23 January 2009

Today we traveled to Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland. I had received directions to an abandoned babies center over the phone and was told, "I think that's how you get there." So our team piled into two kumbies and made our journey to Mbabane. Sure enough, the directions were quite accurate and we ended up on a dirt road. We made it down to the end and we saw a few children outside playing but not too many people. So we entered the gates to check out the place and to see of there was anything we could do for them. It didn't take too long for the team to each find a buddy or two to occupy their time for the day. As I was walking around a little child dressed in green pants, an orange sweater and some shoes that are almost outgrown came up and grabbed my hand. She didn't let me out of her sight during our entire visit. We ran down the sides of hills, played on the monkey bars, blew up some balloons and drew faces on them, played on the swings and colored trees, flowers, butterflies and covered ourselves with stickers only to take them off again. Deli is a 5 year old that, like so many others, have been abandoned and forgotten. She is so full of life! As the team took a short lunch break she looked at me and said, "Are you coming back? Don't leave yet." I told her I was coming back. After a quick bit of a PB&J sandwich it was back to being a jungle gym. She found me again and we picked up right where we left off. I got a tour of her house, sat with her as she ate her lunch and gave her many piggy back rides. Such joyful laughter was coming from this small child. My heart broke for her over and over again. Why would you want to give up something so precious? What has the world come to that we leave babies on the side of the road like garbage? I looked around and she, unlike many children in Swaziland, has a bed to sleep in, a roof, plenty of food to eat and a safe environment to be raised in. What was meant for death has instead brought life! The time came and we had to return to Manzini. I told my new friend that I had to leave. She looked at me and asked, "Are we friends?" I said, "Yes we are friends." Then she leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek and told me bye. I hated leaving my new friend and pray that I will get to see her again soon.