📌🌍Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
Today I write to you from Eswatini, a country ravaged by AIDS resulting in over 100,000 children without parents in a nation of only 1 million citizens.
I’d like to introduce you to Chloe*.
Chloe’s parents passed away leaving her to be cared for by a local woman caring for 30 other orphans into her home. Yes, 30. The kindness of this “Mom” is overwhelming. Their home is a made with mud walls, thatch roof and floors that are constructed using animal dung. Chloe shares a bed with some of her siblings and is grateful to have “family” around her. She is blessed to have someone to care for her and her needs.
Chloe walks 2 kilometers, about 1.25 miles, to attends school and receive a primary education. However, when she has completed her primary education it is unlikely she will be able to receive secondary education because it is too far from home.
She also helps to gather dirty water from a local pond, where the animals also drink, about 1/4 mile away in order to provide for the family’s needs.
In the midst of these hardships, there is great hope and joy for Chloe.
In the midst of these hardships, there is great hope and joy for Chloe.
Not far from her home is a CarePoint that is operated by our amazing partners – Adventures in Missions. At this CarePoint, Chloe receives the care of a young Swazi leader called a shepherd who provides discipleship for her every day after school. This Shepherd will introduce Chloe to Jesus and help her to navigate overcoming the forces of evil that want to steal, kill and destroy and chances that Chloe has of becoming whole. Chloe also receives tutoring and an opportunity to be a child in a loving and caring environment. The laughter and joy at a CarePoint is contagious as 200 children with desperate physical needs simply have fun and learn about Jesus’ love while also growing in character and wisdom.
Also at that CarePoint Chloe receives the only nutritious meal of her day. She will receive a large serving of Hands Against Hunger® high protein food that you helped to pack and fund. This meal provides Chloe with the nourishment that she needs to develop physically and cognitively, to succeed in school and to fight off illness.
One high protein meal per day, along with the love of CarePoint staff, means that Chloe is deeply impacted in the name of Jesus to not only seek change in her life, but to change the lives of others. Hands Against Hunger® meals became a gateway of opportunities for Chloe to grow into all that God has designed for her to become.
Thank you for loving on children like Chloe by providing for her basic needs in Jesus’ Name. Please continue to pray for Chloe and the 7,000 other children like Chloe receiving high protein meals every day after school at various CarePoints across Eswatini.
*Name has been changed for safety and privacy.
