In February, the Cherish team started in 4 new schools and is now reaching 150 new girls with the message of purity. 3 American girls have joined the Cherish team until May and 1 new Swazi team member has been hired. God is busy in Swaziland!
I just saw this article on someone else's website and wanted to share it with you for you to praise God that light was shed on this darkness and the girls are free but also to pray because this is not the only place this happens. This was about 10 minutes drive from where I lived. This ministry to the girls of Swaziland for sexual purity is VITAL and the ministry needs your support as they fight on the front lines!
MBABANE, 7 January 2009 (IRIN) - The discovery of two brothels where underage girls worked for just food in a township in central Swaziland has triggered both shock and sympathy in a country struggling with chronic poverty and food insecurity. For years there have been anecdotal reports of desperate women, unable to find work at the Matsapha Industrial Estate where Swaziland's few factories are clustered, exchanging sex for food to feed themselves or their children. But until a raid this weekend on two "hostels" in Mbhuleni township, across the highway from Mastapha, there had been no evidence of an organised brothel-based sex trade.
Media reports said the police, with the help of the local community, closed down the two brothels in Mbhuleni where a total of 35 girls, aged from 14 to 17, were trading sex for basic meals served in the neighbourhood cafes, or alcohol, provided either by their pimps or directly by their clients.
"Even a place crime-ridden like Mbhuleni has its limits, and this is definitely not Swazi-like what was going on," said Samuel Ndwandwe, a community policeman. "They were making money off those starving children. They were turning our sisters into whores."
Found
Maxwell Gama's* sister went missing two months ago. As soon as school closed for the Christmas holiday, the 16-year-old left the family farm to help his mother search for her in Matsapha, 60km away.
"It was terrible because we checked all the police stations to see if they had found young women my sister's age. She is 17. My mother and I even went to the hospital and the mortuary to see if there was a body they couldn't identify. We went to Matsapha because that is where she said she was going to find work. There is no work where we live," he told IRIN.
Too many people are hungry, those girls had nothing. I am so saddened by the life they chose, but I feel sorry for them more than I condemn them
Gama and his mother got a tip that she had been swept up in the police raid, and finally made contact. "She ran away when she saw us. She said she was too ashamed. I want to get her out of this place and take her home!"
None of the girls picked up by the police have been charged with a crime, but the owners of the brothels are being sought for questioning. The child welfare organisation, Save the Children, has stepped in to help reunite the girls with their families, and the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse, located in the central commercial city of Manzini, aims to investigate organised sexual exploitation in Matsapha.
Media report said the girls freed by the police were seeking jobs, shelter or just food, with some having fled abuse at home. At the brothels they were fed if they had sex - typically a plate of rice and beans, or maize meal porridge and meat if the local butchery was open at the time.
"Too many people are hungry, those girls had nothing. I am so saddened by the life they chose, but I feel sorry for them more than I condemn them," said Reverend Jeremiah Vilakati, who preaches in Mbhuleni township.
An estimated 40 percent of Swazis are unemployed; after a slightly better harvest last year, the ratio of people currently being fed by relief agencies has fallen to four out of 10. "What we are seeing at Matsapha is the exploitation of starving women and girls by Swazi men who are taking advantage of the humanitarian crisis," said social welfare worker Felix Vilane.
"We know these are difficult times, but the challenge for Swaziland is how to look after its children so they don't have to run away from home to find something to eat, and do unspeakable things to survive."
Swaziland, sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique, is sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy. Although classified as a middle-income country, wealth is concentrated in the hands of the royal family. Poverty is sharpened by the world's highest rate of HIV infection.
I can't believe the girls have already gone through an entire 8 week study with a new group of girls since I've been gone. Some days it feels like I haven't seen them in forever and then somedays (like today) I wake up after a dream that I was just there. The Cherish team and Christine, a volunteer from the States, were working at AIM care points. Care points are community centers where orphans and vulnerable children come for 1 meal per day and is a safe place for them. The care points put in place by the government but Christian organizations come and sponsor them and AIM has a discipleship team (D-team) that teaches the kids the Word of God.
57 girls just completed the study and joy filled my heart as I saw these girls. Just more and more confirmation that God will act and accomplish His will in Swaziland no matter where I am. It's freeing and humbling. Please check out Christine's update http://christinechenoweth.myadventures.org/?filename=cherish
1. This blog will only be used to update with the happenings of the Cherish team in Swaziland.
2. If you'd like to give either monthly or a one time amount to the amazing things God is doing in Swaziland through the Cherish team you can scroll down and on the left side it says "support cherish". This will go directly to the AIM account to give the team a salary and provide the needs for the ministry. If you do this, please send me an email at becca.d.christian@gmail.com. I'm responsible for the ministry continuing to be funded and I need to know what money is going into the fund. I no longer have an account with AIM because I'm no longer working for them.
3. I have a new place to post what God's doing in my life. I miss not being able to share everything that He's doing all the time like I did in Africa. Same God, different location and I love sharing it. Please go to http://beccaiscrucified.blogspot.com and click on "subscribe via email" on the right side to continue to get emails when I post something new.
No longer working for Adventures in Missions but still enjoying the adventure in the mission God has called me to - furthering His Kingdom.
My body is unmistakably in Bakersfield but my heart and thoughts are still very much in Swaziland. I called the Cherish team last week to find out how things were going. It's so fun to hear their voices and laughter especially when they are laughing at me in my quickly-fading siSwati...
This school term (September – December) is extremely busy for the students because of exams and makes it next to impossible to meet for Bible Study on a regular basis. I know with God all things are possible but if we are going to do something let's do it well and it's done best in January through August.
For the Cherish team this means they are only going to the schools on Fridays, visiting each school now once a month. When the team goes they give each girl a hand written note encouraging them on their exams and they meet, encourage, talk and pray with the girls in the Cherish groups. On one school visit the team was informed that two more leaders have fallen pregnant. I tried to brainstorm ideas of what we could do to avoid this but Zabiba, a member of the team, assured me "this is a spiritual attack".
Please Pray with us. Lord, I pray that the Cherish members would be strong in you and your mighty power. I pray they would put on your full armor so they may take their stand against the devil's schemes. Their struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:10-13) but Christ you disarmed these powers and authorities, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col 2:15). We proclaim your victory in the lives of those whom you live in in Swaziland.
Lord we pray for the girls who have fallen into temptation and fallen pregnant. May they approach your throne of grace with confidence, so that they may receive mercy and find grace to help them in their time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
So what are the girls doing besides Fridays? They are going to the AIM (Adventures in Missions) care points (community centers where orphans and vulnerable children can come and receive food). There is already a team doing discipleship (the D-team) with the children at the carepoints but the CHERISH team is now meeting with the older girls. They are currently getting to minister to 51 young women. Praise God!! It just shows again, that God will accomplish His purposes and He doesn't need any of us. He's still furthering His Kingdom in Swaziland with the young women and I'm not there – Praise Him!
**I call the team regularly to ask them questions to see how they are doing. Are there any questions you have for the team?**
I thought you would enjoy reading an email I just got from Swaziland. This is from my brother Musa in Swaziland who works with the D-team (Discipleship Team) at the Care Points (community feeding centers for orphans) with AIM. The Cherish team is now working at the Care Points so this is Musa giving me an update on the girls - Hloniphile (Fufu), Phumlile, and Zabiba. If you know Musa, I'm sure you can hear him saying this and if you don't know him...well you need to. I put the parentheses for translation.
Sisi unjani shem ("How are you") ... eish long time.. oh u can get this " mehlo madzala" (I haven't seen you in a long time"), I am with Hlon'phile and they are on their way to Timbutini Care point to minister 4 today... its kind of like crazy for them as they have to jump to the Bus Rank for Public (transportation)
to Timbutini which they dont have an idea... how is that sisi! I wil just take them to the bus conductors ... I will make sure I get a Tip!
Anywaiz they are to Timbutini today after they went to last week with the D-Team (Discipleship Team) to introduce themselves.... I think it was of great experience for them as they were... I repeat its like they were forced to eat the liphalishi (corn meal) and emabhontjisi... ha ha ha ... its like its a good meal for them as Phumlile has gained since that meal... wow for Zabiba I think she liked it coz she had an encho! Plus 3 plates, she also helped Fufu on her plate as she was not more interesed in the Liphalishi... eish these girls anywaiz I love them sisi ... its only that you how girls are... girls are girls,now I wil be saying and they wil begin funa kuchama ("they need to go to the bathroom") whiles they coul be doing that nyalo (now),eish ..... sisi agrree with me that they will bring great difference of what they wil be teaching at the CarePoints.. Ya lets shout Yes and Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sala kahle sisi...("stay well sisi")
Ngiyakutsandza... (I love you)
So the girls are eating well and taking public transportation. I'll give more detailed update tomorrow. I just laughed when i read this. Oh I miss it over there.
"Lord, you are my guide, I rely on you. I put my hope in things not seen, your promises are true. You are faithful, your joy is my strength". This is a verse from Hillsong's "You are Faithful" (if you are not familiar with Hillsong, get them in your life).
So if you aren't too depressed after reading that last entry (congrats, that was heavy huh? And that was the edited version, imagine all that the Lord's had to listen to). Yes, it's been hard but life is hard BUT God is faithful and I see more of His faithfulness as I am putting my hope in things not seen (i.e. all the days ahead of me). I have a place to stay, i was given a car to drive, and all of my physical needs are being met so praise you, Lord, for that.
He's given me a lot of "gifts". One is the gift of laughter. My grandpa said (jokingly) to my 13-year-old cousin "Hey did you hear they fired Becca in Africa" and my cousin responded "Did Jesus fire her?"
One of the biggest "gifts" i have been given since i've been home has been the team members from my church who came in August to Swaziland. I will never forget the day my mom and i drove straight to church from LAX and as I was stepping out of the car i hear "Sawubona" (hello in SiSwati) and I was overjoyed and wanted to cry.
The team walked a day in the life of a Swazi girl, they painted their nails, they did crafts, they sang and taught, they filled gift bags, they decorated, they shared their own stories, they even risked their lives one night and slept with wild animals snoring outside. That's all great but you know what impacted me the most is they loved on these precious daughters of the King of Kings who others have neglected and forgotten. They were the extra arms to hug these girls and they are the same arms that are now hugging me here in California and whispering in my ear "i miss the girls too". They lived alongside these beautiful Swazi girls who have stolen my heart and danced with them, ate with them, listened to them, prayed with them, sang with them, and told them how God sees them. When I tell my mom "I miss Phumlile" she doesn't say "now which one is that?" she gets to say..."she has such a sweet spirit or i remember when Phumlile...". They have experienced the beauty of these girls and I'm so thankful to have shared experiences with this team who is now loving me by saying SiSwati phrases and still keeping "inside jokes" alive. :)
A few entries ago i had promised that I would be processing being back home by writing a lot and would keep you updated on the journey. For some reason i had assumed it would be filled with an assortment of emotions and I just kept waiting for joy and happiness to come so i could write when i felt "good". Instead it's just been wrestling with the Lord, confusion, tears in the most inopportune times, missing my life in Swaziland and all those I love there so bad. So if I can be honest, it's hard. I knew it was going to be hard but it is harder than i thought. I can't catch up with the American pace of life, i keep thinking "how did i ever do this before"? Things are just overwhelming here - the pace, all the stuff, all the media overload, the abundance of choices, the subtle yet everday way society tells American women how they should look which all but 2 women fall short of and the rest of us hang our heads - just everything. Everyone here has been so supportive and loving. To be super cliche i say to all those who i've encountered since i've been here "it's not you, it's me". I happened to read a website of a friend who is still in Swaziland and I read they had a "chick night" with all the American women and she listed who was there and my heart sank. Now to be honest again, they had several of these while i was there and i never actually made it to one but just the fact that i knew all my favorite people were together and continuing on in life over there (which they should). I've also called Fufu, Phumlile, and Zabiba since i've been here and ministry is still going (Praise Him) and it's like of course I want it to it's just hard not to be a part of it. At the same time i'm not really a part of what's going on here either. People have obviously continued living since i've been gone (Praise Him again) but since i'm not "doing anything" as of yet and my feelings of being overwhelmed have pretty much kept me in the house I feel like i'm standing still while things are going on in Swaziland and Bakersfield and I'm standing in between not fully involved in either. I know I just need to give myself time but all this time has given me way too much time to think...So of course, some of you may be thinking "get a job" and of course i'm thinking that too but everytime I go to the Lord about it He keeps saying "wait, rest, be still". I've been soaking in Psalm 37 and reading Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne ( i recommend it but don't read it if you don't have plans of changing). At the same time the Lord has given me little gifts to get through...
The jet lag is long gone and I'm back in Bakersfield. The time in Colorado was a gift from the Lord. I love the way he orchestrated my time there. I've been mourning for the last few months since the Lord told me to leave Swaziland and I still had tears streaming down my face as I stood in line to get my passport stamped in D.C. Wednesday morning in CO I got to sit and talk with Lisa, one of my spiritual moms who also just moved back to the States from Swaziland. After we talked I felt a closure to the last season of my life. Thursday I got to sit and dream again with the Lord and remember what I'm passionate about and what excites me in life. Friday, I got to talk to Gary, Lisa's husband, and he confirmed what the Lord had been saying the day before.
So what's next? Following Jesus. Just like when I moved to Swaziland and I didn't know exactly what to expect but that He walked me through day by day. Different location, same God. There are still tears and I think more are yet to come. My life was in Swaziland and I miss that life. Today i heard a song that I would always listen to in the morning when I got ready in Swaziland and I burst into tears because I missed my house there. The Lord just keeps pulling me away and saying "trust me, be still, and trust me" (Psalm 37:3-8). I miss hearing SiSwati being spoken. I miss the "Swazi pace" that always embraced the phrase "There's no hurry in Swaziland". I want to run up and give a hug to every black woman I see and then soon realize they have a funny (American) accent and are not as excited to see me.
On a lighter note - Here's some thoughts since I've been back.
"Wow that building is big, What is that? Answer: Cosco"
"How is she blow-drying her hair in the bathroom with the door shut? Electrical outlets in the bathroom"
(Lisa said) "Honey, you don't have to do that, we have a dishwasher."
I keep trying to turn the lights to a room on from the outside of the room
I keep looking for the switch on the electrical plugs
"Where is everyone? No one is walking around the streets, it's eerily quiet."
"Wow, that's big"
"Wow, that was fast"
"I hear more accents here (airports in the States) than I did in 2 1/2 years living in another country"
Colorado was great. Thank you Gary and Lisa for making me a part of your family and speaking life into me. I also have to say there are a lot of eligible, studly single men there - check out the video. And the one on the right, Noah, Gary and Lisa's youngest son, he can count to 49 :)
Too many people are hungry, those girls had nothing. I am so saddened by the life they chose, but I feel sorry for them more than I condemn them
Please Pray with us. Lord, I pray that the Cherish members would be strong in you and your mighty power. I pray they would put on your full armor so they may take their stand against the devil's schemes. Their struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:10-13) but Christ you disarmed these powers and authorities, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col 2:15). We proclaim your victory in the lives of those whom you live in in Swaziland.
I thought you would enjoy reading an email I just got from Swaziland. This is from my brother Musa in Swaziland who works with the D-team (Discipleship Team) at the Care Points (community feeding centers for orphans) with AIM. The Cherish team is now working at the Care Points so this is Musa giving me an update on the girls - Hloniphile (Fufu), Phumlile, and Zabiba. If you know Musa, I'm sure you can hear him saying this and if you don't know him...well you need to. I put the parentheses for translation.
