This morning we dropped off medical supplies (N95 masks to
prevent TB, gloves, and plastic disposable specula) to Baylor’s pediatric HIV
center (thanks Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach!!). The waiting room was packed
with patients, so we didn’t stick around for a tour. Afterward we delivered laptops and books to
Phonjwane Primary. The brand new Usborne
books, from Tiffany, were added to the library we built last month (Tiffany,
now they’re all delivered – thanks so much!).
And the laptops are slowly starting to build a computer lab for the children. Have any old laptops you’re willing to part
with? I’d love to bring them here!
At New Hope Centre, we finally finished the plastic bottle privacy
wall in front of the 4-stall toilet. Raymond’s team will finish the toilet
portion on Thursday but it is framed and the roof was being installed
today. Yesterday and today we had visitors
coming from the neighborhood to check out the construction. They were amazed and thought it was beautiful. They kept referring to it as the “toilet’s
decoration”. Haha We are so glad that the 900 plastic bottles (Thanks
for organizing the collection & storage of them all Beished!!) were
repurposed rather than being burned as trash polluting the air, and that the orphaned
children in the rural community now will have ample toilets preventing infectious
disease.
Thank you to everyone who has donated toward Nothando’s new
home! She and her younger sisters and
nephew will soon be in a permanent cement structure rather than their stick,
rock and mud hut. I used the recent donations
you made through Facebook to buy the materials for the foundation today. Raymond is going to start on digging and
laying the foundation next week when he is finished building the toilets. Hopefully by December when I return to Swaziland
we will have the rest of the money raised and can build the house then. We’re still $3,300 short. If you’d like to donate, contact me: anniefightspoverty@gmail.com or
donate online: http://swazilandannie.blogspot.com/donate.html
Every trip to Swaziland, I encourage the volunteers to bring
clothes and shoes they are willing to part with. Throughout the week, we have been putting our
worn clothes in suitcases. We then give the clothes to some of our sponsored
kids who will wash and sell the clothes as a small business. On the way home,
we delivered the clothes to Nomfundo and Mphilo. When we were leaving Mphilo’s house, I stopped
to take off my Nikes. Beth & Kylie saw
what was happening and followed suit. We
all walked down the mountain barefooted as Mary walked ahead warning us when
she saw broken glass or thorns. I’m always so thankful for the amazingly
generous people who travel with me to Swaziland. And I am super excited that Mphilo (and soon
her customers) have 3 pairs of well-made sneakers now!
The group decided to go home and shower/pack. I ran off to see my late friend Sifiso’s 4
year old daughter Sikhanyiso. Throughout
this week there were multiple times when I saw someone from behind with Sifiso’s
gait or had to double-take when I saw someone from far away with a similar
smile. I have to sometimes remind myself
that I won’t ever see him again, but I see him SO MUCH now in his daughter –
they’re twins!! I gave her mom rent
money and bus fare for her to get to school (Thanks Ashela!!) and gave her a beautiful
doll that looks like her (Thanks Aleks-Handmade!!). She had the flu and looked
very tired; but she is learning a lot in school, starting to understand English
and looked excited to see her new doll!
Tonight I got the most beautiful thank you message from Sizo
and I always want to pass it along because nothing is possible without your
generosity: “My words always fail me when I say how grateful I am to you, Kait
and the donors in the States who have generously and lovingly given their hard
earned money to better our world. Thank
you thank you thank you! It is people like you all that make me believe there
is such a thing as guardian angels, always there when you need them the most.”
If you’d like to travel with us to Swaziland, we’d love to
have you! We have trips traveling throughout
the year. Join a team or form your own
team. Everyone is invited! I’d love to chat with you about the possibilities:
anniefightspoverty@gmail.com
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