Jeff here. Today I had the chance to go visit the World
Vision Swaziland National Office in Mbabane with Dayle and Bongi (Lucy was not
feeling well and the others stayed back to look in on her). After being part of
devotions with their staff, we had the chance to meet with the National
Director and his top staff, hearing about the work World Vision is doing and
some of the challenges they are facing. The funding for the field office has
been cut by 10% this past year, representing a shift in donor’s investments
from sub-Saharan Africa to other parts of the world where wars and more visible
disasters are present. The budget cuts have resulted in a decrease in staff and
a restructuring of the work here, giving more work to less people as they are
committed to the programming and refuse to take it out on the people they
serve. In speaking with them, I was so impressed by their articulate vision,
their passion to serve, and the desire to grow their country into a nation that
is self-sustaining and working for the good of others. of cutting back, they
are actually adding a new ADP this year bringing their total to 23 Development
Programs. They have big plans here and believe God will continue their work.
A few impressions—I was reminded again of how important the
US Church is to the work here. Not only is funding important, but the staff
would love for their local churches to learn from the US church on what it
means to be a missional church, having a heart and core theology of reaching
out. The staff mentioned how the churches here are very insular and do little
to help others beyond their community. They would love for churches like SPC to
come alongside the leaders here and teach them the basics of missional
thinking, thus changing the culture at its roots and where it matters, with the
local church. This is something I think would be an exciting venture for us. I
was also reminded today of the intelligence and power of the Swazi people.
Americans sometimes think that we have all the answers and know how to do
everything. These men and women were experts in their culture and their fields
and knew their constituency. Every figure I asked for they knew off the top of
their heads and every end result they were working towards had a strategy and measurable.
It was exciting.
Two things I saw—the mail room where all of our letters come
through and are processed (photo!).
And a HUGE building being built on our way
to the office. When I asked what it was, Bongi told us it was a US Embassy
building (!)—that’s right, the US is establishing a base here in Swaziland to
service the region (why Swaziland? Because it is safe and a solid government
was the answer. I think it is because there are Chinese investments and
infrastructure being built all over Swaziland as well).
All in all it’s been a great day. For those of you wondering
about health, Violet is now better (although she barfed on the way to church
yesterday—carsickness, Swazi driving not for the feint of heart or stomach!),
but now Lucy has been sick in bed all day—probably the Violet virus from a few
days ago. She is on the way back up this afternoon, but still a little queasy.
Prayers appreciated.
Tonight—off to a traditional Swazi dinner. I’m planning on
eating with my hands per the local custom—after a heavy dose of hand sanitizer
first (per our family rules).
--Jeff (for the family)
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