Aside from teaching Bible at the primary school and discipling
teenage girls in the rural area, I have been taking trips twice a month to the
poorest part of Swaziland.
A place called Nsoko. By far this is the most difficult thing I do, physically
and mentally. Physically the drive is long and it’s very hot. Nsoko is a barren
place where the rain falls sparsely. There has been an official drought there
for at least the last 4 years. When I go there, I am there to take pictures and
update AIM’s supporters on what’s happening there with 8 care points, a community
center, a clinic, and how the Pastor is doing. Mentally it is hard because the
desperation is so great there and I want to help them all, but can only help a
few. Prayer is needed for people to rise up and serve here in a full time
capacity.
teenage girls in the rural area, I have been taking trips twice a month to the
poorest part of Swaziland.
A place called Nsoko. By far this is the most difficult thing I do, physically
and mentally. Physically the drive is long and it’s very hot. Nsoko is a barren
place where the rain falls sparsely. There has been an official drought there
for at least the last 4 years. When I go there, I am there to take pictures and
update AIM’s supporters on what’s happening there with 8 care points, a community
center, a clinic, and how the Pastor is doing. Mentally it is hard because the
desperation is so great there and I want to help them all, but can only help a
few. Prayer is needed for people to rise up and serve here in a full time
capacity.
The people in Nsoko are very kind and warm. As I drive up to
the community center they greet me with huge grins and a few have even come to
recognize and trust me enough to hug me hello (something that is rare here). I
have driven to all of the care points at one time or another and have visited
multiple homesteads. The conditions are heartbreaking, people are wasting away,
and most don’t have the strength to get up from where they are sitting. The
children run around half naked without adult supervision. The Center provides
meals 6 days a week for the children and a safe place to play. Recently a
playground was constructed on site for the children with room for 50 kids to
play safely at a time. A field has been cleared for soccer games and nets have
been put up for netball games.
the community center they greet me with huge grins and a few have even come to
recognize and trust me enough to hug me hello (something that is rare here). I
have driven to all of the care points at one time or another and have visited
multiple homesteads. The conditions are heartbreaking, people are wasting away,
and most don’t have the strength to get up from where they are sitting. The
children run around half naked without adult supervision. The Center provides
meals 6 days a week for the children and a safe place to play. Recently a
playground was constructed on site for the children with room for 50 kids to
play safely at a time. A field has been cleared for soccer games and nets have
been put up for netball games.
Most of the children are too poor to go to school and so
they have hours and hours to waste in the day, many end up falling into
dangerous activities and groups. This Center provides a place for safe
activities and even the women can come and learn sewing.
they have hours and hours to waste in the day, many end up falling into
dangerous activities and groups. This Center provides a place for safe
activities and even the women can come and learn sewing.
I added these pictures so you can pray for the people of
Nsoko, to put a face on these beautiful people ho have all but been forgotten by
their own. As of right now we don’t have any full time staff living in the
area.
Nsoko, to put a face on these beautiful people ho have all but been forgotten by
their own. As of right now we don’t have any full time staff living in the
area.
Pictured here is Pastor Gift, his wife Philile and his three children Nothando, Nduduzo and Okuhle,
He is a wonderful Swazi man who has a huge heart
for the people, he has moved his family down to this desolate area giving up
many comforts, just to be close to the people.
for the people, he has moved his family down to this desolate area giving up
many comforts, just to be close to the people.
Just some of the beautiful children in Nsoko
Thanks Christine for this. The pictures definitely help as I can picture them in my mind as I pray.
Blessing to you for your faithfulness
Bob
Hi Christine,
We pray often for you and the work you are doing in Swaziland. Thank you for these updates and photos. They really help in keeping the people of Swaziland at the forefront of our minds.
Take care!
Sincerely,
Mike
Christine.
What a joy and privilage to serve God and these precious children. You are blessed and so are they.Keeping you in prayer
Wow Chris! God is sure expanding your heart in your ministry there. It may be the hardest place to go but will probably be the most rewarding. Keep up the goodwork and ,oh yeah, drive carefully on those mountians.
Thanks, Christine. I will pray for the people in Nsoko. Thanks for the great photos to help us better appreciate the situation.
Also praying for your safety. Have lights been installed yet? Are you feeling a little more secure?
We are proud of you. Yesterday Lilly said something about being as far away as Chris Auntstine in Africa. Then she jumped around for about 16 hours strait. Joe out.
Chris,
Thanks so much for the updates. Though it’s discouragingly overwhelming, we pray that you will be strengthened and encouraged to know what a little spark can do in such extreme poverty. You are in good company as I think it must have been how Jesus felt looking upon the masses of poor and diseased when he was here on earth. May God richly bless all your efforts there, no matter how small they may seem to you.
Hi Christine~We will pray for all the people of Nsoko. The children are so beautiful~all smiles. It must be a huge comfort to the women and children to have you among them. I was so happy to hear that their Swazi Pastor and his family are there also. He must be a very kind man to move to such a desolate area. It seems that the Lord is really working through him to help these people. This center looks so welcoming for the little children and I love the photo of the women at their sewing machines. Thank you so much for sending these photo’s out. While picturing their faces I pray for them. God bless, Rose
WOW, the perspective of these lives really got me out of my mental rut at work today. comparatively you and I have such abundance… I’ll abundantly PRAU+Y for then=m and you as you create this awareness …
IN JESUS NAME…HALLELUIAH…”bless Christine and keep her focused, faithful, fearless, fullfilled and a fresh outlook on the mercy of GOD!
LUV J-STER
Thanks for this update, the pics, and your work there. Maybe when Marcia and I get back we can do that lunch we talked about!
Christine,
Thanks for matching the faces with the stories. It is amazing to see you on the front lines in a place needing God’s love so tangibly. You’re in our prayers.
Don