Thursday morning, I received word that my last remaining grandparent had died. My Grandma McElhaney was in her 80's, had lived a life full of love, and knew Jesus. She had been suffering for a few years and she was ready to pass on. She didn't want to go into a nursing home and she was being besieged with more and more health issues. Today she is with her Savior and celebrating her arrival in her new Heavenly home, being greeted by her husband, relatives, and friends who had gone ahead.
Though we will miss my grandmother, for her sake, I'm glad that she is with the Lord and no longer in pain.
For many children of the children we met in Swaziland, though, if they were to lose their grandmother, it would be a life shattering event.
Due to the extreme infection rate of HIV/AIDS among adults in their twenties to forties, countless numbers of children are now being raised by their grandmother, or even their great-grandmother.
Four year old Khaya is such a child. His name actually means "home", and in his case, his home means a grandmother and nine other children. This grandmother has watched her children die off one by one and is now the only "parent" left who is holding the family together and keeping these children fed, clothed, and protected from evil people who would use their little bodies for their own twisted fulfillment. But like most of the grandmothers raising orphaned children in Swaziland, she can't do it alone. And I'm sure, like most of the other grandmothers, she prays that she will not die even if she is suffering because she knows that she is desperately needed by her grandchildren.Children's HopeChest and Adventures in Missions has stepped in to walk alongside these women. Through their carepoint ministry and their sponsorship programs, they are helping to lighten their loads. They are helping to make sure that their grandchildren receive at least one meal a day and then working to help take care of other needs as well.
But CHC and AIM must have financial partners who will send the money to buy the food, purchase the shoes, pay the school fees, and keep the staff in Swaziland able to teach these kids, take them to the hospital, and just be there for them in person.
Khaya and 10 other children at the Bheveni Carepoint are still without sponsors.
Will you be the one that brings provision to his home and peace to his grandma's heart?
For more information on sponsoring a Bheveni child, visit Danielle Brower's website:
http://moms4change.net/sponsor-an-orphan/
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