People have asked, why go to Africa? Why Swaziland? Here's our compelling reason:
Bulembu: City of Hope
The African country of Swaziland has the highest incidence of AIDS in the world with almost 40% of the population infected. The children have been most affected, losing one or both parents, left in the care of ailing and/or aging grandparents. According to UNICEF there are approximately 60,000 orphans in Swaziland. The United Nations issued a report that stated, with the current AIDS condition, this beautiful country will be extinct by the year 2050. If ever there was a more hopeless, desperate situation, this is it.
But God IS at work in Swaziland, in a place called Bulembu, the City of Hope. Bulembu is a small town on the northern border of Swaziland. It once was a mining town that went bankrupt and was abandoned in 2001. In 2006, it was rebirthed by Bulembu Ministries Swaziland (BMS) and the town is beginning to grow again. Timber harvest and honey production are some of the businesses that have revived the local economy and employment for the 1000 plus residents now inhabiting the town. But the greater purpose and vision of BMS, a non-profit group, is for Bulembu to become a place of refuge, providing hope and healing, to those suffering from AIDs, poverty, abuse and abandonment.
The deepest desire of those who work in Bulembu is to display the compassion of Jesus by being Christ’s hands and feet in ministry; feeding the hungry, rescuing abandoned babies, renovating foster homes for homeless orphans, providing jobs and restoring dignity. BMS’s goal is to nurture healthy individuals and families, to educate and equip leaders within Swaziland, and to create a vibrant, self sustaining community.
