The Kingdom of Swaziland - by Lize-Marié Theron
November 14, 2008
My friend Liez has kindly done a blog entry for me:
Jon and I left at 5 on Thursday morning to pick up one of our volunteers and friend from Swaziland after she assisted the Swaziland project for a period of 3 weeks. Lacey is from Calgary, Canada, and went by herself to serve the unknown Africa in whatever way they could use her. (Here’s Lacey’s perspective) She herded the cows with her stick many days and helped to plant a corn field just outside the house of Babe Samuel Lukhele (to say ‘Babe’ is a sign of showing respect to the older men in Swaziland). She also met with the volunteers who walk very far distances to serve their desperate areas, and she visited patients’ homes. The Lukhele’s re-named her Nothando, which means ‘love’ in Siswati, the local language.
Me and Lacey “Nothando”
Nomsa Lukhele, the wife of Babe Lukhele, is the project leader for the home based care work in Swaziland that we support. She has got a stall of 190 chickens and another with many many chicks to sustain themselves, the volunteers and the patients. Asweile couldn’t stop talking about this relative of his who helped him since he was in grade 6. “And yesterday was my last day in matric! She is an amazing woman for many many people…” Due to the mountains and big distances between homes, some of Nomsa’s grandchildren are walking one hour each day to get to school. The Lukhele’s go to bed at about 7 every night and wake up very early to get ready for the day.
Walking to school…
Lacey & I at the Lukhele’s chicken shed:
Jon and I got lost a couple of times on our way to Khapunga in Swaziland. It was a hidden blessing as we drove around for more than an hour at a time to find our way through the mountains and over the hills of this very rural community.
During the drive I noticed the small amount of people that we came across along the road and I remember thinking by myself, there aren’t many people here. The project must be small. But on our way to visit a 22 year old patient in her Gogo’s (Grandma’s) homestead, I asked Nomsa how many people we are serving in Kaphunga. I expected her to say 30 orphans and a few patients. Nomsa turned to me and pointing at Lacey, said, “Ask Nothando to tell you. She knows…” And then Lacey explained, “Nomsa and her 30 volunteers serve 1 300 orphans.” I was stunned as I scanned the mountains, bushes and small dirt roads everywhere. Deep down and all around in these green mountains and behind bushes, God’s eyes can see the wear-and-tear from the rain of every small mud hut. And He is leading us to those that no one sees or knows about.
One of those hiding in this mountainous area is Gogo Boshiwe. She is one of the patients the project looks after. Nomsa said that she is either in her eighties or she might already be 90 years old. Lacey calls Gogo Boshiwe ‘my gogo’. She doesn’t have good eyesight anymore (as on the photo you can tell that she didn’t know where to look for the camera).
Nomsa (on the left) with Gogo Boshiwe:
Gogo Boshiwe’s house which she built herself
Nomsa encouraged us to take a picture with her and she was so flattered!
This gogo is so full of joy. She makes you laugh right where you are. She spoke to us in Siswati and Nomsa translated. In the photo you can see a mud hut behind her. Gogo Boshiwe built 3 of these by herself. And behind these huts and a stick-fence (there’s a photo) lies a corn field that she just built a few weeks ago.
She is probably 90 years old, can hardly see, and find it hard to move around between the huts, but she proudly and with much joy speaks of her land.
When she said goodbye to Lacey she said it with a smile, “Remember me.” We walked away laughing as we could hear her chuckle in the distance. What a Granny! She is amazing.
We went deeper into the mountains. I have attached a photo of Rosta (a home based care volunteer) and the 22year old patient that we also visited.
The girl, who looked 16 years old, came outside when she heard Rosta’s voice, concerned that we might pass her by if we couldn’t see that she was there. She was shaking when we sat down with her. Not because it was cold, for it was good weather that day. She had trouble breathing too, but she sat quietly just staring in front of her. The mud hut was cool inside, but very small.
The hut next to theirs which is completely dilapidated where they do their cooking.
We sat on grass mats. Against the wall was a stack of maize meal. Next to her gogo in front of her was a bowl of mixed maize meal and water. At the sides of the mud hut you can tell that rain is slowly tearing down this home. Heaviness hung in the air as we all watched silently as Rosta fed the patient. I deliberately chose a photo where her eyes are covered to protect her identity. This was a very difficult visit and too sensitive for me to feel comfortable sharing more photo’s with you.
I remembered the scripture where Jesus said that we should clothe those who don’t have clothes, feed those who are hungry, look after those who cannot look after themselves.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me…Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:36-40
In this desperate situation I quietly prayed that God will remember her. It was difficult to just leave her behind, knowing that this is what her every day looks like. That was all we could do, the rest was in God’s hands.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” Isaiah 58:6
My time in Swaziland was short but very valuable. I take many memories with me that touched my heart in amazing ways. This is a short feedback from my day in Swaziland. There was so much more to it. We have received great hospitality from Nomsa and her relatives. I will gladly pray for God to reveal His hand through Nomsa’s project in even more powerful ways, ‘cause we serve a God of Miracles.
I dare you to pray with me…!
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