Where do I even begin? There has been too many favorite
moments of this trip to have just one favorite. So I will cover a few
highlights that probably have not yet been mentioned by my fellow team members.
The first one… soccer! Or as everyone else in the world
calls it futbol! J One of
the major projects that the 2012 Swaziland team helped accomplish was clearing
a field at the care point, turning it into a soccer field and putting in two
goalposts. And yes, the goalposts are still standing! However, over the past
year a lot of rocks and bumps were made on the field so the kids were not using
it when we first arrived. But after the tractor came to help with the garden,
it was used to flatten out the soccer field as well. The next couple days as
soon as I pulled out the penneys, the boys came over and we got a game going.
(“We” being me amongst the older and younger Swazi boys.) Oh what fun did we
have! I may have happened to score a goal and assist a few, but the best part
was being viewed as a valuable teammate. One of the older boys even came up to
me and said, “You have perfect soccer skills.” I just laughed along and enjoyed
the moment of playing soccer with very talented children at our Care point.
A second highlight was having the opportunity to go to the
private hospital and visit Thanduxolo. The hospital was very nice and clean.
The staff had been taking great care of Thanduxolo, we could tell. Thanduxolo
was in his own private room where his grandmother had a bed to stay with him.
When we entered his room, Thanduxolo was sitting up in a stool at the bedside,
and his grandmother, grandfather, and another family member were visiting him.
He was feeling his strength returning, told us he had been up walking around
the unit earlier that afternoon, and had been tolerating clear liquids and
yogurt without any difficulties. His abdominal incision was healing well but
his face and hands were still a little puffy from all the fluids they gave him
prior to surgery. With time, this would decrease and has already begun to do so
reported the grandmother. We told Thanduxolo how much you (Capital Chuch) loves
him and has been praying for him, and he thanks you so much! While we were
there we were able to give him a backpack, school supplies, new clothes,
hygiene kit, (things we gave to the kids at the care point) and prayed with
Thanduxolo and his family. Thanduxolo loves the Lord and thanks you all for
helping to save his life! Before we left, Thanduxolo got back into bed to get
some rest, so he will continue to need some prayers, but is definitely getting
stronger every day. What a blessing it was to see him!
Praises during the week: 2,200 seedlings were planted on an
overcast day and a downpour came that the evening to water the ground. The
older kids were on break so we were able to do different developmental skills
with them. I was able to teach the older girls and the mages basic hygiene and
basic first aid. These included things like, if you catch on fire, you need to
stop, drop and roll, and teaching about how to use aloe vera (which grows
wildly everywhere here) to help with healing burns (which is common since a lot
of Swazi’s cook over an open fire) and how hand washing is the number one thing
we can do to prevent the spread of infections! (This is emphasized in hospitals
and is important for us to put into practice as well!)
A few other special moments were seeing the kids continue to
wear different crafts (like the crown, stick on jewels, stickers, glitter)
throughout the week. Having little boys and girls run up to you to hold your
hand, have you hold them, or play netball, soccer, frisbee, keep away, or
dancing games with them. And hearing them sing! Mbuso led the kids in a song
that went like this “Making melodies in my heart, making melodies in my heart,
making melodies in my heart, to the King of Kings.” Then this would repeat. But
with each round you would have to sing it with your thumbs up, then shoulders
up, next elbows in, after that knees bent, bum out, turn around, and lastly
tongue out! One little girl sang it throughout the whole day on our last day
here at the care point, which was today. It was the most precious thing! I
could have cried, (Oh wait, I did!). Oh how God loves all the little children
in the world!
Danielle R
