Potable Water Coming Soon!

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Greetings from the kingdom of Swaziland! We are pleased to report that due to the generosity of churches during Week of Compassion and One Great Hour of Sharing, a rural NCP (Neighborhood Care Point) will be able to install a water pump to get potable water as needed from the bore hole they have drilled! At the very rural Mgundundlovu location, they have a kitchen for feeding children affected by AIDS. They also have a small church that doubles as a preschool. When we visited them recently, we saw their small garden but were told that if they had water readily available, they would plant and grow many more crops. They would like to become self-sustaining by growing plenty of vegetables and selling any “extra” crops. We are excited to be a part of this project, knowing that through Global Ministries, churches can walk with communities here as they implement the necessary steps for projects like this that benefit so many people at once.

We are actively working on setting up a preschool at Kukhany”Okusha church in Manzini. The church folks here feel the need for a Christian based preschool, so we had an inspector come to give us the steps we need to take in order to get a permit. We are also checking into the feasibility of internet theology classes here. The goal, I believe, is to get more people, especially females, better equipped to minister to friends and relatives who are ill or dying. This is especially important in a country which is now experiencing one of the highest AIDS infection rates per capita. Theology classes will help adults deepen their faith, while also equipping them as counselors.

We have started siSwati lessons. People at church have taught us some greeting phrases, which are absolutely necessary in this culture. In Swaziland, someone asks, “How are you?” and waits to hear the answer. The typical person politely shows respect for elders when greeting, and nearly always shakes your hand with both of his/ hers or sometimes even gives you a hug. As we learn the language, we learn more about the culture of this small kingdom. In siSwati, some words and phrases are not too hard, but we have to retrain our mouths when it comes to the clicks and pops. It always sounds nice when Swazis say them, but so far, as we try to say them, it sounds strange to both us as well as those with which we are speaking.

Sending blessings to all our Christian brothers and sisters,

Terry, Diana, and Victoria Hutter

Terry and Diana serve as Long-term Volunteers with the Khukhan’Okusha Zion Church in Swaziland. They serve as coordinators of the development programs.