Guys, we have been trying to post a blog the last couple of
days. Yesterday the wifi was out, today it’s
the power. There was a really strong
thunderstorm and we haven’t had electricity since. As soon as I am able, I will post this!
Life is hard here in Swaziland. There are struggles in the communities due to
jealousy mostly, but also just greed. After
delivering the chickens to the child-headed homes this week and showering to
rud our bodies of the AWFUL POOP SMELL 😉
we high fived a job well done. But nothing is ever that easy here. We soon found out that there was a fox in the
hen hole and it wasn’t an animal, yet a human wishing to steal the orphaned
children’s chickens. We consequently bought locks for the chicken coops and tried
to arrange for people to watch the chickens while the kids were in school, but
at the end of the day, nothing is going to stop a determined thief. Who would steal from a child orphaned and
alone in a small one room hut with no basic necessities, you might ask? I had
the exact same question... So far, they’re
all safe. Happily chirping, locked in their new homes.
Yesterday we delivered aid to Malindza (school uniforms/supplies,
soap, sanitary pads – even iPhones thanks to my badass partner Kait, her mom
Maureen and our long time donor Jan. These phones help keep the kids safe and
help them with their college assignments/research projects) And then went two nights
ago to a child-headed home in eLangeni where we’ve been shooting off fireworks
and dancing into the new year for over a decade. It’s INCREDIBLE to have been so privileged to
watch these kids grow and thrive. It’s my
biggest blessing.
The girls went on safari yesterday and saw a bunch of
animals including a baby elephant. Mama elephant
wasn’t super impressed by how close they got to her baby and charged their
jeep. Luckily, the driver backed full
speed in reverse and high tailed it out of there!
And finally, today we hosted a clinic in a very remote area
of Malindza under a tree. There was an entire
“shelter” of double orphans waiting for us. Luckily thanks to Susan’s friends
& the Chi O girls, we had an entire suitcase full of bras, stuffed animals,
toys and other gifts. The kids went
wild. Today Lexi has been a little sick.
She has had a sore throat for the whole week but today got a bit worse. She took medication after medication to
combat her symptoms – an added reminder of our privilege. Most of what the people asked for today at
the clinic was Tylenol or ibuprofen.
We just got home from Mazwi and Mphilo’s home with Nomfundo,
Nosipho, Junior, Nelly, and Zinhle. It’s
bizarre to feel fully at home in two places on opposite sides of the
world. Tonight, although I’m missing my
4 year old and my husband, there was no place in the entire world I’d rather
be. I listened to Mphilo talk about the
amazing Christmas she had thanks to my friend Kandas for including her and Mazwi
in his family’s celebrations. I listened
to Nomfundo talk about her dreams of becoming a business woman in the
future. I listened to Nosipho talk about
anything – every single word that comes out of her mouth is joined with a
joyous laugh. She laugh-talks. It’s
amazing. I’ve never seen anyone more genuinely
happy in my entire life. And I had “the
talk” with Mazwi (age 16) asking how many wives he planned to have, he didn’t hesitate. ONE.
Good boy. Then, I asked Junior (age
6) and immediately he held up 1 finger.
We teach them young lol.
Goodnight and happy 2020 from Swaziland. Thank you for all
of your past support and your continued support. Thank you to all of my
volunteers’ parents for sharing your kids (even you, Jean, sharing your “big
kid Susan”). It’s not lost on me that this
is often family time. I’m grateful you
allowed them to be introduced to this amazing Give Hope, Fight Poverty family
we love so very much. Thanks for every
single dollar… every penny. We could do
nothing without you!! 2020 blessings to you all, and goodnight from eSwatini!
www.fightpoverty.org/donate.html
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