Swaziland Newsletter | November 2010

The head go-go… pointed out one of the younger boys… He sat quietly on a mat, away from the other children.  He did not stand up to participate in the singing and dancing that they all enjoy so much.  He did not line up to recite his alphabet or numbers along with his classmates.

His face was full of sadness; his dark eyes held deep pain.  This is a terribly troublesome feature for someone so innocent and so young.

“He used to run to greet me each morning,” Nellie (the go-go) sighs.  “Now his mother tells me he doesn’t even want to come to school.”  After shaking her head slowly, she continues: “His father died, about six months ago.  I think it has changed him.  He is not the same.”

I …received an email from our staff member on the ground in Swaziland with a new proposed budget to accommodate all the ministry we are involved in there – especially in the Nsoko area.

 

The problem is not unusual – we don’t have enough money to cover the needs.  In fact we are around $1000 a month short of where we need to be to keep things running and reasonably respond to needs there.  We are feeding hundreds of children, training national staff, supporting a clinic, a church, and ministering to extreme needs in the community among a largely suffering population. . . 

Just over a week ago, Eric was introduced to a go-go named Eliya, who lives in the same neighborhood as Celmpilo, a ministry partner.  Jen tells of Eric’s introduction to Eliya, whose story was interpreted by Celmpilo:

When Celmpilo and Eric arrived on the homestead, the go-go [Eliya] was sitting in the dirt outside, peeling the green leaves off of some kind of weed that grows wild around here.  It is basically only good for animals to graze on.  This woman was preparing grass for the family meal.  Celmpilo introduced Eric to… Eliya… 

Eliya lives on this homestead with her two granddaughters, ages twelve and seven.  The seven year old is HIV postitive.  The girls’ parents have both passed away due to HIV/AIDS.  Eliya is in her seventies. She has been a widow for several years.

Her arm appears crippled and bent, held up in a homemade sling.  Eliya explains that approximately four months ago, she fell and broke her shoulder.  She was taken to a hospital by a neighbor and was treated.

Follow up treatment was required to properly set the shoulder bone in the socket.  Eliya had no money to pay for the initial consultation or any follow up visits.  Therefore, the shoulder has not healed properly and Eliya is in constant pain, with very limited mobility.

Eliya also explains that she is, in fact, preparing the weeds/grass to cook for her and the children to eat.  She says there is rarely any money for food. . . 

•  all the logistics that need to happen

•  safety

•  the vehicles

•  the weather – it has been pouring almost everyday and there have been heavy thunderstorms; we are very thankful for the rain, but it will be impossible to do the parties in the rain.