We celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday, here in Swaziland. Our thoughts wandered to the States throughout the day; missing family and friends and long-held traditions. The day looked a bit different than Thanksgiving Days we have had in the past. Not so different in ways we were expecting. A care package from home brought Stove Top stuffing and special decorations for the table. A trip to a large grocery story in South Africa last week provided the rest of the traditional goodies we were hoping for. Our turkey was imported from Brazil, of all places! There was even cranberry sauce in the import section of the store…you know, the good stuff that comes out of the can in a wiggly, crimson “plop”!
The differences in our day looked more like visiting a couple care points in the morning rather than going to church. We played with the kids and taught them Bible stories and songs rather than watching the Macy’s parade on TV. We were able to hand out some new clothes to some of the orphans whose only clothing was tattered and torn and literally falling off of their tiny bodies. It was different…but it was good. We were able to practice being the Church.
Another difference was who we called “family” around the table later in the day. Of course there were the four of us. Dan and Leah Luyk were part of our family table this Thanksgiving, too. Brandon Jones, a young man from California, is here in Nsoko for six months giving his life away to this ministry. He also joined us around our table. Perhaps, the most precious visitor at our table this year was little Thembelihle. (we call her “Eme” for short; a nickname that the Real Life team that was here last month gave to her which has stuck!)
Eme is a little baby girl who is around 18 months old. Her father is dead and her mother is caught in the web of addiction so she is absent much of the time. Eme lives on a homestead adjacent to our Center (main care point) so she is around all the time. Claire picked her up the first day and has hardly put her down since! Basically, Eme has stolen all of our hearts…
On Thursday, Claire walked over to the homestead to check on Eme because she hadn’t come over to the Center. She found her inside her gogo’s hut, lying on a mat on the dirt floor, burning up with fever. Eme’s gogo Lily is the primary caregiver when her mother is nowhere to be found (like this day). However, Lily is quite old and weak. Really not able to keep up with a little one so young! Claire knew that Eme needed help. She scooped her up and brought her over to the clinic that is on the property at the Center. The nurse confirmed that Eme had a very high fever and, in fact, had mild pneumonia! This was one sick baby girl. She was given antibiotics and the nurse told Claire if she wasn’t better in three days that she must be seen and re-evaluated. Claire found me and told me the situation. Eme, usually full of energy and joy, lay limp in Claire’s lap. I knew that the situation could worsen quickly if Eme wasn’t cared for properly and given the medication as directed. I walked over to the homestead with one of our ministry partners to translate, and spoke to gogo Lily. I explained how ill Eme was and that I would be willing to take her home with us for the night to care for her. Lily agreed to this. She seemed relieved.
So, Eme came to the guest house and our whole ‘extended’ family loved on her as we celebrated Thanksgiving! Claire and I gave her a much needed bath and put her in one of Jacob’s t-shirts. He wanted her to have some “comfy pjs”, he said:
Then we put her down for a nap. I covered her with a prayer quilt that my dear friend Sue made for me before leaving for Africa. She told me that anytime I felt in need of extra prayer covering, I should wrap up in this quilt and know that I was being prayed for! Well, this baby needed the prayers and a blankie today! Thanks, Sue!
After a nice long nap and some fresh clean clothes, Eme seemed to perk-up a little bit. She still was not herself, though. I wonder what was going through her sweet little head as she sat with us around the table…she did taste a few things. Favorites? Mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce!! A girl after my own heart…
After a good night’s rest sleeping next to her “big sisi” Claire, Eme woke up seeming to have more energy. Her fever had gone down a bit and her cough seemed to have lessened. After talking to one of her relatives on the homestead, and her gogo, we decided to keep her with us for the weekend. We wanted to be sure she was through the worst of it and well on her way to full health and strength! And, let’s be honest…we LOVE having her around! By Friday afternoon, she sure seemed to be feeling more like herself! Of course, a new outfit always makes a gal feel good:
She even has decided that having a bubble bath in our tub is NOT a form of baby torture which she seemed to have believed the night before! Now, she loves a bath:
Eme will spend one more night with us here at the guest house. We will return her to her gogo Lily after church tomorrow. We will miss her. It is hard to let a child into your heart so far only to have to let her go…Although, I suppose that is what we do with all our children, isn’t it?
But, that is a lesson God continues to teach us here in Nsoko. “IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU!”
If giving hurts, give some more…
If loving stings, love some more…
If serving makes you tired, serve some more…
Will the hurt go away or the stinging stop? Probably not. That is just the way it is in the face of so much need. What we must remind ourselves of, continually, is that Jesus loved and gave so much that it cost Him His life! We will never out-give or out-love or out-serve Him. His ministry was the perfect example of a life lived in surrender and gratitude; a life given away to those who needed it most. Thanks in giving. Love in living. It is worth the hurt and the sacrifice it requires. It is hard…but it is worth it. Just ask my kids…
We are so proud of you all!! Especially you Claire for seeing the need and rescuing this precious little one. We love you all so much. It is so obvious that you are in the center of God’s Will!! Much Love, Nana & Papa
I had a good cry after reading this one, Jen. A cry of sorrow that such hardship can exist, when we had all we wanted for our Thanksgiving meal; including the care of our family. And a cry of joy, for the good work my friends the Peterson’ & Luyk’s – brothers & sisters in Christ, are doing in Swaziland. I must say I am so proud of Claire & Jacob’s compassionate heart. They are an example for all of the young people at Beechwood and I will definetly share this experience.
Peace in Him – Alexander
I thankful, as I sit here crying reading your newsletter. I am thankful that you said yes to Jesus. I am thankful for your family for your obedience for your hearts for the folks in Nsoko.
Thanks for being the church to each one you come across, thanks for being the hands and feet of Jesus. Thanks for loving this little one when she needed it the most.
Praying for you guys for this next season and what the Lord has for you, for wisdom to know, without a doubt the direction you should go.
Praying.
More tears, Jen! And I can relate as I parent two teens about loving them only to let them go in a few short years.
Claire, what a wonderful, mothering sister you are to Eme. I am proud of you!
You, Jeni, Eric, Claire and Jacob are listening and acting on God’s invitation to bring the best of what you have to Him….your ‘first fruits’. What joy it must give God…and obviously little Eme. I love you all.
Jen, I love reading your newsletters but each time it makes me tear up and wonder what will happen to all of the children. It really wakes us up to how privileged we are and when our children say “its not fair”, “there is nothing to eat in this house”, “mom AND dad…”, they don’t realize what they have and how others have nothing. Thank you for the posts, I have started reading them to the kids and they love the pictures. What beautiful children. Thank you for all that you are doing.
I love all of your posts, Jen. You guys are amazing- I’m proud to know all of you. All the people around you have so much to be thankful for- just in getting to know you too. Claire- I’m very proud of you!!!!!
Love you all- Aunt Joan
I just read your newsletter. I’m also crying! The thought that God used me so far away still amazes me! I’m adding Eme to the prayer list! In Christ, Sue
I read this earlier this weekend and carried this story in my heart since. I’ve said many a prayer for little Eme as well as yours as you send her back.
Hi Jen, Eric, Claire and Jacob, I just got caught up on your last letter, since I was without my computer for a time. Little Eme has found a very loving family. I’m so proud of you and the kids when I read about your experiences. Eme is a beautiful little girl and just to think of her life there is heartbreaking. We’re keeping all of you in our prayers every day.
Love you all, Gram
Thank goodness your family was there and found her in time to get her the care she needed! Can you imagine if she’d continued to get worse?! It could have been very bad for a child so small….remember this when you think back on your time in Swazi – if ever you are wondering “what did we accomplish? What was our purpose?” Remember that you had an opportunity to love on sweet Eme, to help her get better, and to shower her with affection for a weekend. In God’s Kingdom it is all about ONE child at a time!