Prayer Requests

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.  Psalm 89:8

We serve a God who is faithful to His promises and covenant in every way.

Wisdom!  We are moving in to areas of ministry and work way beyond what we originally envisaged.  Praise God!  This work needs to be done with excellence and integrity.

Support!  We appreciate your continued prayers and support!  I would ask you to share this work with interested friends and colleagues.  Our support during the year wanes during the US summer months.

Stateside!  Nathanael finishes school here in November.  We will be back in the States for about 6 weeks.  While it will be a time to visit family and help Nate get re-acclimated (reverse culture shock?) we do want to visit our supporters and reconnect.

We are honored and privileged to be able to be here in Swaziland and do what we do.  We are thankful for the support and prayers of everyone who makes it possible.

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/z0hSj

Australian Volunteers International

We have received confirmation that Kudvumisa Foundation will be receiving a "volunteer" from Australia in September.  Georgina will be joining us for a two year commitment:  her salary will be paid by AVI.  We have a small commitment to help with housing.

Her effort will be focused entirely on working with the ladies in Section 19 we call the "Sewing Ladies".  Much time and effort has been dedicated over the past two years to help these ladies learn the skills to create marketable items and achieve a minimal level of proficiency and quality to access American markets.  Georgina will continue to work on skills and marketable items, but  her primary goal will be to help these ladies develop the skills to operate as a business and ultimately to be able to stand alone with or without our help.


Gabby was here for 4 weeks between May and June with a Projects for Peace grant provided by the Davis Foundation Projects for Peace.  She was accompanied by two of her friends/co-grantees from Notre Dame of Maryland University: Amber and Andreina.  These girls spent three weeks in Section 19 teaching the "Sewing Ladies" and other ladies in the community how to crochet.  This is another skill added to the repertoire for these ladies, living in a difficult place under sometimes difficult circumstances.

PEPFAR Grant

The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was begun by President George W Bush in 2008 and sent billions to different countries and organizations to combat HIV.  Swaziland has received over $130 million since 2009.  This year an opportunity was advertised for small/nascent organizations to apply for 15 months of funding.  We fit those requirements perfectly!  We submitted a letter of Expression of Interest which was accepted and then a full proposal, which we just received notification this week, that was accepted.

This grant will allow us to expand geographically and demographically:  we will be able to expand into additional communities as well as remove the child/caregiver constraint on who is eligible to participate in the CHIPS program.  We included two specific pieces of lab equipment in the proposal for point of care blood work analysis.  Speeding up the turn around time for blood work will speed up the process for initiating new patients on HIV drugs as well as reduce the dependency on the local hospital lab.

A number of additional staff will be required:  a qualified nurse, counselors, monitoring & evaluation staff and lab technicians.

This is a tremendous answer to prayer as our official funding for this program is exhausted this year.

Mobile Clinic

We will be looking at purchasing a 4x4 vehicle for use as a mobile clinic.  This will come from the sale of our existing kombl (the one being replaced) and money from Divinity Lutheran in Maryland.  With a nurse that will come on staff in August (see PEPFAR Grant) we will be able to begin the transition of stable patients for our direct care and in-community HIV drug refills.  We are still working on a Memorandum of Understanding with Good Shepherd Hospital to operate as a medical outreach and source our supplies and drugs through them as well as a Public-Private Partnership with the Swaziland Ministry of Heath for our in-community services.

Replacement Van (Kombi)

It is finally happening!  We have full funding for the replacement patient transport vehicle.  Much thanks to the Baton Rouge-Capital City, Baltimore City, and Mbabane Rotary Clubs.  We are anticipating transfer of the full funds in the next two weeks.  The replacement van will seat 17 so we'll be able to carry more patients per trip.  This will allow us to expand the program to more communities and HIV affected people.  As part of the grant, the vehicle will have an in-vehicle video education system to help promote messages regarding health, hygiene, and positive living while the patients are being transported. Messages specifically tailored to an HIV+ audience for drug adherence and methods to stop new infections will be prominent.  As a Faith Based Organization (FBO) we also have the opportunity to share material which will share the Gospel message of hope.

May Update

link to newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/yU7SX

LSU Tailgate Party (for everyone in or around Baton Rouge)

Rotary District 6200 will be hosting a tailgate party at the LSU Tiger Stadium West Parking Lot this Saturday.  Center-folding the "Tailgating Party" will be a reminder of New Orleans's Rue Royal flanked on either side by Jackson Square and Cafe du Monde serving their famous beignets.  Bring tents, folding chairs, food and drinks to spend a fun day with RI President Tanaka. Let’s show him how we have fun in South Louisiana. Join the crowds under the BIG tent for music, football pools, Rotary Spirit and cooking contests, photos with RI President Tanaka, and lots of fun.
The Baton Rouge - Capital City Club will be sponsoring the "ROYAL BOOKSTORE / ART GALLERY." Rotarian and author/artist Jacques Royal introduces "LOUISIANA HISTORY AND HERITAGE at it's BEST" through his 4 bilingual (English & French) books, pen and ink drawings and photography. Take home autographed books, beautiful photographs, and limited edition prints of Louisiana Plantation Homes and French Castles (Chateaux).
Next door at "THE ROTARIAN", shop and wear T-Shirts designed by J. Royal. Browse through handmade bags and seed jewelry from Swaziland, Africa. Several young LSU art students will have a variety to choose from. JIMMIE JULES' JAZZ BAND from Reserve, La. will encourage foot stomping and dancing in the streets. The more money you drop in his buckets "JAZZIER" he will play.  100% of profits from sales at the capital City booth will go toward two projects:  ROTARY FOUNDATION HEART OF AMERICA SAVE SWAZILAND CHILDREN DONOR ADVISED FUND, which will purchase 4 acres and 30,000 sq. ft. of buildings to provide a medical clinic, community and jobs-training center and store fronts to lease for sustainability and locally the BATON ROUGE CENTER FOR WORLD AFFAIRS.

LSU Tiger Stadium West Parking Lot this Saturday
$20 per vehicle (no limit to occupants)
Party and contests from 2 PM to 6 PM

 

Favorite Verses

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.  Galatians 3:14
We are honored and privileged to be able to be here in Swaziland and do what we do.  We are thankful for the support and prayers of everyone who makes it possible.

Crawfish

We are catching about 17kg of fresh crawfish each week so far from the Mbuluzi River and from several ponds/dams in Tambankulu.  This has been with only 2 traps and minimal effort so far.  We are selling to Mountain Inn, Calabash and several private parties.  We are expecting this income to cover the cost of a full time nurse!  Our major limitation is our inability to process the live crawfish in Maphiveni.  The land we are waiting for an opportunity to purchase in Maphiveni would provide us a place to begin a business incubator where this and other business ideas could have an opportunity to develop an economy here in the lowveld and to also help fund the outreaches we operate.  Please consider donating towards the land purchase!  Follow this link to donate through PayPal or check: http://www.kudvumisafoundation.org/RDAF/HowToContribute.asp

Public-Private Partnership with SNAP

Our discussions with Swaziland National AIDS Programme under the Ministry of Health continues.  We purchased a lockable metal cabinet and an air conditioner unit for the CHIPS office in Tambankulu.  Storage of antiretrovirals requires a temperature controlled environment.  In the summer, it gets so hot in the office that the computers shut down; way too hot for the drugs.  Teresa is discussing the training and medical requirements with the Director of SNAP.  Our goal is to begin providing ARV refills locally to the HIV+ patients we currently transport 50 km.  Please agree with us for favor so this can happen as quickly as possible. We have budgeting challenges to overcome to be able to do this properly:  full time nurse (see crawfish above), the replacement van (Rotary grant process is in process), and a mobile clinic vehicle.

501c3

Kudvumisa Foundation USA Inc. was registered last year in July. We are still waiting on approval from the IRS on the 501c3 status.  So a published 90 day evaluation time was a little on the hopeful side.  But the good news is that applications put in a month before ours have now come through, so we should be really close!  This will change how we receive personal and project funds and make it more cost effective for us (smaller percentage going towards administrate fees, more towards the projects!).  We will announce this as soon as it it happens!

Prayer Requests

We met another young lady at the national TB Hospital while we were visiting Thobile who desperately needs prayer and encouragement.  Nomcebo is probably in her late twenties, has been receiving daily injections for TB for four years and has been basically incarcerated at the hospital for that long.  She  is tired.  She helped us in translating when we visited with Thobile and we had plenty of opportunity to pray with her.  But the daily and seemingly endless grind wears even the strongest down.  She has seen countless come in only to die (including Thobile).  Please join us in trusting God for healing in her disease racked body: restoring her lungs and strength to her legs.  Please join us in prayer for encouragement and strength in a dark place. Our God is a good God.  He only desires the best for us: to walk in healing He has already provided.  We sometimes fall so short and are passive instead of fighting for the things that are by right ours.

Swaziland Update: New Patient Van, Crawfish, Marula Nuts and More!

http://eepurl.com/xp14n

SNAP UPDATE:  We are working with SNAP (Swaziland National Aids Programme) under the Ministry of Health for a Public-Private Partnership Agreement that will allow us to provide ARV (drugs to control HIV) refills and initiations in the communities we work in.  This will be a unique opportunity in Swaziland to pilot and roll out a vital mobile service to the rural and isolated HIV population Kudvumisa Foundation/CHIPS serves.  There is progress!
Our first of two requirements to meet are appropriate drug storage.  This requires about $1500 for air-conditioning and lockable cabinets for drug storage.  Second, we will also be needing a full time nurse to work in the targeted communities.  We would be most grateful for a volunteer nurse, but if not, we will be required to fund the salary of the nurse, which is one of the highest gazetted salaries here in Swaziland (about $1000/month) .  If you can help in either of these two needs (or know someone who can) please contact us!

CHIPS Patient Van Replacement

Thanks to everyone who attended the March 9th fundraiser at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.  It was a great success and the process has begun to apply the funds to a Rotary International Future Vision grant for the patient van replacement.  We're hoping to have the funds here mid April and the new van mid May.

Good Friday

This from Isaiah 53 is especially appropriate today:
¹ Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
² He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
³ He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

⁴ Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

We are honored and privileged to be able to be here in Swaziland and do what we do.  We are thankful for the support and prayers of everyone who makes it possible.

Crawfish

While our attempt at middle veld crawfish farming has been slightly less than successful so far, with the introduction of decent traps, there are several people catching Australian Redclaw Crawfish now in the low veld Mbuluzi River in Maphiveni and the dams and canals in Tambankulu and Vuvulane.  We delivered our first shipment to a hotel/restaurant in Mbabane.  We are hoping they will come through with a 10kg per month standing order to start.  This is a great start in an economic development project which will contribute to combating poverty in these areas and will contribute to the sustainability of the CHIPS outreach.  This picture is from the Mbuluzi.  Thokozane, a friend of ours from Evusweni in the middle veld, just placed a trap.  He thought I was kidding when I said there are hippos and crocodiles in the river.

Marula Nuts and Shells

We take delivery of a screw press next week to press oil from marula nuts and moringa seeds.  Another experiment in creating income in the impoverished areas we work in.  If successful, we hope to be able to provide affordable nutritious cooking oil to the informal market while creating an income opportunity for people in our areas from a readily available natural resource that is discarded now.  We are using the marula shells to manufacture fire starters as well.  These have met with great enthusiasm form the people who have tried it.  All these if successful contribute to an economy in Maphiveni and Vuvulane and the the sustainability of our outreaches here.

Daran in Baton Rouge and Baltimore

Daran will be traveling to the States for two weeks in May.  His first week will be in Baton Rouge coinciding a May 4th Rotary fundraiser for the purchase of land in Maphiveni for a clinic and community eduction center.  More details will be forthcoming on the fundraiser.  The last week will be in Baltimore to visit Gabby.  Though the trip is short, he'd love to meet with our supporters in these two areas (and anywhere in between) if possible.  Email us and we can work out the details.

Update on Thobile

Late February Thobile succumbed to numerous bouts of TB and finally MDR-TB and the subsequent treatments in addition to years of being on treatment for HIV.  We won't know and I guess it doesn't matter at this point what was the final straw.  She died the day after receiving a major blood transfusion for a major decline in her condition.  Her mother had visited her that morning and was on her way back with juice for her.  Teresa was heart broken.  Daran and Joelle went to the funeral and was given a chance to speak to the small gathering about the impact Thobile had had on many people's lives and for her love of Jesus.  She wasn't here anymore in pain or suffering: she was in the presence of the Lord she loved.  Thobile would have been about 21 years old.

Sewing Skills Trainer - Australian Volunteers International

Sewing Skills Trainer

Australian Volunteers International advertised a volunteer position to work with our group of wonderful ladies in Vuvulane!  Great news/potential for the sewing project in Section 19!

Update on Thobile

View our last newsletter at http://eepurl.com/uXYUf

Thobile is "interred" in the National TB hospital:  She has been feeling better.  Last week when we visited, she came walking out to the car dancing and saying, “Mommy, I am very, very hungry!”  I was so thrilled to see her up and around and hungry, all good signs.  I brought her food, treats that she likes, like white bread, corn flakes, chips, yogurt, juice, full cream milk and fruit.  She gets food at the hospital but it is tasteless and sometimes too heavy for her to handle.  Then I got a call this week that she was feeling poorly again, weak, and pains all over the body.  So I am not sure if it is another setback or the flu.  At any rate, she still needs much prayer!  TB in this country is becoming so difficult to treat!  I can’t take her out of the hospital until she can stay well and I know she wants to get out.  Please pray for complete healing in her little body, mind soul and spirit.  It is so difficult to be in this institution.  I was told that the girl that was in the bed next to her, died last week.  She is such a strong little one, I know that God has a plan for her life.  She is a prayer warrior too, she loves the Lord!

There is also another young girl who is 15 years old that has been admitted to the TB hospital last week.  She is very sick, unable to feed herself, take her meds, and too weak to walk to the bathroom.  When visited the day after she was admitted, she was found lying in her urine, shaking from chills and high fever, her medications were spilled on the floor, and her food was sitting there untouched.  Her medications for HIV had not been given to her yet and it was 11:30 am.  These medications should be taken at the same time every morning and every evening, which should have been much earlier in the morning.  Unfortunately, the care in this institution is not up to par.  The patient load and the severity of these patients is very high and there are not many nurses or nurse assistants.  So I know this must be very difficult, not to mention the risk to the nursing staff of contracting the multi-drug resistant TB.  This is just a difficult place to be, especially when you can’t care for yourself.  So I am also asking for prayer for this little one who is so sick and so helpless.  We know that God cares for those who can’t help themselves.

I would like to request prayer for is Nomcebo Treasure, who has been helping us with interpreting for Thobile since she has been in the hospital.  She calls me when Thobile needs something or informs me when she is not doing well. Nomcebo is a precious lady who also loves the Lord very much!  She has great faith even when things aren’t going well for her.  She has been on TB treatment for 3 years and still doesn’t seem to be getting better.  When I told her that I had asked people from all over to pray for Thobile, she asked, “Oh, please ask for prayer for me too!”  The doctors are telling her that she has some holes in her lungs where the TB is hiding and that is why it is so difficult to treat.  So I told her that I would ask our friends to prayer for her complete healing as well.

I can’t tell you how many times I have visited these precious ladies and I have been down about some little circumstance in my life and been so encouraged after visiting with them and seeing their joy and faith in the Lord even in the midst of their dire circumstances!  Praise God, we are here to be a blessing, but we are so blessed by His people here!

Also I want to update you about Khanysile, our lady that is in the sewing program that was so sick and in the hospital.  She is doing much better, she is home and back to sewing, praise the Lord!   Thank you so much for your prayers!  We are very excited about our team that is coming in just 2 weeks to be with us to do medical clinics and construction out in Vuvulane and Maphiveni!

Teresa in the States

Teresa in Baton Rouge and Baltimore

Teresa will be traveling to the States for the month of March.  Her first two weeks will be in Baton Rouge (coinciding with the fund raiser- see previous post or view our last newsletter at http://eepurl.com/uXYUf ) and the last two weeks in Baltimore to visit with our oldest, Gabby.  Though the trip is short, she'd love to meet with our supporters in these two areas if possible.  Email us and we can work out the details.

Baton Rouge Fund Raiser

Our latest newsletter can be viewed by following this link:   http://eepurl.com/uXYUf

The Rotary Club of Baton Rouge Capital City

"Reaching Out For A Cause"

Old State Capitol, 100 North Boulevard

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Saturday, March 9, 2013

6:00 - 7:00 Wine and Light Hors d’ oeuvres - Silent Auction       7:00 - 8:30 Concert

Featuring

National and International Musicians

Baton Rouge Ethnic Dancers

Runnels School String Orchestra

 

Proceeds Benefit Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs Promote Baton Rouge through education, international economic development, and cultural awareness initiatives. The Possibility Project – Baton Rouge (formerly City at Peace) Empowers teenagers to create safe, peaceful, and productive lives, and communities, using the performing arts and community action as vehicles. The Teresa and Daran Rehmeyer Kudvumisa Foundation Project Baton Rouge natives, Teresa and Daran Rehmeyer, need a replacement bus to transport patients to distant medical facilities in Swaziland.  They have been serving since 2005.

 

Tickets: Adults $25  Students $15

Checks Should Be Payable To: Reaching Out For a Cause (ROFC)

Tickets Are Available at the Door

For Tax Exempt Donations Make Check Payable to:

Rotary District 6200 Foundation

Designated to:  Reaching Out For a Cause (ROFC)

Mail to:

Rotary District 6200 Foundation

11616 Southfork Ave. Ste. 300

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816-5241

Contact: Pat Robinson at 225-335-0322 or robinpat2004@yahoo.com for information.

CHIPS Transport

CHIPS (Children's HIV Intervention Programme Swaziland) makes two to three trips to Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki from Vuvulane/Maphiveni per week.  Here is a typical trip (this was from this Tuesday):

   Macethuka:  3 for ARV refills

   Section 19:  1 for ARV refill the 2 for re-initiation on ARV's

   Maphiveni:  2 sick (to see doctor) and 3 ARV refills.

CHIPS starting a trip to Good Shepherd

CHIPS khombi in the cane fields

This is eleven people who would have no hope of battling HIV without CHIPS.  Our khombi (van) is on it's last leg (axle).  We also make numerous trips during the year for unscheduled transport to Good Shepherd or other clinics for baby deliveries and emergency transport for very sick CHIPS clients.  We are at 66% of the funding we need for a replacement.  Please pray with us for provision.  If you could help, follow this link, but please send us a message that the donation is for the khombi!  God Bless!

January Newsletter

Rehmeyers/Kudvumisa Foundation Swaziland Update
January Newsletter!

Sindi from Section 19 with her purses

Kudvumisa Foundation - CHIPS Outreach 2008-2012

The World’s Best (and Worst) Economies

The Least Competitive Economies in the World
10. Swaziland
> GCI score: 3.28
> GDP per capita: $3,358 (51st lowest)
> Debt as a pct. of GDP: 17.5% (22nd lowest)
> Individuals using Internet: 18.1% (46th lowest)
> Infant mortality rates: 55.1 per 1,000 live births (27th highest)
Of the 144 countries studied by the World Economic Forum, Swaziland ranked 14th lowest in providing basic requirements for competitiveness. The kingdom is ranked as one of the 20 worst macroeconomic environments in the world. Swaziland is rated so poorly partly because it is just one of three nations surveyed with a negative savings rate. The country also was especially ineffective, 135th out of 144, at promoting health and basic education, both of which are necessary for a productive and competitive workforce. The health problems presently facing Swaziland are among the worst in the world: 25.9% of the population is estimated to have had HIV or AIDS as of 2009.

Read more: The World’s Best (and Worst) Economies - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/09/07/the-worlds-best-and-worst-economies/#ixzz25sos0MGL

Please pray how you can help our projects in Swaziland. The realities of the economy here, whatever the underlying causes, has a catastrophic affect on the the impoverished and isolated populations living in rural Swaziland. Whether you can help with the medical outreach and clinic or the economic empowerment projects. Please pray how and where you can get involved! www.KudvumisaFoundation.org

Rehmeyer/Kudvumisa Foundation Sept. Update

September Newsletter
Please follow the link above for our latest newsletter!
Thanks & God Bless

Teresa in Macetuka giving moringa to the children here.

Sewing & Marula Nut Projects

 Here is a link to a picture book we put together to showcase two of the economic empowerment projects we have started in Maphiveni and Vuvulane.

Economic Empowerment

Marula Nuts - Food of Kings!

 OK, the writer took a little liberty with traditional uses, but other wise a good write up!  As another economic empowerment project in the areas we are working in eastern Swaziland, we are trying to develop a market for marula nuts in the urban areas which are in great supply in Maphiveni and Vuvulane.

http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=41433


By Observer Reporter

The marula tree or umganu, as it is traditionally known, has a long and colourful history and has been a vital part of the culture and health of Southern Africa for thousands of years.

 Indigenous to Swaziland and many other countries in the region, its bark, leaves, fruit and nuts have all been used for centuries as a source of food, traditional medicine and fermented brews and many legends exist about its powers and properties.
... Majestic tree that grows extensively in SD
In parts of Africa, marula is known as the tree that drives elephants mad for the effect it apparently has on the animals when they eat large quantities of fermented fruit off the ground although evidence of this amusing effect is limited.
Marula has also been attributed magical qualities as some believe an infusion of the bark from a male or female tree can determine the gender of an unborn baby. It is also widely believed that Marula has the ability to increase fertility; however it’s possible that this may have more to do the after effects of the strong traditional beer brewed from its fruit that is enjoyed by many!
This brew, Buganu, or Emaganu, is so popular in Swaziland that there is an annual Marula Festival celebrated at the Royal residence of the King at Ebuhleni in the Hhohho region of Swaziland between February and March each year. Both the King and the Queen Mother are presented with marula beer from many households, and only after the royal family has partaken in the ceremony can Swazis themselves drink the beer.
Marula is also a very important source of nutrition and medicinal properties. The fruit and juice contains up to eight times the Vitamin C content of oranges and is high in potassium and the bark contains mild anti-malarial qualities and has been known to cure indigestion and heartburn.
Nutrient-rich marula nut is taken from the seed
But some of the greatest powers of marula lie in the small nut kernels found inside the hard seed at the centre of the fruit.
These nuts are in fact an incredible source of protein, minerals and healthy oils, so rich and nourishing that they have long been referred to in many cultures as the ‘food of Kings’! Analysis shows that the nuts have exceptionally high protein content (30 grams of protein per 100 grams of nuts) and in fact contain higher protein and healthy oil content than other popular nuts including walnuts, chestnuts and almonds. They also contain other essential nutritional components including magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc and thiamine.
Nuts have long been known as an essential part of a healthy diet and as eating local produce becomes increasingly more environmentally and economically important, Marula nuts are an excellent choice for a nutritious snack or as a tasty addition to porridge, stews and many other dishes. The nuts are a tasty addition to baked cakes, biscuits and breads and are an excellent alternative to recipes calling for other nuts including pine nuts.   Nuts grown and processed by local communities in Swaziland are now available and can be purchased in 100 or 500 gram bags from Pick’nPay stores, Thorny Bush Organics in Mbabane and at Baker’s Corner stores in Matsapha, Ezulwini and Manzini. If you would like more information on the extensive health benefits and the availability of marula nuts in Swaziland email Pastor Daran at info@KudvumisaFoundation.org or call 76025992.

Breaking the Bonds of Poverty

The grant from Changing Futures has been used to buy 6 sewing machines, train 6 ladies how to sew, as well as, to buy material and supplies.  We had a teacher in the community who started training them and then he went missing.  Then we heard from two ladies back in the States that said they wanted to come and help with the sewing project for 3 weeks.  So in May, they came and taught these ladies how to sew beautifully!  They have been sewing large sling bags, small sling bags with 2 zippers, aprons, and coin purses of different shapes and sizes.

On the 14^th of June 2012 Ncamsile, Maria, and Jane sold their first 50 bags to Timbali Crafts.  Each of these ladies signed a contract with us for their sewing machines, which states that they will pay R50 per month toward the purchase of their machines.  This money goes back into the account to purchase more machines, material and supplies, as well as upkeep of the machines.  As we were leaving, they came and gave us R50 each for their first payment towards their machines.

On June 18^th and 19^th, teams from the US that were visiting Swaziland came through and bought many bags from the ladies.  On the 21^st we paid the ladies for what they sold.  We keep a percentage to buy additional material and supplies so that we can sustain the program.  We paid each lady individually in front of the group, saying what and how much they sold.  The other ladies applauded each one as it was her turn.  One of the ladies got down on her knees to receive her payment!  They were all so happy for each other!  It was a very special moment!  The next day one of the women asked if she could go to South Africa with the lady that helps us run the sewing project to buy more material with the money she had made.  Another lady asked if they could buy formula for her baby with the money she had made.

None of these ladies have a bank account, or make any money on a regular basis.  They live day to day trying to put food on the table for their families.  It is very difficult for them to understand anything about a business or what it means to run one.  Our hope is that if they can make a somewhat steady income with the sewing, that we can teach and empower them to take the business themselves one day and run it as a group or an association.

One of the ladies showed up last week, late in the week and apologized that she had been missing sewing classes all week.  She was covered with bruises, which she said her husband had beaten her because he doesn’t want her being away from home every day sewing.  My heart went out to this precious woman who is already handicapped, as she only has one good eye.  I cried as I prayed with her for protection and peace.  These women put up with untold misery from men just so they can have a roof over their heads.  Most of the time, the men don’t have a steady job either.  So we asked if she thought it would be better if we let her take the machine home and sew there so her husband wouldn’t beat her.  One of the other women in her community said that she could stop and help her if she needed help and she could come to class once a week.  This has turned out to be a good solution for her and her husband was ok with this.

Now there are two more teams from the US, coming before the end of the month to buy items from the ladies. Also, there is a lady who has said she would buy R2400 worth of bags at the end of the month to send back with someone to sell at their church.  Lastly, we have been invited to put our items at a booth at the Swazi Trade Fair at the end of August.  So, the ladies have been sewing like crazy to stock up items for all of these potential sales.  They are very excited and there is lots of momentum right now!  We are very pleased with their progress in such a short time!

Thanks so much to Changing Futures organization for your kind and generous grant!

CD4 Reagent

We've been asking for help in procuring the reagents needed to do follow up CD4 counts for all our CHIPS clients. The government has not been buying enough to do the tests for everyone that needs it. Today we picked up enough reagent to do the follow ups for all our clients! A donation from the Mbabane Rotary Club and several donors in the US allowed us to make the purchase. We'll deliver the reagent to Good Shepherd Hospital next week to start the process of getting rid of the huge backlog of tests for our clients.  PTL!