Journey to Ludlati Carepoint from KnownToMe on Vimeo.

We sincerely thank God and everyone who gave time, energy, skills, supplies and finances to make the trip possible to visit our neighbor kids and people in and around Ludlati Carepoint.  KnownToMe started on the journey with Ludlati in November 2009 with a long term development plan to raise support and provide resources for the Swazi ladies (Bomake) who faithfully work at the carepoint, and build infrastructure and relationships.  All these things help to meet true needs, but relationships are the only way to deliver encouragement, love, hope and life.

Everything we did during this first visit is part of the overall objective to build long term relationships at Ludlati.  Here is a concise list of highlights from the trip:

• Several if not all the Bomake are true believers doing the daily work at Ludlati.  Now we see that they feel our love and support, and make excellent use of the resources received.  They are very thankful to God for His abundant provision, and look forward to continued growth in areas of remaining need.
• Extra funds raised for the trip provided two (very much needed) large iron pots, two large wooden cooking utensils, net ball hoops, net balls, daily fruit for the kids, meat for the fun day meal, towels for foot washing, batteries for a talking bible in Siswati, and home visit gift packs heavy with food and things considered luxuries in Swaziland (e.g. sugar, coffee).
• Got to know personal situations and struggles of many kids, the Bomake, and Disciplers, and we were able to share compassion and pray with them.
• Letters written to the kids are very well received.  They feel love and friendship communicated through your letters.  It is another effective way to build relationships that give hope.  We also received a response letter from one of my family’s matched kids to bring home.
• Two American men (myself and Dennis Brock) and two Swazi men (Bheki and Pastor Walter) visited a home of abusive parents to show our concern for their children, and invite them to join the carepoint festivities for the week.  When men show this kind of loving concern for a family, and gently confront their situation, it is a significant event in Swaziland where men are generally not involved.  The Lord used our presence and concern to influence the mother to let her kids come and share in the fun at Ludlati.  Please pray for abuse in this family to stop, and this family finds freedom and peace in Christ.
• We visited a mourning family where an Aunt of two kids had died.  While we were following the kids to their homestead down the rough paths, Bheki asked me to share scriptures of encouragement with the family.  Our whole team, both disciplers and many of the Bomake attended.  Discipler Bheki started with a couple worship songs, followed by interpretations of the scriptures and words of encouragement shared.  Two men of the family responded with gracious, genuine words of acceptance of the songs and scriptures, and thanked everyone on our team for coming so far to visit their family.  They also thanked us for the work being done at Ludlati Carepoint.  They told us the whole community finds hope and appreciates the work being done with the children at Ludlati Carepoint.  It was humbling to receive their thanks on behalf of the community in the face of their personal loss.  We thanked them for welcoming us into their home to share in their families time of loss and hope in Christ.  We gave them two large home visit packs as gifts.
• We got about 10-12 home visits completed during the trip.  Having visitors come to a home is an exciting event in Swaziland.  Some visits were easy and pleasant.  Others revealed challenging living conditions and situations.  One of the more common prayer requests was for fathers to leave new wives or girl friends, return home, spend time with their children, and at least send money home to support their family.  In either case, we were able to pray with each family, and leave a nice home visit gift pack.
• Shoes, foot washing, dresses, shorts, hats, school supplies, toiletry bags, fun day activities and fruit and candy treats were all well received by the kids.  We were glad these things were accomplished, and there was a lot of physical work involved.  The team did a great job, but the week was almost too busy.  We saw the benefits and need for more interaction time with the kids, and thought we will build more time for relating this way into the next trip.
• One month after we returned from the trip, we received messages from Bheki and Londiwe, the Discpileship Trainers.
• “Everytime I go there now it feels like there’s more life…the kids are such an encouragement…I really am enjoying my time with them, so thanks a lot for all y’all did to impact the kids while you were here!  Keep blessed then!” - Bheki
• “Your trip had a great impact in our lives.  It gives us hope to know that we are not alone, and it encourages us to know that you are praying for us.  Be blessed in your families” -Londiwe

Many thanks were expressed by the children, Bomake, Discipleship Trainers, one man working at the carepoint, and people in the surrounding community for coming to visit and for bringing hope.  Many requests were offered for us to stay and not leave.  Everyone on the travel team expressed much thanks for the blessing we felt from each person we met during the trip.  As we left in the van after giving our final goodbyes and hugs, we all felt a load of compassion and saddness for the kids and their circumstances as well as the joy of getting to know them and sharing a great week together.  There were not many dry eyes in the van as we departed down the rough gravel road.

Above is a video of the trip titled “Journey to Ludlati Carepoint”.  From it’s earliest beginning as “The Tree Carepoint”, much transformation has taken place over the last few years at Ludlati Carepoint.  Because of God’s blessings of provision, infrastructure that we can see with our eyes has been built.  Because of God’s blessings of community and relationship, friendship, encouragement, love and hope has been shared and continues to grow between our communities.

I have been trying to write a blog that gives thanks to God for so many good things done before and during the trip to Ludlati.  I also want to share in more depth about the awesome work being done by the Bomake (boh-mah-gay) and the Discipleship team at Ludlati.  After visiting and talking with them we have a much deeper appreciation for the way God uses them at Ludlati.  We also received word from community members visiting the carepoint, and during home visits how they are blessed to see the good things being done at Ludlati Carepoint.  As I have been writing, the text just keeps getting longer and longer to the point where I realize I need to break this into a multi-part series.  So here goes…

Thankfulness at Ludlati - Part I

We are thankful for all the people who gave their time and sewing skills to the dress project. It was started by Michelle Jacob with hopes that 100 would be made. Over 500 dresses were hand made and donated.  After the dress project was started, a project to make shorts for boys was launched.  Over 200 pairs of shorts came in.  On top of the clothes, someone started making homemade drawstring bags for the clothes.  Each girl and boy at Ludlati Carepoint received two dresses or two pairs of shorts, and were given inside a homemade drawstring bag.

As part of the monthly sponsorships raised at Ludlati Carepoint, a water tank and tower were installed at the Carepoint.  The ladies who started Ludlati Carepoint, and faithfully cook and feed the children each day were very thankful to have this easy access to clean water for cooking and for the children to have water to drink.  Until the well installation is completed, water is brought in by truck to fill the tank.

Capital funding was raised earlier this year to build a fence and kitchen.  Ludlati was selected as one of two carepoints to receive a kitchen build donated by a Swaziland government organization called NERCHA.  Our funds were shifted from the kitchen to a water well.  When we arrived at Ludlati, the kitchen was 95% completed, and had an extra room just large enough to use for some of our group gatherings.  We used the room all week for gathering together to sing praise songs, give away clothes, wash feet, give away shoes, do VBS coloring projects.  God’s timing for having and using this room was perfect.

The water well is drilled, and located down the hill from Ludlati carepoint.  A trench is partially dug heading from the well hole up the hill to the kitchen.  At this point, I think the plan is to install a solar powered water pump.  Three other carepoints are using the solar powered pumps, and the equipment is running effectively and reliably.  There is a little more initial cost for the equipment, but no monthly power bills!  Because of a significant gift given by an anonymous donor, I believe we have the capital funds needed.  Thank you Lord for being the provider to Ludlati!

The fence, which is fully funded, is not started yet.  There has been so much growth in the number of carepoints being sponsored in Swaziland through Childrens HopeChest that they have had a hard time keeping up with the pace of giving.  The fence is planned to begin in two to three weeks.  After I receive update pictures, I will share them with everyone here on the blog.

As you can see, we have so much to be thankful for before we get into thanking God for trip provisions…more to come.

The last day at Ludlati Carepoint on Monday, Sept 13th was a wonderful day.  It was a blessing to see many of the faces with smiles that did not have smiles at the beginning of the week. There were still a few tough holdouts, but not many.  The pictures tell the story well of our last few hours of hanging out, singing, and dancing together.

Some “thankyou” notes went back and forth between the team, kids and Bomage.  The Bomage wrote two thankyou letters to the team and our supporters expressing their gratitude for the blessings that were poured out on them during our visit.

We received a “thankyou” note from one of the young ladies at Ludlati on behalf of all the kids, and it has a lovely colored picture on the note. She thanked us for visiting, and for all that was done for them during the week.

As a team we wrote a note in return thanking her for her gratitude, directed the thankfulness to God, and encouraged her to continue showing kindness.

Ludlati Kids Sing from KnownToMe on Vimeo.

Ludlati Kids Song with Moves from KnownToMe on Vimeo.

Make Matsebula (the lady in the straw hat who started the carepoint) is often right in with the kids singing, dancing and encouraging them to do the same.

Ludlati Kids Dance from KnownToMe on Vimeo.

Then the time came to say our goodbyes.  Everyone was emotional about the good times we shared, and we could all feel the bonds we have developed together.  It was difficult to say goodbye to our new friends.

Each of the team members said goodbye to the kids.  No one got through without tears as each expressed gratitude and love for the kids, and that it was difficult for us to leave.  That we would miss being with all of them.

Dumsile says thanks and goodbye to the team on behalf of all the kids.

Thanks Given By Ludlati Kids from KnownToMe on Vimeo.

Dumsile’s words from the video:
“Thanks very much for the wonderful time we had with you. It has been a great time we have spent together. It is also very painful to us that you have to leave. Every single day to us it was like Christmas Day. We were very excited, and we just look forward to that day. So we will continue praying for you, and we also pray the Lord be with you that He will protect you in your various places, and help you and prosper you in whatever you do.”

After we closed with a prayer, we gave the kids one more gift of candy as they exited the room.  Then the team started giving hugs to the D-team members who helped us work with the kids all week.  Their names are Bheki (Beggy) and Londiwe (lahn-dee-way).

Saving the best for last, we finally said goodbye and gave hugs to Make Matsabule.

More goodbyes with friends as we make our way to the van.

As we left the carepoint, it was very difficult to leave the kids behind.  The tears could not be held back as we drove off.  Tears of sadness at leaving our friends behind, tears of joy for a wonderful week, tears of concern for the kids and their concerns for safety.  We pray the Lord keeps them safe and draws the kids to Himself through the love we shared over the past week, continued financial support, letter writing and future visits.  Lord, please bring positive changes to the Ludlati carepoint and surrounding community according to your plans.

At the hotel, we said our final goodbyes to our driver on the left, and two D-team members:  Bheki (the driver), Londiwe, and Bheki.  They were a blessing to work with and get to know as friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today was great and difficult.  Today we had to say goodbye to the kids and Bomage (Bo-mah-gay), and they to us.  Thank you notes and hugs have been flying back and forth.  I will write much more and share more pictures of the last moments we shared at Ludlati Carepoint today.  I am too tired to do it tonight.  I will post this information when I get home.  We leave tomorrow to begin our journey home.  See you soon!

Sunday the Day of REST!

I missed seeing our Ludlati kids today, but I was also thankful for some rest.  The other team members reiterated the same sentiment.  We went to Pastor Walter’s church today.  People usually arrive early, and singing gets started before church officially starts.  It’s so cool to get out of the van and hear singing eminating quietly and some distance from the church.  As we approach the level increases in a nice crescendo as we enter through the open front door.  The music is only made of voices at this church, but it is so full and rich.  Harmonies flowing beautifully.  Hand claps, foot stomps and bible thumps serve as rhythm at appropriate times and metres.  The church service starts with several songs.  Later, the offering is given, testimonies are shared, and then the pastor preaches his message.  But everything really flows together like a symphony.  At every transition, a song is sung which keeps the music flowing as people move toward the front or to sit down again.  The flow of the Spirit is never broken as songs are started at random by one inspired voice, and everyone else joins for the whole song.  The flow of the Spirit continues duirng prayers as people sing quietly while others pray aloud with praises, thanksgiving, requests and sufferings made known to God before the entire body, and the singing does not stop until everyone is finished with their prayer.  Everyone on the team enjoyed the service, and a few touched personally by the message.  Near the end of the service, they asked us to stand up and introduce ourselves.  Everyone was warm and friendly with us.  It was awesome.

After church we noticed a few things.  The church was full, but there was only four cars in the lot.  Two were for our team and leaders, one was for Pastor Walter (given to him as a gift), and one more car.  Most of the people walked to church.  We also gave a ride home to a family.  They had seven kids between 2 and 12 years old ride with us in the van, and two adult ladies and one teenager in the other car.  As we were driving along, I noticed that we had been driving for more than a few minutes.  Then we left the rural dirt road, and turned onto the main road, and sped along for another few minutes.  One of the team members turned and asked do they walk this far to church?!  It must have been about 3-4 miles.  After we dropped them off, we asked our driver if they walk this far to church, and he said “yes”.

This will be the last post from Swaziland.  I am out of funds to purchase internet access at the hotel, but I will post more pictures and stories after I return home.  Tomorrow we will visit Ludlati carepoint one more time to say goodbye to the kids.  It will be difficult for all of us to say goodbye.  For now, please enjoy the pictures from church today, and look for some more pictures and posts given after we return home.  Pastor Walter is in the suit, and a young man named Musa is in the white shirt.  He is an awesome Discipleship Team leader.  Some of you may remember him singing in the video I shared from last trip where he was singing and dancing with the kids.  He was no less an inspiration today as he helped lead songs, and interpret the messages.  We took a picture with Dennis, our guide for the week at the AIM office in Manzini.  He is the guy in the blue shirt and yellow tie.  Dennis’ lovely wife, Zwagele, is shown holding her nephew.  Dennis and Zwagele shared their amazing story of meeting, dating, engagement and marriage.  It is quite a story we will have to share sometime.  They are currently expecting a baby, and we are excited for them to expand their family with a child.

This mountain is said to look like a lion laying on the ground.  Can you see it?

At the market to purchase some souvenirs.

Zwagele shows Michelle how to carry things on her head.

Michelle’s turn.

Today all the stops were pulled out, and the FUN Day doors were blown wide open!  The D-Team set up the jumping gym, we played with the 30 foot parachute, set up the netball court for the girls (had net ball hoops made for Ludlati!), jump ropes, soccer balls, net balls, frisbees, an awesome beef and chicken meal prepared by the Bomage, and gift bags of personal hygiene supplies and lots of candy for the kids!  We have been amazed for the third day in a row we had exactly the amount of gift bags we needed with varying numbers of kids each day!  God is the provider!

The Lord blessed the Bomage (boh-ma-gay) ladies today through very special gifts.  Each one received a blanket, umbrella, a towel set, and a bible in Siswati.  They danced around with great excitement and joy.  Their expressions are so much fun, and make giving gifts so much fun as well.  These gifts are very special here, and truly appreciated.  I was surprised to learn that some of them did not have a bible before today.  Surprised because they know and demonstrate Godly characteristics.  Well they have bibles now!  It would be good to fill this community with bibles starting with the kids.  Watch for more action on this item in the future.

It has been a wonderful week, and the team feels very blessed, challenged, and exhausted.  I have so many more amazing details to share as I am able in future posts.  We are ready to attend church in Swaziland, and enjoy worshiping God and take a day of rest.

One more afternoon with the kids is scheduled for Monday.  That will be our final goodbye.  I miss my family, and will be ready to go home next Tuesday, but it will be tough to say goodbye since my heart has grown even deeper bonds with the Ludlati children and surrounding community of people.  I feel we have a good start connecting our communities through home visits and spending time with everyone at the carepoint.  I look forward to the continued development of the kids and carepoint itself that God has planned for Ludlati.

The pictures are placed in order of the day, and tell the story without words.  Enjoy these pictures.

There will be more pictures and posts to come from this beautiful land in the following days!

ANOTHER BIG day today!

When we arrived at Ludlati this morning, we were informed by Mage Matsabule that a family of two kids at the carepoint is in mourning of the recent death of an aunt in the family.  She recommended we do a home visit there, so we did.  The kids lead us down the paths to their homestead.

We were invited into their home.  The meeting started off with some singing lead by Bheki (Beh-gee).  Then he asked me to share scriptures and words of encouragement with the family.  We talked a little bit about how their aunt was in God’s hands now.  Then we read Romans 8:26 which tells us we can let the Spirit pray in our weakness when we do not know how to pray.  We also read through Math 6 which tells us to be anxious for nothing…pursue God first and He will add everything we need.  Then the Grandfather of the family shared words of thanks for our visit, and he thanked all of us and everyone back home for the work being done at Ludlati carepoint.  We directed all the glory to God, and thanked God for allowing us to share grief and blessings as members of His family.  The family was truly blessed as well as us.  It was a tough meeting because of grief, but there was also genuine appreciation and joy between us.  We left two bags of food with the family and said goodbye.  Then the kids lead us back to the carepoint.

I had seen all but one of our sponsored kids until this morning!  Fanelo showed up at the carepoint today.  She stole my heart right away!  She could speak some English, and we were able to communicate (she is only 6 years old).  We brought her a picture of our family and a letter.  In the pictures below, I am explaining who each member of our family is, and she points to Selah and said, “That’s my special friend! That’s Selah!  She wrote me a letter.  I have a letter for her.”  Later in the day, I was given the letter to take home to Selah. Her letter is very well written.  Her and Selah will make good friends I think

Today was shoe day.  The kids allowed us the honor to wash their feet before they accepted their new shoes.  I could try to explain what happened throughout these hours, but the pictures tell the story very well…

Tomorrow is a big party at the carepoint!  I am confident we will have more great things to share tomorrow!