HIV/AIDS Awareness/Education at Makholweni

The last two Saturday’s we had an organization called TASC to come out to the Makholweni CarePoint and Children’s Wellness Center to educate the community on HIV/AIDS and the importance of testing. We had about 45 people show up for the education. Twenty-five people stayed to be tested. Baylor also sent one of their nurses out to help us as well. Since we started too late in the day, we weren’t able to finish testing everyone, so we asked them to come back the next Saturday to be tested. Between the two Saturday’s, we had 32 come for testing, 14 were children, and 22 actually tested. If the parent’s tested negative, they wouldn’t test the children, unless there was some other reason that they thought they needed to be tested.

On the second Saturday, one whole family came, Dad, Mom and 6 kids. Dad and Mom both tested negative. We didn’t even have to ask, he came out of the room shouting, “negative,negative.” So the 6 children weren’t tested. They all seem to be relatively healthy, except for a little bit of malnourishment. The father is injured and can’t work, so they are having a very difficult time. Many times they don’t have food except what the kids get at the care point. We try to send home extra food with them each day so they will all have something to eat later. We gave them some Nutravit, which is a vitamin rich corn meal and some multivitamins to help out a bit. I was taking pictures of the kids while they were waiting on Mom and Dad. When I showed them the picture, they laughed and giggled! Then they said they wanted to sing a song for me. It was so cute! Each one sang a verse and danced, then they all sang together. It was in SiSwati, so I had no idea what they were saying. I asked the teacher, and she said that it was about HIV/AIDS, and how you need to be tested when you see yourself getting thin (losing weight).

Another mother who tested positive, wouldn’t allow her kids to be tested, much to our dismay. She said that she had to check with her partner. I pray that she will allow the children to be tested. We can take them all to Baylor to have them all tested and treated if necessary. We will have to try to talk to her and explain how important it is for them to be tested. She works for a factory, and she says that they will not let her have a day off. So it will be difficult to get her to come to Baylor , but her life, as well as her kids may depend on it. I pray that God will give us wisdom and grace in this situation.

We are hoping that Baylor will send a doctor to our Children’s Wellness Center once a month to dispense the medications for all of the kids that we are taking to Baylor on a weekly basis for AIDS treatment. We now have about 21 kids/care givers that we bring to Baylor. Abraham picks them up from their care points every Wednesday. Each of the 21 people have to go once a month to get a new supply of medication. This is a very important part of the work that God is allowing us to be a part of here. Again, it is a blessing to have this amazing opportunity to work with these precious Swazi people.

Sandra Lee

We have spent a lot of time this week helping a friend get ready to receive 5-7 new babies into her orphanage. We have been hanging curtains, cleaning windows, moving things, going through clothes, etc. It has been fun. Friday, we had the privilege of going to the government hospital to help bring the babies home. These are all babies from the abandoned children’s ward. It was quite an exciting day. We were able to bring 5 of the 7 home to the orphanage. The other two had parents listed that they had to contact to make sure they don’t want them before they can come to the orphanage.

When we drove up to the homes, all of the other 14 children that live there were waiting outside. It was very interesting to see all of the dynamics, as they all got to know each other. My girls, Danielle and Joelle each have a baby that they have fallen in love with as we have visited them in the hospital. It was very exciting for them to hold them on the trip home and get them settled into their new home. Little John (the one Joelle is crazy about) was so excited to see all of the other children. He laughed and smiled and waved his arms as Joelle walked around holding him. Sibongile, (the one Danielle is crazy about) is too small to know what is going on, and is just interested in being fed and sleeping. I had to drag Danielle and Joelle away last night and the night before. They were really enjoying mothering these little ones. Thank God for our friends that have a heart for these abandoned babies and are taking the responsibility to raise them and give them a good home!

Forgotten & Neglected

We visited the hospital again today. There is a little boy that has been in the hospital since February when he was hit by a car. He suffered a severe head injury, surgery was done to relieve the pressure from the brain. He was left with sever brain damage. He is so thin and emaciated at this point that he looks like a skeleton with skin drawn tight around it. He has had no physical therapy , has not been turned regularly and has not had proper nutrition. So you can imagine how malnourished and how much skin break down that he has. He is an orphan, who has one distant relative that has been faithfully by his side the whole time. She has no financial support herself either.

God put this little boy and his care taker on Kristen’s heart and she started raising money to help him. I have to be honest, when Kristen called me and told me that she was raising money for him, I thought, there is not much we can do for this one. But I called one of the doctors from Baylor, she said that she had just decided that it was time to do something to help this little one. She said that they had walked by this one numerous times and thought, it’s no use, and passed by. One day she was drawn to stop and held his hand, as she was asking about him, he squeezed her hand. She knew at this point that there was something still there and that she had to try to help him. There is a strength in this child to hold on, even when everyone had given up on him. She was saddened by the state that he was in just from neglecting to give him proper nutrition and physical therapy. She was so excited when she heard that we were raising money to help him. She said the money could be used for his tube feedings, physical therapy and wound therapy.

At this point he has bed sores on each hip, and starting all the way up his back. Everywhere that there is a bone protruding, there is a sore, the two on each hip, showing muscles, ligaments and bone in varying degrees. So, we got the formula for the tube feedings and started on our quest. I contacted a wound therapy nurse that I knew, and she came today and dressed all of the wounds so they could begin to heal. Our next step is to find a physical therapist that can work with him on a daily basis to help loosen up his arms and legs. He is drawn up in a fetal position. We instructed his care taker to exercise his joints daily and to turn him every two hours. We also got an egg crate mattress for his bed to try and prevent further skin breakdown.

It is so exciting to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those that are otherwise forgotten. There are many others that are in great need as well, we can’t help them all, but by God’s grace and leading, we will do our best to do what we can. The doctor that made rounds today was so excited at what we were doing for this little boy that he had us come and see another similar case in the next room. Our financial resources are limited, please pray for us to be guided by Gods wisdom and not our own as we move forward.

Parental Responsibilities

A recently heard quote from a Swazi to Teresa regarding the Children's Cup CarePoints: "When you give them food, you become their parents." Talk about a growing family. Talk about responsibility. We have to rely on God for the resources and the wisdom to be "parents" to all the children we work with. We have to rely on you being obedient to God's call as well. Pray...Give...Go!

Big Audacious Dream

I think we do what we do very well (and all this by the grace of God alone). But it's time to bump it up a notch or two. We are feeding 2 to 3 thousand kids a day, the clinic and teachers are taking care of the kids basic medical needs, and the teachers are doing a great job in the informal schools and afternoon Bible clubs. This is all great and a tremendous blessing for the kids and the community they live in.
But I have to be honest, it's not enough. These kids are still left to themselves over the weekends, some may go to a church, most do not. We don't have the means to bus (or khombi) 3000 kids to a church. Besides, most of the churches here in Swaziland aren't geared for children.
So our dream is for there to be CHILDREN'S church each weekend at each CarePoint. That is 10 services right now with up to three more by the end of the year each weekend. We can't do it. Our time and energy is sapped by the end of the week working with the existing programs. So our really big, audacious, huge dream is for God to put it on the hearts of children's pastors and workers to come and dedicate their lives to these children in a way we can't.

Nkobe Opening

Sunday, the grand opening of the church/CarePoint at Nkobe. Blue sky & a beautiful day. The church was packed. Dinner on the grounds went great with well over 400 meals served! Elevate did a great job of preparing the church during the week and SERVING all day Sunday. A great day, a great church in Nkobe. Issac & Carol are doing a great job there. We count it a blessing to have them as friends and co-workers for Christ.

Easter 2007

We had a great Easter, we visited with a Pastor and her church out in a rural area near Simunye, where we are planning on building a new CarePoint. The youth did a drama for Easter. It was wonderful to see those kids showing how Satan was defeated at the cross of our Lord Jesus. We spent the afternoon with the pastor and had a great time.

Today, as the kids and I were boiling, decorating, coloring and eating Easter Eggs, I couldn’t help but think about the kids at the government hospital in Mbabane. I wondered if they had gotten any candy or special treats for Easter. I asked the kids if they would like to come with me to get some candy and bring it to the kids at the hospital. So, we visited the kids and handed out suckers to all of them, including the adults. Everyone seemed pleased and very grateful, all saying “Siyabonga” (thank you), as we went from cubicle to cubicle. We got to the third cubicle and I saw a beautiful little girl sitting up in her bed, with a beautiful smile as we approached with a sucker for her. As I touched her shoulder, I realized that it felt like just a bone with skin stretched across it. I looked at her arms that looked like little sticks and my heart broke. I asked her name and how old she was. She said that her name is Rebecca and she is 9 years old and in grade 3. I introduced her to my little girl, Joelle , who is also 9 and in grade three. She seemed so happy and peaceful in spite of her physical condition. I feel sure that she knows the Lord. It makes me think, do I show the love of the Lord on my face like that, even when my circumstances aren’t what I think they should be?

We then went on to the abandoned children’s ward, where the kids were already in their cribs and it was only between 5 and 6 pm. There are several toddlers, who thoroughly enjoyed the suckers. I had my children watching each of them so they didn’t get choked on the suckers. Gabby fell in love with one of the little baby boys, who had just been brought in a couple of days ago. He was so cute, and full of smiles while eating his sucker. There are several mentally handicapped kids that live there on the abandoned children’s ward. These are definitely, forgotten ones. They have lived their whole lives there at the hospital on the abandoned children’s ward. They help with the little ones. They were telling us all of the babies’ names. The babies will usually be placed in homes like my friend Robin’s Sandra Lee Center or adopted. There are six babies/toddlers there now, waiting for a home. My kids were begging me, “Mom, please can we take this one home?” I don’t think that I am quite ready to start over with another baby at this point in my life. Danielle and Joelle were intrigued with a beautiful little baby girl with a lovely smile. Nathan was going from bed to bed, asking questions about each one. I pray that my children will always be aware of how blessed they are, and that there are little ones that are forgotten and that need our love, attention, and prayers.

Correspondance

-----Original Message-----
From: Daran Rehmeyer
Sent: Mar 28, 2007 8:51 AM
To: "'David H. Beyda, M.D.'"
Subject: help

Dr. Beyda: havn't heard anything from your side. Hope all is well: stones and all. I've found I'm losing weight without all the extra meals. Joking aside, what report did you get from your doctor?

I also need some help dealing with Pepe here. While you may have to deal with the heroic vs compassionate care issue in the clinical setting, I think we are having to deal with it on a personal level here. At what point do you say enough is enough? Is that just burn out? When do we stop trying to get the next treatment when all the previous ones have been aborted or ignored due to uncaring/unloving caregivers? Her father in this case. When is it better just to let them go? Is that to minimize their or our pain?

Really troubled.

Daran Rehmeyer

http://rehmeyers.blogspot.com/

From: David H. Beyda, M.D. [dbeyda@mindspring]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:08 PM
To: daran@childrenscup
Subject: Re: help

Dear Daran and Teresa,

I'm sorry that you didn't get my email that I sent you last week with an update. I retruned on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning was having several proceedures done by my urologist to figure out what is going on. Here is the take: no stones presently but I have a horeshoe kidney, meaning that the 2 kidneys are connedted to each other and that increases the risks of stones. He has started me on a medication that will hopefully help in decreasing the stone formation. Also, I have to have a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis 1 week before I travel anywhere to make sure that there are no small stones forming. That doesn't preclude the stones from forming during flight, etc. but will help a little bit. We have decided to let me travel again, at least for now.

As for the issue of Pepe. There are 2 rules in medicine, and as an ethicist and critical care physician, I find them to be very true: rule number one is some people die, and rule number two is that you can't change rule number one. If you try, you wind up with a vegetative patient, or a patient who suffers until they die. When you look at yours versus Pepe's suffering, it needs to be about her. The greatest gift we can give others is to relieve their suffering through care and compassion, even if it means letting them die. To prolong their death becasue we are not ready to let them go, goes against the grain of human kindness. I have had many occasions where I could keep a patient alive (we do our job very well in our intensive care unit), but allowed them to die comfortably, pain free and above all with dignity. I look at it like this: there is a difference between being alive and having a life. Pepe can be kept alive by insuring that she recieve her medications, etc. But what is her life like? Is it full of suffering, pain, abandonment, helplessness, and isolation? Or is she surrounded by those who love her? The answer is not simple, but honest: she needs to be taken in by those who love her the most, cared for and prayed for, keeping her comfortable and safe as she declares her end stage illness. Prolonging what is inevitable for our own benefit, is contrary to compassion. I am not minimizing your griefor feelings. But remembering whose she is and who she belongs to, is what is important. She is His. As a phyician I used to be a "god in a white coat" believing that it was I who controlled life and death. I was very far from the truth then. I have learned through Him that He decides when, where and how. Being with her unconditionally as she dies, without remorse or concern for ourselves, is true compassion. This is a difficult decision to make, but one that is unfortunatley already made for you: she will pass on, sooner than later. Make her life the sweetest it can be for now, and allow that which will happen, happen. I hope this helps. You are wonderful people, and your love for others evident. Love the dying as you love the living.

In all things, give thanks,

David

MoM Medical

We had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Beyda, Kelly, Chris & Dave, and Libby & Phillip this past week. We held day long clinics at the Mangwaneni and Fonteyn CarePoints in Mbabane and a half day at Moneni in Manzini. We tried to do a clinic at the Nkobe Church/CarePoint in Mozambique but ran into resistance from the Ministry of Health there. We are hoping that Dr. Beyda can push that forward working directly with them so we can do a full clinic next time.


Rob Ketterling's group from River Valley Church in Minnesota did a great job helping at Nkobe and even doing eye glasses at the clinics. Rob preached the unofficial opening of the church to a packed auditorium (about 250 Mozambiquens - almost 200 of those were children!).

Makholweni Youth Outreach

The first class for the sewing project has begun. Five girls from Makholweni began class last week. The teacher is a lady from the community that operates a dress and uniform business in Manzini. The first project will be to make dresses and shirts for all the girls and boys who go to the pre-schools at our CarePoints. The last piece of equipment we are looking for is an "overlocker". Everything else is in place. We will be sponsoring a contest at the CarePoints for the logo that will be embroidered on each of the uniform.

Here is the U13 boys and "open" girls soccer team forming at Makholweni. Center, back row is Ncamiso. Ncamiso is a remarkable young man who is spearheading many of the youth projects in Makholweni. He will be the coach and manager for the two teams. Both will be registered with the Manzini Regional Soccer Office and play against other teams in and around Manzini. The teams are still in need of uniforms, shin guards, soccer boots, and other equipment. If we can arrange transport, they will play their first freindly game next weekend.

Gift From God

Today at the clinic, I saw a go-go (grandma), “60 something”, she said, when asked her age. She is taking care of 3 grand children from her daughter who died a little over a year ago. The baby was 2 months when she died. Go-Go says that the baby looked so terrible that she thought that he wasn’t going to make it. She began taking care of him and she started producing breast milk and has been breast feeding him for the past year. The baby looks fat and healthy. When I told Go-Go what a great job she was doing taking care of this one, she smiled from ear to ear. The teacher that was interpreting for me, was amazed that a woman 60 plus years could still breast feed a baby. I told her to tell Go-Go that it was a gift from God that she has been able to do this in order to keep this baby alive and healthy. Again, a huge smile broke out across her face and she responded with a very sincere thank you. Thank God for some happy stories among the many sad ones!

I also saw one of the boys that we started taking to Baylor clinic to be treated for HIV last year. He didn’t look too good today. The teacher found him fast asleep at home, in the middle of the day. He was coughing, running fever, breathing very rapidly, and his lungs sound like he may have pneumonia. He has also lost a lot of weight and has no appetite. I began to explain to him that it is very important that he eat and drink lots of water. I told him that he must take the medicine that I gave him 4 times a day, with food. I looked closer and saw tears beginning to form in his eyes and drop down his cheek. I stopped and just put my arms around him and held him. I told the teacher to tell him that I am sorry if I scared him. I told him that he was going to be ok, but that he needed to do what I told him in order to get well. I told him how much Jesus loves him and that he was going to take care of him. I asked him if we could pray and had the teacher to translate for him. Please help us pray for this boy to get well. If the antibiotic doesn’t work, we may have to consider having him tested for TB. I know that God is able to do so much more than we can possibly ask or imagine!

Rabies, HIV & 'Cup Teachers

This past week I saw little boy at the Children's Wellness Centre who had been bitten by a possibly rabid dog. The wound looked infected, he was running a fever, had a sore throat, and was having difficulty eating. He had been bitten 9 days earlier. The mother took him to the government hospital in Manzini where they told them that they had no medication to treat rabies. They also checked at the government hospital in Mbabane and they didn’t have any either. The hospital told the mother to bring him to another government hospital about 2 hours away. What these people don’t think about is that she had no money for transport, so she brought him to us. Since I didn’t have the medication either, we gave him transport money to go back and forth 5 times to complete the series of rabies shots. Thank the Lord that she did bring him before it was too late!!!

Today we held a clinic for the Mbabane CarePoints. I saw one little 7 year old boy who is very sick. The teacher thinks that we need to get him tested for HIV and I agree. I could barely get a half smile out of him. You can tell by the look on his face that he just doesn’t feel well. The teacher says that he doesn’t play like the other children. He just wants to sit. He has many rotten teeth, and also seems to have a yeast infection in his mouth. He says that it feels like he has sores all the way down his throat and it is very painful to swallow. His mother died about a year ago and his father is very sick now. My heart just goes out to these little ones that are so helpless, weak and ill. I asked the teacher/HCW to ask him if we could pray for him, and as soon as she got the words out of her mouth, he folded his little hands in front of his face and began to pray in SiSwati like his heart was on fire. I couldn’t do anything but cry. When he finished, I barely got out a little pray between tears. I asked the teacher what he was praying and she said that he was praying for the Lord to help him in school and to make his daddy well and for his gogo and several other things, none of which were for him. I was amazed; someone has been teaching this boy to pray. I pray that the Lord will keep these children so that they can grow up and be the next generation that sparks a revival of God’s spirit and power in Swaziland.

Last week we had HIV testing at the Children's Wellness Centre with an organization called TASC. Abraham went out to the CarePoints and spoke with the teachers and care givers about the children that we think need to be tested. We expected to have 20 children and their care givers there. We only had about 6, and half of them showed up without a care giver. I was very disappointed; however, the people from TASC said that this was not unusual. The people need more education, they are afraid. The more education we give our communities, the better response we will get. We will try to set up some times that the people can come and get more information before we have another testing day.

One of the teachers sent a little boy that lives with his gogo. Both his mother and father have died with HIV. The gogo is very sick and could not come to the clinic. When we called the teacher to see why no one came with him, she said that she spoke to the gogo and she is begging for us to test the boy. He is sick all of the time and gogo is convinced that he needs to be tested. Since gogo could not come, I asked the teacher if she would write a letter that says that gogo gives her permission to have the boy tested and treated if necessary for HIV, and have gogo sign it. The teacher agreed to take the responsibility of this little one who is in her class. She said that he is sick very often and sometimes does not have food except for the meal that he gets at the CarePoint each day. I told her that this is a big responsibility for her to take on. She said that she is willing, and that she just wants to see him live. By doing this, the teacher must come with him to the clinic for counseling, make sure he gets his medications twice daily, twelve hours apart, and also make sure he has enough food. This is very heroic of this teacher, and I pray that God will bless her abundantly for her sacrifice.

We are very thankful to the Lord for the progress that we are seeing in the lives of our teachers. God is really moving in their hearts and lives and continues to help them grow in grace and wisdom in Him!

Makholweni Youth

We have been searching for ways to help the older youth around our CarePoints. The younger kids are being reached on a daily basis with the food and Bible Clubs, but the older teenagers (teenagers are teenagers) are being lost back into the community. So we are trying a number of different approaches to help them with life skills, business skills, and an avenue to have a continued impact on their life for Christ. So far, we've helped fund a start-up block yard and a sewing project at Makholweni. The older boys are working at a block yard making block which they sell for construction projects around Makholweni. They learn what it takes to run a small business: managing cash flow, material ordering, marketing, personnel skills, etc.
Next up is a sewing project: teenage girls will be taught to sew. Initially, we plan for them to make uniforms for the kids in the pre-schools at each CarePoint. Then we hope to be able to make uniforms for the kids we sponsor at the "public" schools. If all goes well, we hope they can then take orders to make and sell uniforms for other students at the government schools. The girls will learn a skill they can use the rest of their life as well as basic business skills.
Our dream project is to develop a glass blowing project where some of the youth could learn glass blowing. Not all boys want to make block, not all girls want to sew. This would be an excellent opportunity for these kids (remember, we're in our 40's, so "kids" is anybody under 25) to express themselves artistically. This is by far the most expensive project to start up (we are currently searching for sponsors-email us if you would like to see our proposal for this project).

Nkobe Clinic (& Painting)

Teresa & I were able to visit the CarePoint in Mozambique yesterday. It was Teresa's first time there. Her comment: This is really out in the booneys. Teresa, Brianne, and Carol did an impromptu medical clinic for as many children as they could see. Ben, Issac, Charles, Nathie, Roger, and Abraham were there to paint until Saturday. The church building is coming along nicely. Painting should make it really stand out in the community.

Pictures show Teresa with Celeste (the teacher at Nkobe) and Abraham (the Swazi Wellness Centre's Health Care Worker) inside the church, Charles and Issac (literally hanging out [the window]), and some of the kids at the CarePoint.

Playing House-House

I saw a two year old boy today, who has the same symptoms as the one from Tuesday, painful urination and white discharge. I also found out something that I never realized before. One of our teachers asked me if a child can get HIV or STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases) from another child by playing "House-House". I asked her what they did when they played this, and she said that they actually, as young as 3 years old, play having sex, and literally do it. I asked why, and she said that they see their mom and dad doing it and imitate them. I had to sit down at this point. Abraham explained that it is very common for adults to have sex in front of their children, especially since many of them live in a one room house. I asked, why they don’t wait until they are asleep, they said they wake up. This sheds some light on why there is so much promiscuity so early in this culture. I guess I need to brush up on STD's, which I didn't think I would need for a pediatric population.

I was reading about Solomon and how he asked God for wisdom and discernment. I am asking the Lord for supernatural wisdom that only comes from Him to help me with these situations. Their mindset is so different. How do you teach that this is not appropriate behavior to a culture who knows nothing else? Maybe we need someone to do some teaching on sexual abuse, and sexuality in children. Jesus is the only answer!

I saw Pepe, the little girl who was hospitalized for TB at the end of last year, today, and she looks pretty good. She is completely finished with TB treatment, but she is still coughing. Her lungs sound clear. No fever, eating good, still taking ARV's. She also has a double ear infection, one of her ears looks like the eardrum is busted, and one of them is draining and looks like it has pus in it. I started her on an antibiotic. I was so excited to see her looking so well, even with an ear infection. She definitely has a special place in my heart!

One of our teachers and her little girl went for HIV testing today, and came back with good news! She was beaming when she told me, we are negative! Praise the Lord! We paid the school fees and bought the uniform for a young girl at Madonsa this week. She is fifteen and has been out of school since Grade 2. She has been too sick for years to attend classes. Since she was tested and started on ARV’s she has been doing much better. She has never seen her father and her mother is sick; she tries to make a living at the market when she is able. Through Mission of Mercy we have been able to pay the school fees for a number of double orphans at the Makholweni CarePoint. But it only scratches the surface. We hear of newly orphaned children and child-headed-households daily. And that is only at one CarePoint. There are many, many children who are categorized as single orphans or destitute that are in just as dire need.

In our women’s Bible study, we are doing the series by Beth Moore, “Believing God.” I really desire to see the miracle working power of God in Swaziland. If you ask Swazi’s if they have ever seen the power of witch doctors, they will say yes. If you ask them if they have ever seen the miracle working power of God, they say no. Why is that, in a third world country? Is it because we just don’t believe that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He said He would do? I want to believe God and the rest is up to Him!

El Roi

We’ve been seeing some sick kids in our Tuesday and Thursday clinics at the Children’s Wellness Centre. I saw an 11 year old boy today that has a white discharge and a few small sores around his genitals and many sores on his legs, especially his knees. He says that it is painful when he urinates. I am treating him for a UTI (urinary tract infection) and giving him antibiotic cream for the sores. I am not sure if he has been sexually abused or just has a UTI. Abraham tried to talk to him and get him to open up. He says that he has not been involved sexually, but Abraham is not sure. The boy said that he would talk to Abraham about it later, so he thinks that he is hiding something. I told Abraham and Sindie (the teacher at the Ngwane Point CarePoint) to try to find out about his family and friends. I'm not sure how to proceed from here with this case. I would like to have him tested for HIV, but that will require agreement from his caretaker, who is his gogo (grandmother). Please help me pray for wisdom in this case, and that the grandmother will cooperate and agree to have him tested. I also pray that this is not a case of sexual abuse. I prayed for him today that the Lord would heal him and keep His hand of protection on him. I was thinking: I pray everyday for my own kids, who prays for these orphans? God sees them and has not forgotten them. Please help us remember these little ones in prayer every day.

We found out today about 3 more double orphaned children (both parents have died) that lived with their gogo. The gogo died this week. There is no one to take care of these three precious children. They are 8, 9, and 11 years old. We are trying to find some family that can take them and we will provide extra food for them and help them with these children. This is not something that is uncommon here is Swaziland, it happens every day. We found out today about another orphaned 8 year old little girl that is living with cousins who are also orphaned. The oldest cousin keeps the keys to their homestead so they are locked out at night till he comes home very late and typically drunk. She came crying to the CarePoint yesterday wanting to leave and go somewhere/anywhere else (we assume because of abuse). One of the cooks (Make Maziya) at Makholweni has offered to let her come and stay with her and her husband. Most of these kids are out of school because there is no one to pay their school fees. We try to help where we can. Pray that God will again give us wisdom and guidance as we try to provide for the needs of these helpless children.

We also met with TASC, an organization that does HIV testing, today. They are the ones that will help us get the kids tested and work with Baylor Children’s Clinic. We are going to try to get the first group tested at the end of this month and see how it goes. I would like to get the little 11 year old boy that I wrote about in the first paragraph tested, as well as another little 9year old girl that I also so today. I have treated her before for infected sores, swollen glands, etc. Today she is having the same problem. I saw her last week and gave her antibiotic cream for her sores. Today, her glands around her face and neck are all swollen and the rash/sores under her chin look infected. I placed her on an oral antibiotic and will follow up with her in a week. I have asked the teacher at her CarePoint to speak with her care giver also to see if she will bring her for HIV testing as well. Many times these infections are chronic and never really clear up until these children are placed on medications to treat HIV, which will help to boost their immune system and allow their body to heal.

First Clinic - 2007

We are back in Swaziland and getting back in the swing of things. We held a clinic at the Children’s Wellness Center today for some sick kids at the Makholweni Care Point. I was able to see most of the boys that go to Baylor clinic from this Care Point. They are all doing well, except one, who is running fever and complaining of sore throat and cough. He is looking very thin. I treated him for an infection in his throat, and upper respiratory tract.

I was also able to see an 11 year old girl that we have been sending to Baylor for HIV treatment. When I saw her right before we left to go to the States, she looked really bad, and was feeling really sick. She couldn’t even play at the Christmas party because she felt so bad. Today, her eyes were bright, and her smile beautiful. The improvement in her was outstanding. Her father said that he thinks that she is finally feeling well enough to try and attend school, but he has no money for school fees. This little girt has never attended school in her life, because she has been so sick. We are going to try to get her into our CarePoint school, which is free. This little 11 year old girl looks like she is 7 or 8, but she has one of the sweetest spirits I think that I have ever seen in a child.

It is such a blessing to be able to work with these children and the teachers/health care workers. They are a wonderful group of people. I was able to use one of the teen-age girls from the CarePoint as my interpreter, and she did a great job. She will start her last year of high school next week. I asked her what her plans were for the future, and she said that she didn’t know. I asked her if she had thought about going into nursing, and she said that she had thought of it. I encouraged her to pursue this idea. I would like to use her to help me again in the future.

There was a 13 year old girl who came into the clinic with complaints of pain in her lower abdomen. It wasn’t swollen, and didn’t look abnormal. I asked her if she had started her menstrual cycle, and she said that she had not. I told her that it was possible that it may start soon, with the pain that she is having. I spoke with her about keeping herself pure. She put her head down and didn’t want to look at me, but she was listening. I prayed with her that she would remain pure before the Lord and save herself for marriage. That is my prayer for all of the young ladies of Swaziland. May God give them the strength and courage to stand up for what is right and keep them pure. Then we will see the HIV rate decrease, and God’s kingdom increase.

A praise report on the little 9 year old girl who was hospitalized and treated for TB, Abraham visited her and her father this week, and she is doing very well. Her father says that he would like to try to get her in school, since she is feeling so much better. Praise the Lord! We are going to try to get her into our second year program of our CarePoint school as soon as we get it started. God is Good!

One more thing, I had mentioned to a couple of the churches that we visited to help us pray for one of our teachers that was sick, while we were in the States. She is recovering, and doing well! Praise God again!

Back HOME!

Home, Sweet Home. Our last travel post. We arrived back last Thursday in Swaziland and have spent the past few days adjusting to the time change and getting everything straight at home and ready for school. Today was our first day back at the office. Jumping back in with both feet!
A special thanks to everyone that was so good to us back in the States:

• Divinity Lutheran; Towson, MD; Pastor Chris Chantelau
• Theater Church; Washington, DC; Joel Schmidgall
• New Life Ministries; Birmingham, AL; Joe & Sharon Mayeaux
• Oasis Church; Loganville, GA; Pastor Troy Shaw
• Healing Place Church; Baton Rouge, LA; Pastor Dino Rizzo
• New Beginnings Church; Baton Rouge, LA; Pastor Jay Coleman
• Shoreline Church; Destin, FL; Pastor Eric Partin
• C3 Church; Clayton, NC; Pastor Matt Fry
• Metropolitan Church of God; Birmingham, AL; Ken Lindsay
• Shane Comeaux of the McClean Bible Church; Fairfax, VA
• Messiah Lutheran; Downingtown, PA; Pastor Gulotta
• Church of the Redeemer; Rockville, MD; Steve Homcy

We enjoyed being with family & friends during the trip. Thanks for your hospitality and kindness. But it's good to be home.
Prayer Requests:

• favor from the Ministry of Health for the Children's Wellness Centre
• our Swazi teachers/Bible Club teachers/health care workers (all the same)
• our kids in Sifundzani (Danielle & Joelle) and Waterford (Gabby & Nathanael)
  
• Teresa & I to follow His direction and not to wander from the course
• the rest of the missionaries here with Children's Cup (Ben & Susie, Charles & Kristen, Patrick, Dave & Jean)
  

Travel

We are traveling back towards Baltimore. We fly out on the 16th! We have met some awesome pastors in the past few weeks. Several more to meet between now & next Tuesday.

US Travels

We've been in the States now for almost three weeks. Traveled through seven states so far, visited five churches/ministries. We have seven more scheduled for the remainder of our trip. We have a slide show we show to anyone who will watch. I cry every time I see it. I can't wait to get back in Swaziland. We'll go back with renewed focus to redouble our efforts to touch these children with the love and hope found ONLY in Jesus! Thank you to the pastors and churches we've had the privilege of meeting with so far: Divinity Lutheran in Baltimore, National Community Church in DC, New Life Ministries in Birmingham, The Oasis Church outside Atlanta, and our home church Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge. More to follow after Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!