Internet!

Praise God!  I finally found Internet in Swaziland!  We have been here for three days, and they have been packed. I am quite overwhelmed at what I've seen. 

For one: this country is beautiful.  I had no idea what a paradise this is.  Words cannot describe how green it is here (remember, it is the middle of summer here south of the Equator).  We flew into Jo-berg, South Africa and then drove 2 1/2 hours north to the boarder of Swaziland.  Jo-berg is at 5,400 feet, but it is flat.  When you reach the boarder of Swaziland you begin descending through lush green valleys and canyons through banana trees, palm trees, and aloe Vera plants.  It truly is one of the most beautiful places I've been (And I live in Colorado!). 

Behind the beauty is heart break.  We visited our first two care-points and it was an eye-opener.  I'm not sure what I expected, but what I found were around 70 children, beautiful children, with gorgeous smiles that pull on every string in your heart.  We spent all morning holding kid after kid, playing soccer, and trying to communicate.  The older kids all speak English, but kids under about 6 only speak the native language siSwati.  All of these children are orphans.  They have lost at least one parent if, not both parents to AIDS.  Add on top of that that Children's Hope Chest estimates that 60% of these beautiful children are HIV positive.  Think about that for a second.  In the US, ARV's (Anti-retrial Viral medications) are readily available so life expectancy for HIV positive people is measured in decades.  But here in Swazi, an HIV positive person, even these children have 2-3 years.  It is heartbreaking. 

The moment that hit me the most yesterday was during a Bible lesson.  Two boys, around 2 years old, were sitting on a bench on a cement floor.  They got tangled up, and they both fell backwards and the younger of the two slammed his head into the floor and burst into tears crying out.  It was the same cry of my own two-year-old Kaden back in the US.  In the US, when Kaden cries, my wife Beka or I jump to help him, but here in Swazi, there is no mom or dad.  He is just one voice among 70 other children.  I was close to this boy so I went over and picked him up and carried him outside to just hold him.  Fortunately this took place at a care-point where there are loving adults.  A Go-go (Grandma), who runs the care-point) came over and as she got near the child reached out to this go-go for love and care. But what if this took place away from the care point at night?  Who would be there to love this boy? 

Already, my heart is breaking in this place.  They say that if you want to get close to the heart of God, get close to the things that break His heart.  If this is true, then this is truly the place to find the heart of God.  This is a beautiful place, with gorgeous children and people made in the image of God.  Yet, this place breaks the heart of God in the past five years the population has dropped from 1.3 million to 850,000.  Why?  AIDS.  Think of the children left behind.  46% of the population is HIV positive.  A 15 year-old Swazi living today has a 1 in 10 chance of living to see his or her 35th birthday.  Will we stand by and do nothing?  We can't.  We must do something. 

It looks like I'll have consistent Internet now, so please check back in as I check in over the next few days.  Please pray for protection, and that my mind and heart would be filled with the Spirit of God. 

Comments

[Lauren]

Hey Brain,
I think it is really cool how you are down there helping all these wonderful children!!!!!!

[Andy Ingram]

Brian, great to hear you made it. My family will definitely be praying for you. Love on a few orphans for me!