Juliana’s Second Blog

Blog #2

Today is Sunday, October 19, and 19 days until we fly back to the States! Wow has the time flown by!

Last Sunday we left for Nsoko for the week. The Lord completely blessed us there! We camped at Nisela Safari which was incredible! A dream come true for me! We set up our tents right next to a huge African Lion named Lucky. He woke us up several times a night making his territorial call warning the “others” to stay away. There were ostriches running around everywhere that let us get pretty close to them. There was also a big crocodile it a cage about 100 feet away from our tents! We arrived on the perfect day at the perfect time; Sunday is “feeding day.” We watched as the two lions were fed a half donkey each and the croc was fed chunks of the left over donkey. It was incredible!

We also met a guy named Devon that was South African doing research with the snakes there. He is going to have a show start airing on Animal Planet in February! He blessed us so much! The first day we met him he took our whole team on a walk during sunset to try to find cool snakes and see the animals around the reserve. We saw a ton of impala, wildebeests, wild donkeys, and wart hogs. It was awesome! He then volunteered to take us out the next morning at sunrise (5 AM). What a sacrifice! We ended up going out the next morning but didn’t see anything “big” but the beauty of it all was incredible! (P.S. I know I say “incredible” a lot but there are no other words….)

Nsoko is so hot and dry! It makes Manzini feel like a rainforest (and trust me, it’s not!).   Julie and Ellie were with us too. Julie showed the working care point women how to sew so they could earn a little bit of an income for their families. These women will make food for all the orphan children every single day but they do not get paid to do it. They do it because they feel like they should, but reap no reward (but their heavenly reward will be far better than any earthy reward).

I had the opportunity to interview some of the women with Titi (our translator). We just asked a few questions about their home life and family so we can post it on the internet. That way people in the States who are buying all the bags the women are making can read about them and know who made them. There was only one woman I interviewed that hadn’t lost a child. None of them had any other source of income on their homestead. Many lost husbands. Some were married to a man who was married to several other women.

It really opened up my eyes to the hardships people face (not that the rest of the trip hasn’t). My problems are nothing compared to what goes on here. The pain I’ve endured, the suffering I’ve seen in my life, the grief I’ve felt, is NOTHING compared to what an average Swazi goes through….I just cannot imagine! The things that were once important to me back home no longer matter. I am scared to come home. I already feel a bitterness setting in towards Americans. We have no idea how easy we have it! Please start praying for me that I have grace and understanding for people back home. I already know it will be hard for me to relate to the things or people that I used to. I can’t believe how different I feel-about everything! I literally feel like I am a different person. It’s incredible!

Anyway, back to Nsoko. It is also the poorest area in Swaziland. We went to several care points to do VBS’ (vacation bible school). The kids there had ripped raggy clothes and many of them had medical problems that could easily be fixed but they have no money to do anything about it. It really broke my heart. And despite their suffering they still had soo much love to give and joy in their hearts. Again, they blessed US.

Although Nsoko was absolutely amazing I am glad to be back in Manzini. This week has already been so full and the time is just flying by. The Lord really spoke to me these last two weeks and I wanted to quick share what He has been laying on my heart…

First of all, I am feeling a strong call to return here- possibly meaning going home, raising more money, and coming back soon. There is a little girl, Nocolo (say it with a “click” in the middle of her name), that I really feel called to help. She was born with a mangled foot and walks on her SHIN BONE. I know her sister and she said that Nocolo’s back is now starting to bother her. This little girl is only about 3 years old and is just a peach! I want to help her. I’m not sure how yet but I know I have to do something.
    
We went to the Mbabne Government Hospital a couple days ago. I spent all my time in the abandoned babies ward. Talk about getting my heart broken (yet again). Let me quick share a journal entry about that….

Wednesday, October 22nd
I cannot keep up. There is so much happening. I’m REALLY enjoying it but I’m exhausted! Yesterday we went to the Mbabane Hospital. Best ministry yet! Incredible! There is a “back room” with laundry and tables for the nurses to take their breaks…there is also 5-7 children that are there because they have been abandoned. My heart was breaking when I was there. There were 3 or 4 children who has been there a long time because they were severely mentally challenged and then a few others too who will probably be adopted out (no one wants the “abnormal ones” so they live there their whole life).
I fell in love. Again. It keeps on happening. Pewe. He was sleeping back in his crib for the first two hours when we were there but I still noticed him right away. Then when he woke up he wouldn’t take his eyes from mine. I felt like he was speaking to me through his eyes. Again, it was incredible! He has eczema really bad all over his skin but other than that he looks perfect. He is about 4-5 months old, someone dumped him in Manzini, and he had been in Mbabne for about a month. I held him the rest of the time we were there. I gave him a bottle and just walked around with him. I brought him outside to get some sun. Man do I LOVE him! And my heart is still there. And it might just stay there.
The little one Liza held reminded me of Joel (but which one doesn’t?). His little laugh was JUST like Joel’s. Adorable! Very bittersweet.
I heard a little one screaming in the treatment room when we first came in and instantly tears welled up in my eyes. It sounded like Joel. And I HATE to see children in pain. It was a little girl who only got blood drawn so that was good. She was fine a few minutes later, especially after the boys in our group gave her a balloon.
I WILL be back there. This I’m sure of. And I would love love LOVE to adopt Pewe. He is so perfect!
Julie found Ellie there. She adopted Ellie from that place after Ellie had been abandoned being 5 days old. The nurses were telling me that some of the other children were adopted by missionaries. Couldn’t I just take him home with me? Why does this whole process take so long? I wish there was some speedy process. But there isn’t. And since I am here with AIM I cannot focus on that. Still, my heart it there. Pewe has it….

There was more to the journal but I do not have time to share the whole thing. Every single day something new is happening and it makes me want to stay here more and more. And Swaziland NEEDS people here. Pastor Gift and his wife (who live in Nsoko) are starting an orphan village that should be opened by 2010. They need housemothers, grandparents, and any solid Christian influence in these kids lives. They are asking for a two year commitment. Anyone interested?!

If anyone spent ANY time here I’m convinced they would fall in love with this place too. It’s hardly ideal though. It’s crazy hot (and dry), and the language is so hard to learn! I am so slow at it! The clicks and ticks and different sounds are nearly impossible for me to pronounce. Mark and Nikki have picked it up quite well though!
Still, it is funny how the Lord works and breaks through so much of the language barrier and cultural differences. It helps that most of the people here speak SOME English too.

Okay, I must go for now. Liza, Allie (leader), and I are going to help Julie today with the women and bags. The others are doing a prayer walk in town, going to the hospital, and then to Mongonini. I am curious to see if Zanele is still at the hospital; Nikki said she would check for me. She was doing really well before we left for Nsoko and I haven’t had an opportunity to see her again. I think she is better and went home. At least I hope she went home.

I don’t have a lot of time to write now but I will try to post again in the next few days. I can’t believe how fast everything has been flying by. I started writing this on the 19th and I am just finishing it and it’s the 23rd!
  
Okay, I love you all. I miss you all so much. And as much as I want to stay here I can’t wait to see you guys! Lauren and Abs, you two have especially been in my prayers-I can’t wait to share with you what God has been showing me and doing in my heart. You two are going to freak! It’s great! And to the rest of you-please continue praying for peace, comfort, a Christ-like heart, and perseverance. Can’t wait to be home and share more with you (only 18 days)!

In Him,

Juliana Joy xoxo!

P.S. Okay, now it is the 24th and I wanted to quick update and say that Zanele is OUT OF THE HOSPITAL! In two weeks from today we will be back in GA. How crazy is that?! Tomorrow is communication day. So to all you parents out there-expect
early morning phone calls.