coming to Nsoko. This is God, because we are fully
dependent on what the teams do when they get to Nsoko for now. I would like to
say thank you to all those individuals who are making decisions every day to
say "we want to be part of what God is doing in the community of Nsoko".
There
are those of you who are interested in helping meet my medical needs. You may
contact Scott Borg at Adventures in Missions, scottborg@adventures.org. I know
some of you would like to know what was wrong with Pastor Gift. The doctors
have said it is a stress related sickness. I am currently seeing a clinical psychologist.
I humbly request your prayers as I go through this difficult patch in my life. The
things that are happening in Nsoko will never be ignored. Today I met one of
the gogos waiting for me in my house. She cried and said, "Pastor, I don't have
anything to eat. I used to depend on farming, but the sun destroyed all my
crops. Help me, Pastor." In my pocket I had fuel money and needed it, but the
need for the gogo was more urgent than me being mobile and secure with gas. So,
I drove to Nsoko, bought her Mealy Meal and some vegetables. She will eat and
when it is finished what is she going to do? Things like this can depress you.
They can cause you a lot of stress. They can mess up your mind. So please pray
that I learn not to take these things to heart, but to trust the Lord that he
will make a way for the people.
MY HOPE
IS THAT THIS YEAR COMES WITH A NEW DAWN. GOD GRANT US WISDOM IN HOW WE SHOULD
APROACH THE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US.
Posted in General Posts by Pastor Gift on 12/17/2009
As we come towards the end of the year, we are grateful to God Almighty for graciously leading us thus far. When we look back we realize that it is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. I would like to look back and say God is good for He did send the right people at the right time. Nsoko is never the same again because of their efforts and sacrifice.
I may not have the teams in order, but we're thankful to Scott Borg for leading a team we called an "Adult Team". Mahangeni CarePoint has a store house and potential regular support because of their work. We can't forget Matt Slawson and Amanda Roberts for leading the first Real Life team to live right on the premises with us. You guys were the turning point of Nsoko. You will be forever remembered. Guys like you all are forever embedded in our hearts. I would also like to mention Coach Hannah and the World Race team. Oh girls, you made the sport ministry exciting. Your work at the CarePoints will live on. We are grateful also to Morgan who led a young adults team from her church. Oh the children games were a bomb. This has paved the way to a working relationship with Pastor Mkhwanazi through Kristy and her church. Morgan, the G42 Football Club owes you a lot. You linked us with Jeremiah whom we love so much and we are yearning to meet him this side of the grave. The soccer team that you support is turning boys into men. It has become an integral part of the ministry here in Nsoko. Thank you for your support. How can we forget Pamela, Ericka, and Sydney? You girls led an all girls Real Life team. But I'll say, you are my best men. Thank you for all the hard work, sacrifice, and prayers. I can never forget the prayer support you afforded to me and my family. You would stop me on the path and say "Pastor Gift, can we pray with you?" And I would say "Sure, do." Crazy, God answered all your prayers. I now bless you in all your future endeavors, may the God I serve reward you a thousand times more than what you are now. Thank you to the World Race team that is still on the race. We remember all of you guys- William, Matt, Tiffany, Coli, and Scotty. Thank you for coming to Nsoko. Though it was short, it was worth it. We say thank you to the combined Vision Trip 2009. Thank you Mr. Mudd and Borg for leading this team. The prospects are great. We also want to thank the NFL wives. You blessed our women and my boy MuchMoney. You left an impact in Nsoko. Thank you so much. We currently have a team of five- Jon, Bryan, Jessica, Katie, and Lila. I would like to call them our temporal staff. Thank you guys for being here ministering together. That's the Novas team. I would like to mention Patty and Bob. You guys are amazing.
Yes, the year that was.
We have seen a lot of things happening. Praise be to God. The Luke Commission came down to Nsoko and people were helped. Thank you to Echo, Jumbo, Dennis, and the whole AIM staff for your commitment during this time. We have been able to transform what was a community center into dormitories. This year has seen the clinic operating fully. How can we forget the soccer team that has been instrumental in uniting the community? God has blessed the church, the womens ministry, and community outreaches.
The storm tried to spoil a lot of things, but God is still good. We do have some minor damages, we trust though that all will be fixed soon.
In the new year, we would like to concentrate on leadership development and infrastructure. We're expecting a team that will be instrumental in the achievement of this goal. However, the main thrust is to have Nsoko become what God would like it to be. Nsoko will be a community that brings glory to God. Our hope is to give hope to the people of Nsoko. Recently we've witnessed rains and that gives us hope.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED US IN THE YEAR THAT WAS. WE ARE INDEBTED TO YOU. JAMES 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Posted in General Posts by Pastor Gift on 11/10/2009
People say a lot of things about being silent. They say 'Silence is Golden', 'Since is more vocal than words', and 'Silence is a virtue'.
In this case being silent, that is not posting blogs, was a matter of not getting time to do it and a lack of close by facilities. Somehow, I feel the happenings of the last two months or so were a challenge to express in words. We had several people from our HIV/AIDS group die, children being abandoned by mothers because they can no longer support them financially and emotionally. There were a lot of other challenges we faced but through it all the Lord has been with us.
Praise be to God our heavenly Father because he knows how to encourage us. We had in the month of October a Real Life team that ministered in Nsoko. These young people have been indeed Jesus to the people of Nsoko. I want right now to say thank you to the leaders; Erica Z, Pamela, and Sydney. Yes thank you to the team; Mollie, Bailey, Beth, Faith, Abbie, Jenny,Julie, Linldly, Brooke, Ashely,Amy, Rachel, Erica B, and Laura. Thank you all girls team for such a wonderful work while with us in Nsoko. You came at a time that we were implementing changes but never gave us a problem, but stuck in with us in serving the community.
Thank you for working at the care-points, visiting with the people, helping in sports ministry, helping build the camp house showers, giving of your money to worthy causes. You did a lot and I cannot because of time constraints count it all. Above everything else thank you for being Jesus to the poor. You became part of the community like a real 'incarnation' (identifying with) to the world of the needy. People will never forget how you helped Dudu's (God bless her soul) family during their time of great need. From transporting the body, buying the coffin, picking up the stones to make the grave, and those genuine tears as grieved her death. Thank you.
There is heroin I want to thank.
Traci Vensumeren!You are THEE MAN. How I wish you lived in Swazi with your soon to be husband. You can do almost anything, the ideal missionary. Your accomplishments while here in Swazi are inumerable. Your heart is amazing. Your dertemination wonderful. Your focus on a task and professionalism astounding. Hey girl I am running out of words to discribe how thankful we are for your hands on efforts while you were here. Thank you for the way you care for the Gama family.
Vision Trip
Vision Trip 2009. Thank you guys for coming over to Nsoko even for those short momennts. You renewed our hope. We can dream again. You made us regain the vitality for ministry. We will always treasure those personal conversations. Scott and Bob, thank you for doing such a good job leading this vision trip and I know for sure that the objectives were met as planned.
I hope by now you understand about the silence. A lot has been going on and God has been faithful as always.
There are a lot of people in the background here and in the USA. They are praying for us, daily encouraging us, and giving financial support. To all of you we say thank you and your giving is not in vain. We need your support more then ever. There are a lot of simple projects that are making a huge difference in Nsoko. We are now in the process of fully establishing a "Foster Parenting" program. If you happen to want to know more about this you can email me at giftmistries@yahoo.com or scottborg@adventures.org
Thank you again; hope to be a regular poster again. I love you all.
When I walked into the room, Pastor Gift was talking with a woman named Busisiwe. I had seen her down at the Nsoko Center an hour or so earlier, but she didn't speak enough English to explain why she was there. I noticed the growths on her neck, and assumed she was here to ask for money for the doctor; for which I later felt foolish for judging so hastily.
Pastor Gift had asked me to come up to meet her, and took a few minutes to fill me in on what her story was. Busisiwe is at the of her rope, and has run out of ideas and even hope. She has been unable to provide for her children for some time now, and at this point doesn't feel like she can even care for them if food was supplied. She mentioned that she is supposed to have surgery for her tumors, and the doctors said there is a good chance she may not survive. She is dying, and is at the point that she is ready to leave her children somewhere...anywhere.
Busisiwe tried to hold back the tears as she continued to communicate the desperation she has reached. Her three children range from six to eleven. Busisiwe and her kids have been squatting with another family, but resources have run out, and they no longer have anywhere to stay.
While Busisiwe was fixed some food in the kitchen, Pastor Gift and I tried to brainstorm how to handle this immediate need. After a while, we came up with an idea that we thought would work well, at least temporarily. We made a couple of phone calls, and with a little walking through the community, we had a home for them. One of the gogos (grandmothers) in the area has her own homestead and lives alone. She has no source of income, and relies on her children to support her. I know one of her daughters, another gogo, and she is struggling to make ends meet as it is with her own family, and the son of her deceased sister.
We agreed to buy one-months' worth of food for the go-go, Busisiwe, her three kids, and Abigail in exchange for the go-go keeping them with her as her own family. This is true community, and family--taking in one another and working together to make sure everyone has food and other basic needs. This has the potential to benefit all of the individuals involved, if it is a good fit.
Busisiwe was beside herself with gratitude, and even was able to smile for a few photos before she left. I gave her some money for transport, and sent her off with a small meal for the road. She will be returning in a day or two with her kids and their meager belongings, to begin to settle in.
Please, be praying for her health, her hope, and her heart--they all need a good boost. Pray that we are able to be Christ's hands and feet to her and her children, and that it will be a good fit for them, Abigail, and the go-go. Pray, also, that we will come up with a more permanent solution to this frequent and ongoing problem here. This is not the first, and certainly won't be the last time someone shows up wanting to leave their children.
It is a Friday morning and as usual I have to go through my rounds. This Friday I have to take Amy Joe, Kim Martins, and Christine to Joyela Care Point. The main errand for the day is to take Winile and Bhek'musa to Mbabane so we could pay their exam fees.
I wake up with no funny feelings and prepare myself for the day. Christine indicates that they are ready to go and we all drive to Joyela. At Joyela the ladies are able to talk to the 'gogo's' and play with the children while I try to write something in my car. When they are done we say our goodbyes and that means I am free to go to Mbabane. However, I had to go to Matata first, withdraw money and then head to Mbabane with the two young people.
As we drive into Matata we hear a loud car bell but ignore it because there several cars driving past us. All of a sudden we see this Hundai SUV heading for our side of the road. Behind us there is a big lorry and behind her there is a mini-truck. She is like 10 metres away and there is no way out. I applied breaks and the inevitable happened, she bumped into my car head on. In her car there are three small children and they are all astounished. She comes out of her car as someone who is waking up from a deep sleep. She apologizes and tells us that she is from a two week long workshop so she is tired. It is then clear that she slept on the stirring wheel and when her elder child tried to wake her up, she pressed on the gas pedal and the rest is history.
When the police came she admitted that she is on the wrong and she would like to be allowed to negotiate with me. I asked that we write down police statements before we could talk. She asked for three quotes because she wants to fix my car. She also apologized for any inconvience caused by the accident. We exchanged contact details, toured both cars to safety and I was without transport.
I began to think about what could have happened. If I decided to swerve on the right she could have come right into my passenger side door and killed Bhek'musa. Swerving to the left I could have hit the trees and she hit my side door and I would be dead. Let assume I was not there and no other car was there, her car could have overturned and in the process killing her and her three small children. The left was just full of trees and rocks. Why did I have to be the one there at that particular time? Why was I the sacrifice as it seems I had to be the one?
This has brought a lot of incovinience. We missed the deadline and I am back to the time when transport was a problem. Yes the damage is minor but it will take a week or two to fix. There are delays that I can now do nothing about, appointments to be cancelled and a lot of other things. But may be, just may be, I was there to save a life.
Please pray that this lady, who is a dirvocee, may be able to fix my car. Pray that she may be able to realize like I do that worse could have happened. Even though she is paying for her mistake, may she realize that I have truly forgiven her. This is like you were walking on the road and a car knocks you down. The driver may forgive you but your bones won't heal just because you were forgiven. This has come to me as a lesson that God indeed does forgive us but somehow the consequences of our sin linger longer then we would like.
Please pray for God's protection on our lives. We need this car before the 11th of September.
Thank you.
P/S I apologize for not posting updates for such a long time, internet was down in Matat.
This winter has made me to think of a phenomenon of being in a minister of the gospel. We have had a Real Life team made mainly of twenty somethings come over to Nsoko. While they were here we had an Adult team work with us. Last week we were hosting a Young Adult team led by Morgan and for the next three weeks we have a group of young people on the World Race. Hosting and working with these teams made me think about the responsility to touch generations with the gracious truth.
Here in Nsoko we are about children. However, these children have parents and the parents have grown up sons and daughters becoming parents in 'light speed'. It is quite interesting that Seth Barnes, the founder of AIM is revisiting the AIM mission statement www.sethbarnes.org . These days I am asking God what does he really want to do in Nsoko. I guess I am kind of looking to find His mission too. Because we could very easily find ourselves doing our own thing or what other people think we must be doing. What does God want us to be in the community of Nsoko? We have an up coming generation faced with the despair brought about by hiv/aids. In a recent outreach by the Luke Commission 9 out 10 people tested hiv positive. This is the generation we are told would be wiped out by 2050.
Yesterday, I found myself going through the updates that Isabel Maldonaldo was working on while living with us in Nsoko. I was looking at the records of the Mbuthu care-point where I stumbled upon a handwritten note: Siphesihle Mavimbela died last month. I was shocked that the children are dying and some of them I do not get to be told. I knew Siphesihle and would have loved to be at her funeral. I began to think about the many hiv positive children at our care-points and wondered how long they have to live? What can I do to make their short lives as worthwhile as possible. We are soon to launch a ministry that would cause the children to actively tell their story so they could be remembered.
The sports ministry is proving to be effective in reaching out to the youngmen and women. This is the sexual active generation. A majority of them already hiv positive but not yet sick. I could count them as part of the dying generation and they need to be saved. Swazis are to save Swazis, but the naked truth is, we need all the help we can have. We are grateful to Bloom clothing for helping us with the soccer kit for the youngmen and we are hoping to reap a big harvest of souls through it. This last Saturday we were selecting the best 25 to be on the travelling team and 42 youngmen were there for the try outs. Pastor Themba and Walter Dlamini of IMAG were there. Pastor Walter made several powerful remarks but I would like to quote him on this one: You may lose a game but does not mean you have lost the league. In life you will have setbacks just like in sports, but you do not have to give up on life. Your best is yet to come.
We also have the generation that is almost dead. It is represented by the almost 60 nin our hiv/aids support group. They are the ones the current World Race teams currently in Nsoko is reaching out to. These two teams, Spectacle and Indelible, are divided into twos and are providing home based care to the terminally ill. They are feeding, washing and doing general nursing on the dying. One girl commented to me and said she is now 25 years but she had only seen one hiv positive person in her whole life, so it kind of freaky, to use her words, to experience these things here in Nsoko.
We are to reach the up coming generations and give them hope, we are to guide the present generation, and we are to help the dying generation forgive themselves as well as make a difference. We are called to the generations.
Recently we were driving to care-points with the Young Adult Team and my wife calls me and say you have to see a boy from Ngunya care-point. I inquire what is important about this boy and she tells me his penis is infected somehow and no knows why. We tried our best but could not get to the boy that day.
I was taken aback by this piece of information because I am currently working on a very gross case involving young boys and a 20 something old woman. According to the boys, this girl known to me but cannot be disclosed because of obvious reasons pays them to have sex with her. Gross!These boys are between 12 and 14 years of age. Looking at the alleged girl I doubt she could do something like that. However, several of the boys have been treated for sexual transmitted infections and they all allege to have been of service to her. I believe I am about to solve this mistry the best way it could be solved.
We eventually go to see the young boy at his school. I sat with him down and we talked man to man. He was very open and confident. It was not surprising to me that at his age he understood what I wanted to know concerning his infection and laughed at my attempt at talking to him as if he was a clueless child (in fact he is a child but what can I say!). He blankly told me that it is not what I think it is, yes he has done that before but it has been a very long time. What is a very long time to a boy his age? Morgan and I went back to the school on Thursday to take the boy to Matata clinic. He looked confident even though he was in his torn uniform. He seems to be a well nurtured boy by the looks of the clean uniform and clean combed short hair.
When we got to Matata, the nurse confirmed that it was just an infection from possibly an insect bite. Wheeeh! Relief! Morgan bought him a full new uniform: shirt, pants, socks, and shoes. While at it, we bought Maswane 2 new blankets and a mattress. The boy was treated to a great lunch at the 1896 Cafe' and we went back to join the team that was already busy with kidzgames. I have to take him back to the clinic this coming Thursday and hopefully the infection has been overcome by the antibiotics he has been taking. This boy is one of three orphans living with their gogo at Ngunya. It was a privilige to watch him smile in his new uniform. Thank you Morgan and the young adults team. We are touching one life at a time.I just love such moments of total grace given to a child. Its' like heaven.
Events of this past month have reminded me of Jesus and his ministry. Jesus was most often misunderstood by the people of his time and many are times he had to remind his followers that he had different opinions when it comes to life then what they expected him to live.
Ever since this summer started, which is our winter in Swazi, God has truly blessed and grown the ministry in Nsoko. Teams have been flowing our direction and praise God they have been effective in accomplishing the targets set. Scott and Marcia came over to Swazi and have been instrumental in making sure that we still following God's lead in all what we do in his name. We cannot stop praising God for the Real Life Team that came and stayed with us for two months. These young people are a crazy bunch. They are daring and ready to show at all times that they not living for Jesus but Jesus is alive through them. The Real Livers ministered to the core of Nsoko needs hence resurrecting and reviving our hope in the future.
While the RLs were still here, Scott and Marcia led an Adult Team that included a couple of ypung people. For the first time in Nsoko we had a team focusing on one care-point. Mahangeni Care-point will never nbe the same because of what these wonderful people did while they were here. Another milestone with this team is when we did home visitations and left the homes we visited with food. This ministry had an impact that I cannot be able to articulate in words. Praise God for people who come here and spend not only themselves but also what they have to the glory of God. Mangangeni now has a blue classroom and storehouse because of the last team.
Wow! Wow! Wow! A Young Adults Team led by none other then Morgan Makhosazane Macknown came. We still trying to recover from the high productivity displayed by these wonderful people. Kristy the passionate one, Tegan the experimental teacher, Lacey the gentlelady, Jaclyn the calm and thoughtful one, Paloma the most talented photographer with a great smile, Morgan the go getter, Nubie the best cook to come to Nsoko, Branden the energetic one, Kevin the polite one, and Brian the motivated one. I have never seen men who love children like the guys that were just here. These guys are an example to the male spieces. We were doing kidzgames with children and Legacy Books for the hiv/aids support group. We also painted Mahangeni Care-point in two hours.
We are now expecting two World Race teams and looking forward to changing one life at a time. In all the above things I have mentioned, it is impossible to highlight the moments where individual lives were touched. These teams encounter the people of Nsoko on a one on one basis and indeed the Kingdom of God is manifested here on earth. These two teams have come to manifest the Kingdom of God and to me it is a blessing that they are coming.
No wonder the people ended up crucifying Jesus on the cross. He made all these claims that somehow gave hope to be delivered from Roman oppression. But the he would say; "My kingdom is not of this world." All the abuse cases and what have you sometimes make me wish I can organise a big march to protest to the authorities. However, that is how the world operate. What we have to do is come along these people and reaveal kingdom. Sometimes in suffering God is magnified. "When I am weak then I am strong." As a leader here, I do get misunderstood and I wish I can prove my innocence. That is exactly how the world does things, proving to others. Success is interpreted differently by different people. All I would like to say, we do not think or do things as the world think or does things.
"OUR KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD" Thank you for coming along and supporting our ministry here in Nsoko. Your words of encouragement are a motivation to us. Your financial support the oil that keeps the fire burning. Teams, you are the hands and mouths that we forever would need. Thank you for coming even during the economic crisis. This is like sowing in times of famine and may God make you reap a hundredfold like Isaac did.
BTW.
September 11, is my wife and I 's wedding anniversary. You are our family and I would like to take my wife somewhere special in honor of her allowing me to be where God wants me to be. I prayed about this and I feel I could mention it here. If there is anyone interested in helping me surprise my wife you welcome. She does not read my blogs, so it will be a surprise indeed. Email me to find out my idea of a surprise because I cannot mention it here.
The Real Life Team has left for Manzini and I am sitted in my house with Mxolisi playing a game of cards. I'm trying to tone down in preparation for the Young Adult coming with Morgan. Phumzile, a shop keeper from the small grocery shop across the street comes running into the house as if something is after her. "Pastor, they have sent me to call you. Maswane is very sick and they need your help", she announces.
We immidiately stop playing and the much needed toning down and rush for the Matsenjwa homestead which is not more than 4 kilometres from the Community Center. We find this 19 year old girl writhing in pain and her grandmother begins to tell us what is wrong with her. I began to observe her from a distance and realized what was wrong with her. I then drove back home to get my first aid kit and a book loaned to me by Isabel 'When the Doctor is Away'. Maswane has a terrible skin problem. Her skin looks like a rough snake or lizard skin and has sores that are full of abscess all over the body. Her breasts are covered in scales that are hard to look at. Putting gloves in my hands I began to imagine the pain she was going through and wanted to know all about where it began. After having washed her sores, applied sore cream to them, I then gave her antibiotics and pain tablets. We used a vitamin c drink to wash them down her throat and waited. When she looked calm and settled I ordered everyone out so I could talk to her. Here is what transpired:
"Tell me Maswane what happened to you when you were young?", I asked.
"Pastor, I have been meaning to talk to someone about this before I die. When I was almost six years old, in the year 2000, I was raped by my martenal cousin. It happened right here in this house. Every one was away and I was not schooling then. He came to the house early in the morning and he raped me. The issue was reported to the police and I was taken to Saint Philips clinic for examination. But to this day nothing has happened to my cousin Zakhele. I hear he has done a similar thing to another five year old. They say he has completely damaged the young girl womanhood. No wonder, he damaged me too. They even say he is now on the most wanted police list because he raped an older woman.
Pastor, there is something else I must tell you. Not only Zakhele raped me but also my uncle. He is my father 's brother because they share the same mother but they have different fathers. He died in December but after a long illness. The scales you see on my body started soon after Zakhele raped me, but I think I got HIV from my uncle. I have only one wish now, to see Zakhele, my cousin paying for his sins. My uncle is dead and I cannot do anything about it now. However, can you help me pastor make sure the police find Zakhele and put him in jail."
"Where is he"?
"I hear he is up the mountain with relatives in South Africa. It is possible to get to him. You know what pastor. One thing that is painful in this whole thing is that I have never had a man have me because I consented. All the men that have been with me they had done so by force. My privates parts were damaged fromyoung and now I DO NOT KNOW A MAN."
When she said this, I was already weeping and could not imagine the amount of emotional pain she is going through even as I write. Maswane is a real person and this is a true story. It is not fiction at all as it might seem. The Real Life Team while in Nsoko visited with Maswane on several occassions. In fact there is one girl who struck some kind of a relationship with her. We praise God for these teams because they help by spending time with the dying in Nsoko. I believe for Maswane to open up to me is because of the ground work that has been done by the team members.
Her mother came to me in the afternoon to say thank you for helping her daughter while she was at the farms working. She narrated how painful it is to leave her daughter alone in the morning for work. There is nothing she could do since she is the bread winner. She confirmed Maswane's rape by the cousin and how that created animosity in the family. She was surprised to learn that she was also raped by the late uncle and we began to cry together. We cried with no one to comfort us. I'm not sure why I was crying. May be because crying was the only thing I could do. She cried right by the training ground where she found me and it hurt so deep to see a mother weeping for a daughter that knows not a man.
Maswane gave me permission to use her story and her real name so people could realize the level of child abuse have come to in Swaziland. I do not know how to react. I do not know what to do. I do not know what to think. How can we stop this? How can one fulfill Maswane's wish?
The Nsoko community once again is facing a challenge within a challenge. Most people in this area depend on Government food grants to survive. What I do not understand is why it takes so long for Goverment to replenish the food supply to these people?
Yesterday I was sitting in my house doing administrative work when I heard a timid knock at the door. At first I thought it was my puppy now becoming big dog Max. I heard the gentle but desperate knock on the accompanied by murmuring sounds. I reluctantly stood up and went to check this unusual knock out. Guess what I found out there? God. Yes, I saw God. But this time it is not as I expected to see God. He was represented by this old lady. This lady was so frail and skiny you could have thought she was dead. I enquired, "how can I help you gogo". She shyly gave a response, "I am hungry my son, help I am dying." I immediately thought of what we had at the kitchen. I wish Isabel was writing this blog as a third person because it is difficult to say this. We had no food too except some bread that I was serving for my daughter when she comes from school.
The Spirit within me said I you going to spare food for your daughter and not give God right at your door. Joy came upon my spirit right then and I went to the kitchen and began to make juice and took all the slices of bread put it on a tray and went to give the old lady outside. Her eyes immediatetly brightened at the sight of food. I watched her eat as if she had not eaten in days. When she was done I cannot remember how many times she said "God bless you my son", "Thank you so much" with that shaking timid voice. I watched her as she stoop up to leave her body telling a story of shame as she moved. As she disappeared she left me with a picture of a miserable face that does not remember any joy. Here is someone that has lived a life of shame most of her life.
She is just one out of so many. Scott Borg has been to Nsoko this month with an Adult Team that happened to have teenagers too. On Tuesday and Thursday we visited homes for ministry. This team had bought basic food parcels to give out to the homes we visited. I went with a team to a home that I know is a youth headed family. Father and mother are dead only the children survive them. The World Racers would remember Mfan'thini. This is his family. They have absolutely no means. This young girl, hard as it is to admit, has to sometimes prostitute herself to feed the to young sisters, younger brother and her own small child. On the secong visit we went to this gogo's home.She is trying her best to raise her grandchildren that were left behind by her dead children. The only surviving daughter destroyed her house and left never to come back.
I must say, the people of Nsoko are still full of hope. They hope in life, they hope in hope, and above all they have hope in God.How people survive hear sometimes I do not know. But the fact is they do survive. They hope against hope. As I write in my car there is an envelope full if HIV results. The Luke Commission worker tells me that almost all of the people who got tested, they tested positive. She mentioned a special case of a fifteen year old who is in a critical position because her CD4 count is very low. HIV and poverty somehow do assist one another. They are cousins. These people are poor and they are also the most infected. In Swaziland the infection rate is at 42%. Nsoko has a 49% infection rate. People are dying and in numbers. Businesses are being affected.
The other day I was called upon to rescue a young man of about 22 years. He was from hospital to collect his ARV's. He had just enough money for transport and nothing for food. He fell next to the gate because he could not walk any longer. We have hope though. We hope against hope. The Real Life team is rounding up its ministry in Nsoko. Having these vibrant young people minister to their counterparts does give a ray of hope. It makes me think: God does care about Nsoko.
We agreed to buy one-months' worth of food for the go-go, Busisiwe, her three kids, and Abigail in exchange for the go-go keeping them with her as her own family. This is true community, and family--taking in one another and working together to make sure everyone has food and other basic needs. This has the potential to benefit all of the individuals involved, if it is a good fit.
but could not get to the boy that day.
