Today we visited Mahlabaneni carepoint, and participated in a Christmas party with the kids. Nearly 200 kids showed up for the party today. The pots of food did not look big enough for everyone to have enough, but everyone received a heaping helping, and everyone was served (heard this fishes and loaves story before?). They start now with Christmas parties since they throw several more parties for combinations of carepoints to include all in the area. We brought soccer balls, a jumping gym, crayons and paper, and special food (meat, oranges, candy). This was the longest period of time we have spent at a carepoint. It was great to be more relaxed and spend time relating with the kids. More holding little ones, camera fun, games, food, treats, and hanging out with some fine young gentlemen, but the standout today was watching the Discipleship trainers (a.k.a. D-team) work with the kids. There are two young men and three young ladies on the D-team today. Mousa is an outstanding leader. Watching him work is amazing (see video below). He is so gifted at health training, teaching, preaching, singing, dancing and relating to the kids, it seems obvious to all of us on this trip this young man was born for the purpose of leading change for kids in Swaziland. A teaching and preaching time before the meal was very fun and moving (Okay…I cried a little being so moved by the prayers of praise and thankfulness to God from the people in this place). The D-teams are an important part of Children’s Hope Chest strategy to have Swaziland people in leadership roles.
A quick word about carepoints in general. This particular carepoint is sponsored by Bob Mudd’s Church. Prior to sponsorship, these kids were starving. This is true of all the carepoints. Without community support, gifts and grants, there would be starvation, malnutrition and death. The GREAT news is carepoints like this make a huge difference. These children are now much healthier, happier and feel more secure. On top of that, they are learning and growing. There are a few unsponsored carepoints that receive food from Children’s Hope Chest through a limited supply grant that will run out in Feb 2010.
Feel free to ask questions in the comments below. I hope to expand on these details when I have more time to post. The pictures and video below help tell the story of today’s experience.
Holding little ones. Often they don’t want to be put down.
Fun in the Jumping Gym.
Many of the children don’t have shoes. One of the little ones had a thorn removed from his foot.
Awesome disciplship trainer helping a blind young boy have some fun in the Jumping Gym. It was very touching watching the other kids help this boy when he needed a little assistance. As a community they watch out for each other in many ways very well.
Discipleship Trainers at Mehlabaneni Carepoint from KnownToMe on Vimeo.
Here is a group of 12 to 14 year old boys I spent a long time talking and hanging out with. The boy on the lower left told me his story. His father is dead, and he lives at his grandma’s place. He does go to school, but he told me he does not like going to school without shoes. He had no shoes, and he is very interested in a pair of size 6 soccer shoes. We prayed together for God to meet his needs and assured him that God knows his request. Let’s see how He fulfills the prayer. I showed all these boys the family pictures I brought with me. They all thought my wife, Barbra, is very beautiful, and they liked the picture of my huge extended family of 8 brothers and sisters and kids.
Another group shot of the boys.
Tomorrow we go to a 3 to 4 hour Swaziland church service. Afterward we drive south to Nsoko. We will do home visits over the next two days. I am told by the people who work here on the ground, this is where the hidden side of living conditions and suffering is learned.
