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| This poster was translated in to siSwati and posted around the farm to promote the (mandatory) event. |
For months we have been working on
how to go to a deeper level of discipleship and education of all of the Swazi’s
we work with at Project Canaan. If
you read my blog from November 7th you will get an understanding of
that plan - http://janinemaxwell.blogspot.com/2015/11/no-you-are-not-allowed-to-grab-her.html.
Yesterday our many meetings and
planning sessions resulted in what we called “The Great Debate”, and yes, it
was mostly about sex.
There was a women’s team and a
men’s team with a representative from all departments on each team. The debate topics came from challenges
and issues that Swazi’s face everyday and that need to be taken out of darkness
and brought in to the light. We
also had a panel of Judges/Moderators who are well known in the country and
very knowledgeable and vocal in the areas of discussion.
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| My wonderful "Project Canaan Social Safety Team". |
Our biggest challenge was that we
wanted to be able to have EVERYONE who works at Project Canaan involved or in
attendance and that is not possible when you have 104 babies who need
care. Solution? Do the debate when we have a group of
19 willing and able volunteers, combined with our long-term volunteers who live
and serve with us daily. And
voila! All of our caregivers were
able to leave the Children’s Campus for 2 hours!!!
Here were the questions that were
debated over a two-hour period.
Question #1
In Swazi culture it seems that
women are inferior to men?
Traditionally they stay at home with the children while the men go and
work, or go and sit with friends when there is no work. Women do not have the same rights as a
man, and in fact, we have no domestic violence laws that stop men from beating
their wives. We read in the paper
that rape of women is at an all time
high and incest is a common occurrence.
But it also appears that Swazi women are stronger than men in many ways.
They appear to be the backbone of our society, caring for many children and
Grandchildren after the men have died or run away. The question is: are women inferior to men or are we
stronger? How do you think women
should be treated in Swaziland?
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| All Project Canaan employees. |
Question #2
In Swazi culture some people believe it is okay to have sex before
marriage and others think that it goes against our culture. Even those who believe it goes against
our culture are having sex before marriage. It seems that marriage is something from the past and now it
is all about having sex. Even
those people who are married are often proposing love to others who are not
their husband or wife. The question
is: is it okay to have sex before marriage, and is it okay to have sex with
someone other than your husband or wife?
What do you think these decisions mean to the future of our culture?
 |
| The men. |
Question #3
In
Swazi culture it has become common for a man to propose love to a woman with
hopes that she will have sex with him.
In our culture it is not okay for a woman to propose love, but sometimes
they do it with their eyes, their bodies or how they dress making it impossible
for men to not touch them or want to have sex with them. The question is: what is lust and what
is love? Are they the same
thing?
 |
| The women. |
There was lots of heated discussion, but most of it was done
with grace, respect and a lot of laughter. Some of the highlights included:
·
The reason men cheat on their wives is because
their wives are always complaining that they don’t bring home enough money to
put shoes and clothes on the children. So of course they are going to find someone
who doesn’t complain.
·
If women didn’t wear short skirts and dress
promiscuously they wouldn’t be raped or sexually assaulted.
·
Men are weak – they can’t help themselves when
women wear short skirts.
·
Lust and love are not the same thing. Lust is a
sin and love is from God.
·
If you “show it”, you have to “share it” – it
was a man’s way of asking women to dress more modestly.
·
Sex before marriage goes against culture and the
bible, but …
·
It is wrong that young girls/children are being
raped by men because they can’t control themselves.
·
If our behavior doesn’t change then Swaziland
will die.
·
We are sinning against God and we must turn from
our bad ways and follow him.
·
Of course you should have sex with a man before
you get married, to see if he is any good in bed (sigh).
Let me end by saying that this year, more than ever, we need
your help. If you have been reading this blog and believe in the work that the
Lord has us doing here, I sincerely ask that you make a year end contribution
TODAY. The responsibility we carry for more children and all of the workers and
their families continues to grow and we simply can’t do it without His
provision, through His people … and that is you.
Every dollar that you donate up to $100,000 will be matched
again this year and it is fully tax deductible. Will you consider
making a gift today?
In
closing, I would like to share a few photos from today’s Project Canaan Academy
Christmas Pageant. It was awesome,
inspiring and magical.
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| Traditional Swazi dancing. |
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| Away in a manger. |
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| Hope puts hangs the angel ornament with her name on it. |
Live
from Swaziland ... thank you Lord for all you are doing in each of our lives.
Janine
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