Swaziland 16-18 October 09 – Team B

We just had a trip to swaziland. We were the support team and specifically needed to take 50 sponsored chairs to Caiaphas at Matshapa close to Manzini at the NCC there.

Everything went really well and the 5 of us (Ashley, Dawie, Joseph, Martie and Bernard) had a packed day. We got a lot of things done and had time to see small parts of the country as well.

We leaved early (6:00) on Saturday morning (17 October) with Isak Louws’ Corsa bakkie as well as Ashleys’ corsa light. So, it was actually a corsa outreach. We left for the borderpost and arrived there at a little past eight. It took us up until nine to get through with the chairs but God blessed us, and gave us favour by the fact that we did not have to pay any taxes either sides. The complete value of the Chairs caused the taxes to be money we don’t really want to spend, seeing that they are sponsors. Nevertheless we crossed the border with thankfull hearts and approached the Swaziland with a caution on the road because of extreme mist and a bad road. Everything went well and we reached Matsapa at about ten.

Caiaphas received the chairs and then asked how he should pay for them. I simply said that a thanks would be all he needed to give. Tears came to my eyes because of his response in thankfulness, and I could see that Joseph also got very emotional. Leaving there with thankful hearts that we could be able to give them 50 chairs, we headed back up the hill and on the tar road.

There we met up with Annalize and Petro. She took us to Beveni. The newest carepoint in Swaziland that has been equiped by Hopechest. We have decided on a previous trip that we would want to help with starting a vegetables garden. At this stage the children at the carepoints only recieve a meal of pap and baked beans and we would love to add to it by adding some vegetables. We planted new seeds and prayed that God would let it grow.

We left for the borderpost after we quickly made a pitstop at the nextdoor neigbouring carepoint that was equiped the previous time. What a lovely sight to see that the other teams have actually caused the place to become well equiped. We needed to be the hands to those who are investing financially, I realized. That is what God wants us to do now.

With hearts filled with the expectancy of children we left for the Nerston borderpost that normally closes at five. Once again being tortured by heavy mist and bad roads we came in time to cross the border and back into South Africa, wonderful SA. We ate something and discussed the day, with busy minds of the things we could do we departed for home, arrived safely at about eight.

Wonderful, quick trip with no losses and a lot of successes. Awaiting our other team with prayers and hopes of their safe return.

Bernard