Day 8 in Swaziland
Friday morning started with a brief eucharist in memory of Jean's best friend, Norma Madison of Des Moines, who passed away this week. Norma was very excited for Jean to come to Africa.
Later in the morning, the group met with the Mother's Union in Manzini to learn about their orphan project, which Iowans have supported. Clementine Mashwama gave a presentation about their work, which focuses on four areas: life skills (i.e., sewing, cooking), bereavement counseling, HIV/AIDS education, and Bible study. The women have worked with the schools to map homestead areas to identify the orphans. Twenty-five "caregivers" meet with the students, ages 6-12. Students who have completed the program come back as volunteers. The meetings occur every fortnight. The availability of the building they use keeps them from meeting more frequently, and the women hope to have a building of their own one day to solve this problem.
In the afternoon we traveled to one of Fr. Charles's six churches, St. Mark's in Lundzi, located in the Usutu forest. The hour-long drive into the western highveld was bumpy, but it was nice to see pine trees and so much green. It was a perfect day, sunny but with cool mountain breezes.
Our mission was to paint the interior of a new church, but we started late and Fr. Charles expected we wouldn't have time to do much more than drop the paint off and leave. But Iowans started picking up brushes and pouring paint before he had a chance to suggest otherwise. In about two and a half hours, and with the help of several local boys, we had put a coat of paint on the entire interior of the church. Fr. Charles called it a miracle.
More to come on Saturday's ordination of the first two women priests in Swaziland, so stay tuned...
Karen
Later in the morning, the group met with the Mother's Union in Manzini to learn about their orphan project, which Iowans have supported. Clementine Mashwama gave a presentation about their work, which focuses on four areas: life skills (i.e., sewing, cooking), bereavement counseling, HIV/AIDS education, and Bible study. The women have worked with the schools to map homestead areas to identify the orphans. Twenty-five "caregivers" meet with the students, ages 6-12. Students who have completed the program come back as volunteers. The meetings occur every fortnight. The availability of the building they use keeps them from meeting more frequently, and the women hope to have a building of their own one day to solve this problem.
In the afternoon we traveled to one of Fr. Charles's six churches, St. Mark's in Lundzi, located in the Usutu forest. The hour-long drive into the western highveld was bumpy, but it was nice to see pine trees and so much green. It was a perfect day, sunny but with cool mountain breezes.
Our mission was to paint the interior of a new church, but we started late and Fr. Charles expected we wouldn't have time to do much more than drop the paint off and leave. But Iowans started picking up brushes and pouring paint before he had a chance to suggest otherwise. In about two and a half hours, and with the help of several local boys, we had put a coat of paint on the entire interior of the church. Fr. Charles called it a miracle.
More to come on Saturday's ordination of the first two women priests in Swaziland, so stay tuned...
Karen
posted by Mission Team ~ Iowa at
9:19 PM
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