Connecting with Lesibovu - Part 3: A Sponsor's Story

I asked a friend and member of the Lesibovu Leadership Team to tell her sponsorship story. Thank you, guest blogger LaShea Wood!  As I sat and looked at all the profiles of children from Lesibovu who needed to be sponsored, I felt so overwhelmed. How could I pick just one child? There are so many in need there. Everywhere. My shoulders began to tense and my head began to ache as I looked through profile after profile. I began to pray for God's guidance and peace because the enormity of the situation hit me so hard. I didn't expect it. I've seen the ads and all the Facebook posts about orphans and HIV, but it never truly HIT me until now. I don't know why, but it didn't become real until NOW.... At first it didn't seem like much, "Ok. I'll sponsor a child. That's all I know to do!" Seems simple enough, but as I sat at the computer scrolling through page after page of children needing to be sponsored I couldn't pick one....just one. How is one suppose to make a difference?! The estimate is 143 to 210 million orphans in the world and I'm suppose to pick one!?  Well, I didn't. My son, Dylan, did. Children see in black and white. There is no gray area, no questioning. "Ok. We get to sponsor a child who may not survive and thrive otherwise!" He looks through a stack of Alli's photos from Lesibovu sitting on my kitchen counter and 5 minutes later says, "I want to sponsor that one." It's a photo of a small boy who looks 2 maybe 3 holding a bowl in nothing but a shirt. No shorts. No shoes. Just waiting for food. Holding his little bowl. He's beautiful. I told him to go ask his brother and sister if that's the one they wanted to sponsor (just knowing they are going to argue and fight over who they wanted to sponsor, but they didn't). They all agreed! If that's not a sign from God I don't know what is! All my kids agreed! That's huge! So we did it, I looked him up on the website and found his profile and there he was- "Lunga, male, 4". I thought to myself, "He's 4? He's so little." I entered all my info and it was done. He was our child! I looked through the rest of Alli's photos and found 2 more pictures of him. They are now plastered on my refrigerator and my kids talk about him as if he were a relative or friend.  A week later we got our full profile on Lunga in the mail. As I read his short profile, I was thankful to see his mother and father were still alive and she's his caregiver. I believe she's the one holding him in one of the photos on my fridge. He's got 2 siblings and walks 10-15 minutes to the Carepoint where he gets food. That doesn't seem to far away...or does it? I walk 10 steps to my kitchen for food: a near endless supply of goodies. He has to walk 10 minutes and that's so he can eat once a day if he's lucky. Some of these children walk 3 hours to the Carepoint. I also have a picture of Lunga standing in line for food, but it's a big cauldron of porridge and from what I'm told that's what they eat every. single. day. I don't know about you, but I don't call that "food". In our 1st world country, with our 1st world problems ("DirecTV isn't airing the game! Are you kidding me!") we can't even wrap our head around what that must be like. I know I sure can't. As soon as we got Lunga's profile, the kids immediately went to writing letters and drawing pictures for him. I sat at the computer twice to send a letter to him but couldn't. I didn't know what to say, then it hit me. He's only 4. He can't read it. Once I email it and it's translated, it's going to be his mom who reads it. The lady holding that sweet boy in the picture. Now all I can think about is being in her shoes and as I type the letter all I can picture is this mother who has no means of providing for her 3 children, who probably lives in a small hut of a home with a dirt floor reading my letter. Once again, my shoulders tense and my head begins to ache. What do you say to someone in such dire circumstances? I stared blankly at the screen. Please, God, give me the words to speak hope to this mother. That somehow I can encourage her. I want her to know that someone, somewhere cares for her and is praying for her and her family. That our God truly cares for them.  Sponsorship is not just about providing a child with food, education, shelter, etc. Sponsorship is about hope. It's about building a relationship with a child and their family. To be able to let Lunga and his family know that we are here, we care for them, love them, and are praying for them, gives them hope for a better tomorrow. At the end of my letter to Lunga (or his mother) I put this verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11  When you sponsor a child it is so much more than sending money to help a kid - imagine being that orphan or that parent or grandparent that receives that letter. When they find out someone, somewhere, cares enough to help them, you've given them hope and a relationship that can do so much more any amount of money can do.

Connecting with Lesibovu - Part 2: Local vs. International Missions

I love how as Jesus is preparing to leave the disciples at the Transfiguration, and prepares them for the Holy Spirit's coming, that they ask a question of Him. They're anxious to know when His kingdom will be established and  Jesus tells the disciples that only His Father knows the time. Then, He tells them - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

An issue I wanted to address after hearing it mentioned a few times lately regards concern for local giving versus supporting foreign missions. The questions haven't been asked critically, but honestly, and I certainly do appreciate folks wanting to know how we can invest time and heart into a community across the ocean, when there are so many needs here in our own town. Our team is fully aware of local ministry opportunities, and thankfully, everyone who is serving on the Lesibovu Leadership Team already ministers within their respective churches or community.

Here are a few of the ministries in which our team already serves:
monthly feeding and visiting with homeless men at The Firehouse Shelter in Birmingham, working with a Chilton County based Ukrainian orphan-hosting ministry, pastoring a youth group, leading a college group Bible study, involvement in adoptive family ministry, leading adult small group Bible studies, and many more. The folks who are encouraging sponsorship of these children at Lesibovu already have shown their heart for giving to others here in our own Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.

We do not intend to place the lives of African children above the needs of homeless men in Birmingham, or children in our own church's preschool ministry. They are all equally as needy for the love of Jesus, the power of hope, forgiveness, and the Truth of the Gospel.


However, there IS a difference. Here in Alabama, (especially the county in which we live) we have a pretty safe, easy-access to food/shelter/clothing world, even for those in need. There is public assistance for those who need food, shelter, and medical care. Even in rural areas, we are not far from churches with food pantries, social services that offer help with any area of need, and government programs designed to help those who are hurting or vulnerable. For children without parents or a stable home life, there is the Department of Human Resources, and they handle finding foster homes for orphaned or abandoned children temporarily, or even permanently. I know, because my son came into my family through this system. It works. He was never without care, and I am so grateful! I have a dear friend ("T") who grew up as an adolescent and teen in the foster system in another state. T's story is hard, and filled with pain. God beautifully redeemed those years and gave her a foster family that she says changed her life forever.

When we first discussed sponsorship, T was passionately concerned, hearing stories of neglect, abuse, and abandonment facing orphans in Swaziland. She was appalled at the dire circumstances many, many children face there, and was determined that her family would sponsor a child. A few days after we talked at length about Swaziland, she texted me late at night: 

"I just had a big revelation. BIG. I've always wondered why people go outside the US to adopt and for orphan care. Because I was a foster kid, my heart has always been here. It never EVER occurred to me that these kids have no advocate or no systems in place to care for them. Had I been somewhere like Swaziland, I may not be alive."

That is what drives us. We know there are instances where our system does fail, here in the U.S., but when is there no hope for an American baby to have care or a family? In Swaziland, it is the norm for children to go without. Their situation is dire. The UN Development Program says that this country will very likely be extinct by 2050 without dramatic intervention, due to the prevalence of HIV, poverty, and malnutrition.

The good news is that we know of the situation, God has given us much that we can share and so there IS hope. People with resources and education can make a difference. One very simple way to do that is through sponsorship. It doesn't cost much, and it multiplies greatly when your contribution is combined with the others from our Lesibovu community. Please consider how you can minister "the to end of the earth" by giving monthly to one of these beautiful children.

Ncobile, F12

Snakekelo, M2

Banele, M8

The Really Difficult Post

"But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish." Psalm 9:18

This is the post I've struggled with writing. It's so somber and filled with lots of ugly truth. Please still wade through it, and digest the magnitude of the hurts and issues needing the hope of Christ. That hope mentioned above is what I pray we can share with those who need to hear it in Swaziland - hope that doesn't ever die, when there is little reason to hope, in the world they live in daily.  Death is everywhere. It would be easy to be hopeless.

In Swaziland, children are orphaned all the time by the death of parents or abandoned because of multiple reasons. Sometimes, because of the extreme poverty, there is no money or food and they are abandoned because the parents cannot provide for them and hope to give them a chance somewhere else.

Sometimes the reason for being orphaned is polygamy. There are usually multiple wives in a family with one husband, and if one wife dies, the remaining women may not choose to raise her children. There may be resentment, lack of resources, jealousy and competition, or just sheer exhaustion of parenting many children that are contributing factors.

When children are abandoned in Swaziland, they live outdoors, sleeping where they can. There is no DHR or CPS. No foster parents or group homes, no shelters or orphanages for which these children may seek safety.

Trafficking is a popular topic these days, and a very disturbing one, as we realize the massive numbers of people being used, sold, and traded around the world. Unfortunately, this is an issue in Swaziland too. Women are used and treated as property. Young girls are regularly raped. Willingly, they even choose this themselves sometimes, in order to receive food or water for themselves or their family. Mothers even offer daughters as young as 9 or 10 to men, in exchange for use of a small portion of land for them to garden on, or to barter for a ride into town. When I heard this for the first time, and pictured my own almost-10 year old daughter treated as a prostitute, I seriously felt sickened. How can this go on, and be permissable by a family, a society? It keeps me up at night, and I'm not exaggerating.

Tradition is to blame in part for these many struggles, because the history of the Swazi people have allowed polygamy and misogyny for generations. HIV is now so commonplace because of the lack of education and understanding for years, and also, because it is so difficult to change an entire people's mentality.

The person in Swaziland who could provide a solution to the situation with many thousands of children who have no parents does not see the need for giving these children homes. The statement on this subject has been, "Swaziland has no orphans." Pride and ignorance both may be to blame here, because admitting the severity of the crisis would result in re-evaluating the entire lifestyle of the Swazi people. There is a normal pride in one's heritage, even if it is misled and has had disastrous consequences. Also, there are many children who are taken in by a grandmother-type figure, but there is no adoption formally allowed, and no true accountability to ensure that children all find a "go-go" who will look after them until they are independent.

These are reasons that this verse means so much to me. There IS hope. God loves these precious children, these hurting women, these go-gos who sacrifice greatly, and the men who strive to live honorable lives, as well as those who take advantage of others. They are being reached slowly but surely with the Word that could change everything. Passing out birth control doesn't change the culture or solve the problems. It may stop more orphans from being born, but it is not the answer to the greater need, and not what we believe is the response of the Church.

This verse reminds me, we cannot forget the needy. We could have been born in Swaziland ourselves. I could have never had the privileged life I lead, and have the opportunity to hear the truth of the Bible as a young girl. Therefore, we are grateful we can share what we do know with those who haven't had the same blessings. We can love and visit those hurting, and be a light in a dark, dark place.

Preaching isn't the first answer. They need to see their worth, and their value, in God's eyes, through our actions. We are convinced that all the awesome Bible teaching in the world, and education on the results of polygamy and HIV on a people group, are not the keys to changing anything in Swaziland. That's why we passionately believe that what the Clyburns and McAdams, AIM and Children's Hope Chest are doing is so very important. They are building relationships with children and adults, meeting their physical needs, and caring for them as lovingly as if they were their own family. That action - not just talk - is softening hearts, and true compassion and godly love is what leads to opening hearts to the Gospel. Please pray for our friends and for us as we seek to be another instrument that God can use to encourage and bring hope to Swaziland.

"But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish." Psalm 9:18

What Joy

This song was sung by a group of orphans (His Little Feet) at the Know More Orphans Conference James and I attended Saturday. It was so beautiful, I could not help but weep.

I've been referring to Saturday as "CryFest 2012" - I wept a lot that day. God is moving and doing so much in our lives, and leading us to have such a heart for orphans. We don't know what all that means yet.

Anyway, seeing actual orphaned children sing with all their hearts, with smiles on their faces, these lyrics, "what peace, what peace for those whose confidence is Him alone..."
For people who have no real reason, beyond HIM, to have any peace or joy. I just can't describe the power of that moment. It was heart-wrenching for those who don't know Him, and so amazingly hopeful for those of us who do, but struggle with doubt or fear ever.

One of my favorite artists, who has been missing on the music scene for years, is Susan Ashton. Imagine my amazement when I searched YouTube for a video of this song, to add on the blog, and found her perform it, with photos of an eye doctor on medical missions trips, truly restoring sight to those going blind....


Whew, ya'll. God is so good.

What Joy
Artist: Generation Church
Album: All Things New


You made the heavens and the earth
The sea and all that is in it
Your promises remain
You give justice to the weak
You care for the widow and orphan
Forevermore You reign

What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone


You made the heavens and the earth
The sea and all that is in it
Your promises remain
You give justice to the weak
You care for the widow and orphan
Forevermore You reign

What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

We sing, we sing, we sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, forever we will sing
Hallelujah, praises to the King
Hallelujah, forever we will sing
Hallelujah, praises to the King

Swaziland Info Part 2

 The HIV crisis in Swaziland

 

From Avert.org:

In Swaziland, a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, one in four adults are living with HIV. Since the first cases of AIDS were reported in the country in 1986, the virus has spread at an alarming rate and now Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence in the world.¹ 

Women have been particularly affected by the epidemic; among those aged 15-49 HIV prevalence is 31 percent among women, compared to 20 percent among men.²
 
AIDS has devastated the country. Orphans and vulnerable children account for an estimated 15 percent of the total population³ and in 2009 around 7,000 adults and children died from AIDS.⁴

The impact of Swaziland's epidemic has been so severe that life expectancy is just 48.7 years - one of the lowest in the world.⁵

To sum up:

~ Swaziland is a kingdom in Africa that is the size of New Jersey.
~ It has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world.
~ Population is less than a million - 200,000 of these are orphans.
~ The problem is so big that experts say there could be NO ADULTS by the year 2030 unless something is done.
~ The country is so small that solution is possible. (taken from nnlfilm.com)

THIS is why it is vital to act. This is the seriousness of the mission our friends are on - people are dying from a preventable illness, but their lifestyle for generations has included polygamy. So, HIV continues to be passed on throughout families, infecting from birth, and the far-reaching impacts of this disease are mind-boggling. Thousands of children have no adult family members living. Many will not see middle-age. It is impossible to change generations of tradition in a country which practices polygamy and culturally has no problem with that. What can be done though, is to demonstrate God's love so that there is hope, and a future, for these souls. Working with orphaned children is a way to at least reach the Swazis with Truth and can hopefully start a change that will spread throughout the land. Please pray for Swaziland.

Here is a great link to a film and organization that is encouraging others to partner with them to combat the plague of HIV in this beautiful country.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

Isaiah 1:17

Swaziland's location in South Africa

Swaziland Info Part 1

I'm going to do a few posts on the basics of what I have learned about the country we are going to visit. I'll include some simple facts and then more details about the Clyburn and McAdams' families daily work. You'll see that it could be an overwhelming situation if we had no hope that God is working.

Warning: Some of this info is not as happy as our previous posts. In fact, it can be discouraging and downright heartbreaking. And, God loves these people just as he does Americans! We can question why some suffer so greatly, or why we were not born into the same type poverty or circumstances. There are no answers for those questions except that in His sovereignty, He has placed us where we are for His purposes and to bring Him glory. I pray that we will use our lives to do that, and part of that journey is serving the people of Swaziland. Please read below and pray for them.

Poverty and HIV are the main threats to the Swazi people. This info was taken from Wikipedia:

Swaziland - "Some 75% of the population are employed in subsistence farming, and 60% of the population live on less than the equivalent of US$1.25 per day.^[4] 

Swaziland's economic growth and societal integrity is highly endangered by its disastrous HIV epidemic, to an extent where the United Nations Development Program has written that if it continues unabated, the "longer term existence of Swaziland as a country will be seriously threatened."^[5] 

Swaziland has the highest HIV infection rate in the world at 26.1% of adults,^[6] and over 50% of adults in their 20s.