You know, we hear good stuff from time to time about Lesibovu. Then, sometimes we hear AMAZING things that can only be described as God-things.
A little background:
During our first visit to Swaziland, Alli and I visited Lesibovu along with the McAdams, last of all the CarePoints. The children were very overwhelmed, having never seen many white people before, since it is a really rural area, and about a 45 minute drive from Manzini. We tried to not be too pushy, just saying hello a lot, smiling, and trying not to frighten too many young children, since the babies especially were terrified of our pale skin. Then we all gathered together in their church building and Pastor Welcome prayed and asked if anyone would like to share a testimony with us.
A young teenage girl raised her hand and confidently walked to the front of the building. She had been pointed out to us earlier in the day. Takitsi was 14, and had had a hard life; double orphaned, neglected, and mistreated. She had no one to really advocate for her, and was only in the fourth grade. When we asked why she was only that far along in school, we heard how lack of family to help pay school fees nor support her made it basically impossible to keep up. However, the cooks and missionaries knew of her reputation to work diligently, trying to catch up in school, and also coming to Lesibovu every chance she could.
So with that little bit of information about her, and knowing her struggles, when Takitsi began reading from her own Bible in perfect English, we paid attention. This is what she read that day from Psalm 119. Please, really notice these words and picture this young girl reading the Truth she obviously believed, based on her strong voice and radiant smile:
At that point, Alli and I were pretty much wrecked, eyes full of tears. This girl's faith, and JOY despite circumstances we cannot even imagine, just shook us to our core. Trying to take in all we had just heard, we then listened as Pastor Welcome thanked us for coming, and prayed for us. Then we gave out dresses to the girls and shirts to the boys, receiving some shy smiles and "thank you"s. We were preparing to leave after visiting the CarePoint when Pastor Welcome wanted the children to sing for us. I asked what the meaning of this beautiful song was, and he told me that it is about how the Israelites are crossing to the Promised Land.
He said, "It is a song of hope." Hope. Litsemba.
This is a small clip of the scene that made me want to get back to Swaziland as soon as I could, and brings me to tears every.single.time. I hear it. Hang on, because it isn't awesome quality video due to many emotions and a lot of wind blowing around. When you get to the 0:33 mark though, really pay attention. There's a girl in a new pink dress over her school uniform. You'll see Takitsi's smile and hear her voice ring out, and it's all worth it. She blew us away with her joy, her testimony, her smile, and her voice lifted in praise to the Lord.
During our first visit to Swaziland, Alli and I visited Lesibovu along with the McAdams, last of all the CarePoints. The children were very overwhelmed, having never seen many white people before, since it is a really rural area, and about a 45 minute drive from Manzini. We tried to not be too pushy, just saying hello a lot, smiling, and trying not to frighten too many young children, since the babies especially were terrified of our pale skin. Then we all gathered together in their church building and Pastor Welcome prayed and asked if anyone would like to share a testimony with us.
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| Takitsi - May 2012 |
A young teenage girl raised her hand and confidently walked to the front of the building. She had been pointed out to us earlier in the day. Takitsi was 14, and had had a hard life; double orphaned, neglected, and mistreated. She had no one to really advocate for her, and was only in the fourth grade. When we asked why she was only that far along in school, we heard how lack of family to help pay school fees nor support her made it basically impossible to keep up. However, the cooks and missionaries knew of her reputation to work diligently, trying to catch up in school, and also coming to Lesibovu every chance she could.
So with that little bit of information about her, and knowing her struggles, when Takitsi began reading from her own Bible in perfect English, we paid attention. This is what she read that day from Psalm 119. Please, really notice these words and picture this young girl reading the Truth she obviously believed, based on her strong voice and radiant smile:
137 Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
138 You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness
And exceeding faithfulness.
139 My zeal has consumed me,
Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.
140 Your word is very pure,
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
Give me understanding that I may live.
And upright are Your judgments.
138 You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness
And exceeding faithfulness.
139 My zeal has consumed me,
Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.
140 Your word is very pure,
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
Give me understanding that I may live.
145 I cried with all my heart; answer me, O Lord!
I will observe Your statutes.
146 I cried to You; save me
And I shall keep Your testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I wait for Your words.
148 My eyes anticipate the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your ordinances.
150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O Lord,
And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Of old I have known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them forever.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I wait for Your words.
148 My eyes anticipate the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your ordinances.
150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O Lord,
And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Of old I have known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them forever.
153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.
158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.
158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
At that point, Alli and I were pretty much wrecked, eyes full of tears. This girl's faith, and JOY despite circumstances we cannot even imagine, just shook us to our core. Trying to take in all we had just heard, we then listened as Pastor Welcome thanked us for coming, and prayed for us. Then we gave out dresses to the girls and shirts to the boys, receiving some shy smiles and "thank you"s. We were preparing to leave after visiting the CarePoint when Pastor Welcome wanted the children to sing for us. I asked what the meaning of this beautiful song was, and he told me that it is about how the Israelites are crossing to the Promised Land.
He said, "It is a song of hope." Hope. Litsemba.
This is a small clip of the scene that made me want to get back to Swaziland as soon as I could, and brings me to tears every.single.time. I hear it. Hang on, because it isn't awesome quality video due to many emotions and a lot of wind blowing around. When you get to the 0:33 mark though, really pay attention. There's a girl in a new pink dress over her school uniform. You'll see Takitsi's smile and hear her voice ring out, and it's all worth it. She blew us away with her joy, her testimony, her smile, and her voice lifted in praise to the Lord.
Thankfully, I was able to see Takitsi this past summer when I returned to Lesibovu. She remembered me, hugged me daily, and we chatted a little. School was going well, though it was hard to make it to the CarePoint as much as she wanted due to studying and trying to complete her work. I encouraged her that she had ministered to me greatly the previous year. She humbly smiled and accepted when I asked her to please sing that song again for us.
Then today, I received this email from our great contact at Children's HopeChest:
Below is a report we got about a girl from the
Lesibovu community; she is not profiled only because of her being in
high school and not being able to make it to the CP most days. But the
staff know her and knows she is a great girl who
is apparently quite smart! It is always so encouraging to hear about
young girls excelling despite their circumstances!
Kriek said that the staff is working on something
especially for the older girls where they can come report with them and
where they can spend some time discipling them, despite them getting out
of school too late to attend the CarePoint.
One
of the girls who has been a real leader there since the very beginning
is Takitsi. Anyone who visits Lesibovu notices her and her beautiful
smile. Our first visit
there she stood and gave a testimony of her love for God.
She
just completed Form 3 (grade 10) in December with an overall 93%!
That is a huge accomplishment, especially in Swaziland, and especially
considering the fact that
she has no parents or immediate family to support her.
Because
of her outstanding performance, arrangements have been made for her to
attend Form 4 in Manzini at St. Michaels, a really great High School
here in town.
Do you realize what has happened? This girl who was years behind in schooling has more than caught up. She is excelling! Now she is receiving a better opportunity than she ever would have before, with help for her school fees through sponsorship dollars that benefit all the children at Lesibovu.
THIS is why we do what we do! God is working in this community, even in a precious teenage girl's life, who by the world's standard has no hope, no reason to be joyful. She is not listening to the doubt and the obvious issues that could plague her, but is focusing on the voice of Truth, who is motivating her to live for Him.
Praise Him, for His beautiful gifts, for the gift of Takitsi and her testimony that still inspires me to trust in my Savior the way she does. Please pray for Takitsi, and many other children like her who need litsemba - hope. If you would like to know how to help share that hope, please ask. There isn't much in the world that I would want to do more.
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| Takitsi receiving trophy for CarePoint choir competition - fall 2013 |
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| me with Takitsi - August 2013 |
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