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