Today Chris and I (Ben) went off on a holy home visit in Mafambisa. We walked for about 2 hours up and over a mountain to learn more about this family’s lifestyle. We went with 2 people from Hands called Eunice and Prudence but also Kitsewe from the Mafambisa care-point.
When we arrived at this home we spent time with 3 of the 7 people that live there. These were in there late teens and early twenties (19,21 and 23). The 21 year old girl explained to us how they have 3 more siblings which are a pair of twins at the age of 8 and then another sibling at 11. The eldest of the 3 told us how there mum had left to stay with a new partner. Her and the family used to live in Eswatini but her old partner was abusive so she left with her 3 younger kids to South Africa. The 3 we met had a decision of staying in Eswatini with their dad - who wasn’t taking good care of them- or move to South Africa with her. The only problem with this is they had Eswatini ID papers so cannot work in South Africa unless it is a ‘cash in hand job’. This meant they are now caring for there siblings in a small shack with only 2 beds for the 6 of them and sometimes 7 when the mother comes home, this may be only once a month though. The house they are currently living in is small and isn’t very secure and safe, especially for two 11 year olds and an 8 year old. They don’t have a front door, they only have a door to the second room which is the bedroom. This only has enough space for 2 mattresses and barely anything else. The house isn’t made of bricks but made of scrap metal and wood making it unstable and leaving the children and young adults vulnerable.
We pray that this family find safety in South Africa and listen to God in how they may walk their path through these tough challenges. We pray God brings them hope when times are not going well and they use that hope to overcome the hard situation. May we pray they can find a job and continue to work as a family in order to build a bigger house and feel more at home in where they are.
Well done Ben ans team. These visits will be a lasting memory to you and a source of reflection when you return to UK. God bless them through your visit and you. Amen...
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Thanks so much, Ben,(Chris & Alice) for this detail. It really brings to life the really complex levels of need, the potential value of regular support and the massive commitment of HAW care workers as well of the encouragement you are surely carrying to them from us all. Well done, thank you so much for what you are all doing in walking the walk.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your feedback and photos bringing the reality of the situation to us. Thank you for being there and giving your support, prayers and love. We continue to hold you all in our prayers and send our good wishes to you over the next 2 weeks and say a special well done to Jack and Ben! Linda xx
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