And then, there were SHOES!

Back in late October we announced a drive to get shoes for the children at Lesibovu. You responded - WOW - you responded! Within just a few weeks, we had over $3,000 given by so many people who took this need seriously. The money was transferred through Children's HopeChest, and the shoes were bought while the kids were off for Christmas/their summer break.

Last Friday, the big day arrived, and our friends who serve full-time in Swaziland, were able to be present for shoe delivery day. Over 200 pairs of shoes were given out; play shoes for little ones, and approved school shoes that are part of the required uniform for the students in the Lesibovu community. Enjoy these photos of our precious CarePoint children. If you would like to be a part of the trip going to love on these kids IN PERSON in June, please let me know. We need a few more team members and are so excited to be able to again see their faces in real life. These pictures just make me more ready than ever to be back!
Thank you, Amy and Steve, for helping us feel like we were there!

 

Litsemba (HOPE) for Takitsi

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Takitsi receiving trophy for CarePoint choir competition - fall 2013

me with Takitsi - August 2013

A Sunday to Remember

It's been some time now since our return home from Swaziland, but I can still remember and feel it all as if it were yesterday. One day in particular I would like to share with you is the Sunday we got to attend Church at Lesibovu. For those of you who have seen the pictures of the building "Lesibovu" you will see it's not very big in size. 

(Lesibovu)

The children must have told their families that "the Americans" or maybe even the 'umlungu' (white person) were going to be there because it was packed out. It was so beautiful to get to see them all there to worship. They were so welcoming. They reserved chairs up front for us, the 'visitors' and we jumped right in. Some of the older girls and the children's choir got up and sang. I'm telling you when we were all singing together, I do not know how those little wooden walls did not just fall apart right then and there from the power and praise bursting forth from that place. I have no doubt the chorus echoed for miles in the surrounding mountains and hills. I remember looking around seeing so many beautiful faces and smiles and hearts sold out in worship and thinking this was truly a glimpse of Heaven. 

Pastor Welcome asked us all to come up and introduce ourselves and say hello. They seemed riveted by our names and speech. They particularly got a great giggle out of my name (I think it must sound super crazy to them;) which of course made me laugh and go bright red. Jennifer then presented the Church with 40 full Bibles in SiSwati. Y'all, I'm telling you, you would have thought we had just told these people that they had won the lottery and I am not joking. They all started cheering and laughing and praising the Lord. It was the most beautiful and humbling thing to witness. It took everything for most of us, I think, to keep it together. What a moment! 

(James with Pastor Welcome)

Pastor Welcome then got up and taught a powerful sermon on 'The Blameless Man' from Genesis 17. I remember him moving to the subject of hope. I cannot forget this. He kept emphasizing how much hope we had brought to them at Lesibovu. How us being there with them had brought them such hope. I was speechless and felt almost dumbfounded. Us coming there and just playing games, being seriously goofy, singing songs and dancing, holding sweet babies and precious hands and WE had brought THEM hope? Just getting to be with them and live a little bit of life with them had shown me insurmountable hope. It was so eye opening. I hear people question and sincerely wonder what good it does to spend the funds to go to these people and places and not just send the money instead. 

HOPE

That is why we go. Because a whole chest full of money would not say hope to these people whom Jesus loves like going and sitting next to them and praying with them and loving on them, saying with words and actions "We love you. And even more, Jesus loves you and He sent me to be here with you right now in this moment to tell you that."  

New for 2014: a Well for Lesibovu!

Though we only promoted it for a few weeks,

As we felt overwhelmed by the great need,

When we worried the amount was too large to be reasonably raised,

And we knew that ONLY GOD could send supporters and $11,000 for a well at Lesibovu...

He saw the need. He heard our prayers. He sent supporters and stirred hearts. 

And late on the last day of 2013,

His will was clear. 

There will be a well at Lesibovu in 2014. He provided the $11,000 and then some. 

We screamed, prayed, cried, jumped around hugging and shot off fireworks. Because that's pretty much the only way to celebrate something of this magnitude. 

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.