Hi friends!

Just wanted to update y’all on what ministry looks like for me lately. 

I said goodbye to my World Race Semesters team at the end of June. Then I moved from the city of Manzini to the rural area of Nsoko. I’m still in the Kingdom of Swaziland (now officially called Eswatini, as that’s how they say it in their national language of siSwati). 

I’ll be here a total of two months, working with my American hosts, who work for AIM. My primary host is a nurse and visits the various care points (where the children and gogos -women who cook for the kids- are) and provides basic medical care to sick children, gogos, and staff. She supplies the shepherds (staff who run the carepoints) with first aid kits and makes sure they’re stocked. She treats World Race Gap year racers occasionally as needed. She also does monthly checks on the gogos involved in Timbali (a ministry that allows the women to sew products that are then sold and they get paid monthly for their contributions to help them afford food, clothing, and school fees for the children in their care). At these checks, she takes their blood pressure, evaluates their health, and administers a goody bag of medicine they typically wouldn’t be able to afford. She does a lot more than this but this is just a glimpse into the medical aspect of her job. She also works closely with the Swazi staff over the carepoints and hosts American missionary teams, coordinating and participating in their ministry activities. Her husband oversees ministry construction projects and works closely with locals to get the jobs done. He’s a jack of all trades and very handy to have around. 

So, what do I do? 

Well, the summer is a busy time for them with short-term teams coming in. So, the typical schedule is interrupted when hosting a team. I’ve worked closely with my host on a variety of things. We’ve de-wormed (given anti-parasitics since their water supply isn’t clean) children, done health checkups on the Timbali women, loved on and taught bible lessons to the children at the care point, and done homestead visits (went with the team to a family’s home to bring them food, encouragement, and talk with them). We’ve helped the team teach on germs/ health and do pictures/ height/ weight for each child to create cards to give out to the kids. We’ve helped with a Fun Day where we played games with the kids, fed them a home-cooked meal, and watched them perform a choreographed dance for us. I’ve helped my host organize her medicine/supply closet so she can function better, painted a building they’re fixing up for the community, and helped lead worship at church. 

So, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a variety of things. Each week is different. I’ve enjoyed bonding with the American teams that come through and this last team made me feel like family and dubbed me an honorary member. My hosts are amazing and they have 3 kids so I’ve hung out with them a lot and they’re my Swazi family :) I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Swazi AIM staff. They are hard-working and compassionate with hearts for the Lord and their community. This country of Eswatini is small but mighty and the Lord’s hand is so evident here. He’s really giving me a heart for Africa through my time here. I’m sad to only have a month left but grateful for my time so far. For every smile, hug, snotty nose, and change of plans. He’s here in all of it and it is well with my soul. 

Update: 

I have until the end of August to meet my final fundraising deadline for G42 so I can finish up here in Swaziland and complete my studies in Spain. I need only $1300! 

Would you prayerfully consider giving a tax-deductible donation?

To donate:

https://www.generation42.org/donations

Scroll down to March 2019 class & select Raina Luthra.

Thank you for following and supporting my journey thus far! Couldn’t do it without you!

Love you all!! 

Raina