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

Out with the old ...

Family cooking in Eswatini, Bangkok and Barcelona.

 

Early on New Years’ eve day we were awaken by security telling us that they just discovered a break in on the farm. They bent and broke their way into the maintenance container and stole a lot of equipment that is used on a daily basis to maintain the property. Clearly an inside job which required more than one person to haul everything away. The night guard was nowhere to be found, likely having a nice nap in the greenhouse. Good riddance 2020!

 

 

Early the next morning, on New Years’ day, I received a message that one of our big boys was fooling around and broke a window with his forehead. His head was okay, but the window would need repair. Unlike another boy who took a toy in the mouth and lost half of a tooth. The toy is fine, but the tooth, like the window, will also need repair. Welcome 2021?

 

 

While the world took a viral beating in 2020, we were truly blessed with good health, and no Covid-19 cases on Project Canaan (that we are aware of). The Kingdom of Eswatini has also had high impact deaths including losing our own Prime Minister to the virus, along with many prominent business people, government officials and people very close to His Majesty the King. The annual incwala ceremonies are still taking place while the rest of the country is being told to be extra vigilant and stay home, causing confusion and anger among the people. Not unlike confusion in other countries around the world.

 

Overall, 2020 was a year of favor and blessing to Heart for Africa and Project Canaan and we welcomed 18  additional children to our family. We are incredibly grateful to announce that we surpassed our year-end giving goal! Thank you to each of you who make a year-end gift, whether large or small. EVERY gift makes a difference and we are thankful for your love, prayers and financial support.  

 

 

In 2020 I was also able to write my third book, which tells the story of the last 11 years building and developing Project Canaan and explains what we do and why we do it the way we do.  We hope to have it published in February.  

 

Ian and I were able to write a cookbook for Spencer and Chloe with all our family favorites, complete with food photography (thank  goodness for our marketing background), cooking tips and a bit of twisted Maxwell humor. Our whole family loves to cook, and we have had many culinary adventures all over the  world.  (The photo of Chloe below was taken on a walking food tour in Vietnam. Little did we know until later that the fried patty was made of sea worms). Ian makes the best pad thai!

 

I’m not sad to see 2020 behind us, but I would be lying and ungrateful to say it was a bad year for us.  We look forward to another year of serving the Lord with all our hearts and minds, feeding the hungry, caring for orphans, providing employment and educating all with ears to hear and a willingness to learn.

 

Please join us as we continue on this epic and exciting journey of faith.

 

Live from Eswatini … we wish you all a Happy New Year!

 

Janine