One afternoon we had the opportunity to spend time at the Nazarene hospital in Manzini. My mom was so awesome because she sent me with dolls and baby blankets that she made and sewed together. We decided to put little bags together a long with soap and wash clothes, candy (or in Swaziland, sweeties), tooth brushes and tooth paste etc.
We brought them with the intent to visit many wards but never actually left the children's ward! which was totally great. We gave out all the bags, and the kids loved them. Little girls were walking around and sitting in their beds with the dolls tied to their backs or holding them like their moms do to them.
We spent the afternoon visiting with the parents and caretakers of the children and playing with all the babies. I was able to visit with quite a few people that spoke really great English, but there was a pretty big language barrier with some of the kids- so I just sat and colored with them.
One of the ladies on my team met and fell in love with a little boy named Zuma who was very sick. It was so cool to see her interact with him and see the smile on his face. You could tell that when she was spending time with him he felt so loved and valuable.
Paliswa- was a 7 month old little baby girl who's mother died and when we first met her was abandoned at the hospital. This is Lea who got the privilege of holding her. Our hearts were all broken over her and the other abandoned babies. I was really torn up having to leave that day. I couldn't stop crying just thinking of how many orphans there are in Swaziland. It's the hardest thing to describe holding an orphan in your arms, and knowing that when you leave nobody could hold them for a long time. I had to remember that God has it under control and only he can do something about the unjust things happening. And even though they are orphans according to the world, they are all God's children and are in His family. He knows them and loves them unconditionally. The awesome thing about Paliswa is that a few days later we went back and they told us a family member had come to get her, like her grandpa or something. PRAISE GOD!
Azimathle and Make- I talked with these two for a really long time. She taught me how to carry Azimathle on my back because that is how Swazi women carry their babies.
