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}