She may not be faster than a speeding bullet nor be able to leap a tall building in a single bound, but La'Salette Duarte is a super woman. Portuguese by birth, La'Salette has lived in Swaziland for more than 25 years. She can not contain the love, joy, and hope that is within her so it naturally overflows to those around her. It is contagious. La'Salette currently runs the Children’s Cup Care Point in Mapa Veni in Swaziland. Although this care point is relatively new, there are already 250 children from the surrounding communities who come here every day for a meal, often their only meal.
In addition to the care point, La'Salette continues to lead the church and school she started many years ago in the same community. This region is 1 of the most devastated areas in Swaziland. (On a recent medical mission trip, the physicians, highly experienced with health care in rural and underdeveloped areas, said the children and adults were much more sick than other areas of Swaziland.) The church is located in an old machine shed on the edge of the sugar cane fields. La'Salette has been converting it into a church and school complete with 4 small classrooms and a teen room where the teens in the community can spend time, find refuge, experience comfort, compassion, and love, and know they are not alone. La'Salette adds her own personal touch throughout the building, ensuring that what some may consider “minor” or “unnecessary” details are present. These include pretty decorations in the women’s bathroom, murals on the walls of the school, a fountain, and brightly painted wheelbarrows with colorful flowers planted inside. La'Salette knows that love, to Live in Love, is in the details. La'Salette will keep going, keep growing the care and services she provides and supports.
In addition to the care point, La'Salette continues to lead the church and school she started many years ago in the same community. This region is 1 of the most devastated areas in Swaziland. (On a recent medical mission trip, the physicians, highly experienced with health care in rural and underdeveloped areas, said the children and adults were much more sick than other areas of Swaziland.) The church is located in an old machine shed on the edge of the sugar cane fields. La'Salette has been converting it into a church and school complete with 4 small classrooms and a teen room where the teens in the community can spend time, find refuge, experience comfort, compassion, and love, and know they are not alone. La'Salette adds her own personal touch throughout the building, ensuring that what some may consider “minor” or “unnecessary” details are present. These include pretty decorations in the women’s bathroom, murals on the walls of the school, a fountain, and brightly painted wheelbarrows with colorful flowers planted inside. La'Salette knows that love, to Live in Love, is in the details. La'Salette will keep going, keep growing the care and services she provides and supports.
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