While other team members returned to for their last day of
home visits, I joined Don and a few other gals to pick up children for the
Nsoko clinic in Swaziland. Stop after stop more children climbed in the
Sprinter. Most of the younger children crawled toward the back where Kim had a
tickle party.
home visits, I joined Don and a few other gals to pick up children for the
Nsoko clinic in Swaziland. Stop after stop more children climbed in the
Sprinter. Most of the younger children crawled toward the back where Kim had a
tickle party.
I preferred to sit near the front… next to a window. I sat there
waving at the kids and taking pictures.
waving at the kids and taking pictures.
They were always saying “shoot me!”. (Translation…take my picture and show it to me)
The Sprinter struggled to start every time Don turned off the engine. It was
hot, full, and my mind was racing with thoughts about the team members we left
back at the homes. How were we going to
pick them up if the Sprinter wouldn’t start again? We had no choice at this
point but to turn off the engine and let it cool. Such is the life of a vehicle
in Swaziland. Unfortunate, because it affects many from getting medical
treatment or teams getting anywhere outside of walking distance.
hot, full, and my mind was racing with thoughts about the team members we left
back at the homes. How were we going to
pick them up if the Sprinter wouldn’t start again? We had no choice at this
point but to turn off the engine and let it cool. Such is the life of a vehicle
in Swaziland. Unfortunate, because it affects many from getting medical
treatment or teams getting anywhere outside of walking distance.
Anyways, a girl whose name I can’t pronounce climbed in and
immediately sat next to me. In the siSwati way, we greeted one another…
immediately sat next to me. In the siSwati way, we greeted one another…
Me: “Saubona!”
Her: “Yebo!”
Me: “Ungani?”
Her: “Niyaphila.”
She smiled. Clearly my siSwati needed some more work. I looked
outside at the big mass of kids and began praying…God, what should I say or ask her? When I looked back, she was pointing at her lips. I began
guessing… and said in English, “lips”, like she wanted to know say lips in
English. Odd word to learn, I
thought.
outside at the big mass of kids and began praying…God, what should I say or ask her? When I looked back, she was pointing at her lips. I began
guessing… and said in English, “lips”, like she wanted to know say lips in
English. Odd word to learn, I
thought.
She shook her head “no”.
“Oh,” I thought, “do they hurt?” I
asked.
asked.
Again, she shook her head no. The she said “You, you have
lips?”
lips?”
“Yes!” I said…and pointed at mine. Another weird
question, but I rolled with it. Nope, wrong again.
question, but I rolled with it. Nope, wrong again.
For the last time, she shook her head no and grabbed my bag
and made the hand motion of applying lip-gloss.
and made the hand motion of applying lip-gloss.
“Oh! No, sisi…I don’t have.” I said. Her face dropped. The
truth is, I had lip-gloss, but didn’t want to share it. Is it ever ok to lie? I
should have given it to her. Ugh. I sat there thinking…I’m a bad person…what am
I afraid of?
truth is, I had lip-gloss, but didn’t want to share it. Is it ever ok to lie? I
should have given it to her. Ugh. I sat there thinking…I’m a bad person…what am
I afraid of?
Just then, she tapped my leg and said “I have no mother.”
“I’m very, very sorry”, I said then looked away. I need to give her my lip-gloss, I
thought.
thought.
But before I could think any more about it, she tapped my leg
again. “I have no father.”
again. “I have no father.”
“I’m sorry. Do you have brothers and sisters sisi?”
“No. Only.” And pointed at herself.
All I could think at that moment was … I’m your family sisi. God is your father. What I said, I don’t
remember.
remember.
The Sprinter
started and off we went to the clinic. As we
pulled out, she was waving at her friends and pointing at me with a huge
smile.
Why, I don’t know….I hope she told them we were sisters.
started and off we went to the clinic. As we
pulled out, she was waving at her friends and pointing at me with a huge
smile.
Why, I don’t know….I hope she told them we were sisters.
I’d like to return yet again to the Kingdom of Swaziland…this time, I’m taking plenty of lip-gloss and looking for my sister (sisi), whose name I still can’t say.
Thanks for the story Connie…rips my heart out as normal. So many times I felt the same way and God humbled me and put things in perspective. Im thankful He allows us to be His hands and feet and I pray we will never take that for granted. I love you!!!
C 🙂
Connie,
Great Pictures. You bring smiles where ever you go.
Yeah, Connie! I have lots of ‘sisis’ in Swazi whose names I can not say…but whose faces I will never, ever forget! Love this post 🙂 (and you, sisi!)