We Can't Do It Alone

The CarePoints cannot do or be everything for a child. We try to do as much as we can to nurture the children who attend. We want them to know God, know they are loved, that they are special but also to care for their needs. We offer free preschool, free meals each day and regular visits by our medical staff. But is it enough? Sometimes it is not. Sometimes we work with other agencies and churches in an area to minister to a child or family in need. Shelly Magongo and her two siblings are one such family.

Shelly is 12 years old and attends a local school and is in 4^th grade. She is a good student which is significant once you see all the obstacles she has overcome. When Shelly was an infant her family came to Swaziland from Mozambique. She has no extended family here and has never returned to Mozambique to know any family there. 3 years ago Shelly’s mom passed away. Earlier this year her father became ill. Without asking for help she looked after him and cared for her younger sister, Nanusha who is 7 and younger brother, Bruno who is 6. The local Baptist Church they attended reached out when they were evicted and let them stay in a small room on the church property. Nothing fancy but four concrete walls to give them shelter during the cold winter.

Before their father became ill the CarePoint had encouraged him to let Nanusha and Bruno attend the CarePoint preschool program. They had never been in school before. Shelly had graduated from the program 2 years earlier when it was preschool through grade 2. The father agreed and Nanusha and Bruno have excelled. Just over a month ago, Shelly’s father passed away. Our facilitator worked with the local church to try and make a plan for the now child headed household. Shelly, 12 years old, is now the head of the home. The local church is providing shelter and Children’s Cup is helping with food. Both parties are helping with love and support and checking in on them regularly. The death and situation has been reported to the Mozambique Embassy and they are looking for relatives in that country. We are trying to keep the family living locally until the end of the school year in December so Shelly doesn’t have to repeat the 4^th grade and the other two can finish preschool and be ready for first grade.

We praise the hands on ministry and love of the local church in ministering to this family! We praise God for our devoted CarePoint staff who go above and beyond the ordinary and shine God’s light in their community!

Please lift this family in your prayers! Pray that extended family can be found that is safe and loving and know God. Pray Shelly can finish the school year strong and also rely on God to give her strength and direction for her future!!! If she gets to stay locally, she is a perfect candidate for our scholarship program next year.

Thank all who support Children’s Cup and help us partner with local agencies and churches to help those in dire need!!!! We cannot do what we do here by ourselves, we need local agencies, churches, and  you helping us from where you are! Thank you so much!