A Beautiful girl from Zombodze

 

I love this little girl.  She is obviously handicapped, but SMILES and hugs that light up the valley!!!  (then 5 minutes later, more giggles, smiles and up for another hug… she is like shampoo- rinse, lather, repeat.. )J

 

God is growing our facilitator’s heart in to loving and caring for the Carepoint kids in an extra-ordinary way. This is a story of Gugu Dlamini who is 13yrs of age.  Gugu was staying in Logoba with her mother who was mentally ill.  In 2008 mom passed away, and the community took gugu to the psycho social centre. Gugu is also someone who is mentally challenged so living with out her mother was very hard on her. After some time she started wandering around going from one place to another.   Places she has never been before just looking for some one who can love and take care of her.

 

Many Men were taking advantage of her. Pretending to love her but abusing her sexually.  But we all know that Gods love and protection was always with her. God lead Gugu to Zombodze Carepoint  were she found Prudence (the facilitator there). Prudence gave her self time to build a strong relationship with Gugu.  Prudence invited Gugu to stay with her in her home. And because of the abuse that has happen in Gugu,s  life Prudence gave her time and took her to the hospital to do the tests she needed to do with the help of the Cup Medical team. Gugu felt the love and care from the Carepoint and Prudence!  She is now adjusting she does not wander around not knowing where she going. You can tell that this was God that led her to this Carepoint.   To receive the love, care and protection there.  She is always there playing, eating and helping the cooks … EVERYDAY. Blessings to you all who are supporting our Carepoints because there are many children like Gugu who need to be loved, secured and appreciated of who they are. Gugu has HOPE and future now-and it all comes down to LOVE!

-story by Portia Dube(our awesome preschool discipleship coordinator)

The heart of a Volunteer Cook - bringing JOY to so many

Thuli Mdluli is a cook at one of our CarePoints. She has  compassionate heart, and has shown this by extending care for 3 kids that don’t even belong to her.

 

Meet John.  John was abondoned by his mom, and left to his father (who is now re-married).  The new wife wanted to leave him because John was not her son. The father decided to harm John, in fact he tried to kill him by throwing John in a homestead where there were fierce dogs.  Momma Thuli “Two-lee” rescued him.  She took the small boy to her homestead where she is also living with Phephile “Pay-pee-lay” and Muzi “Moo-zee” and Rosenna  who are all double orphans.

 

Thuli is a volunteer cook at the CarePoint, and  is taking John with her everyday.  he is too young to attend the pre school class because he is only 3yrs old.  The boy now flows with joy.  He recently sang a song that they sing at bible clubs and he shared a Memory verse from the bible club…we are so amazed at how he can take the Word in his heart.  It was cute, ,he was stammering saying 1John 16:16 “I…chose… you… to.. go… and… bear fruit “,  the recovery that the Lord is bringing in the child’s life is awesome. May He be praised.

 

Phephile and Muzi came to stay with Thuli when they were 3 and 5 yrs old, now Phepile is 18 yrs and Muzi is 20yrs old and they are very active youth at the CarePoint. Their education is  being sponsored by a nearby school. (the schools are required to leave open X number of slots for double orphaned children-and are not supposed to charge them for education)

 

Rosenna, (now the 4^th child) has also lost both of her parents.  She is 5yrs old and Thuli rescued her from her uncle. The wife of the uncle did not like and did not want anything to do with Rosenna.  She was abusing the child emotionally and physically in unthinkable ways.  She would strangle her and torture her by putting a hot iron on her forehead.  Even now she is still healing from the physical scars.  But God is restoring her.  She is now a happy child(our goal for all of these kids), and is attending our CarePoint school and bible clubs and playing with other kids and feeling the love of Christ through Mama Thuli!!

 

These kids are the NORM here in Swaziland.  I wish we had to dig hard to find stories like this, but for now-that is not so.  The PIECE of hope we cling to is that because of great women like Momma Thuli, these kids have love back in their lives.  The PEACE of hope truly passes all understanding.

June update from Mitch and Char

Image too small?  Click it to enlarge.

 

 

Global Leadership Academy - Internship program Podcast

http://childrenscup.podbean.com/2011/06/01/global-leadership-academy-a-vibrant-multi-cultural-internship-program/

 

A multi-cultural onsite program that promises to rock your world.  If you are interested in Missions or International ministry, you will want to be involved in the next round of student interns.  We at Children’s Cup believe that THESE are the future global changers!  Learn more about yourself, others and the world!  Click the link above to listen, then follow up at www.childrenscup.org

 

Today, we just talk briefly about the program and then let you listen in on 2 of the powerful worship songs the interns sang at staff devotions on Tuesday.