Change Their Story update!

We are overjoyed at how God has led many to give toward our goal of raising $11,000 for a well for Lesibovu. We have a matching donor, and if we can get to that number, the expenses of digging and placing a well at our CarePoint will be completely covered. Our desire and prayer is that God will provide the funds soon so that it will not be many more months of hauling water and drinking contaminated water for the people at Lesibovu. On our next trip to Swaziland in June, I would love to see a well functioning in that community.

 

Lastly, enjoy these before and after photos of how your giving is impacting this community. The first photo we took on the trip in 2012, of some sticks in the ground that marked off the proposed kitchen area. There was no roof, and when we were there this past summer, on a rainy day, we were struck by the idea of these sweet ladies cooking out in the elements. Until that moment, we had never thought about the cold, rain, and heat that they endure daily to cook for over 100 children. We left money when we were in country for the kitchen to be completed, and today, it is done. Walls protect children from toddling into the fire, and keep animals out of the way, while a roof protects the bomake from being rained on or baked in the hot sun that is present this time of year.

These photos remind me that we are investing. We are making a difference. We are not just sending money and hoping it helps. We are doing things that make a real, practical change in the Swazis' daily lives, and that type investment is powerful. The kitchen, the shoes bought for 160 kids - those things give hope!! They represent a relationship between Lesibovu and our community here in the US, who are their partners in this life, and who are wanting to show Jesus' love to those who are learning that they are valued and important.

We have two days left to raise funds as part of Change Their Story! If you have contemplated giving, or have any questions, please let me know. You can go to this link to directly donate right now: http://tinyurl.com/lesibovuchange. We have had donations of change received from many children over months that has added up to hundreds of dollars. We have a church family selling magazine bead bracelets to try and reach the goal - set by their children! - of $1,000 to donate to the well. Other families collected funds instead of giving gifts at Christmas, or just donated generously from their personal accounts or business fund so that now our total is over $6,000! We are over halfway there, so please pray that God continues to bless and provide. Thank you for giving already! We are so grateful and encouraged.

Super Duper Awesome Swazi News!

What a joyful Monday this is! I was notified officially today that Lesibovu has received a matching grant by the awesome non-profit 3for5. 

They will pay for HALF of the cost of putting in a well at Lesibovu!! This means we have to raise much less money. Every $1 we earn, donate, or raise becomes $2!! Though $11,000 seems like a daunting figure, it can be done as we have seen God work in many other circumstances already to provide for the CarePoint.

If you are considering a donation as year-end giving, any amount you give will help us to reach our goal of $11,000, and then that will be doubled by 3for5! I know of families already choosing to collect funds instead of exchange gifts for Christmas and that is one way you can help. You can also join our Change Their Story campaign here.

We need additional team members and have a few weeks left to make a real difference in our fund raising by requesting that people give NOW, before December 31st, if they would like the tax deduction. Please consider joining us, sharing on Facebook, emailing friends, and talking to those you know about the need for clean water at Lesibovu, and how we can work together to meet this goal. I am praying God uses those who are willing to join in this effort. I'd love to see it completed by the time we travel back in June! Will you please pray about that with us? Thank you friends!

Answered Prayer!

We are overjoyed to announce that God has graciously provided through you so that 160 children at Lesibovu 

will receive shoes and socks!

In less than a month, He has met that need through friends we know and numerous folks we don't.
Facebook helped spread the word.
Co-workers rallied behind this cause.
Sponsors of children generously donated.
Some gave in memory of my grandmother, some in honor of loved ones' birthdays.
Shelby Crossings children worked and donated. A teacher then matched the children's funds.

We are blown away and so excited. Children's HopeChest says that the children should start the new school year in January with their new shoes and socks. What a huge blessing! Thank you for being a part, through prayer or financial support, because we couldn't have done this without all of you.

So, what's next? I am so glad you asked!

Amazingly, as of today we may have more money than needed for the shoes, and that will just help us launch our major project that is highest on the list of priorities. We need to help get a well at Lesibovu and through Change Their Story, we believe we can reach our goal of $5,000. That would be a great start toward the total of $22,000 needed for this project. That total sounds huge, but God has proven Himself faithful through the shoe project. We raised the needed $3,700 in just over three weeks! We have over five weeks to raise $5,000. Can you be part of this great investment? It is a tax deductible donation that will have lifelong benefit to hundreds of people. You can read and give here.  

We are thankful for you and how you've partnered with us already. If you haven't given yet, please consider doing so now. If a family member has asked what they can give you for Christmas, would you consider a gift for Lesibovu in your honor? We want to the change the story of these people in a dramatic way, that is life sustaining and can only do it if God blesses our efforts through all of us.

Matthew 10:42

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

Shoes for Lesibovu

When our team went to Swaziland in August to work with the Lesibovu CarePoint, we were made very aware of the physical needs of these sweet children.  Yet, they never complained about anything.  

On our third day there, it was cold and rainy. One of the girls hesitantly asked in broken English, “Can you get me shoes?”   

She wasn’t asking for much; just shoes so that her feet could be protected and warm.  It would have been so easy to just give her the shoes I was wearing, but we were told that we couldn’t give one child something without giving something to all of them. As we looked around, there were so many children at the CarePoint who were barefoot.  They walk over very rough terrain to get to Lesibovu for a meal and this is very difficult if they don’t have shoes. Plus, they can’t attend school without proper uniforms, including shoes.  I told her that we would pray that God would provide shoes very soon.  As a team, we prayed and decided that one of the first things we would do when we returned to the US would be making sure that each of them receives a pair of shoes.

This is where you can help.  We learned from Children’s HopeChest that we need 160 pair of shoes for the children at Lesibovu.  The preschoolers and the younger children will receive sturdy casual shoes.  The older children will receive the required school shoes.  These shoes will run anywhere from $12.50 - $24 each depending on the size and style.  It is too expensive to ship shoes to them, so we are asking for help financially to send to Children’s Hope Chest so that the team on the ground in Swaziland can buy shoes there (which benefits their economy and provides the exact shoes needed), and they will distribute them to the kids.

 

If you feel led to contribute and be part of this great blessing to the children of Lesibovu, we want to be sure that all donations are designated to the Lesibovu Carepoint specifically for shoes for the kids. 

Checks can be made out to “Children’s HopeChest” and mailed to:

 Ronda Chandler

5005 Bridlewood Parc Lane

Helena, AL 35080

You can also go to hopechest.org, select 'Designated/Sponsorship: One Time Gift', and in the 'Notes Field' MAKE SURE to put Lesibovu CarePoint-Shoes to ensure it goes for the shoes donation!

OR 

If you know a team member from the Swaziland trip in August feel free to give them your donation and they will ensure it gets to Children's HopeChest.

If you wish to donate shoes in honor of a friend or family member, please let us know and we would be happy to provide a nice card so that you can let them know.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email Rondac3@gmail.com.  Thank you!!

After the trip: Marilyn's perspective

It’s been a while since we returned from Swaziland but it feels like yesterday.  I miss going to the CarePoint every day to see the kids.  I miss the smiles and holding hands and watching them sing praises to our Lord and Savior.  As with any short term trip I always wish I would have had more time to spend with the people, get to know them better, giggle with them, cry with them, and just do life with them.  I love the simplicity of their lives and yet hate the disparity in our lives and theirs.  What we feel are our needs here in our “comfortable” world would be extreme luxury in theirs.  My heart cries for the children who are raising children.  Why because their Daddy died and their Mommy remarried and the new husband doesn’t want them and so they leave them.  My heart cries for the grandmother who is lame and has to wait for a neighbor to come and carry her to a mat outside her hut where she spends the day.  She’s a widow who is raising her children and grandchildren from the mat where she sits.  My heart cries for the 2 young teenage girls whose parents died leaving them to raise each other.  My heart cries for the lack of jobs, of job skills, of food and clean water in most areas.

I’m proud of our dear friends Jennifer and Alli who came over last year.  They were soon connected with a sweet Pastor who wanted a CarePoint at Lesibovu.  I love how God allowed Pastor Welcome to connect with Steve McAdams about Lesibovu.  I love how Steve then approached Jennifer and Alli about sponsoring this CarePoint.  I love that Jennifer & Alli were obedient and with the help of LaShea were able to find sponsors for nearly 50 of the 82 children who needed sponsors.  Lesibovu soon became a part of these women’s families. 

When we arrived we found that there were now 180 kids on the roll with about 160 attending each day we were there.  By the end of the week there were closer to 200 kids.  The cooks make sure everyone is fed even if it means stretching the food.  Jennifer once again made sure that each child was photographed so that more kids could get sponsored.  Believe me, Jennifer knows each child’s name and prays for them and looks at their sweet faces night after night.

We hear a lot from people asking “Why would you spend all that money to go for a short trip?  Would it not be better to just send the money?"  Well, God tells us to Go in the great commission.  God tells us to look after orphans and widows in their distress.  God tells us that we are to be ambassadors for those who cannot speak for themselves.  If Jennifer & Alli had not been obedient, kids would not be getting the food they needed, uniforms for school etc.  If we had not gone, children who never get hugs would not have been covered with hugs every day we were there.  They got the gospel, they got love, and they got hope.  There were widows who were lonely who got a hug, food and a Bible.  The Pastor was encouraged and prayed over by James.  Kids played and giggled and were so affirmed as they presented us with their traditional dances and songs.  And they know we will return…maybe not the same team but a team of supporters giving them hope.

And the money….everything belongs to God.  It is not our money…we are to be good stewards of it.  We Americans don’t think twice about upgrading our homes, our cars, our clothes, computers, TV’s or taking the family to Disney world for a week but spending it to encourage the extremely poor across the ocean seems foolish to some.  My heart was completely wrecked several years ago when we went across the ocean to share the gospel.  I truly believe it was the most significant thing that ever happened to me.  You see I was so comfortable being comfortable that I forgot the true meaning of the great commission… in my life it had become the great omission and I’m ashamed to admit it.  After my first trip I was able to see life like God wanted me to see it.  So these trips, are they worth the money? 

My hope if you read this is that you don’t say “good for them…they answered the call”.  My hope is that you join us as we help the beautiful people of Lesibovu.  Sponsor a child, pray, donate toward a capital project like a fence, building to store food, a well and a church. Or how about going next year?  Pray for God to reveal to you what He would have you do.

Blessings & Love,
Marilyn

"Jesus Come" - August 2013

Oh my goodness, how much do I love these kiddos! Sweet memories with Londiwe and Marilyn leading them as they sing:

LaShea - My first day at Lesibovu

LaShea's entry is powerful. Our first day at the CarePoint, from her perspective:

A lot of this is straight out of my journal, so I apologize in advance if some parts aren't so pretty. The reality is a lot of it wasn't. Most days were hard and emotionally draining. There were lots of tears and lots of laughter. So here we go...

Wednesday, August 7th.
Today has shaken my world. We have seen so much today and it hit me in the face what we take for granted. On the way to Lesibovu we saw kids (small kids - some younger than my own) walking alone. There wasn't an adult or a home in sight. Just a dusty road. As we neared the carepoint, we drove through the river. It was nearly dried up. Mud remained. There were women washing clothes and kids playing in it. There was cow manure all around. This is where a lot of the people get their water.

We arrived at the carepoint and were immediately told it had been under spiritual attack. Three children had died recently at other carepoints. We prayed and went to meet the two bomake (pronounced bo-MAH-gay) that work all day to prepare food for the children.

There were a few kids around and slowly more came. They seemed a bit scared and timid. We tried to talk to them, but we talk too fast and are hard to understand. If you add our Southern drawl then it's no where near the English they've learned in school! Some of us got our cameras out and started taking pictures, and they loved it! We'd take their picture and show it to them and they would laugh at themselves, which made us laugh! We started making silly faces and some sang for us. We played dancing games with the girls, and the boys played soccer with Isaac. He was a big hit! He always had a group of kids following him everywhere!

I noticed a young girl carrying a toddler on her back. She was probably eight. The same age as my son. I was later told that was her responsibility. She leaves her at the carepoint so she can go to school. That broke my heart. I imagined my child caring for his sister. It turns out that's fairly common in Swaziland. Siblings caring for siblings.

As the day ended the kids entered the building and sang and prayed before eating, and you could feel the Lord. At that moment, I knew I was exactly were He wanted me, and it was amazing!

Several of us got to see our special friends that day, and tears were shed and memories were made.

Marilyn and I with our special friends
(they're brothers) and their precious sister!

Jennifer and Abi meeting theirs!

At the end of the day we were off to our home visits. Marlena , Amy, Nhlanhla (pronounced "Shlan-sla"), and I went up for a fun walk up a hill carrying bags of food. Nhlanhla picked on us and said we had to carry food like the Swazi woman...I tried. Huge fail.

On our first home visit we met a precious family. They were grandparents taking care of 4 grandchildren. Some of the children's parents died, or the father left. The mother of some left and married another man. This is common. The grandfather was from South Africa and had learned English in school, but when he was little he fell out of a tree. He lost his hearing and became mute. Later his hearing came back but he still couldn't speak. He could understand us very well and would sign to his wife so she could translate for us. They were amazing and had so much faith. The grandfather kept putting his hands together and pointing to the sky saying this is a gift from God. The grandfather wanted to take a picture with the food, and that sweet little girl was so scared of us white folks.

I left that day overwhelmed by what I had seen (and still am). The dried up river and children caring for children. Why do we have so much and they have so little? Why are they struggling and starving and we have so much? We have homes with air conditioning, an overflowing refrigerator, and multiple cars. And we have the nerve to complain about what we don't have. I was disgusted with myself and what I take for granted. I realized the only difference between me and them was where we were born. That one little difference can change everything. I prayed, "Lord, you know why we are here. This problem is so much bigger than I ever imagined. Let us be your hands and feet. Help us show your everlasting love. Use me wherever you need me."

That day was full of so much hard stuff and it had just begun. It was an amazing day and I can still hear children singing beautifully praising the same Father we do.  

Swazi Team Trip 2013: Day 2 - London!

I won't spend much time on this day, though it was very amazing. We had an 8 hour layover in London, so enjoyed several hours seeing the Westminster area of the city.

Though we had such a great time, and I am thankful that the bonus layover was included, there were definitely mixed emotions when I pondered this part of the trip. We witnessed firsthand a country that is much older than our own, with architecture that is breathtaking, and a bustling city that is governed by a royal family and Parliament. A new prince had just recently been born, the royal family is enjoying great popularity, and being there, seeing Buckingham Palace, Richard the Lionheart's statue, and the Tower of London all added to make it seem like we were in a fairy tale world.

9 hours away we arrived in a land that has been populated for much longer than our own, with thousands of folks living in primitive huts, ruled by a king who governs the last remaining absolute monarchy in the world. The number of people living with positive HIV is staggering. The king is rarely seen but greatly loved by his people, though he lives in luxury while the Swazi people are starving and dying.

Talk about contrast. I found myself just shaking my head, wondering how we live in a world of such great opposites. Why some have so much and great opportunity while others are lacking even basic necessities is a question that is painful to ask, but constantly on my mind.

Swazi Team Trip 2013: Day 1

We left for our team trip after church on August 4. We were prayed for at the end of our worship service and received lots of hugs and words of encouragement from our faith family. Everyone grabbed quick lunches, and then we said goodbye to our family we were leaving behind. Having done this last year, I didn't envy those who had to hug children and spouses. We had dropped our little boys off already with my parents, which made things much less emotional. We were so grateful for the borrowed van that held us all and our many suitcases and bins as we drove to the Atlanta airport. We made it through security simply (well, Marilyn and Ronda were checked a bit more extensively) and had a short wait until we boarded that evening around 9:00. Though we all planned to try to rest on the flight and make the most of the dark atmosphere, sleep was elusive for most except in short segments. It's so hard to get comfortable sitting up, and ten hours was a long time to sit awkwardly. Thankfully the flight was smooth, food was decent, and we woke to breakfast and the sight of Great Britain below us. Super exciting!

The beginning

In November we launched our commitment to the Lesibovu CarePoint. That meant that as a community (not just local, but anyone, anywhere can be part of our connection to this CarePoint) we were committing to a 5-7 year relationship with the people of Lesibovu. That agreement means we will visit annually, invest relationally and financially into the area, to enable them to be more self-sufficient at the end of that time, while also sharing that God's love for us all was the factor that bound us together.

For months prior to our trip, most of the team was able to participate in a great book study ("Follow Me: A Call to Die" by David Platt). This book was such a challenging study and many evenings we were left a bit speechless after watching the videos that went along with it. To hear that evangelizing by praying "the sinner's prayer" with people to accept Christ and "invite him into (your) heart" wasn't necessarily right was hard to take. We realized that really, we should be witnessing through our lives and sharing that accepting Christ means asking Him to change us and enable us to be willing to give everything up for Him, even (especially) our lives. We also have to be willing to apply that to our current, pretty comfortable, Christian lives and it has been eye-opening and life-changing. Denying ourselves and our pursuit of temporary pleasure/wealth/comfort to find fulfillment only in Jesus - That isn't the definition of being a Christian that most of us grew up with. It rocked many of us to the core, I think. Our study of the Word and discussion time shaped our view of the upcoming trip and enabled us to see it as not just a cool short-term ministry opportunity, but a time to really give, to share without regret or hesitation, and to apply it to our lives here in middle-class, comfy America. We also are grateful to take advantage of more local opportunities to serve and witness and share our lives. This was not just about Africa. It was about changing our thinking and way of life in every area.
 I think that I speak for everyone when I say I don't think we are the same people as we were before the study. I think of what we learned and the teaching we heard, and know that many conversations in our home have stemmed from that  book. How we live now that we truly see the Truth that this life is not our own is something we are still working on.

We also met regularly to pray, plan, and grow closer as a team. That time was so valuable as we learned more about each other, our gifts and struggles, and the way God was working in each life to prepare us for traveling to serve others. I am so thankful for the dedication of each person who committed not to just go out of the country for 10 days, but to daily seek God's will for his/her life, and how Swaziland factored into that.

Having never led a team on a trip, and since most of us hadn't even been on any missions trip, the experience was very much a learning process. I am so grateful that we had patient team members, experienced missionaries in Ken and Marilyn, and that God blessed us with cooperative spirits through it all.

The journey

So many times over the past year I have used this word. I think it's perfect to describe much of life. For now I'm focusing on the process of preparing to go on the trip with this team and a huge faith-stretching time as we worked toward buying our airline tickets.

journey

This word can mean "a trip, traveling from one place to another" - sure. While that is what we did, and it was a LONG journey in that way, it was also "a passage from one stage to another."

From the time that Alli and I returned over a year ago, through the Sponsorship launch in May, the planning of the trip activities, the fundraising, the prayer time, the Bible study, the many meetings to discuss details of airline fares and packing lists, the emails and prayer requests and conversations with hundreds of people who wanted to know why in the world we were going to Africa, God took us on a journey like only He could.

Last year I typed up a simple bookmark with prayer reminders on it for our first trip to Swaziland. One request was that we would experience what God had for us, and for people to please not pray for everything to go smoothly, because truly that is not how faith is stretched or grown. There were moments I doubted that request, but knew it was the right thing. Trying to be courageous :-), I repeated that sentiment this time around. Some family members may have regretted that, but I really felt strongly that we were to surrender our plans, and ask God to lead us through what would build us into stronger believers.

Guess what? Everything didn't go smoothly.
Sometimes things just didn't even GO.

We became weary and stressed and pretty discouraged some days. The neat thing was that through that, our team of 9 really bonded and shared the emotions we were facing individually, so we weren't alone. I saw Marilyn quickly lead us into prayer on so many occasions, whenever we mentioned a burden. I heard others open their hearts and ask for wisdom and felt the compassion and tenderness in the room from the team. After Ken realized his job was going to prevent him from going on the trip, we mourned together. We were sad to not have his presence, but we also hurt for Marilyn knowing how she'd wanted to experience Swaziland with him. Then she offered to stay home with him, and give the money she'd raised toward our family's trip and help keep our little boys for us. Such selflessness and love!! We didn't feel it was time to give up yet, though we were getting closer and closer to the time to depart and knew that seats were filling up and we needed an answer or clear direction. When we were pretty sure God was not going to provide for my family of 4 to go, I was told to continue trusting and that the team would wait on us to have the money for our tickets, even when the majority was ready to purchase them already.

Through those trials, the testing of our faith did produce patience (James 1:3). It showed us His plan was much better. One huge example was those airline tickets. LaShea, Marilyn, and James frequently checked tickets prices with different airlines for months. Marilyn called several travel agents to try to find the best price for our dates of travel. We got the same basic quote over and over for months. The price was approximately $800 more per ticket than Alli and I paid last year. That was painful and very hard for our family to raise since we were buying four tickets. As fundraisers closed and we were blessed with proceeds and donations from others, we let ourselves get a little hopeful. Then the money stopped coming in, we had saved and earned all we could by doing extra jobs. We were almost to the 'one month till departure' point. It was clearly time to buy tickets, as far as we could tell, but our family just didn't have the money and we as a team needed to purchase them all together.

Then, on July 5, Marilyn was given the contact info of another agency to try. God was all over it.

She called and was given a flight for nearly $600 per person less than the other estimates. 

We also would receive allowance for three bags each, which would save us potential extra baggage fees. Then, we found out we'd have brief layovers in London each way, so could even explore an additional country most of us had never seen. 

We were so amazed! If we had bought tickets when we felt it made sense from a human perspective, we would have left two of my family members at home. We also would have spent over $4,000 more than was needed as a group!!

To say that we were flabbergasted and astonished is putting it mildly. We cannot explain the fares' cost. We couldn't even find the same price online anywhere on the British Airways site. All we know is that we had a large need and God filled it. "Exceedingly abundantly more than we could ask or imagine" - that is what God did BEFORE we ever left Alabama.Ya'll just wait to see what else He did!

And we're back!

We have been home from our trip for over a week now. I am working on posting summaries of our time there, as well as encouraging other team members to post their thoughts as they process their experience. Hopefully we will have many instances of God's amazing power and provision to share with you that will encourage you wherever you are in your spiritual walk. I know that my own faith was strengthened through numerous ways He showed His plan to be better than ours, over the months leading up to the trip and even the whole time there. If we had ever doubted who should go on the trip, or how He would guide us in our planning, He confirmed repeatedly how we were to work and serve, which was a beautiful thing to see.

A quote I just read this week really summed up the emotions I know Alli and I felt after last year's trip, and that I suspect several team members this year do as well.
“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” ~ Miriam Adeney
When folks ask if we are glad to be home, it is hard to answer. Of course, I am so thankful to be home with the rest of my family, and in the comfortable routine of my life here. However, I find myself wondering which children came to the CarePoint today, who was more reserved and needed extra hugs, if the weather was mild enough for those without shoes, and if the little ones made it safely who walk alone to and from Lesibovu every day. Those children were not just fun kids to visit. They're part of us now. We feel connected in a precious way that can hardly be described.

quite the view from our first stop in country

 We are still very grateful for all of you who gave your time and resources through fundraisers and events, to support us and encourage us when at times, just the sheer thought of buying plane tickets was fear-inducing. I cannot wait to tell you what God did and the way He led us through some valleys of uncertainty and discouragement, to a mountaintop (literally) of rejoicing. I am teary right now, just reflecting on it all. So stay tuned for stories and testimonies from our team, and enjoy a few photos of lovely Swaziland.

The mountains...

gorgeous impala

church near Mbabane, the capital

our last day

Lesibovu Team 2013

If you'd like to know our team better, here are several biographies they've written. Please pray as we depart today for our first leg of the flight!

When Jennifer and Alli shared with the church last year when they returned from Swaziland I immediately felt a bond with them.  Their tears and love for the people were so genuine and even when they could hardly speak a word I totally got it.  We have been to Africa twice and love, love, love the people so I wanted to run up right them and give them both a big hug and just let the tears flow.

Then when they announced that they were going again this year we signed up.  I love Jennifer's passion for these people and for making sure each child gets a sponsor.  I love her husband's passion to go and embrace the culture and the children.  I love the idea of holding the child we sponsor and to be a part of a team who is going to just love on these kids.  Each person on the team have big hearts for children.  They each love the Lord and love others and I am so honored to be a part of this team.  I am so excited to learn from the wonderful people of Swaziland and the missionaries.  I am excited to learn from Jumbo and see the farm.  I am excited to hold babies at the hospital.  I am most excited to see God at work. Marilyn Moore

I’m just your average, broken, messed up momma with issues who experiences God’s unfailing love and mercy every day. I want others to experience the same thing. One of my favorite songs is “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath. The chorus says:   Give me your eyes for just one second
                         Give me your eyes so I can see
                         Everything that I keep missing
                         Give me your love for humanity
                         Give me your arms for the broken hearted
                         Ones that are far beyond my reach.
                         Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
                         Give me your eyes so I can see.

I prayed this over and over again. People say, “Be careful what you pray for because you just might get it!” Well, I got it. The Lord has been opening my eyes and teaching me to see what He sees.

I remember Jennifer and Alli going to Swaziland and I thought they were crazy! After hearing them share about the people at the Lesibovu Carepoint and seeing their sweet faces, I prayed so many times for them and God placed this community on my heart…and in a week I leave for Swaziland! LaShea Wood



My name is Marlena Cantrell from Maylene, Alabama. In letting go of what I thought my life should be and giving it all to Jesus, I have seen Him work in my life in ways I never imagined this past year. Resting in my Creator's sovereign hands and learning more and more about trust in Him, I know that I do not know all the answers, but I know the One who does. I am so thankful for this opportunity and I can't wait to see what all the Lord does for the sake of His Name and glory! 



Hey! I'm 13 years old and I've lived in Helena, AL my whole life. I'm kind of a bookworm and I'm as geeky as it gets. Also, I really like music, drawing, and hedgehogs. I accepted Jesus as my Savior and was baptized when I was seven years old and began to feel like I was being called to Africa not long after that. I was so excited when I heard that some of my mom's friends (who are two of my favorite people ever) Mrs. Alli and Mrs. Jennifer were going to Swaziland last year. I was even more excited when I heard that Mrs. Jennifer would be taking a team in August! I really wanted to go and I kinda bugged my parents about it until they finally said they'd think about it. My mom prayed about it and felt she was being called, too. Yeah! Woohoo! We wanted to be involved even more, so we sponsored two kids from the Lesibovu Carepoint, which is where we will be going. I'm so excited to meet them and the other kids and see how my life will be changed. Alyson Chandler

My name is Ronda Chandler.  I was raised in Georgia and Texas, but now home is in Helena, Alabama.  I've been married to Jere for 17 years and we have two children, Drew (9) and Alyson (13). I've felt for a while now that God was leading me to be a part of something different, out of my comfort zone, and He has been teaching me that I need to slow down and rely on Him more.  A few months ago we learned about a trip to the Lesibovu Carepoint.  My daughter, who is also a part of this trip, really wanted to go to Swaziland and be a part of this.  I really didn't. I didn't think that sending my young teen daughter without me or her dad was a good option.  So I prayed and had others praying with me for God to change my heart about this or give me a peace about whether we should go or not. It was amazing how clear His answer was to me. "Go and trust Me" was what I heard. I've always had a heart for working with children and have prayed for and supported many friends and family who have gone on foreign mission trips. We are all called to live out the message of the gospel wherever we are but now I know that God wants me to go and be a part of the work He is already doing with the Swazi people. I can't wait to see what He teaches me through this and how He wants to use me in the lives of the people we meet.