A couple weeks ago I spoke with a student who comes from "our" homestead-the one where Marcos Bradley and I spent 10 days as part of our Peace Corps training, and whom we visit occasionally and do things with. This form 1 student and I started naming people who used to live there. We came up with 13. As I write, not one person lives at the homestead. The student is staying at my Swazi dad's (Abner) other wife's homestead while Abner and his other wife and two children are in Matsapha for Abner's physical therapy (which, we hear, is showing some promise). Everyone else has moved away or died. It's just a little unnerving when a place so full of life just a few years ago is now so quiet.
NSUKUMBILI HAIR SALON
Grace's Swazi friends are quite good hairstylists! On many afternoons, after school is out, a bevy of girls descend on our home. Cooking, coloring, drawing, playing house, and fashion are favorite activities. Since the regulation haircut for Swazi girls in school is less than 1/4 inch of hair, our girls are the recipients of most of their friends' hairstyling talent. Recently the Swazi girls did up the hair of our three oldest girls (Jabu has less hair than me; which is saying something!) See photos and a video of their work at poglitshphotos.blogspot.com under "Nsukumbili Hair Salon".
STAN MAMBA AT SCHOOL
Mr. Mamba, the resident handyman genius, is improving his teaching credentials through a non-residential university program. Since he does so much for the school and by extension our family, it is nice that with a computer and a printer at our home, we can help him get his papers typed and printed. For those of you who pray, please pray for him (as you read this would be a fine time!) He is a full-time teacher, he has a 1 year old daughter, he has his credentials program to work through, and people constantly call him or just stop by asking for help. He has a very hard time turning any request down. Pray for the wisdom on how to balance the incoming demands.
AVOCADO TREES
The trees on the west side of the school are looking peaked. I keep asking Ruth when I can water and fertilize them; she says the end of September will be fine. She assures me that they will be fine, even though their leaves are turning a light green/lime color. She says NOT watering them will force the roots to go down deeper looking for water. This will make them more stout against the big winds in the future. I keep trusting Ruth, even when the trees look so sickly. I'm very excited when a little overcast weather with heavy mists or light rains blow through; I love the thought of the trees drinking in the steady, ground-soaking water. And I guess there's only 1 more week of September; Ruth will let me water and fertilize the trees, or the rains will come.
HUMAN SEXUALITY
We have begun to discuss human procreation in science class. I prefer "procreation" to "reproduction" because, as I tell the students, a photocopier reproduces typed pages: you put an original in, and you get as many exact copies out as you want. The marital act produces new human beings who certainly bear resemblances to one or both parents, but those children are not exact duplicates of either. I was concerned that the discussion would disintegrate in laughs both nervous and ribald, but in fact lots of good and earnest questions came up, and the body language of the majority of students communicated that they wanted to know the honest truth on these things. I attach an e-mail I sent to a friend who works with marriages and child-rearing. If you want to know what transpired, open it up.
TIME FLIES
Last week I was looking for K.C. Dlamini in the secretary's office. He is head of the science department, and I wanted to run a proposed test past him. I was told he was in town with his family and would not be back until the next day. I commented that K.C. is a good man who looks after his family. The secretary (Mrs. Khoza) and another teacher (Mrs. Buthelezi) both agreed. I told them that he was here when I was here in 1991. Mrs. Buthelezi said "hmmm" and thought for a moment. Then she said "I was in grade 6 in 1991". That's about 5th grade in the USA. I relayed this story to K.C. the next day and we both had a big laugh. "Yes", he said, "some of these teachers are the same age as my eldest son."
FRIENDS AND ALLIES
Sometimes we like to pass along items from other folks working in Swaziland. This is from Peter and Mary Jean Kopp, friends who have worked in Swaziland for the better part of two decades and who (at least in Peter's case) spent his youth as a missionary kid in Zambia. They started and direct an orphanage for kids who really had no support-children 4 or 5 years old who are HIV positive, for instance, or who were rescued from dumpsters. They provide them a good education, Christian formation, and a steady living situation. They have also worked to integrate "The Farm" into the surrounding community. The farm produces eggs for sale in the major markets in Mbabane, in order to reduce the need for outside financial support. Their website is www.africanleadershippartners.org; once there, look for the tab for New Life Children's Homes (or click on http://www.africanleadershippartners.org/pages/nlh.php). Following are two recent newsletters from them. The bad news is first, the good news second. If you would like to support them, prayer is always welcome and finances also help a great deal. [A note from Ruth lest this article scare you on our behalf--one reason we decided to stay at Nsukumbili and not set up our own project was because this is such a secure living environment. It is great for the girls to have their friends close. It isn't in town where thieves congregate. Neighbors are close and there is a watchman.]
Attack at New Life Homes
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From:
PM Kopp
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To: Undisclosed-Recipient@yahoo.com
Dear Friend,
I have some sad news to report, along with request for your prayer support.
We had a terrible attack on the New Life Children's Homes farm Saturday night. We were in Mbabane staying over after a social event. Scott & Liz Messner were also away for the night. We got a call about 11pm from Mrs. Shongwe, one of our caregivers, in tears saying that Ms. Kunene had been attacked in her house. Peter immediately phoned three of our most trusted local staff who live nearby. and asked them to hurry to the farm. We then also phoned the police. Then we dressed and rushed back. Along the way, phoning back and forth, we found that Valerie adn Darryl Beeton, an elderly South African couple volunteering at the school, had also been attacked and their car stolen. Mthi and Bomber were there in about 10 minutes from our call, running across fields and fence lines in the dark without any light. Mthi took charge, checking on everyone, cutting the Beetons loose from their bonds, and dealing with police who arrived in about 15 minutes. We kept in contact by cellphone while we traveled the hour and a half distance. License plate info was relayed to them. When we got to the gate of the farm the police were phoning us back to say they had found the car already. The perpetrators had come onto a police roadbock and promptly abandoned it and ran. The car was slightly damaged, but is back now with us at the Farm.
We found Beetons (he is an invalid, impaired vision and hearing and recovering from several serious surgeries) had been beaten, abused and robbed of everything the thugs wanted. They still are terribly shaken.
Our beloved housemother and preschool teacher, Nomthandazo Kunene, has been savagely attacked and was already taken to hospital by Mthi and Bomber. She had been kicked in the mouth and terribly slashed across her hand. She was kept there for a couple of days, but is back with us now. Her hand required substantial repair and her upper row of teeth are wired in place. There's doubts about their long term viability.
At the time of our arrival, the other two caregivers had already gathered all Kunene's children and taken them to Shongwe's and Msibi's homes where most had returned to sleep. The moms were looking for the nightwatchman and couldn't find him. Peter decided to go to our house to get a flashlight to try to find Mr. Dlamini. When he opened the door, he saw everything was upside down. When he got in further he saw Dlamini, our night watchman, was lying by the wall, tied hand and foot and gagged. He looked like he was dead and there was blood on the wall. Though not seriously hurt, he was terribly shaken. They had hit him on the head with a hammer. They had grabbed him by the water storage tanks and asked where our house was. They brought him there, broke a window, pushed him through, then all came in. It was 4 guys with guns, knives, and a hammer. Our bedroom and office was completely disassembled. Everything had been dumped out and turned over - all drawers, bed, filing cabinets shelves etc. It was unbelievable. Even half eaten food spilled all over the house. Perhaps most hard to understand was that they had taken a frozen chicken out and cooked it in the microwave while they ransacked the house. And this was all before they went across to attack the other homes.
During the attack the children were brave, some of them heroically taking action in trying to help. Some are still very shaky, but all are making progress. Either Kopps or Messners have been sleeping in the Kunene children's rooms every night since.
They stole several cell phones, took all the money they could find (including Kunene's recently withdrawn month's salary), the car, our camera that we had just replaced, binoculars, clothes, some jewelry, etc. As we've been focusing on supporting others our house is still somewhat of a mess we are yet to finalize what is missing.
Please also know we were very impressed with police response. They found and recovered the car in record time. We've had numerous groups of investigators here, and we are still to get all the finger-print dusting detritus out of the house.
Please pray for everyone here. Give thanks that we were not here. We were their prime target. The night watchman said they were taking their time ransacking our house as they were waiting for us to return with guns ready. They wanted money mostly and assumed the white people would have! We are also thankful the Messner's were also away.
There's much more detail to this story, but we must move on. Please keep us on in your prayers.
Today (Friday), we must go across to Maputo, Mozambique, where Peter teaches the "Money Matters" course in a local church as the fourth stage of their effort of outreach to the middle class and business community. This event has been scheduled for some time and they've invested a great deal to prepare, securing a neutral venue, translating and printing all the handouts in Portugese, etc. We've arranged for extras to stay over at the farm during that time.
Please pray! As I write this, I'm still to find and re-organize all my teaching notes, much less the other supplies that I need. To say the least, I'm feeling very disheveled.
We are striving to keep our eyes on Him who holds the keys, and remain faithful to do what He has called us to do.
Thanks,
PETER & MARY JEAN
PS: We apologize for our late notice of this attack. Peter's computer, with all our email address groups, quit working on Saturday. It's back now, but we managed to get a letter sent to our children and our US Board of Directors from MJ's computer. Some relay action may have already reached you. Thanks for praying!
Good news
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From:
PM Kopp
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To: Undisclosed-Recipient@yahoo.com
WE ARE THANKFUL TO GOD!
We've been informed by the police that they have apprehended 3 of 4 in the gang that attacked the New Life Children's Homes a few weeks ago. They also managed to recover a few more of the lesser valued items they had taken with them. One suspect was marginally connected to this community. Two were from the far north of the country. The 4th was a South African and managed to get across the border. He is known and wanted there too, so they expect to have him contained soon. The authorities have at least 24 counts of robbery and rape lined up against these guys, so we don't expect to see them for some time.
We are also especially thankful for God's particular protection in that they did not follow their usual MO of sexual crimes while disturbing us.
This is good and most welcome news!! We had a thanksgiving prayer time with everyone here at the farm last evening. When I shared the news with the farm staff this morning several commented that these guys made a big mistake in attacking a work that has God's name attached to it and is doing His work in the community.
We are praying for the suspects to come to a better understanding of reality, turn from their past ways, and seek dramatic transformation.
By a surprising arrangement, I was able to speak with the National Commissioner of Police to express our gratitude and positive impressions of his department's work on this case.
Please continue to pray for the physical healing of Ms. Kunene, our housemother who was badly cut on the hand. We are also still hoping to see all her upper front teeth saved after she was kicked by one of the perps. Please also pray for Valerie and Darryl, the South African volunteers. They are back for the re-opening of school next week. Both physical and emotional restoration are needed.
Thanks for your prayers!! We've heard from so many; from Australia across Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. Surely the earnest praying of so many faithful partners in God's work empowered this good and swift result.
PLEASE PRAY. Peter will be teaching the "Money Matters: God's Answers to Poverty" course all day Saturday at a conference centre close to Mbabane. We expect about 50 to attend.
On Tuesday Peter leaves for two months of traveling and meetings in the USA. We'll send a basic itinerary soon. He is hoping to see as many as possible of those who are involved or interested in our ministry work in this part of the world. Pray for good travel all along the way, clear communication strategies, and effective response.
We do need to seek additional financial support. We have been affected by the global economic woes such that our giving stream has been reduced and our reserves are finished. We've cut back on our support for leadership training delievered through the Zambia Leadership Institute. We are also seeking to add a two-room building to allow expansion of the New Life Primary School to offer the complete range of classes through the end of primary education.
Thanks for praying,
PETER & MARY JEAN
NSUKUMHILLBILLY
Your students do a demonstration of osmosis using potatoes on Friday afternoon. You take the leftover cutting and cook them for your family dinner that night.
Hillbilly
You don't want to simply chuck the thick, dark outside leaves of the cabbages you recently purchased, but you have so much cabbage you can't make good use of them. You pack them into two plastic grocery bags and take them on your walk to church on Sunday morning and toss them to some wandering goats you meet. They very much appreciate the fresh leafy vegetables.
Hillbilly garbage disposal
Have a good day,
Rudy for the gang
