We thank God and we thank everyone who has joined in providing financial support to the children of Ludlati in Swaziland Africa.  We have 50% of the carepoint monthly financial support raised.  More importantly, we have 35 of the 70 children who have an individual or a family committed to send letters that show individual children that someone from far away knows and cares about them.  It may be easy to dismiss the value received from a gift of a few simple letters.  Try to understand, it is the difference between life and death.  A great gift of hope in a child’s distress.

It has been proven many times over that people who have hope in difficult or impossible situations are much more likely to get through than someone who does not have it.  I know a true story how a touch on the shoulder and a simple statement of “See you in the morning.” made the difference between giving one’s life up, and fighting to live on to the next day.  Another story about a man who was in a bad car accident and the doctors projected the need to amputate his leg due to decreasing blood flow and gang-green.  In his pain and weakness he had given in to the inevitable loss until a volunteer advocate came along side this man.  Through simple visits and encouragement, this man was able to find hope.  Over time this man’s leg was saved, and he was able to walk again.  He said the visits and simple acts of kindness made the difference for him to have hope.  Without this hope, he would have lost his leg.

Do you remember your own excitement as a child receiving a letter in the mail?  If not, I can tell as a child I loved it, and my own children receive mail with great excitement.  They treasure the letters and cards.  Now imagine a child who has nothing but a few tattered clothes, maybe some worn shoes, and lives each day wondering if he/she will eat.  When this child receives a letter in the mail, the value to them is extremely high.  I have been there, and seen the excitement from a simple handshake greeting, playing together and many hugs.  Much hope is drawn by these children from these encounters.  The letters are equally valued, and will be kept as a treasure.  We call the children of Ludlati our “Neighbor Kids” because we know if Ludlati was our neighbor hood, we all would reach out to help the many orphans and at-risk children.  If you visit your “Neighbor Kid” someday as I plan to do this September, you will find this child values your letters and care, and you will never forget the true joy you share together.

I encourage one or two more people to decide today to become an advocate for an orphan or at-risk child in Ludlati.  We have two children taken from the front and back of our list featured today.

Sethu is a girl who is turning 5 years old this year.  Sethu’s current home is a 30 minute walk to the Ludlati CarePoint where she lives with her Grandmother who is unemployed and lives with six other children.  Both of her parents are living, however they are both unemployed.  The unemployment rate in Swaziland is 60%.  Even if someone has employment, jobs often pay $3 per day for more than 8 hours of work, and the cost of living is the same as here in the midwest of the United States.  Sethu needs an advocate to give her hope along with the meals, school support, health training and discipleship to give her a chance to grow and live.

Thabo is a boy who is turning 13 years old this year.  Thabo’s current home is a 25 minute walk to the Ludlati CarePoint.  Thabo currently lives with his Uncle who is employed.  Both of his parents are deceased.  Thabo lives with four other children on his Uncle’s homestead.  Thabo receives an education at Joy Primary School and is in the third grade.  He is one of the 45% of the children who are able to go to school in Swaziland.  They do not have a public or government system to provide education.  Fees must be paid in order for children to go to school.

All of the children who come to Ludlati carepoint are children at-risk.  The development plan for Ludlati carepoint includes providing basic food needs, education and support of school fees so children can be educated, health training to teach children about AIDS, and discipleship training by young men and women Swaziland mentors and role models who show the kids how they grew and changed through tough circumstances, how to love God, love each other, and find hope for improving their families and community.

I believe if many of you met either one of these children in person and saw the living conditions they have to deal with everyday, you would be moved to act on your compassion.  It’s as if one of these children showed up at your house in their dirty tattered clothes seeking just one meal.  Let your heart and mind be moved to action as other KnownToMe members have been to give hope to a Ludlati child.  The development plans we have in cooperation with Children’s HopeChest rescues children from starvation, and provides support through native Swaziland workers and role models committed to lead children toward self sufficiency through education, health and AIDS training, and discipleship.  I have seen the work personally in Swaziland.  I have met the devoutly committed people on the ground in Swaziland, visited carepoints where kids are getting care, met the ladies cooking the food and teaching the children, seen the inspiration given by the young men and women discipleship trainers, and I have been to carepoints just getting started where starvation, neglect and dangers are still a heartbreaking reality.  I am looking forward to visiting our and hopefully your Ludlati Neighbor Kids in September this year.  Please start now by picking this link to select Sethu, Thabo or another available child on our list.  I know you will find joy added to your life as we have through this act of giving.

Click here, and start supporting a Ludlati Child today!