In other news.

It seems that all we can talk about this week is Covid-19 and American politics. The two headlines are affecting every part of our lives, including our physical, emotional and mental health. While we are a million miles away from the U.S., we still see watch the news from afar, and hurt with our friends and family who are hurting.

 

The headlines in Eswatini are similar, but here our Covid-19 and politics are combined with high level government leaders dying from the virus, government funding not available for basic hospital. Morgues are full and they have had to stop accepting dead bodies so people are encouraged to burn their dead. Government hospitals have run out of body bags, and funeral homes are out of coffins. All of this has led to another police lock down for an unspecified amount of time. Along with all the usual ramifications, this also means that babies will be left to die because they cannot be rescued, people cannot visit us to buy fresh vegetables/milk/eggs and we all move back into a greater state of awareness of health and wellness trying to keep 275 children (many with underlying health issues) safe. 

 

Dups is the main group of funeral homes in the country.

But let me take a moment and share some other news from Project Canaan. This week our 2-year-old toddler named Carol went in for surgery to remove her right kidney after one of our Aunties brought a lump to the attention of our medical team. Several tests resulted in the awareness of a large mass on her kidney, which turned out to be her whole kidney. Thankfully her left kidney is in perfect working condition, but there is no pediatric surgeon in Eswatini and there is no way for us to take her to South Africa at this time for surgery. THANKFULLY we know a wonderful adult surgeon at a private hospital who was willing to do this major surgery. We are further thankful for a dear friend who has offered to pay for the surgery and hospital stay. Little Carol is still in the hospital and in pain, but hopefully will come home to us this weekend and will spend 7-10 weeks in recovery.

 

We continue in our building projects, hoping to have Emseni #6 built for our big boys by March as our other Emseni buildings are full (we will fill the last 7 spaces next week with 3-year-olds who are moving to Emseni before school starts). That means we will have 40 children in each of the five Emseni buildings and 75 children under the age of 3 on the lower campus. O2 is also under construction right beside E6.

 

E6 on the left, O2 on the right.

We have cleared a very large space (18,000 sq feet) for a recreation area, which we hope will one day house a large swimming pool, volleyball, badminton etc.  For those of you who are wondering why we would even consider putting in a pool, we believe that learning to swim is not just for fun or to cool down on scorching hot African days, but it is also life-saving and life-giving. 

 

E5 girls bottom left. E4 boys bottom right.

While the world around us continues to groan in pain, we will continue to give thanks in all things. We give thanks for continued health, financial provision as well as God’s hand of protection over us. We pray for those who are sick, those who are mourning and those who are lost. 

 

In The Message translation of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) Jesus said:

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.  (WOW! - emphasis mine)

 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."

 Live from Eswatini ... we are blessed.

 Janine