top of page
Search
Lisa Jody Manser

Planes, rains and automobiles, and a big Bull!

It has been 2yrs since my last visit so I was a little apprehensive as much as excited to see and spend time with our children…  


We unfortunately encountered crazy storms - the rains were duly welcomed with open arms but the ongoing torrential rains unfortunately hampered some of our travels as our little Toyota, robust as she was, wasn’t up for the storm ravaged roads especially as Mayenjane and the Feeding care centres are based in remote areas.  Our prayers went up and in contrast to the rains, we also were able to experience some scorching sun that periodically dried up some of the roads so we could get out and visit all.


Our visit to Mayenjane was heartwarming and joyful - we didn’t get stuck in the mud and our joy wasn’t dampened by the bull and his posse that decided to visit and feast on our vegetables, damaging the fence and gate - only in Africa!  Furthermore, if it isn’t unwanted four-legged visitors, torrential rains, we also had to go through a terrible hail storm that unfortunately broke the windows of the girls room and the lounge area but with that being said, we are so blessed with the kindness of our donors that we are able to repair the gate and the windows in relatively short time..

We met our new house-mama who has good English and is focused on taking care of our children.  Our kids, beautiful smiles and have grown up since my last visit, doing much better at school and their english has improved immensely.  They loved their early Christmas stocking gifts as much as the lollipops took preference over the practicalities of underwear, toiletries and stationery…



The most exciting aspect of our visit to Mayenjane is that the Chief had agreed to give us more land in which we will be able to build another 8 Children’s Homes which would mean we get to create and build a community - building individual Children's homes, developing and mentoring under-impoverished and/or orphaned children - our future generation that will lead and develop other children to realise that dreams and goals can be achieved.


Our next endeavour was to go to as many of the Feeding Care Point Centres - dodging torrential rain storms, first visit was Mpaweni, we were so blessed to experience a rehearsal of the pre-schoolers getting ready for their graduation  - we got to hear their ‘when I grow-up’ goals/dreams in which policemen/policewomen, army soldiers and pilots were the most popular.  I have to admit that all I wanted to do was to wave a magic wand but as prayers are more powerful, I sent a prayer up for each child and made a promise deep in my heart that I am going to do my best to be able to give them this opportunity.  


Section 19 - our poorest of poor communities but so heartwarming, we arrived as they were finishing their graduation practice and it was lunchtime.   The Pre-school teacher was lovingly teaching and getting them ready for lunch -  I was honoured to be given a bucket, watering can that was filled with our borehole water and to be able to wash each of these kids hands prior to their lunch - lunch is cooked by one of the grandmama’s of Section 19 in these huge black potjie pots…



So wonderful to see the children looking so much healthier - well-fed, no sores on their skins, no scabies in their hair and beautiful huge smiles, hugs and tugs to play elastic (that took me back to my school days), skipping and other games with them.   


We managed to visit another couple of Feeding Care point Centres - I was absolutely honoured to spend time with our children, either playing, talking, cuddling, having my hair styled and/or feeding them… all our children are looking so much healthier, happier and seeing them going through the Pre-school system is just too beautiful.  Hundreds of children are fed and in each of the Feeding Care Point centres we have a Pre-School teacher, a mama that cooks and a gardener that takes cares of the vegetable gardens - creating safe spaces for the children.  it is a hard, tireless, persistent slog and it never-ends, each day is a new day of challenges that Christian Family Church Snr Pastor Salette who lives in Swaziland manages.  She tirelessly, with financial help and visits from donors and our Mayenjane Trust, continues to ensure that our children are fed, schooled, taken care of and mentored.  


I believe I left my heart in Swaziland with these children, actually, I do every time I visit there but this visit was deeper…   I have always practiced gratitude but since being part of the Mayenjane trust, it has become more of a daily habit - during the highs and lows of life but since I returned from this trip,  I take even more time out each day - morning, night and at different times during the day, to be even more thankful for what I have - the simple things in life that we take for granted (without meaning to), a roof over my head, a bed with linen, warm water when I need it, an inside toilet, a fridge - even though a little bare at times, I still have something to eat, I have shoes and clothes to wear every day and a fan or AC when it is very hot in Singapore, with my gratitude, I say a little prayer for each child that I met and to build courage, trust and faith within me to further drive our Mayenjane Trust NGO to be able to feed, school, mentor more children together to be able to build at least another 8 Children’s homes and unlimited feeding care point centres through Swaziland and further.


46 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page