SIYAJABULA KUTSI JESU UNATSI!

Merry Christmas in Swaziland is Siyajabula kutsi Jesu unatsi (see-yah-jah-boo-lah goo-tsee Jay-soo oonah-tsee). "We are happy that Jesus is with us!" It is wonderful getting to celebrate it with my son Michael who arrived last Friday. This is our 3rd Swaziland Christmas party. We had the biggest one in Swaziland on Dec. 6th (4,000) and a smaller one in the more remote area on Dec. 7th (900). The smallest one is the Mbabane party where there are 2 CarePoints of which both are sponsored through the Oasis church. It is shocking to say our smallest one was for 500 children!It is summertime in Swaziland so often it is hard for us Americans to get in the Christmas spirit when you are getting sunburned. At our party it was cold and rainy and was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Not really but it's the closest we could get.

It was a great day with jumping castles, soccer, face painting and dancing. Please note that the local orphanage where Pepe stays was also invited and Pepe is doing great and is in the dancing photo below. We had hot dogs and ice cream. Each CarePoint performed for each other and signed a thank you banner for the Oasis Church!It was so much fun to see the children having such a great time praising Jesus and doing things they rarely have had the opportunity to do (last year's Christmas party). We all want to wish you a Merry Christmas and say Siyabonga! (see-yah-bow-ngah) "We thank you"!

Congratulations Graduates!!!!!

We had the honor of graduating children from their second year at our Oasis @ Swaziland classes. Children's Cup CarePoints offer 2 years of free education to orphan and vulnerable children. The school year in Africa is from the end of January to the beginning of December. Christmas falls in the "summer break". These graduates are now ready to go into Grade 3 at the public school next year. Public schools cost around $75-$100/year and sometimes these children cannot afford that. We try to help as we have funds available.
There were 16 graduates from Mangwaneni, Mbabane and 10 from Fonteyn.
Children's Cup provided caps and gowns for the occassion and it was a special time at each CarePoint. I was honored to be the "guest speaker" at the Mangwaneni CarePoint. I dressed in my Swazi outfit, complete with head scarf for the special day. I spoke to the children and told them how proud we were of their hard work. I encouraged them in that this was only the beginning of what God has planned for each of their lives and for them to continue to grow.
Several of the children at Mangwaneni were older, including Lungile (pictured with me below) who is 12. Without Oasis @ Swaziland and Children's Cup, she would probably have never had the opportunity to learn to read and write. She has done so well we are sure that at the beginning of the school year next year she will get to advance even further than grade 3.

Biggest Christmas Party in Swaziland!

We have had graduations at the CarePoints and field trips to Game Parks for the graduates. Now we are having the biggest Christmas party in Swaziland today for over 4,000 orphaned and vulnerable children!! This is only our 12 Manzini CarePoints!! Tomorrow are the 3 Maphiveni area CarePoints (during the week will be 2 smaller ones in Mozambique) and Monday, Dec. 15th will be the one for our 2 Mbabane CarePoints!
Keep us in your prayers for cool (it's summer here) but not rainy (it's the rainy season and it rained last night) day with a cool breeze (the icing on the cake)! Pray that no child will leave without knowing that the party is to celebrate God's Son's birthday! Happy Birthday Jesus! Pray that all children and the hundreds of volunteers have a safe, fun time!!!!
I'll blog pictures of all of these past events soon. :)