While most of us are scurrying around either starting or finishing shopping for Christmas gifts, another part of the world is bracing itself for another difficult season. School fees to begin the annual term in January are always a point of stress for nearly all Swazi families.
Swaziland is considering whether or not to continue the constitutionally mandated payments to primary school for all children. For the past several years they have added one grade per year, beginning with grade 1. 2012 should bring us up to the school fees being provided through grade 4. With the current financial crisis in Swaziland and the rumblings in parliament one wonders if this will happen.
Educating children is a fundamental step in addressing the poverty cycle. More than that,
this chart demonstrates that educating children, especially girls, is a life saving proposition! There is a direct correlation between education level of girls and their first experience of sex. The further along they go in school, the more likely they will put off having sex. And in a country with the highest HIV infection rate in the world this is in deed a life saving proposition!
Adventures Swaziland is working to raise school fees for this coming school year. We'd love to help as many of the children as possible with some or all of their school fees. If you want to learn more or are willing to help, visit our new web page. You can also donate there as well. Just be sure to write "school fees" in the notes field. Education is our featured project right now. It costs about $100 to put someone in grades 1-7 in school for a year. Would love to have your help!
MBABANE,
17 October 2011 (IRIN) - Swaziland's parliamentarians are questioning the
purpose of a social safety net covering children, the elderly and the disabled.
One dismissed it as little more than a public relations exercise, but in the
teetering economy the recipients often depend on these small grants and
pensions for survival.
"Why do we continue with this assistance [to orphans and vulnerable
children, (OVC), pensions and school fees for primary school students]? It
seems as if we are trying to impress some people here," said
parliamentarian Patrick Gamedze in the assembly on 13 October. His colleague,
Nichodemus Mashwama, also called for an end to government payments for primary
school students, although this is stipulated in the constitution.
Other MPs backed Mashwama's call for a constitutional amendment to abolish
government payments aimed at achieving universal primary education. Some
questioned why MPs should be held accountable for school fees, old age and
disability pensions, and grants for OVC when government had no money to pay for
them.
Donor-dependent Swaziland has been plunged into a financial crisis since
receipts from the Southern Africa Customs Union dried up in the wake of the
global 2008 slowdown, but finance minister Majozi Sithole recently conceded
that government corruption cost the country nearly twice the annual
amount budgeted for social services.
King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch, rules a landlocked
country between South Africa and Mozambique, where about 70 percent of the 1.1
million Swazis live on US$2 a day or less. It has the world's highest HIV/AIDS
prevalence, with one in four people aged 15-49 infected with the disease.
Earlier in October the Acting Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs,
Magwagwa Gamedze, told the UN Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review of
Swaziland that government was fulfilling its constitutional obligation to pay
for primary school education in a roll-out programme that currently funds
children in grades one and two, and this would be expanded to accommodate all
students up to grade five by 2015.
A
US$350 million bailout package, put together by South Africa after
international finance institutions declined to lend unless the country
restructured its finances, is awaiting signature of the Memorandum of
Understanding to release the money.
The government has shown little interest in signing the memorandum, which lists
"confidence-building measures" towards democracy human rights and
fiscal reform, as well as the "overhaul of its budgetary systems",
among the loan conditions.
The Times of Swaziland, the country's only independent newspaper, pessimistically
noted that the South African loan was "as good as dead".
The debate on the future of social services was prompted by submissions from
the Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, on the suspension of grants to the
elderly. "We do not know where we will get the money to pay elderly
grants," he commented.
Partial payments
Most pensions were suspended in the first quarter of 2011. In June only
6,480 pensions were paid, while at least 40,000 pensioners without bank
accounts received nothing so that OVC grants could be paid instead. Masuku did
not respond to parliamentary questions as to when regular pension payments
would resume.
"The money is so little - only R600 (US$80) a month - that few of the
elderly can afford to pay the high service fees charged by banks for
accounts," Amos Zwane, president of the Swaziland Old Age Society, told
IRIN.
No
pensioner has received any money from government in three months
"Whether they have accounts or not, no pensioner
has received any money from government in three months," Zwane said.
"We go to the collection points, but there is nothing. There is no
explanation."
Sharon Dlamini, who lives in Ewandle in the central Manzini region, told IRIN
"I ride the bus one hour to collect my pension and there is nothing for
me. My grandchildren suffer. It has been so long since I ever used that money
for myself, because I need it to pay their school fees and all their
needs."
The 65-year-old widow said, "They are suffering now. I live in rags and I
go hungry, but I was happy to help them because those children have no one in
the world but their granny. But there are no grants for us any more."
It's been a blur since I returned from Swaziland almost two weeks ago. It was a great trip focusing on the developing Swaziland Leadership Academy. I spent some good time with staff and even worked on a couple new partnerships with pastors there.
But the best part of the trip for me was having my dad come along. He came over in 2007 and spent time with Marcia, Josiah and myself but it's been a few decades since we had extended time together just the two of us and this was the chance of a lifetime to make some memories as well as remember old times together - in Africa!
In between all the meetings and appointments we were able to attend four Christmas parties at care points which was fun and rewarding to see the culmination of a years work with the children.
In Jeffreys Bay South Africa we climbed a sand dune to find a geocache. We also went to a great restaurant there called Walskipper's where we enjoyed a seafood platter for two. I thought this was appropriate since the last time we did a trip together I was 13 years old and we went fishing in Minnesota!
Once we got to Swaziland we spent a morning geocaching. The most interesting one was on top of Execution Rock which is where, in the olden days, people were executed by being tossed off the top!
We also had the chance to do a little fishing another morning and caught a couple nice bass in a sugar cane irrigation lake where they have black mambas and crocodiles.
It is an amazing blessing to have a father who is not only able to have some fun adventures with me but he is interested in the ministry in Swaziland enough to go all the way there and see it. It was a great trip I will never forget.
Have you had a moment where eternity past and future meet the present and the deepest recesses of your soul are laid bare and profound truths are discovered through deep conviction and revelation of the Love of Christ?
I had a moment like that the other day and I wanted to tell you about it.
I just returned from Swaziland a couple days ago from a 2 week trip. One Sunday I went to a church we hope to bring into partnership with a church here in the US. The church service in the simple structure was typical - lively and crowded full of singing voices and in this case, familiar faces.
I was blessed when during testimony time one of those familiar faces walked forward to share. I wrote about Lindiwe on this blog a couple years ago. In June of 2009 her husband died suddenly and left her with 10 children.
She stood there humbly but firm before the church - quietly quoting the end of Romans 8 and relating it to her life. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, not powers, nor height, nor depth, not any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." As she stood there telling us all that no circumstances in life can separate us from the love of God the picture of her life from two years ago came flooding back.
A gravel road leads to a dirt road that leads to a well worm walking path that leads to her homestead - a 2 room cement block home with two other mud walled and thatch roofed huts. The picture of her mourning in a dark room, children seemingly everywhere - some crying, some sick. The honk of the pick-up as the driver pulled up with the coffin carrying her husband and family breadwinner. The terrible sorrow I felt as we drove away.
Sitting in the church as I am sitting now in my home I was fighting back tears of amazement at the witness of strength and faith in the Love of Christ. This morning I woke early (jet lag) and read more about the Love of Christ in the Word and in an amazing book, "Renovation Of The Heart" by Dallas Willard.
Willard was referring to 1 John 4 as he talked about "perfect love casting out all fear." I listed my deepest fears - fear of death from a terrible disease, fear of harm to my family, fear of my financial future, fear of the path that lies before me. I contemplated these fears in light of the Love of Christ and they, even for some moments, were cast away by the knowledge of His perfect love for me.
As I sat in the presence of a mighty God who loves me, I was struck by the fact that my fears are probably closely aligned with Lindiwe's. Surely with her life story there is fear of death, harm, finances, and the way forward.
I remembered the picture I took of her leaving the church, greeting Pastor Mazia and his wife. Conviction rose over me as I pictured her long walk - miles - home from church along that same route I drove 2 years ago. And as she walks down that path through the gate to her home - her reality - she walks in the knowledge that nothing can separate her from the Love of Christ.
Thank you Jesus for your perfect that love that casts out all fear.
Thank you Lindiwe for discipling me that morning in church and this morning. I hope I can apply the Love of Christ to my life and fears as you have to your own.
I talk a lot in this blog about Swaziland. Today I wanted to show you some of the special people involved in our Swazi ministry - the children of our missionaries.
When I look at the pictures below I see a lot. I see sacrifice, calling, and potential. I see a whole lot of work getting done in Swaziland. I see families and friends back in the states who are loved and missed. I see redemption. I see a lifelong influence on the lives of these children and so many thousand others in Swaziland.
I can't put into words the admiration I have for these families who have set their feet firmly in the soil of Swaziland. Please pray for our families - for their faith, their relationships, their homes, their ministry, and their provision.
Two weeks ago I sent out a blog presenting a problem we could fix with $500. I was so blessed with the way so many people responded! In less than 24 hours we had the $500 in hand and set the team to work on the ground in Swaziland to build this simple kitchen structure. We've got a few finishing touches but this is basically it. Now the ladies who cook for the kids can do so out of the rain and wind.
If course this building is only a start. We'll be working to raise money for a fence around the property in order to secure things and keep the animals out ($3500). Then we'll need an outhouse for better hygiene for the kids ($2500). Once these are in place we'd like to build a classroom for discipleship classes and education for the children with a storage to keep supplies secure ($9000). Hopefully we can utilize the well already drilled and put in a water system for a large vegetable garden ($2000). The last thing to put in is a playground ($5000).
It may take a couple years, but we'll get this care point built out with the help of many friends. And we'll remember when the lady was cooking under the tree with some old tin and cement blocks to shelter from the wind. And we'll praise the Lord for His love and grace for these children and this community.
I was reading in Romans 12 in the message this morning:
"If you preach, just preach God's message, nothing else; if you help , just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face."
For those who gave, thanks for being "quick to respond."
Today I have a little smile on my face because we fixed a problem.
(You did it! We've got the $500 raised in less than 24 hours! THANKS to all who contributed!)
So often in these blogs I submit seemingly insurmountable problems in Swaziland. Not this time.
Today I want to present one that is an easy fix. I need a handful of people who can give $10, $20, $50, or even $100. Together we can correct something that isn't right in Swaziland. One of our care points was "kicked out" of the location where they were serving the kids and now they need a little help!
This (left) is the kitchen that now feeds about 50 kids every day. With $500 we can fix this. By building a simple structure with a roof we can provide a new place to cook (still over fire) which will be out of the elements.
If you can help with a gift of any amount it would help. For example 10 people giving $50 each can solve this problem.
If you can help please donate to this link and use the "Swaziland Orphan Fund" pull down. Also PLEASE let me know you've donated so I can get the funds over there ASAP!
See below a picture of some of the kids getting discipleship teaching by Celmphilo - our lead Discipleship Team member. The other picture is outside the "beehive" classroom they are using. Ultimately we'll need to build a classroom as well. This one is dark inside and lacks any teaching aids.
Below is another Discipleship Team Member Sanele having a planning meeting for teaching the lessons that week with one of the care givers at the care point.
I attempted to write a blog alongside this article but I just could not come up with anything productive to say. I think the article speaks for itself but if you don't have time to read it then just read the quotes in the last three paragraphs. Indeed the innocent suffer the most.
Meanwhile, see what Forbes Magazine has to say about King Mswati III.
MBABANE,
15 September 2011 (IRIN) - The vast majority of Swaziland's primary and
secondary public schools have not opened for the new term, after the
government failed to settle the outstanding education fees of US$10.8
million for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
About 200,000 children, or nearly one fifth of the country's 1.1 million
people, are classified as orphaned or vulnerable. Swaziland has the world's
highest prevalence of HIV - 26.1 percent. One in four Swazis aged 15-49 is
HIV-positive and 70 percent of people live below the poverty line.
The government of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute
monarch, is legally bound to pay OVC fees, which have been outstanding
since January 2011.
"Last week government assured us that when schools opened for the
third term, [13 September] money for the outstanding fees would be paid for
the OVC. This did not happen. The schools have no money to operate,"
Sibongile Mazibuko, president of the country's largest teachers' union, the
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), told local media.
In a mobile phone text message to about 9,000 union members on 13
September, SNAT said: "Since government has failed to deposit money
for OVCs as per agreement, teachers should return and remain at home until
[we] meet Thursday [15 September] for a protest march."
The
Ministry of Education told IRIN the teachers' union did not have the
authority to close schools, and the ministry has ordered children to attend
school through broadcasts on government radio stations.
Swaziland's deepening economic crisis saw neighbouring South Africa
recently agree to a R2.4 billion (US$370 million) loan to prevent an
economic meltdown, after international financial institutions, including
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), declined to bail out Swaziland for,
among other reasons, its failure to reduce its public sector wage bill,
which is seen as far too large for the country's size. South Africa has not
yet paid
the loan.
"Cash flow
problem"
The Swazi government says the failure to pay OVC school fees is a
"cash flow problem" and has given assurances that education and
health needs would be financed.
They [OVC] are the innocent ones in all this. The first and
second graders were promised that their fees would be paid by government,
as per the national constitution
A headmaster of a school in
central Manzini region, who declined to be identified, told IRIN:
"They [OVC] are the innocent ones in all this. The first and second
graders were promised that their fees would be paid by government, as per
the national constitution. The OVC in higher grades are so many now, and
schools cannot operate without government assistance paying their fees. We
are at our wits end. The children are absolutely devastated. It is painful
to educationalists and it's a tragedy for the children," he said.
The Swaziland Principals Association (SWAPA) recently resolved not to admit
any OVC for the 2012 school year to avoid what is becoming an annual
confrontation with government over the payment of fees.
"School is not only necessary for the children's education, but for
socialization, because many OVC reside at child-headed households. Their
parents have departed," social worker Thandi Gamedze said.
Second grade teacher Ronald Dlamini told IRIN: "Swaziland's government
has no money and it is making its spending priorities clear. It seems to be
taking the path of least resistance. Instead of cutting civil servants'
salaries and risking strikes, it is making the nameless and the faceless
ones suffer, because first and second graders and OVC do not take to the
streets."
Tomorrow we leave Swaziland. After 8 weeks in country we're re-packing the bags we came with and preparing for the long plane ride home. Now I need to unpack my experiences here. I always have mixed emotions when I go to Swaziland and when I leave to go home. It's always hard to go, always hard to leave. I suppose that is an indicator of a blessed life full to so many good things. Thank you Lord.
How do I summarize these past 8 weeks? I'm trying to get my finger on it. So much work, so much hope, and yet so much darkness. The weight of it all consumes the deepest parts of me. While I interact with those I love, answer emails, and make plans for the the future there is always the contemplative undercurrent of the paradox that is Swaziland. Undeniable light and unspeakable pain. I am never away from that influence deep within. I am a functional Swaziaholic.
I see some of the disparity in the faces of the children. One child exhibits unbridled joy and gives my heart hope for a Swaziland full of people living the abundant lives they were created for. Life is still a party. A smile is the easiest response to any situation.
Another child reveals the difficult path of the life they are headed down. The worries and darkness already show on the face and in every step. Life is a march, not a dance. Day after day of survival bleeds hope from the soul.
I spend a lot of time working with people on plans, models, and strategies to help Swaziland. Leading trips, rallying resources, bolstering staff, encouraging locals. All these things consume my days here in Swaziland.
But as I sit here with a few quiet moments before I say final goodbye's I have thoughts and convictions. With apologies to donors, organizations, consultants and every well meaning participant in the Swazi endeavor - all of the above activity is necessary but none of it will save Swaziland.
The only thing that will save Swaziland is Jesus. The root of every issue here is spiritual and the spiritual strongholds here are indeed strong and only broken with spiritual power. HIV? Spiritual Issue. Orphans? Spiritual Issue. Monarchy? Spiritual Issue. Failed economy? Spiritual Issue. Compromised pastors? Spiritual Issue. Broken families? Spiritual Issue.
I am not trying to oversimplify the complicated cultural, political, economic, and anthropoligical context. All these things are part of understanding the spiritual battle for the lives of the children pictured above and all those they represent.
For the innocents and the helpless this battle belongs to the Lord but it is ours to fight! We need to continue to come alongside those Swazi's who are fulfilling the ministry of Jesus:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18,19)
As I leave Swaziland I am determined to return with a sword in my hand (Eph. 6) and with a towel around my waist (Jn 13).
And while I am gone I want to learn how to more actively and powerfully work on my knees.
"Oh Swaziland, Swaziland, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to
you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate."
The battle belongs to the Lord. But the war won't last forever.
Yesterday was a big day. I went down to Nsoko to meet with Matt and Eric and I ended up losing the only keys we have for the car I was driving (which is a long story involving staff meetings, fishing, a Mozambican mechanic, wire, rocks, and a great new bass lure). After searching through piles of rocks and spending an hour or more trying to break into the car just to get our stuff out of it I was embarrassed and angry. I ended up staying overnight when I didn't plan on it so I had no clothes, toothbrush, or other things that make spending the night more tolerable. I hitched a ride back to Manzini this morning with a long list of things to do. Marcia and I were just ready to head out the door when I heard water spraying. I said, "I think someone is washing our car." Sure enough, Albert came unexpectedly and was outside washing the car which is awesome except we are trying to leave to do our long list. With a white medical coat and a smile on his face, Albert is serving away while we wait.
It sure will be nice to have a clean car. Thanks Albert :)
Once we got to Swaziland we spent a morning geocaching. The most interesting one was on top of Execution Rock which is where, in the olden days, people were executed by being tossed off the top! 
We've got a few finishing touches but this is basically it. Now the ladies who cook for the kids can do so out of the rain and wind.
ut" of the location where they were serving the kids and now they need a little help! 
I see some of the disparity in the faces of the children. One child exhibits unbridled joy and gives my heart hope for a Swaziland full of people living the abundant lives they were created for. Life is still a party. A smile is the easiest response to any situation. 
