Being Family

 

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing…” – PS 68:5&6

There are about 850 + orphaned and vulnerable children that come to our care points. We are feeding them daily, and teaching them about the love of God. This past week Zwakele and I spent some extended time with Nokwanda, an 11 year old girl from one of our care points. Nokwanda had raised sores covering her head that were causing her a lot of pain. Because of the financial support from churches in the USA funding our work we have the ability to get our children much needed medical care. Without that support from our partner churches we simply wouldn’t have the means to see that every one of those 850+ children could get medical attention.

Being enabled to take children for medical treatment is by far one of my favorite things about our ministry. To me it is so “the real deal.” It’s part of doing the works of Jesus, along with declaring His Word.

In Swaziland (and so many places around the world) there many people suffering because they simply don’t have the money to travel to a doctor, let alone pay to get consultation. In some instances the cost is merely a few dollars to get much needed medication, but the people just don’t have it. This is needless suffering; and it’s also what Bono calls “stupid poverty.” Can you even imagine that a dollar or two could be the difference between life and death?  In these cases we need to act to help alleviate this suffering. 

Nokwanda is a child that has no means to see a doctor. So Zwakele and I took her to see one. I didn’t know much about Nokwanda’s story before we picked her up from her care point. Zwakele told me that Nokwanda’s father had died, and that the mother had married another man. Because of the new marriage of her mother, Nokwanda and her siblings had been dumped on their elderly grandmother to be cared for.

Typically in Swazi culture, a spouse will not care for children from their partner’s previous       marriage(s). It is very sad, and both men and women are guilty of this absence of responsibility. So Nokwanda has now lost her father and basically her mother as well.    

We took Nokwanda to get the medicine she needed and then we made a special detour. We went to KFC! There are 4 Kentucky Fried Chicken’s in Swaziland and they are always slamming with business. KFC is a preferred delicacy here and we wanted Nokwanda to have a special treat. We got some chicken, and of course a soft serve ice cream for desert, and just enjoyed the afternoon together. We talked a bunch, and we embarrassed Nokwanda a little as we told her that we loved her and that she could always talk to us. As we sat in the KFC with each other, I just had an overwhelming sense that we were doing exactly what God had made us for. As Nokwanda has basically lost both of her parents, God has called Zwakele and I to step up and love Nokwanda and be her family. God does set the lonely in families! For all of us who know Jesus, we are a family, and we belong to one another. I am just so thankful that I get to minister that truth and Jesus’ love to the children around me.

AND if it wasn’t for your support, we simply couldn’t do it! Thank you so much for your giving, which allows us to walk in our calling. May God bless you abundantly!

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – GAL 6:10