In the dry and impoverished town of Nsoko Swaziland lives a little two year old girl that has stolen my heart and her name is Tembalithle. For the small age of two she has already been through more than most people in their lifetime.
She lives in a small mud hut with her five year old sister Spea and their mom, on a small homestead with about 14 other adults and kids. When Tembalithle was just a few months old her dad died in a car accident just outside their home. And her mom is hardle ever home as she works in the sugar cane field during the day and drinks at night. Since her husband has died she has also started sleeping around and is ostracized by the community so is home even less and some nights not at all. This leaves Spea at only five years old to take care of her two year old sister. Spea is a precious little girl that loves her sister and makes sure she never goes anywhere without her and she will pick her up and strap her to her little back so that Tembalithle can sleep.
At the tiny age of five, Spea is a mom. Spea can’t afford to go to pre-school before she is meant to start school next year so some of the team are helping teach her, her alphabet so that she will be a little more prepared for school next year. One of the missionaries here said she thinks Spea might have some learning/social disabilities due to neglect and possibly abuse. It breaks my heart to see these two beautiful girls with the most amazing smiles and know the life the have.
The homestead they stay on just lost the gogo who used to cook for them and take care of the kids. Now the responsibilities are left up to Petile and Colile a 12 and 13 year old and another gogo who helps cook sometimes but she also drinks and sends the girls out to walk a far distance to buy her alcohol.
Spea and Tembalithle are over everyday and we get to love on them, hold them and play wiht them and it’s heart breaking knowing that might be the only affection/physical touch/love they recieve all day. And it’s also humbling knowing the Lord has placed our team in Nsoko for this time so that we can be his hand and feet and give these little girls that love that they don’t get anywhere else. I pray every time we smile at them or hold Tembalithle and she falls asleep in our arms or tickle and laugh with Spea that it’s the Father’s love they see and feel because he is the one who loves them unconditionally and is always here for them.
