Swaziland Newsletter | October 2010
As 2010 Rushes to an End | Matt “Jumbo” Gerber
This year has been brimming with activity for the Gerbers! Jumbo and Kriek are expecting their first child very soon. Despite the rough economic climate, Jumbo reports that no care-points had to be closed and they’ve been able to continue helping people. Some of the year’s highlights include:
- The addition of one care-point, bringing the total number of care-points to 25.
- 3,180 kids having access to a safe place to stay during the day and to food and medical help, if needed.
- Approximately 60% of these kids getting discipleship every week
- Starting a school fee scholarship; kids who maintain a B+ average are eligible to apply.
Sampson Rises Again | Scott Borg
Three years ago, Pastor Walter invited Scott and a few others to pray for a young man named Sampson. Here’s Scott’s recollection of the visit:A brother went into the back room and practically carried Sampson out to the room where we sat. He was emaciated to say the least, a skeleton of a young man on the very threshold of death.We prayed fervent prayers over him for some time, then left. In my mind I can remember thinking this was one more victim of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. After a few days, I heard he was brought to the church and after the service practically crawled down the isle for prayer – his last hope.With all the death and suffering here in Swaziland I honestly didn’t give Sampson much more thought. The image of his ravaged body would come up now and then, but it was joined by many other horrific images and memories of the past several years.Fast forward to this trip, October 2010…
A Letter from One Mother to Another | Jen Peterson
The Peterson family moved to Swaziland in September; Jen had previously visited in 2009. She had met a woman named DuDu, who since passed away, and is survived by her son. Jen wrote this letter to DuDu:Dear DuDu,I saw your boy today! He was running through the dirt at the center with his friends. They were climbing on the wire fence, watching the big harvester across the street picking up sugarcane from the fields.He reminds me of my son, Jacob, at that age. Whenever he would see a big tractor or truck outside, he would run to the window, squealing in delight at the “big digger”.Jacob wasn’t with me last time I visited Nsoko, so you didn’t get a chance to meet him. I wish I could have introduced you to my family, as you introduced me to yours.I so enjoyed praying and singing with you and your mother the last time I was here. I especially loved holding your baby boy, the way he stared up at me with those deep, brown eyes.I saw Jesus in those eyes. I’m sorry I never told you that before…
Oops!…I Saw Your Halo | Jen Neudorf
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Real Life participant Jen and her teammates met a man in Manzini who had them scratching their heads, wondering if he was an angel.We were sitting outside of the Pick N Pay grocery store, waiting for the rest of our team to finish up, when an older man walked up to us and said hello. Usually we would be prepared to decline yet another marriage proposal or pretend we didn’t notice the man to avoid having to tell him to go away, but this man was friendly in a good way. The first question he asked us was if we were with Adventures In Missions, and we were like, “Ya, we are.”He said, “I knew it. I can always tell when it is an AIM team and when it is someone else like the Peace Corps because you have Jesus in your eyes! You even walk differently than they do.”I was so surprised…!A few us have been struggling with what our purpose is here in Swaziland and I believe God sent us this man to tell us! The next thing he said was…
To find out what he said, read the rest of Jen’s post.
