Memories from Swaziland.. Part two!

Part two...

The more homes we visited, the more we realised there was a shortage in men. Every house we went to had women caring for the children. Husbands had left, Fathers had died, there were no men to be seen. So many families had been abandoned by those who should be protecting them, who should be taking their responsibility, caring and fighting for their families, standing up for what is right and true in their generation. Where were all the men? 

This was a silent question in my mind and I wondered if I was the only person who noticed. I eventually spoke to my friend and we talked about our sadness and concern at the absence of Fathers in so many of the Swazi homes. We were so happy later that day to finally meet a young man. We were welcomed into a home, the care worker who regularly visited the house went in before us. As we stepped into the mud hut, I could smell sickness and disease, I knew there was someone living there who was very sick.  We were ushered into a small and dingy room with two beds. In one of the beds was an old man. He was so frail and when he coughed it was as though every bone in his body rattled and the sound of mucous bubbled up from his lungs. His son was sat at his bedside, with a gentle smile. He shook our hands and welcomed us into their home. It was great because this young man (in his thirties) was able to speak really good english. He told us of the struggles he faced caring for his father, trying to work to provide for the family, and look after the four children that also lived in the home. It was so encouraging to finally meet a man. A man of integrity, a man of honour, a man who was standing up for what was true and right, a leader, an overcomer. A man who was fighting in the midst of hardship. We had a wonderful time listening to his story, hearing about their struggles and pain. And as sad as the situation was, there was a sense of righteousness in that dingy mud hut. For we knew that God's eyes were upon this household. We knew that this man was a God fearing man and in a hard situation, was doing the right thing. We knew that God was there and He had seen. We again prayed for this precious family, and thanked God for the young man who was leading that home with integrity and grace. We trusted God that He would bring abundance to that house. Abundance in crops, abundance in finance, abundance in health, abundance in joy, abundance in integrity, and, abundance in hope. We left that place with our spirits lifted, grateful to have met such a lovely young man.

The day arrived when we were going to collect water for some of the poorest people in the remotest parts of Swaziland. We loaded big plastic water containers, along with cleaning products, into our truck and set off on yet another bumpy journey. We arrived at another homestead, I was so excited to meet the people who lived there, I knew nothing about them, but I had a feeling in my spirit that we were going to have a great time. We were welcomed by two of the cutest little old ladies I have probably ever met. They hugged us, smiled, and immediately started talking to us in their language, expecting us to understand every word they were saying. We all laughed and smiled at each other. We explained that we had brought them a water container and would walk down the mountain to collect water for them. They were so happy we were there and began to show us around their home. More mud huts, that looked like they had been there for years, and were about to fall down. The lady who lived there was 86 years old, all her children had died and she lived with her daughter in law, whose husband (the old ladies son) had recently died from HIV, leaving her with a 4 month old baby girl. There were also other children living in this home, orphans that the old lady had taken in to care for. Her friend was also there, another lady of 85 years. They were beautiful, funny, and welcomed us like family. They were so happy to see us. We walked down the mountain and collected water from a stream, then, with great difficulty, carried the water containers on our heads, back up the mountain. It was hot and we had to stop a few times to take a break. I felt so weak and clumsy, I was tripping over my skirt, my neck hurt because I was new at this whole carrying stuff on your head thing. Each step I took I was thinking about the two beautiful old ladies. They were so old, yet so strong and full of life and strength. Every few days they would take this trip down the mountain, and back up again, and I'm sure, carry loads more on their head than I was struggling to do. In my opinion, they are heroes. When we arrived back, they danced and sang and were so excited.

We were able to spend a good few hours with these precious people. One of the ladies Father was a preacher, she was so proud of him. She talked about the struggles they faced and talked about life for them in Swaziland. They showed us how they grind their maze, how they made their mats (that we sat on in almost every home we went to), how they ploughed their ground, and where they cook their food. Again, the poverty was huge and heartbreaking, and it was clear that these women had endured so much in their lives. Their family dying around them, all their relatives dead and gone, and the constant struggle to survive. But they were so happy, so full of joy. The two ladies were best friends, they loved each other and they looked out for each other. I felt like we had known them for years, and I really didn't want to leave their house that day. It got me thinking about life in the western world. We have so much, too much. Stuff actually distracts us from the important things in life. These ladies had nothing, a few chicken, some maize to harvest, and a mud hut that was crumbling in front of our eyes. Yet, they had each other. They had a friendship that was strong and real, they were united in their hardship and united in their faith. They believed in the God who was always with them, their joy and strength was in Him. They trusted Him and they knew He was their provider. One of the ladies said that in the morning she prayed and asked God to show her His goodness that day. She was completely surprised when we turned up. She immediately knew that God had not forgotten her, in a small mud hut, in a remote community, in the kingdom of Swaziland, the God of the universe had seen her. When we left, they gave us a pumpkin they had grown, I felt bad for taking it from them, after all, they needed it more than me. But they insisted. Again, we experienced people giving out of their lack. Generosity in its purest form. We prayed before we left and then the ladies sang and danced. We hugged and hugged, it was hard for me to get back in our vehicle, I just wanted to stay with them. I felt as though I was saying goodbye to life long friends. When we got back to the home we were staying in, we gave our host the pumpkin. She stood there with her mouth open and told us that she had asked God in the morning for pumpkin seeds to plant! Wow, God was again, showing His goodness to the people of this land. Our beautiful host cut the pumpkin up and we ate it for dinner that night. She collected the seeds, and I have never seen so many seeds from one pumpkin!

[photos of the beautiful ladies we met. I love them!]

The bible says that God has set eternity in the hearts of men and that He is preparing a place for us. Heaven is real. One day, when we breathe our last breath on the earth, if we have surrendered our life to Jesus, we will meet Him face to face and will spend eternity with Him, in Paradise. One thing that continually kept coming up in my heart, with all the people we met, was that their reward is in Heaven. They have, and are, enduring so much on this earth, it is wrong, it is unjust and it is heart breaking. Amidst the smiles and joy that we felt from so many of the Swazi people, there is also a deep sadness, a weight too heavy to bear, a silence so strong it is almost deafening. Yet these people continue to stand strong, continue to work hard, continue to pray, continue to care for the orphaned children they have taken into their homes,  continue to trust and believe that God will provide for them. I have been so privileged to meet some of the Swazi people, their lives and testimonies will stay in my heart forever, and I am forever changed by their courage and bravery. I truly believe that when they leave this earth and are one day face to face with their maker, He will take them in His arms, hold them, wipe away every tear from their eyes and say "well done my good and faithful servant". God has so much eternal reward for each of us. I believe the eternal reward of the Swazi people that have wholeheartedly trusted God, in the midst of their hardship, will be so great and so wonderful and I'm excited to get to heaven and nudge my neighbour to say "I know them. I met them in Swaziland"  :-)

[photo of pumpkin and seeds]