One of the members from our Moju team, Joy Smith, just returned home from Swaziland. Being face to face with her brothers and sisters in Africa was a powerful reminder of how crucial it is that we take Jesus’ mandate seriously- to care for the orphans and widows in their distress.
I know that we are not all called to “go” but we are all called and responsible for loving and caring for our brothers and sisters around the world.
Joy is a woman who has said “YES” to the call of God on her life! As a mother of 4, she is a passionate orphan advocate and lover of Jesus. We are blessed that she is part of our team!
Here is what she wrote:
“I just returned home from a “Vision” trip to Swaziland. The purpose of the trip was to “see” what was going on there. What I saw to some, would be devastating, I know, but I was not surprised. The empty mud huts did not surprise me. The children with no clothes or little clothing did not surprise me. I was not surprised by the lack of food or jobs. I have been to other countries in Africa so I was prepared, or so I thought…
I was very surprised at the amount of child headed households. I was surprised that the age expectancy in Swaziland is only 28.7 years old. I was surprised that the HIV/AIDS is the highest per capita @ 46% of any other country. I was surprised that one community leader stated his greatest need was not food or clothing or shelter or jobs but coffins!! Coffins are his greatest need! That was surprising. I was surprised that more “westerners” are not doing something. Really we have so many options. Options for grocery stores, jobs, schools, really everything!! We have options. Lots and lots of options, In every area of our lives. I was surprised in Swaziland at the lack of options.
Parents in Swaziland want the same for their children as I want for my children. Good education, food, clothing shelter and a good job for the future. My children have loads of options. That is not the case in Swaziland. Job opportunities are slim, education is not affordable for the average Swazi and food and clothing are scarce.
But I did find hope in Swaziland. I did see the difference we can make. I saw children being fed at “CarePoints”. A CarePoint is a safe place for children to come and have a meal, go to school and have a place to play, to actually be children. These Carepoints are run by the local community leaders and the “gogo’s” (grandmother in Siswati).
There was hope at these CarePoints. Hope there will be food; hope for an education and for a future.
You CAN make a difference in the life of children in Swaziland. I have seen it! You can offer them options for a better tomorrow. Buy a t-shirt and feed one of these children for a month.”
(The Moju Project partners with Children’s HopeChest and Feed My Starving Children to provide meals to orphans and widows in Africa. Joy was able to see first hand the difference we are making by visiting Carepoints, like the Carepoints we are involved with, where these children are receiving holistic care.)