Swaziland: Help 50 orphans become future leaders

During this time of year our thoughts turn to others as we struggle to think of gifts to give our loved ones that don’t replicate what they already have. At New Hope Centre we have no such struggle. Our children have usually outgrown their few articles of clothing, their shoes no longer fit and their towels and bedding are all worn out. As Christmas approaches we give thanks for your faithfulness in providing the funds to resupply these necessities for our kids. We are grateful to be able, with your gifts, to provide these things that are probably taken for granted in your world. Our children do not take them for granted. We wish you could see their excitement at getting a new pair of shoes, a new shirt or dress.

By this time in the year we also must restock our brooms, mops, buckets and ironing board covers – again, not very exciting, but critical for the running of our “home.” These are the basics. When there is abundance we direct it toward enrichment, not only of our own children, but to the community as we train our own to reach out past our walls. Here are some of the special activities in which we are involved.

This Christmas we are preparing for a pageant that will be put on by the kids of New Hope Centre for the kids in the community and their grannies. All 50 of our own children as well as 50 community children will be leading out. There will be 14 stations with a mini-drama at each telling the story of Christmas and ending in a grand finale in the meeting hall.
We are expecting 600 people. It is our fondest desire is to be able to feed them and give everyone a small gift. We believe that this kind of activity trains our students in leadership skills, compassion, charity and confidence. It requires musical training, dance lessons and speaking development. It removes any fear they may have in performing in public as well as giving them experience in interpersonal interaction skills as they reach out individually to those who attend.

Another musical endeavor is the participation of eight NHC kids in the Swazi Mass Children’s Choir that will be making a national recording to be sold as a CD. One of our own children has started her own music group and has been preparing to produce a CD album, some of the music composed by members of the group. As you may know, Swaziland is a kingdom. We have been honored recently with several visits by the royal family to participate in and observe the work we are doing at New Hope Centre. HRH Princess Temtsimba Dlamini has taken her mother’s place as patron of New Hope Centre and joined in as our students led music and dance. Inkhosikati (queen) LaNkambule and her three little princesses and nine month old baby prince joined us to celebrate a special birthday. We are honored by their interest and support of our work here.

As our thoughts turn toward you we believe that the greatest gift we can give is to fulfill the purpose for which New Hope Centre has been founded: nurturing, preparing, inspiring and training the children under our care to take their positions as leaders in the nation of Swaziland. We send these updates as a way of assuring you that the trust you have placed in us through your ongoing gifts is being taken seriously. Our prayer for you in this holiday season is that your gifts will return to you a hundred fold in ways that will bring you joy and peace.

This month I want to share with you some of the fruit that is coming from your donations to New Hope Centre. If all you were doing were to give life and hope thru clothing, shelter, food and education, it would be enough, but you are doing much, much more than that. You are enabling “throw-away” children to come into their own. The infrastructure that you help to provide with your gifts is the springboard for much more than subsistence. They are bringing hope, training, education and quality to the lives of hundreds – in fact thousands of lives in Swaziland.

Just this past month, Ms. Tracie and Caleb took a group of New Hope Children to East London in the Eastern Cape of South Africa to speak to school assemblies with as many as 1,100 students, churches, university students and even a juvenile prison about their life journeys. They were able to share the inspiring sagas they have lived as they went from hopelessness to confidence and accomplishment. They told of God’s power to transform lives of despair into productive members of society. Their listeners were encouraged to see beyond their current circumstances and aim toward higher goal that improve the lives of others and the atmosphere of the nation. Their tour resulted in invitations to many other venues to bring inspiration to the hopeless orphaned children of Swaziland.

Additionally, two of the teachers from NHC were asked to present a series on national radio on the topic of child development, play and social development in early childhood. There was a real hunger to hear what they had to say. During the listener call-in session, even the non-English speakers were calling to ask for help in understanding how to better provide for the needs of their children. These are the teachers you have been supporting with your giving; teachers sought after to instruct and mentor the parents and educators of the nation.

For those of you who would like to read and understand a little more of the foundations of Dr. Elizabeth Hynd, Director of NHC, a new book is available detailing the life story of her pioneering father, Dr. Samuel Hynd. Footprints on African Hearts and Lands: The Life and Work of Dr. Samuel W. Hynd. It can be found at Amazon at this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NF30ZZO. It was Dr. Elizabeth's experience growing up in Swaziland under her father's mentoring that equipped her to be the director needed for New Hope Centre.

Once again we are touched and renewed by your faithfulness to stand with us in this endeavor to which we have committed our lives.