a request

Dear friends,

I'm writing to ask you to consider praying about sponsorship of one of the children I met when I visited Swaziland last year. You have probably heard me talk in person about Lesibovu at some point in the last 10 months since I returned from my trip. I have passionately shared about the need for sponsors for these children with many people, and am again asking individuals now to consider it if they have not previously.

Last November, we began our sponsorship project with 82 children in need of a special friend who would pray for them, who would write occasional notes to them, and who would commit to a gift of $34 per month, which provides needed food, shelter, assistance with school fees, and discipleship through the Children's HopeChest CarePoint. We now have just 38 children remaining to connect with an individual or family who will be able to build a relationship through letters, and possibly visits, and will give a child in need great hope.

*I have been touched by those who are on very limited income who have taken the responsibility as a privilege and signed up quickly to sponsor.

*A family of five chose five children to sponsor, and brought me to tears. *Anther couple thoughtfully decided on a child who looked older, knowing they could really write and communicate with this young man, to encourage him at a crucial point in his life.
*Another family chose a little girl who shared the same name as their mother, and have prayed faithfully for their other family member across the world. 

Families are seeing the impact that giving personally to a child in a specific community that we are all connected to is really powerful. These children know each other, as we do. They play and worship together, live near one another, go to the same schools; just like we do. We can even travel to visit them together and spend one-on-one time with these friends, letting them know that the common love of Jesus binds us, and that we can pray for each other. Our communities are connected in a beautiful way that honors Christ, not limited by time or space.

These kids are real, precious children, so similar to my own, yet they are living in a world of hardship I could hardly imagine - except that I have seen it. Water is a precious commodity. Food is scarce, and without the CarePoint, most wouldn't have even a daily meal consistently. Disease is rampant, and 1 in 5 children are orphans. Adults that live to be 50 years old are rare. Sounds hopeless, almost.

However, there is hope! They need to know the source of hope is Jesus. Now that we know of the dire situation, we have a great task before us, but there is such a simple, effective solution. Partnering with HopeChest provides basic necessities, but also weekly discipleship, which means the cycle of hopelessness can end, through godly teaching, and loving interaction from Swazi young adults who are investing their lives into the children of Lesibovu. This is a program that works - now members of this discipleship team actually involve former CarePoint children who are now training and giving back to their communities.

I don't want anyone to miss out on the blessing that sponsorship can be. If you have contemplated signing up as a Lesibovu sponsor and just have not had time to peruse the profiles, or handle the steps of completing the online form, please let me know. I am eager to help in any way I can. I have profile cards available for you to view anytime, or you can see them here: hopechest.org/community/lesibovu

If you are already sponsoring - THANK YOU! You are such a blessing to the children of Lesibovu by your faithful gifts. Another way all of you can help - Do you have a small group, a Bible study, a few neighbors, or a class that would like to hear how they could become sponsors? I would love to come share with them, so please let me know. If you are not led to commit to a child sponsorship, please pray as we share the need with others. Thank you for your time!

Jennifer

John 14:18  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Why Swaziland?

Some of you may not have heard the facts and reasons why it is so necessary to gather sponsors for the children in our CarePoint at Lesibovu. Here is some information from Children's HopeChest that may explain better how serious the situation is. However, instead of being overwhelmed by the severity of the need, please check back here tomorrow and read how you can be a part of bring hope to this country and the community of Lesibovu in particular.

(taken from http://www.hopechest.org/swaziland/)

Swaziland Data

• Estimated number of people all ages living with HIV (2009): 170,000-200,000
• Orphans (all causes): 100,000 (8.4% of population)
• Orphans (by AIDS): 69,000
• Total population 1,185,000 (2009)
• Life expectancy at birth: 46 years
• Estimated adult HIV prevalence rate: 25.9%
• Data provided by UNICEF

The Challenge

This small country in Africa has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world, giving it the name, “Nation of Orphans”.  Generations of people in this country have been decimated by AIDS leaving many children orphaned and alone, without anyone to call mom or dad. The average person in Swaziland only lives to be about 46 years old.
Because there are virtually no orphanages  in Swaziland, these children are literally left to fend for themselves without any means of survival. Widely held myths and misunderstandings about AIDS have left many girls vulnerable to sexual abuse and infection of HIV.  Young children throughout Swazi are often found to be the head of the household, caring for all their younger siblings and other children who have no one.  Orphans are left susceptible to malnutrition, disease, and abuse.  Children roam the streets unclothed and hungry looking for answers and for someone to care for them.  Due to this harsh reality HopeChest has created a place for orphans to find refuge, a place to be loved and fed - a CarePoint.

The HopeChest Solution

In Swaziland, HopeChest partners with another organization, Adventures in Missions.  Both organizations collaborate daily with local Swazi pastors to ensure that the orphan’s medical, physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs are met.  Pastors in Swaziland oversee many of our ground programs and are the fire behind development.  HopeChest highly values these relationships with local leaders.
Through community sponsorship: kitchens, daily feeding, weekly discipleship programming, wells, school buildings, community centers, and garden projects are possible.  Overtime, CarePoints in Swaziland will grow to be self-sustaining, enhancing the lives of both the children and the community.
The most important part of our work in Swaziland is through our Discipleship Program.  We have hired local believers, to mentor, build relationships, and most importantly to look after the spiritual wellbeing of the children. They do this through weekly bible studies, and counseling sessions with all of the children involved at our CarePoints.
The number of orphans that HopeChest impacts is growing rapidly, and we want YOU to be involved.  HopeChest is currently serving over 4,000 children through nineteen CarePoints in Swaziland.  But there are still thousands of children that need support.

Check back tomorrow to read how YOU can be part of this support! 

Christmas at Lesibovu

Here is a wonderful guest post by our friend who was recently an AIM intern in Swaziland. Kimberly Woolridge assisted the missionaries in different positions while there and was so helpful, sending photos and encouragement to me about "our" kids at Lesibovu. For those of you who know about the generous donor who gave our carepoint a Christmas party, here are the details. Thank you so much Kimberly!!

A Lesibovu Christmas

(http://kimberlywoolridge.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/a-lesibovu-christmas/)

by Kimberly Woolridge

I’ve decided to process Swaziland through the telling of stories. I’m still struggling to put words to my time in Swaziland, and it dawned on me that story-telling would be a good way to do so. My first story is going to be all about the Christmas parties we had at many of the care points in November.

Why celebrate Christmas in November, you ask? Well, first of all, there were more than a dozen Christmas parties to put on, so we had to start early. Also, the AIM workers in Swaziland needed a Christmas break just like any of us, and it would have been impossible to do all the parties in the first two weeks of December. We also helped facilitate preschool graduations in late November and early December. With all this said, November was just as good as any month to celebrate Christmas.

in line

world racer preparing rice

Christmas cabbage

waiting on Christmas lunch

I’d like to specifically share about the Lesibovu Christmas party, though they all followed a similar format, yet with differing aspects specific to each care point. We celebrated Christmas at the Lesibovu care point in late November. We arrived along with one of AIM’s World Race teams. Pastor Welcome gathered the children as they arrived from school in the afternoon.

beef stew, beets, slaw and rice

that's a pile of cabbage!

The gogos spent the morning cooking rice, beef stew, beet salad, and coleslaw. A truck load of cabbages was delivered. Bags of sweets had been prepared and set aside. We sat around, enjoying each other’s company as the children of the Lesibovu walked in from school. The whole D Team was there and Deli stood before the children to share the story of our Lord’s birth. Pastor Welcome led the children in song and praise to the Lord.

 The children prayed together as one with eyes closes and hands clasped. They thanked the Lord for their food. Then, the World Racers led the children in some fun songs. They stood in a circle and laughed and smiled and had a good time. Then each child received their warm meal, bag of candy, and head of cabbage. They walked home with full tummies!

AIM World Racers leading the children in songs

 I know they still carry heavy loads in their lives, and I cannot pretend to understand their heart’s hurts and cracks, but it fills me with joy and gratitude to know that on that day, they got to hear the redemptive story of Christ’s birth and celebrate it. What a joy to know our Savior and celebrate his birth! The children at the Lesibovu care point had a beautiful celebration that day!

so grateful

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Lesibovu!

{all photos courtesy of Kimberly Woolridge}