Can you build a house in 1 day?

You can in Swaziland. All you need are the right materials, the right people, and the love of God. An older woman’s home in the squatter community of 19 was literally falling down on top of her. With the help of dedicated people from the community, the leaders and youth from Christian Family Church and the K-Team from the US (Kay, John, and Tom on a mission trip serving in Swaziland), a house was constructed on a sunny Saturday in June.

The materials for a stick and mud house are self-explanatory. Adding cement to the mud, rocks to the walls, and some nails and wire to secure the long branches ensure a stable structure.

Loading trees that had been cut the day before. These will be used for the frame of the house.

The frame of the house

Jabulani assess the structure

Filling the frame with rocks – watch your fingers!

Mixing the mud

Playing, uhh, I mean using the mud to finish the walls

Night fall did not stop us. All you need is a candle and the Live in Love Rav.

Checking out the new house

Welcome home!

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty is her name, the Beast is the burns. It is common in Swaziland to cook over fires. Almost a year ago Beauty’s family was preparing to do just this when she fell backwards into the fire. The burns span from her shoulder blades to the bottom of her legs, including her genital area. The pain is unimaginable. For the first many months she used the wall to lean against when she walked, to help keep her balance and hold her up. For the past few months she walks freely without the assistance of the walls but still moves slowly and stiffly. She has not been able to sit since the accident so she is always standing or lying. Despite all of this Beauty remains true to her name, inside and out. No matter how long it takes her to walk and how difficult it is, this doesn’t stop her from getting where she wants to go - usually to play and hang out with the other kids in the children’s ward at Good Shepherd Hospital. The Beast doesn’t stop her from playing, coloring, laughing, and being silly. The Beast doesn’t affect her heart, her smile, or her appetite.
Beauty is not just her name, it is who she is and the Beast will never keep her down.