Nestled in the mountains of Swaziland

If you really want to be a part of what God is up to you need to know about Bulembu.

Bulembu is a small town in Swaziland, a country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. It is the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa and is known as the most peaceful country on the continent. It is also one of the most desperate. The AIDS/HIV rate is 43%, the highest in the world. With only a population of 1.15 million people there are over 60,000 orphaned children in the country, which is predicted to grow to 100,000 by next year.

So now imagine this. This little town called Bulembu up in the beautiful mountains of Swaziland had nearly been abandoned since the mine shut down there in 2001. But then some guys came along a few years ago and said something like “Hey, I think we can do something with this place.” So they purchase the whole town with this really cool plan. They decide it would be a great place to care for orphaned children. So that’s what they did.

Directing a volunteer work crew in Bulembu

Orphaned babies now living in Bulembu

There’s so much more that’s happening there though. Through their non profit organization they have developed other self sustaining industries in the community that provides hundreds of jobs. This includes the timber industry and sawmill, the bees they raise to sell the honey, the fresh spring water they bottle and sell and also the local lodge and restaurant for their guests. All this in only a few years.

Right now there are little over 100 children in the program and over the next 10 years their vision is to be caring for over 2,000 children and providing many more jobs for the local Swazi people.

Empty houses soon to be homes for orphans

Now, I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss what God is up to. This place is truly a city of light in a dark world. It’s kind of like the Jerusalem of Africa, a true place of miracles. The children living there have been rescued from complete abandonment and have been given a future a hope and real opportunity. As they grow older they will truly have something of value to contribute to their country and to the world.

You see we can make a difference. When we trust God we can believe in great big things like Bulembu. The impossible is happening in this town, right now. And God has provided for each step of the way. As they move in faith, God meets them right there.

He will do that for you too. Just trust Him, then do something.

We will be working in Bulembu in various ways. Mentoring, teaching, building, and sharing the love of Jesus. The Lord has commanded us to bring “justice to the fatherless” -Isaiah 1:17. If you feel the Lord leading you to do something about the great needs of orphans in the world, don’t miss it. We can help you with your calling. Contact us and find out how you can be a part of caring for the fatherless child.

Cara with some children in Bulembu

Nicolas giving the children's center a fresh coat of paint

Nicolas in an abandoned mine shaft

Jason and Cara hiking in the mountains of Bulembu

This entry was posted on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 11:39 am and is filed under The AR Ministry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.