Wednesday - Home Visits - Mafambisa

​Holy Home Visit 1: Carolyn, Lesley, Rachel, Sally

We set out for today’s home visit heading up the hill from the care point. Looking back as we walked gave us a new perspective on the community with a view over the valley.

On the way Prudence explained that the parents have four children who attend the care point. The children and the father are South African but the mother is from Eswatini and so the grant for the children is paid to the father. Neither of the parents are working. The father does get piece work from time to time but often spends the money from this and the grant on liquor. 

The care workers wanted to visit the family as one of the children has not been attending the care point. He has been telling his mother that he will attend but then going off to a friends house instead. While they were discussing this with the mother the children started arriving home. Khetiwe had a chat with the boy and both she and Prudence encouraged him to start attending regularly so that he could have a hot meal at lunchtime each day. With the limited resources the family have this is particularly important. The conversation was a great example of the collaboration between the care point and parents to care for and support the children. 

We were able to ask questions about the family’s home and situation. I had noticed that there were several pairs of trainers on the wall that they were clearly trying to dry out after the heavy rain yesterday. I asked about whether the rain had caused any issues inside the house and they said that water does come in during wet weather. Lesley asked about how the family afford school uniform, shoes, laundry detergent etc and Prudence advised that the care point provide support with all of these when needed. 

At the end of our visit Carolyn prayed for the family and we had a photo with the mother and three of the children. The children then joined us for the walk back to the care point (including the one who has not been attending). 

Blogged by Sally 

Holy Home Visit 2: Ben, Freya, Jack, John and Lucy 

After our relationship group and worship, we were asked if we would like to go on a Holy Home Visit. There was a choice of 2, a long walk away one or a short walk away one. Freya, Jack, Mum, Dad and I went on the longer one, which eventually became further than expected, as the family we were going to visit weren’t at home. 

So we carried on to Gogo Joanna’s house, which we later learned was the farthest house that Mafambisa care for, right on the outskirts of the community. She is the grandmother of six, only four of which go to the Care Point, as the other two are too young. The family are all from Mozambique so have very little opportunity and money, therefore Hands helped to build and fund their house. 

The Gogo has 2 daughters and a son, one daughter lives with them and has piece work regularly which a small source of income but very little. The other daughter doesn’t live there and is still in education so has very little income to support the family with. Her son, father of the youngest grandchild, is also still at school. 

As we were talking to Gogo, the youngest fell asleep; I took the chance to play with the other child. There was a small football so we started playing and his face lit up which was a joy to see. Despite their limited conditions and resources, the Gogo has a positive and joyful outlook. She felt honoured to have us visit, welcomed us warmly to her home, and was especially pleased that we wanted to pray for her and her family. We prayed for their safety, security and wellbeing, that all the children would continue their education, find work and boost the income of the household. As we said our goodbyes we admired her small vegetable garden, her papaya trees and her sugar cane; she replied that she was hoping for no more windy weather as it had blown some of the papaya from her trees. She walked a little way back with us as we returned to the Care Point.

Blogged by Ben