Nineteen Hours to Sweet Smiles and Polaroid Pictures by Sarah Baker - Atlanta, GA
June 19, 2008
When I first was invited to go to Swaziland, I didn’t even think twice. “Africa?! Of course I want to go!” My family and I had been involved with organizations dedicated to serving Africa and I was itching to get to see and experience all that I’d seen in the films, stories, and books. My 16 year old cousin, Jordan, and I signed up to join a group from Kings Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, GA. I thought and prayed about it later that night and knew I had to invite my 20 year old brother Eric. He gave an enthusiastic “Yes!” and the anticipation and planning began.
We arrived at the Atlanta airport on the afternoon of May 31 barely making our flight and left for the 19 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. The flight was pretty rough, but completely worth it.
I see that I’m going to have difficulty finding appropriate adjectives to describe my experiences in Swaziland, but I’ll do my best. Our week working at the New Hope Center was difficult, fulfilling, mind-blowing, world-shaking, eye-opening, exhilarating, exhausting, and delightful. That list might begin to cover the variety of emotions and experiences present. Our team did an array of jobs. We worked on redecorating the kitchen, hanging curtains, gardening, organizing the library, and painting, painting, painting. We learned a lot through our leaders about the state of the children of New Hope Center and Swaziland that made our hearts ache.
There were many highlights for me:
seeing the sweet smiles of all the kids
the precious production of Godspell
taking Polaroid pictures of all the kids
seeing the colorful murals come to life
the beautiful families in the community
waving to all the local people
thanksgiving time every day at 4
seeing our work be completed
making new friends on our team
spending quality time with my cousin and brother
watching the sun set on those big green hills
the most spirited, amazing worship service ever
By the end of the week, I was partially ready to return back to my home, but I knew I would never be able to get Africa out of my heart. A piece of me will stay there and I know I will return someday and serve and love in whatever capacity God asks.
Silence the Voice and Step Into the Unknown by Jacqui Wheelhouse - Portland, OR
June 19, 2008
Sawubona! (I see you)
This is the standard greeting in Swaziland which has deeper meaning than just hello. It means that I see you and I acknowledge you as a brother or sister or friend. It is a beautiful language and I think we as Americans, could learn a lot from our African family.
I am home! It has taken me about a week to sort through a lot of feelings, sadness and thoughts. I definitely had a heart shift in Africa. How someone doesn’t is beyond me. It gets in one’s skin…and becomes a part of a person. I believe everyone on that trip would agree. I am not sure it’s something I can explain, it just is.
So I left my heart there. It sort of got ripped out of me actually. There is such an incredible blend of despair and hope in one place. For most of last week, I felt like I was sifting through rubble. Like a tsunami of sorts had gone through my being and now it was time to see what was left intact and what was destroyed. I would like to say that a lot of my selfishness was destroyed. However, it seems that this could take a lifetime. I do know that I found myself there. A part of me, that I didn’t see before.
I arrived in Johannesburg and we drove to Swaziland the next day. It’s about a 5 hour trek and a gorgeous one at that. We had a large team on this trip. Many families with young children. My nephew went along and that was wonderful having him there. Especially now that we are home, we can talk about our trip and the things that are continuing to surface in our hearts. It’s a very good thing.
I spent a week at an orphanage called New Hope Center, in Swaziland. It is in the last stages of completion. They house 40 children and a large staff. These children were quite inspirational. Their stories are all similar. Most of them are double orphans, meaning both parents are dead. Many were found alone, on their property or turned in by community people. Most of the children have been raped or used for slave labor on other land. When a family dies, the children are taken by other people in the community and used for various exploits. However, you would never know it by looking into their eyes. There is love and joy and life emanating from them. There is healing that is happening in their hearts and a purpose growing in them. I often times found myself wondering what I had to offer them. I felt as if I was the one benefiting in this experience.
The first day there, I went into the community surrounding the orphanage. That is where I met my first AIDS victim. He was sitting on a dirty step and working hard to peel dried out beans. It appeared he was preparing them to be planted in their new garden. Most people in Africa seem to hang around. Nothing to do…no resources and so they sit. Sit by a fire, sit on a porch, kids playing in the dirt…it’s not like here. We are such busy, go go go people.
I shook his hand and he had no strength to squeeze mine. I could see he was honored though. He showed me his leg and it was a complete mess. He said he needed to visit the doctor but had no money. I sympathized. What could I do? He was not long for this earth…his leg was infected and oozing all over the place and he is looking in my eyes. The reality of what I experienced in a brief moment …this is what I still process. This man will die. There is no medication now that will help him. A doctor’s visit will not suffice. He is at the end of his journey. He has only days…maybe some weeks. Nothing more. This is his story. I cry for this family. Because he isn’t the only one that has died. He is one of many they will bury. And they will continue to bury their loved ones, until it’s the children left to care for all of them. One by one…they will fade into the dust of the earth. All their stories, life experiences, memories, love...gone.
As I pull myself back to the present, I listened to him speak. He didn’t complain. He just worked on his task and smiled. He was kind. He was a human being. He was my brother.
The grim reality of seeing what AIDS is doing in Africa was within my grasp. I was there. I saw it. So I went to plant a garden. If nothing else, his work to gather seeds for more food would produce a legacy. He wasn’t worthless. Even in his state, he was producing something good. In that moment, my heart shifted. I wasn’t the same person that got on the plane in Oregon. Something had died in me and been reborn. A new purpose. A deeper love than before.
So we planted a garden and prayed over it when we were finished. Prayed for the seedlings to produce abundance and that it would be life giving food to this little family.
We went to another home where a woman had 6 children. I don’t think she was even 30 years old. She was soooo proud of her new garden. Swazi people take pride in working the earth. They are passionate about growing and planting. It’s in their DNA. They are farmers and we were bringing hope to this community. On a side note, the number of gardens planted by Heart for Africa, in Swaziland, has gone past 200,000. This is an incredible number and took many people, willing to give time and energy to the cause. We all DO make a difference…one person at a time.
There is one more story that I would like to share in this letter. Prior to leaving for Africa, my daughter and I had watched a video of a little girl at New Hope. Her name is Jedidah. (pronounced Je-dee-dah) Her name translates to God’s little darling.
Anyway, upon returning from the gardening, it seemed that throughout the day all of the team members had bonded with the children there. I felt very out of place…like a stranger coming in. Everyone was connecting and hugging and laughing with these orphans and I found myself retreating a bit. A friend, I had made on the trip, asked me to come with her. She wanted me to meet her sponsored child. His name was Zechariah. She took me up to the preschool building and we entered a gate. He was standing there putting chalk on his lips like it was lipstick. I could not control my giggles….it was hilarious. He had such a proud look on his face. Young and silly. Immediately I felt at home. There were children all over the place. Laughter filled the air. A little girl ran straight up to me and asked if I was her sponsor. I said, “no, but I really like you!”… it was Jedidah.
I had flown over 8,000 miles and the first orphan I speak with, is her. I don’t believe in coincidence or random events. I truly believe God knew my heart for her and she showed up! So she said, “pick me up!” and I did. We played and laughed and giggled and my heart was so full. This little girl that was left under a tree, couldn’t walk, talk or anything…was in my arms and healthy and vibrant. Her story had impacted me miles away and now I was holding a little miracle. I spent the week painting a mural on the preschool walls. It was fun to see her everyday…listening to her talk about life and current events on the playground and fully alive. She is tucked in a pocket in my heart and when I feel discouraged or sad, she is right there to remind me of the blessings I have and the love I have experienced not only there, but home as well. When I look at my children, I see so much. I see their dreams, I see world changers with tender hearts, I see the future.
My kids ask me questions everyday and I share stories and moments. They are eager to meet these children in Africa and I believe they will one of these days.
As my path unfolds from this moment, I am drawn back to that place. To that massive continent. I am excited to write some books on orphans, for American children. I am excited to write books on AIDS for the African children. I have the opportunity to translate a book into 2 languages thus far and will do that.
I have been invited back in September, to Kenya. Doors are opening and I feel that I am on a path that resonates with who I am and my skills and talents. It doesn’t look at all like I had anticipated, yet I am full of excitement…and a bit of fear as well.
The neverending question for me is always, am I enough? Do I have what it takes to do something so great? To make a difference…the answer is yes…but I have yet to fully embrace that for me. There is a nagging voice that whispers, are you sure you know what you are doing? Maybe this is just too big for your britches. You don’t have the resources. You don’t have the experience or knowledge.
You know that voice, it speaks to you as well. So my choices are in front of me….and I choose to silence the voice and step into the unknown.
Watch the video of Jedidah
New Hope Prepares to Move In to New Dorm
May 15, 2008
New Hope Center in Swaziland is nearing the conclusion of a huge expansion project that began late last year. It started with a new dorm for 35 teenage girls. The new dorm was funded from the first annual Heart for Africa Golf Marathon hosted in Alpharetta, GA in September, 2007. The dorm was occupied by the teenage girls at New Hope Center early this year.
And after a significant setback in the construction of the boys dorm due to a storm in March, the project is back on track and nearing completion. On May 31, a team of 80 volunteers with Heart for Africa will depart for New Hope Center. During their service trip, they team will help move the teenage boys into their new home.
These two new dorms have increased the available housing to 100 children at New Hope Center. This increased capacity will allow Dr. Hynd and her staff to provide a safe Christian home to the orphans of Swaziland as they grow up to be the future leaders of the country.
New Hope Suffers from Storm Damage – But Finds New Hope April 07, 2008
Days after our latest team of volunteers returned home from serving and working at New Hope Center, a devastating storm blew through the area virtually washing away the foundation of the new boys dormitory. After much hard work, the foundations were in place and work was progressing beautifully. However, on March 27th we received the following news from Shirley Ward, Heart for Africa Swaziland Country Coordinator, concerning the storm that hit the area the previous day.
“All the foundations of the new boys dorm have been washed away and they will need to start again. The road is again impassable with trucks and vehicles stuck in the mud. But, Praise God for His Protection. No one has been injured and all are safe. The enemy is really mad at the wonderful things that are happening and are about to happen at New Hope Center and continued prayer cover is vital.”
Foundation Prior to the Storm
Thankfully, new reconstruction of the foundation is already well underway as blocks were salvaged and can be used for the reconstruction. How thankful we are for the willingness the people at New Hope have to work hard and not fall to discouragement. Our next team of volunteers will arrive on June 1st. There is much to be done, but by God’s grace and provision, we are hopeful the foundations will be in place and ready for the next phase of work.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” - Lamentations 3:22-25
Heart for Africa - Canada 
When I first was invited to go to Swaziland, I didn’t even think twice. “Africa?! Of course I want to go!” My family and I had been involved with organizations dedicated to serving Africa and I was itching to get to see and experience all that I’d seen in the films, stories, and books. My 16 year old cousin, Jordan, and I signed up to join a group from Kings Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, GA. I thought and prayed about it later that night and knew I had to invite my 20 year old brother Eric. He gave an enthusiastic “Yes!” and the anticipation and planning began.
Sawubona! (I see you)
