Swaziland Here She Comes!

I am finding one of the sweetest blessings of parenting is seeing our older children, not only walking with the Lord, but discovering His special plan and purpose for their life.


Since turning twelve, Michaela has sensed the Lord's leading to mission's, specifically African
missions. 

In 2010, she and I made a two week trip to Swaziland (a tiny country in South Africa) to minister to the AIDS orphans.  On that trip I fell in love with Africa and the children.  Michaela was already home.

Now, two years later, the Lord has opened a door for Michaela to return to Swaziland, Africa for three months.  She'll be traveling with one other young lady and working with Adventures in Missions at their carepoints for orphans.

       This was one of the children we were able to provide an outfit for last time we visited.

Just a little background on orphan care in Swaziland...

Swaziland boasts no public orphanages or foster system.  No safety nets exist for children without parents.  They are on their own.  Literally.  With the highest HIV rate of any country in the world and the resulting mortality rate of young and middle-age adults, the orphan population is staggering.

Children remain on their parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles homesteads even when no adults remain alive.  This means children as young as eight or nine are taking care of younger siblings and trying to provide for their needs.

The carepoints, funded predominantly by individuals and churches in the United States and run jointly by Adventures in Missions (AIM) and HopeChest, provide a safe haven for these children. 

Last trip we took packages of balloons for the children to play with.  They were a BIG hit!

The carepoints are places for the children to come (some hike up to 5 miles a day) to get a hot nutritious meal, to play with other children,  to receive attention from the go-go's (older Swazi women who volunteer their time to cook at the carepoints) and to experience the love of Christ.

Michaela will spend much of her time working at these carepoints, as well as making visits to homesteads.

This is Michaela carrying a 25 lb. bag of grain on one of our last homestead visits.

Michaela hopes to use this time in Africa to not only show the love of Christ to the women and children she meets, but also to confirm God's call on her life to full-time ministry in the country.

Unless the Lord shows her otherwise, her plan is to return to the States in December.  Finish her senior year of high school and then complete her nursing degree and mid-wifery training before returning to Africa.

Please pray for God's hand of protection and direction on Michaela as she travels half-way around the world to shine His light.

Pray for Phil, too, as he allows his 16 year old daughter to follow God's leading for her life.



Her Internet connection will be sporadic. But you can follow her adventures on her blog...
www.africamylife.blogspot.com