Children

Abigail, Girl

Birthdate: 27th January, 2000

Mother and Father have  died.  She had 5 brothers and one sister.  The 5 brothers are in custody of their Uncle. Abigail was in custody of her sister. This was fine until her sister was married and had two of her own children.  Abigail was then neglected and unsafe due to the brother-in-law, who did not support Abigail, did not want her and forced her out of the house to sleep outside without food, clothes or protection.  This was especially serious since her sister’s business is to sell second hand clothes at the market place and so she  made frequent buying trips to Johannesburg for 2nd hand clothes to sell leaving Abigail to sleep outside unprotected and unfed and chased away from the homestead. The Head Master of her school identified her as a child at risk and requested New Hope Centre to investigate the situation and help the child.  We found her depressed, crying incessantly and  thin.  She was not able to eat much due to being unused to having food regularly or in reasonable amounts.  She had been sexually abused  and was then punished herself by the family instead of the perpetrator.  She needed a new home, a new life and new hope.

She has been with us now over a year and is becoming more confident, dealing with her past and beginning to look forward to a bright future.  She is doing extremely well in school and is a responsible helper in the main children’s home as she is one of the senior girls. 

Annastasia, girl

BirthDate: 21st February 1998

Apphia, Girl

Birthdate: 12th August, 2006

Apphia’ s mother died two years ago from HIV/AIDS and her father is seriously ill with HIV/AIDS full blown. Apphia was living with her grandmother in the Bethany community. The grandmother was so concerned because every day the child was being abused. The child would come running to the granny crying and fearful. She started at our preschool in February 2011 and soon we realized the problem was sexual abuse and we took the child to the police with the grandmother and then the police transferred us to the RFM Hospital for the physical examinations. She was found to have been sexually molested and had STD infections and she was put on antibiotics. We then continued with the police and social welfare but the sexual abuse we discovered was primary school boys in the neighbourhood and even her close relative young teenage boys. The granny hoped the police would intervene as she had tried and the other grannies failed to discipline their boys. There seemed to be no way to protect this child in that environment. While Social Welfare was processing her assessment reports we had Apphia stay us over the weekends and the whole afternoon so she went home when her granny was sure to be home at sleeping time. Apphia then had real problems going home ever and she just wanted to stay with us. The grandmother and father took action and helped us process the child to be taken into New Hope Centre permanently and to be given her new name and a new life. She is still on treatments for her infections and she still cries like it’s the end of the world from the very bowels of her being but the crying times are getting less and she is overcoming and beginning to laugh and to trust us.

Asher, boy

BirthDate: 18th May 1997

Asher was referred to us by a missionary couple working in the north of the country who works to provide for the orphan care points in the area. Asher is a double orphan who was living with his Aunt. She did not want him and the head teacher of the local school saw the child’s suffering and alerted the missionaries of his plight. He has two little sisters that the aunt would not give to us as she is sure she can get a sale price on the girls when she sells them to other families for these girls to work like slaves as caregivers to other younger children. They are only 2 and 4 now but will be used within the next two years as "slaves" given a roof over their heads, food in their mouths but no education, no room of their own only a life a hard work until they are sold in marriage as teenagers. Please pray for these sisters that God will soften the heart of the Auntie and allow them to come to a place of hope, life and health.

AZARIAH, GIRL

BirthDate: 1st May 2009

We met Azariah with her two sisters when they were only 5 weeks old. Their mum came with these precious little bundles begging us to take them as she could not care for them or feed them. We are a children’s home for those without parents or relatives so we make every effort to find a way to support the child in their family and with their relatives. We had visitors at the time who offered to provide pampers disposables and baby formula powdered milk for the next six months of their lives. So we visited them regularly and made sure they were progressing. The nursing team from Niagara, Canada came with Melanie Stansfield and helped us with provisions and corrections in care.

Later that year we had their first birthday celebration giving thanks to God for the three little girls and that Jehovah Jireh had provided for them for their whole first year and they were well. It was a great lunch time party with all of our preschoolers from our home and the community plus the GO Team from Bethany, Oklahoma, USA.

The girls did well until they started crawling, when one of them mistakenly picked up a pot of boiling hot water that was left on the floor and poured it over her head and body as if she was bathing herself only to be scolded with the boiling water. She was severely burned and had to be hospitalised in Mankayane. This was the beginning of the overwhelming circumstances for the mum and grandmother.

We approached the Social Welfare offices in Manzini for their assistance to process the children to be assigned to New Hope Centre until they are 18 years of age like our other children. On the weekend of our national Independence celebrations Ms Rachael and Sis Tandzi went to their home and collected the three darlings and all their earthly belongings. They are now 17 months of age and are beginning to smile, starting to stand up a little and have many brothers and sisters to help them in all their needs and wants. Soon we will hear them learn to talk and watch them learn to walk, run and dance in liveliness.

We pray for wisdom and provision to raise these three treasures in love and faithfulness, in wisdom and favour with God and Man.

Caleb, boy

Birth Date: 1st January 1992

Both parents dead, never met or knew his father and desperate for a father. He was passed from family to family and then finally to strangers where he was a slave herding the cattle. At times he would run away for days confused, void of the security of knowing a fathers love. He ran away and lived as a street kid in thecapital city Mbabane but found it too much for him. He finally returned on foot walking for days to where he had last known about his father only to discover he had died in February 2004. His aunt, unemployed and having eight children of her own gave Caleb to New Hope Centre. Caleb is called to be a pastor and he is already preaching and teaching the Word in our home and in the community. He is a talented singer and dancer

See what Caleb has been up to recently

Chloe, girl

Birth Date: 16th August, 2002

Chloe was five and a paternal orphan when she came to New Hope Centre. Her mother was suffering the last stages of HIV/AIDS and came to us for help having walked for 12km, She had attended the Somhlolo Festival of Praise thanks giving service on Sunday the 22nd July at the national Church where New Hope Centre children danced to the song "Here comes the King of glory". She heard that we were a home for orphaned children and so she came to bring her two children to us as she had no strength and no hope of help. She had already taken desperate measures to solve the situation and had failed. She arrived emaciated, sick and weak with two little ones in hand as she had not the strength to even carry them. Chloe is the name the Lord gave for her as it means VIBRANT and she has a vibrant and lively spirit. She is in preschool and enjoying the new brothers and sisters. A beautiful gentle, quiet child. We believe God has a great ministry planned for this little girl and the name Chloe is after the founder of the first house church in the city of Corinth, likewise we believe Chloe will be a pastor shepherd caring for God’s people and displaying His kindness and mercy.

Debrah, girl

Birth Date: 12th February 1994

Both parents dead, she suffered sexual, emotional abuse at the homesteads where she was staying. Young men and other cousins were very cruel to her and she has had much to overcome. Her granny took her in and gave her to New Hope Centre before she died. She is a leader in New Hope Centre,, excelling in school, dance music and everything she puts her hand to. She is truly a child dedicated to excellence in all she does. She is presently learning to play the mandolin. Debrah loves searching her Bible for scriptures pertaining to wisdom. This is her passion at present. Debrah had seen in a vision of two house side by side, one was hers and the other is a huge home for orphans where she is the Director and it has a primary and pre-school for the kids

Elijah, boy

BirthDate: 30th January 1996

Elijah is a double orphan. He has two cousins with him here at New hope Centre. He was living with his great grandmother as all his other grandparenst had already died. He was severely abused phsycially and verbally by neghbours and his uncles in the homestead so he has been overcoming much and is beginning to be a fine young man. Elijah likes motorbikes, and he wants to be a soldier to help prevent crime.

Ethan, boy

BirthDate: 23rd May, 2003

Esther

Birth Date: 26th July 1998

Esther was left abandoned in the street as the landlord held her parent possessions in lieu of unpaid rent. We heard of her plight through a kindly store manager. She has watched both her parents suffer full blown AIDS and die. She has no known relatives. Esther recently had a dream in which she is grown up. Jesus took her to go with Him because He built her a big timber house like New Hope Centre. Jesus said it was her house and started to bring little children to come and live with her, she is most delighted.

HANANIAH, GIRL

BirthDate:  1st May 2009

We met Hananiah with her two sisters when they were only 5 weeks old.  Their mum came with these precious little bundles begging us to take them as she could not care for them or feed them.  We are a children’s home for those without parents or relatives so we make every effort to find a way to support the child in their family and with their relatives.  We had visitors at the time who offered to provide pampers disposables and baby formula powdered milk for the next six months of their lives.  So we visited them regularly and made sure they were progressing. The nursing team from Niagara, Canada came with Melanie Stansfield and helped us with provisions and corrections in care.

Later that year we had their first birthday celebration giving thanks to God for the three little girls and that Jehovah Jireh had provided for them for their whole first year and they were well.  It was a great lunch time party with all of our preschoolers from our home and the community plus the GO Team from Bethany, Oklahoma, USA. 

The girls did well until they started crawling, when one of them mistakenly picked up a pot of boiling hot water that was left on the floor and poured it over her head and body as if she was bathing herself only to be scolded with the boiling water.  She was severely burned and had to be hospitalised in Mankayane.  This was the beginning of the overwhelming circumstances for the mum and grandmother. 

We approached the Social Welfare offices in Manzini for their assistance to process the children to be assigned to New Hope Centre until they are 18 years of age like our other children.  On the weekend of our national Independence celebrations Ms Rachael and Sis Tandzi went to their home and collected the three darlings and all their earthly belongings.  They are now 17 months of age and are beginning to smile, starting to stand up a little and have many brothers and sisters to help them in all their needs and wants.  Soon we will hear them learn to talk and watch them learn to walk, run and dance in liveliness. 

We pray for wisdom and provision to raise these three treasures in love and faithfulness, in wisdom and favour with God and Man.

Hepzibah

Birthdate: 17th December, 2005

Her mother is dead but her father is unknown as the mother became pregnant and never told anyone who the father was.  Her grandmother is alive but unable to care for this little girl.  Her aunt came to us in desperation as she had her own children and several other orphaned children from other deceased siblings.  The situation showed that she was both love-starved and food-starved.  She was clean but very thin and very scared.  In the few weeks she has been with us she has begun to open up and reveal her delightful personality.  Her name means “God’s delight” and truly this little one is beginning to walk in being a delight to all in heaven and on earth.

IZAK, BOY

BIRTHDATE: 7th August 2003

The son of Izak’s neighbour came one morning and reported that he had spent the weekend at his parents homestead and was totally distressed about the conditions of this little boy. He had sores in his eyes that were bleeding, he was being abused by his grandfather who is an alcoholic. Upon investigation we found that truly this child was sick with sores in his eyes all over his head and body, the story was that his grandfather would be drunk for days and would either not come home at all leaving the child to fend for himself outside without any food or shelter or he would return in a rage and beat the child needlessly. Both his parents had died in the past few years and he has no other living relative according to the investigations we were able to make. We took him to a medical officer to have his health condition assessed. The doctor was astounded to find such neglect in this day and age. The child had not had any hygienic or nutritional care as well as the fear he lived with. We then processed Izak through Social welfare. When we found the grandfather to sign over the guardianship of the child he confessed that he was really unable to care for the child since his wife had passed away and so he would be more than relieved for someone to relieve him of this burden. He has come to visit Izak once since he came to New Hope Centre but the child was obviously not thrilled to see him and was afraid he was going to be taken away. Since then he has really blossomed and become more confident to express himself as he is now secure in the knowledge no-one can take him away for his new home, his new family and his new life.

James, boy

Birth Date: 20th November 1997

James is a double orphan. He had six other siblings, who remained with his great grandmother, who is old and not able to care for all of them. She was also caring for two of James cousins who are now at New Hope Centre with him. James is quiet and attentive to the needs of others. He likes riding bicycles and playing soccer. He is an amazingly gifted artist in painting, sculpturing and jewellery design.

Jedidah, girl

BirthDate: 8th July 2003

Jedidah came to us because of a kind man who was troubled when he saw this baby left under a tree as he passed by in the bus going to work every day. He came to new Hope Centre and Auntie Caroline went with him to find the child. She found her under the tree sitting alone, unable to talk, unable to walk, unable to crawl, her hips, pelvic bones and back distorted from sitting, her body the size of a 5 month baby and no one to care for her. From the community reports and the condition of her teeth we ascertained she was two years old. Her family had all died one by one, the people in the community who had taken her had died, and the people who had then taken her in could no longer cope so they left her to herself and God intervened through this young man and New Hope Centre. Caroline processed all the legal papers and Dr Samuel examined her to find she was very weak, malnourished and would have died in days if the Lord had not intervened through this man. Her X-rays showed she had been eating handfuls of dirt to satisfy her hunger. Jedidah is her name and means Gods darling, as we believe the Lord is delighted in her and loves her so much as to make a way for her life. In the first month she has learnt to eat, started gaining weight and strength. She learned to crawl and then to walk, now she is talking and running. A miracle child and the sweetest little girl

Jemimah, girl

Birth Date: 22nd August 2002

Her father died first and she was left with a sick mother who then left her to her grandmother was who was unable to protect the child from sexual, emotional and physical abuse. She came to our preschool until her mother died and then she disappeared. We visited the family to discover that truly there was no way for them to manage and so she came to New Hope Centre. Her name means the breaking of the dawn and we see her beginning to break through out of fear and despair into an occasional smile and giggle. She was so happy the day she arrived as she was now with all her little school friends and she knew us all. God blessed her as that day we received a package from Scotland with some lovely pink pajamas that were her size, she had never had pajamas before in her life and was one delighted little girl.

Jesse, boy

BirthDate: 1st February 1998

Joanna, girl

Birth Date: 22nd October 1998

Joanna is a double orphan, both parents dead. She stayed in three different homesteads, and then she went to live with her granny. Her granny gave her to New Hope Centre. Joanna is an amazing blessing she has the gift of helps and a wonderful servant heart. She anticipates peoples needs and happily helps with much wisdom. She is presently responsible for 4 grown chickens and 6 baby chicks. Joanna wants to be a nurse or a big sister in a home to care for others.

Joel, boy

Birth Date: 1st October 1996

Joel is a double orphan and, suffered emotional abuse at the homesteads where he was staying, especially from the hands of one uncle. This makes it difficult for him to trust. His granny took him in and gave him to New Hope Centre before she died. Joel likes playing with cars, riding bikes and he wants to be a pilot so he can be a preacher flying to remote places to share the gospel. He excels in school and is an avid reader of the Word of God. He loves telling Bible stories.

John, boy

Birth Date: 1st November 1999

John is a double orphan. He was staying with his grandmother and separated from all his other siblings. No one cared for John and he has had much to overcome, but he is today a delightful young man. He has an incredible love and grace for the other little children in the home and cares for them showing them love and helping them adjust to life at New Hope Centre. He has a true pastors heart. John likes playing with cars and slides, and likes eating chicken and rice. He wants to be a police man to prevent crime and protect people from suffering.

Joseph, boy

Birth Date: 31st December 2002

Both parents alive, father abandoned the child in the womb and the mother, Yvonne, is mentally and psychologically disturbed with multiple illnesses and HIV positive. The baby and mother came to us one evening having been picked up along the road by a stranger who saw Yvonne having an epileptic fit. We took her to the hospital where she was diagnosed HIV+ with meningitis and presumed to be a certain death case within days. She prepared for her death giving Joseph to us to care for him as she is an orphan with only a very old grandfather surviving. We prayed for her as a family and she recovered and is living with her grandfather but has left her son as she is not able to care for him. He has been terribly abused verbally and physically by his grandfather and cousins as Yvonne could not stand for her own rights nor for her baby’s. They terrorized her into believing she would murder her own child and so she is afraid to try to care for the child herself. He is a happy and intelligent child who has fallen in love with his new family.

Josiah, boy

Birth Date: 7th January, 2006

Josiah was 18 months old when he came to New Hope Centre. Josiah is a paternal orphan and the younger sibling to Chloe. He came that Sunday night tired, hungry and bewildered. Ms Lindsay took the little one to care for him while we made arrangements as he is younger than we have ever taken before. God had provided the necessary diapers, baby clothes and toys for her to be able to help him that very night. He is now settled in at the New Hope Centre with the 2 other toddler boys. He’s a beautiful child, happy and healthy and as good as gold. He is named after the youngest King of Israel as the youngest child in New Hope Centre.

Judith, girl

Birth date: 4th November 2000

Judith came to us one morning with her father in a taxi. Her father was barely able to walk or talk from weakness due to full-blown AIDS. He was her last living relative and had been discharged from the hospital for a day to find a place for the child. He had been in hospital for several months, barely alive, suffering from AIDS. A few months earlier Judith’s aunt had died and the neighbors had brought her to the hospital where her father was. The little girl had to sleep on the floor under his bed and live in a male medical ward full of very sick men, many of whom are in the very painful dying stages of AIDS. Not an ideal place for a little girl. She came to us a little bewildered with life, but a brave little one. The Lord laid the name Judith on our hearts for her as Judith was a brave young woman that took action all alone to save the nation of Israel when no other man or woman had the courage. She is a delightful little girl and we are honoured to have her with us.

Keziah, girl

Birth Date: 1st September 2001

Keziah’s mother was a widow and worked as a volunteer at New Hope Cente until she died. She had two children Keziah by her husband and another son by an earlier relationship. Keziahs’ grandmother was distraught as she had no means of support now that her daughter had died and she brought Keziah which means the fairest in the land to come and stay with us. She is a clever little girl, misses her granny very much but we thank God she was spared of many of the sufferings and abuses that happen once the parents are deceased. She is a delightful, talented in singing and dancing and excelling in pre-school.

Levi, boy

BIRTHDATE 7th July 2001

Levi arrived at New Hope Centre with his little sister, from a very poverty stricken family. The widow woman with them claimed to be the mother and was distraught, despairing and starving. She claimed they had no relatives and she alone was left with no-one and no where to turn to for help. We noted both children had evidence of physical abuse and intimidation. The children showed immense fear and distrust. We considered their situation as seriously in need of intervention to rescue their young lives and give them a safe home and a future. We were able to assist the woman with food for some days through a gift of Food for Hungry Kids from the Southbrook Christian Church in Ohio. The woman has begun to attend the local Assemblies of God Church and is showing signs of recovery as a person. Her husband worked in the mines and died after a long sickness which means if she is not treated she will follow him in a short while. These two have adjusted well at New Hope Centre and Levi is a sweet young man, brave in all sorts of situations including the dentist drilling and taking shots. He loves it at New Hope Centre and is flourishing at the Sikholwa Semaqawe Lanenjabulo School of Happy Overcomers. Although he is still very quiet, he is getting involved with the other children.

Lydia, girl

BirthDate: 10th April 1997

Lydia is from the eastern part of the country and came to us by the referral of a local pastor. She was living in very rough conditions for a little girl and she suffered much sexual, emotional and physical abuse form her uncles in the homestead. She is a very slender, tall, beautiful young lady, potentially a model. She is artistic and would love to be a fashion designer. She needs much love and tender care to recover her confidence. She loves to sing and often leads worship, she is a good swimmer and needs much prayer to overcome concentration difficulties when it comes to school work.

Matthew, boy

BirthDate: 24th January 2003

Matthew’s father, uncles and aunts are all deceased. His mother has full blown HIV/AIDS, is incontinent, unable to walk or care for herself. His indigent grandmother is a hawker at the petrol (gas) station a few miles from New Hope Centre. She has become desperate as she is the only living relative besides his sick mother. She earns barely enough to feed herself as she sells snacks and fruits at the side of the road. If she were hit by a car and killed or injured they would be destitute. He is a sweet and quiet little boy who we believe will grow to have a heart of faithfulness, love and wisdom as Jesus disciple Matthew.

MISHAEL, GIRL

BIRTHDATE:  1st May 2009

We met Mishael with her two sisters when they were only 5 weeks old.  Their mum came with these precious little bundles begging us to take them as she could not care for them or feed them.  We are a children’s home for those without parents or relatives so we make every effort to find a way to support the child in their family and with their relatives.  We had visitors at the time who offered to provide pampers disposables and baby formula powdered milk for the next six months of their lives.  So we visited them regularly and made sure they were progressing. The nursing team from Niagara, Canada came with Melanie Stansfield and helped us with provisions and corrections in care.

Later that year we had their first birthday celebration giving thanks to God for the three little girls and that Jehovah Jireh had provided for them for their whole first year and they were well.  It was a great lunch time party with all of our preschoolers from our home and the community plus the GO Team from Bethany, Oklahoma, USA. 

The girls did well until they started crawling, when one of them mistakenly picked up a pot of boiling hot water that was left on the floor and poured it over her head and body as if she was bathing herself only to be scolded with the boiling water.  She was severely burned and had to be hospitalised in Mankayane.  This was the beginning of the overwhelming circumstances for the mum and grandmother. 

We approached the Social Welfare offices in Manzini for their assistance to process the children to be assigned to New Hope Centre until they are 18 years of age like our other children.  On the weekend of our national Independence celebrations Ms Rachael and Sis Tandzi went to their home and collected the three darlings and all their earthly belongings.  They are now 17 months of age and are beginning to smile, starting to stand up a little and have many brothers and sisters to help them in all their needs and wants.  Soon we will hear them learn to talk and watch them learn to walk, run and dance in liveliness. 

We pray for wisdom and provision to raise these three treasures in love and faithfulness, in wisdom and favour with God and Man.

Miriam, girl

Birth Date: 26th November 2001

Miriam and her brother came in one day. They are from Manzini in central part of Swaziland. They are from Manzini in the central part of Swaziland. Two old grannies arrived s New Hope Centre in dire straights, saying they had tried to cared for these two children who come to them like stray dogs from the street. The grannies had tried but they could not manage their own grand children plus Miriam and her brother. Miriam is adjusting well to her new family.

Naomi, girl

Birth Date: 20th May, 2002

Naomi was five years old when she came to New Hope Centre, a double orphan. Her great grandmother walked all the way to New Hope Centre when she could no longer physically, emotionally and financially care for this child. The great grandmother reported that all of her children and their children had died. She had managed to find people to take care of her older great grandchildren, but could not find a home for Naomi. No one in the community would take Naomi, as she was not yet strong enough to work or care for other little ones. When Naomi saw our home she was delighted and so happy to have adopted siblings and friends with whom to play.

Nehemiah, Boy

1st November, 2006

This little boy came to us with his sister and his grandmother.  They did not live far from us and had heard about us through one of their neighbours.  The granny is alcoholic and does not cope with life very well since she is HIV positive and on Antiretroviral Therapy.  She is poor in health and in every way. She has no home and was living with another old lady who was her friend.  The old lady who was her friend was the real person caring for the children and the unwell granny but she died early this year creating a serious crisis for this fragile family.  The grandmother and four grandchildren were all made homeless.  The oldest girl is finished school and is living with some friend of hers.  We met her once but she was reticent to share the details of her life.  The other child is studying in at Lobamba National High School and we have not met her so have not been able to be involved in her life. This meant the two little ones and their alcoholic grandmother were stranded and they came up the mountain seeking urgent help.  The three of them walked up the mountain and he was able to walk even though it was  a long and hot tiring road.  He showed signs of physical abuse from beatings and shoutings  and had a swollen face from seriously swollen glands.  We immediately took him to the Bethany Scutt Jubilee clinic for treatment and medications  He has improved physically but exhibits abusive behavior beating up on our kids and sometimes he uses the Shabeen ( informal liquor bar selling homemade brews) and foul language.  He has much to learn about the love of God and  family life as he has had some really adverse treatment in his brief and sad life.

Noah, boy

Birth Date: 2nd August 1995

Noah’s mother died in February 2004 due to Cardio Respiratory failure, AIDS related. His father was in hospital dying of full blown AIDS when he heard of New Hope Centre. Noah’s father asked the police to contact New Hope Centre, so that we could collect his two boys from the streets where they had been abandoned. He wanted to make sure Noah and his little brother Jesse were loved and cared for. He wept bitterly when he knew they would be raised "in the church, and know God". Noah is growing in the Lord and in wisdom, He has a very tender heart and loves his dog called precious. Noah is an excellent dancer and superb swimmer. Within one year of learning to swim he qualified for the National swimming team. His favourite stroke is breast stroke. He came 2nd in his first International swimming competition with other Southern African countries representing Swaziland.

Philippa, girl

Birth Date: 11th August 1997

With both parents dead, Philippa was given to an old lady in another community, to look after the old lady. This old lady died and Philippa was coming to a Christian woman’s home every day to get food. This Christian woman tried to find in the community who would care for the child. No-one would take in the child so the woman took her to one of the Queens of our former King Sobhuza who is a Godly old lady. Queen LaZwane immediately contacted us to see if we could take this destitute child. Philippa is quiet but very clever and longs to be preaching and telling others of the love of Jesus and the mercy of God.

Phoebe, girl

Birth Date: 6th September 1998

Phoebe is from the Eastern area of the country. She is a double orphan since both parents have died. She and her brother lived with their grandfather until their pastor called us to inform us the grandfather had had a stroke and could no longer care for the children. The old man was desperate to give the children a hope and a future. He had no other children of his own with whom to leave the children. The children were referred to us by the local pastor who wept on the phone when we contacted him back to inform him that we could take the children. Phoebe is a happy girl and loves praise and worship. She is in leadership training for children’s camps and children’s clubs going to training classes every Wednesday afternoon and sometimes over the weekends as part of the leadership team for other children in the camps.

Priscilla, girl

Birth Date 17th November 2005

Priscilla arrived at New Hope Centre with her older brother from a very poverty stricken family and not much of a story. The widow woman with them claimed to be the mother and was distraught, despairing and starving. She claimed they had no relatives and she alone was left with no-one and no where to turn to for help. We noted both children had evidence of physical abuse and intimidation. The children showed immense fear and distrust. We considered their situation as seriously in need of intervention to rescue their young lives and give them a safe home and a future. We were able to assist the woman with food for some days through a gift of Food for Hungry Kids from the Southbrook Christian Church in Ohio. The woman has begun to attend the local Assemblies of God Church and is showing signs of recovery as a person. Her husband worked in the mines and died after a long sickness which means if she is not treated she will follow him in a short while. These two children have adjusted well at New Hope Centre and Priscilla is a delightful little girl. At first she was so scared she did not say a word and hid her face if you greeted her or looked at her, but now in chapel every morning she runs around with arms wide open to give everyone a hug and when she is happy she jumps up and down.

Ruth, girl

Birth Date: 16th March 2000

With both parents dead, Ruth had suffered considerable sexual and emotional abuse at the homesteads where she was staying. She was cared for by a child-minder until her grandfather died and then there was no-one to pay the child-minder. Her pastor referred her to the New Hope Centre. For a long time Ruth would cry whenever she was awakened and she showed many sexual behaviours from the treatment she was given in the homestead. She is now recovering, and although Ruth needs gentle care she is becoming a confident healthy young lady, helpful and clever.

Samuel, boy

Birth Date: 31st December 1999

Samuel is from the Eastern area of the country. He is a double orphan since both parents have died. He and his sister have lived with their grandfather until the time when his health has been failing and he is desperate to give the children a hope and a future. He had no other children of his own with whom to leave the children. The children were referred to us by the local pastor who wept on the phone when we contacted him back to inform him that we could take the children. Samuel is a sweet child and is adjusting well in the home.

Seth, boy

Birth Date: 26th November 2001

Seth and his sister came in one day. They are from Manzini in the central part of Swaziland. Two old grannies arrived s New Hope Centre in dire straights, saying they had tried to cared for these two children who come to them like stray dogs from the street. The grannies had tried but they could not manage their own grand children plus Seth and his sister. Seth is good in art and loves playing warriors as in Narnia.

Suzzanna, girl

Birth Date: 18th April 1999

With both parents dead, Suzzanna had suffered sexual and emotional abuse at her granny’s homestead. Her granny was too frail and old to care for her and protect her. She had learned many unhealthy behavioural habits, but with much prayer and nuturing she has overcome and is healing. Suzzanna is very bright girl with a strong personality of authority and leadership. She will do great exploits in the Kingdom in her time.

Tabitha, girl

Birth Date: 31st July 2000

Tabitha is a double orphan. She was living with her uncle in Manzini as he is the only living relative. He was no longer able to care for her and the stress in the family was causing problems for his own children. He was also an orphan himself so had no other extended family who could care for Tabitha. He had suffered as a child, not having proper care and support, and did not want this little one to suffer and struggle as he had. He visited the New Hope Centre and was relieved to know that God had made provision for children who had no-one to love and care for them. He was so overwhelmed that he wept as he made out the application forms and prepared to meet us the following day. Tabitha had been schooling at Nazarene Beaufort School until the following day when he brought her to New Hope Centre with her small brown school case of all her possessions, wearing her school uniform. Tabitha is so sweet. As we explained the role that the Biblical Tabitha had in the early church and how she was resurrected to continue her life, our Tabitha smiled, and said that now she is at New Hope Centre she has been resurrected and can have joy once more. Hallelujah.

Timothy, boy

Birth Date: 5th December 2000

Timothy and his little brother came to us because their mother saw our van in town and asked people what New Hope Centre was about. They told her we take children who are destitute and need a new home and a new family. She walked for 12Km to reach us and ask if we would take her two little boys as she is dying of HIV/AIDS. Their father had already died along with many other family members. Their grandmother has become mentally ill through all the stress of the disintegration of the family so the mother was distraught about her two little boys. Thankfully God has provided for them and they are now in New Hope Centre. The both have TB and are on treatment and we pray they will go form strength to strength. Timothy was named after Timothy, Paul’s son in the Lord, as he has such a sweet and lovely nature. What a wonderful difference in the children who have been spared the abuse that comes after loosing both parents.

Tirzah, girl

Birth Date: 10th October 1994

Tirzah and her sister were referred to us by a missionary couple working in the north of the country who work to provide for the orphan care points in the area. The two girls were found to be living totally alone, aged 11 and 6. They have no known relatives and were in a mud hut being cared for by the community women, but so vulnerable and neglected and scared. Their eyes were very lost and it took them sometime to adjust. Tirzah is settling well and is glad to join the New Hope Centre family

Titus, boy

Birth Date: 24th December 2003

Zadok, boy

Birth Date: 24th May 2000

Zadok is an only-child with no parents. He was living with his grandmother alone not far from New Hope Centre. The grandmother brought him to New Hope Centre when she found that her small vending efforts to sell fruits on the streets was failing to support herself and the child. She decided to bring him so that he would have a chance to live even if she could not make it herself. Very sad. He was well cared for, although he was very thin, he was loved and knew how to wash himself and care for himself.

Zechariah, boy

Birth Date: 10th August 2000

Zechariah is half brother to Jemimah. His father died and Zechariah lived with his mother until she became ill and died. When the mother died and we visited the homestead we found him. He had not been able to go to school because his fathers family had no means to help his mother. He was living with the grandmother and had much healing to go through from the abuse he has suffered sexually, physically and emotionally.

Zeruiah, Girl

Birthdate: 21st May, 2008

This little girl came to us with her brother and her grandmother. They did not live far from us and had heard about us through one of their neighbours. The granny is alcoholic and does not cope with life very well since she is HIV positive and on Antiretrovirals. Her health is poor and she has no home. She was living with another old lady who was her friend. That old lady was the real person caring for the children and the unwell granny but she died early this year creating serious crisis for this fragile family. The grandmother and four grandchildren were all made homeless. The oldest girl is finished school and is living with some friend of hers. We met her once but she was reticent to share the details of her life. The other child is studying in high school at Lobamba National High and we have not met her so have not been able to be involved in her life. This meant the two little ones and their alcoholic grandmother were stranded and they came up the mountain. The Granny was actually having to drag Zeruiah as she was too small to walk properly. Her brother was able to walk but had a swollen face from seriously swollen glands. Zeruiah has major health challenges as can be expected from such an unstable and poverty stricken home. She has suffered from physical and verbal abuse making her life very challenging for her and those around her. She has learned to walk in the few weeks she has been with us and is beginning to respond and recognize us. She is beginning to realize that she is loved and part of the human race. So much of the wildness and fear is dissipating. She has a long way to go and her name means “God’s Healing balm” and one day her testimony of Gods healing will be a healing balm to the nations.

Zipporah, girl

Birth Date: 2nd April 1998

Zipporah and her sister were referred to us by a missionary couple working in the north of the country, who work to provide for the orphan care points in the area. The two girls were found to be living totally alone, aged 11 and 6. They have no known relatives and were in a mud hut being cared for by the community women. They were so vulnerable and neglected and scared. Their eyes were very lost and it took them some time to adjust. Zipporah is settling well and is glad to join the New Hope Centre family.