This afternoon we spent a few hours in the community of Madonsa -- and at its CarePoint. Since our family oversees two, we are trying to make a visit each week -- putting us at each of them every other week. Madonsa, for those of you familiar with Swaziland, is just beyond Manzini. We've been trying to visit the CarePoint for some time, but there have been some community issues as of late that have kept us from the area. It was great to be able to actually get there, love on the bomake (volunteer cooks), facilitators and children. We've missed being there, and we didn't come empty handed. They had requested some simple items (bleach, cleaners, matches, scouring pads, etc.), but we also blessed the women with some "Five Roses." Tea is highly valued in Africa, and the women were thrilled. Nothing says love in Swaziland like Five Roses!
We knew that our family would more than likely be doing a home visit today with the facilitators. When a sponsored child doesn't attend the CarePoint regularly and there is concern, the staff is dedicated, taking a community walk and visiting the home to check on the child and the homestead (area in which he/she is living). However, when we reached Madonsa we found out that one of the bomake's spouses was very ill, and she was at home caring for him. The facilitators asked if we could also stop by her homestead to check on them.
We first visited the Make (mah-gay) and her spouse. As we got to the homestead, we learned that her husband was very, very ill -- and that he was dying. We asked if we could go in the house to see him, and so our family, along with the two facilitators and his spouse entered their home. We found Babe (bah-bay) Daniel lying on the couch in a one-room house, 12-foot square. In their home was no electricity, but only one small couch, one bed, no plumbing or water. Literally -- just a bed and couch with a few things attached to the mud walls. The make immediately brought in a folding chair so that one of us could sit down. The house was so very small, but it was immaculate and incredibly inviting.
We looked into Babe Daniel's eyes, and he obviously was in much pain. We were told that he was a very hard worker up until a month ago when the side and stomach pain had set in, and he was not able to eat or drink anything. Steph called Jessie ('Cup missionary and nurse extraordinaire) to discuss his condition, and to feel out what we could/should do. Babe Daniel is unemployed, his wife is a volunteer at the CarePoint, and so they had no money to be seen at the clinic. It seemed like he had given up, as had his family.
With the facilitators, we agreed that Babe Daniel needed to be seen at the hospital immediately, so Steph, one of the facilitators, and his granddaughter would get him there in our bakkie (truck) while the kiddies and I stayed back at the CarePoint. Before we left the homestead, however, we wanted to pray for him -- for God to guide all of our steps. We piled into the small house, and the family broke out in song around Babe, singing... "We bless Your name, almighty God; we bow before Your throne. We glorify Your holy name, we bow before Your throne..." in English and siSwati. Steph prayed over Babe, and as tears streamed down my face, I knew we were all in the presence of God. There was so much faith and peace in that tiny home, and hearing a family rejoice amidst a dying loved one was something I will never forget.
The bakkie left for RFM (the hospital in Manzini) and returned an hour later after getting Babe and his granddaughter checked into the emergency room. Steph said that they were able to get him in immediately, and he left him with money to be seen (you must pay up front to receive any type of medical care), for medicine, transport home, and also food for the homestead. We haven't received an update on Babe yet and how he is doing, but please pray for him and his family. Because HIV is such a misleading disease here in Swaziland, many times individuals are unaware they are "positive" and eventually die of other maladies (tuberculosis, influenza, etc.). We are unsure if Babe Daniel is HIV-positive, but because he has become so sick so very suddenly, it is very possible.
As we were visiting at the CarePoint after Steph returned, Claudia (a facilitator) pointed out a sweet girl that I had been with the entire afternoon. She said, "Her heart hurts badly." She had recently lost both her mother and father (more than likely due to HIV). She is living with her grandmother, but she no longer has any desire to play. When the rest of the children are participating in songs and games, she just wants to sit.
In a matter of less than three hours, we were presented with both sides of death and devastation. We witnessed a dying man and his family surrounding him, and immediately after met a girl much too young to have lost both her parents and forced to be an orphan. It was a tough day -- so much to process.
However, there was so much beauty and joy in our afternoon. The incredible joy that the children of Swaziland possess, even in the midst of horrific conditions and circumstances, is amazing. It can only be Jesus. These children are definitely the Hands and Feet, and we are so grateful to share in that joy as we come along side of them, equipping their generation.
