Why Swaziland?

After a week's visit to Swaziland in February 2006, Jon & Jude decided to go back in September 2006 along with their 3 youngest children. For the forseable future they are taking time out of their full-time jobs, and the girls' education, to give themselves to God's redeeming work among the people of this small African nation.

It has been their hearts' desire for some time to work in a third world country and they feel that this is the opportunity God wants them to take.

Swaziland is a forgotten gem - nestled between South Africa and Mozambique - a diverse and beautiful country. Beneath the surface though, it is a kingdom of 1 million people who are in danger of extinction. It has the highest AIDS epidemic in the world, with 120,000 orphans and 70% of its population in abject poverty, with many heads of families being no more than 11 years of age.

Through a previous visit, made by their eldest daughter Victoria, Jon & Jude were introduced to a pioneering project, called Bulembu Ministries Swaziland (BMS), which is bringing hope and practical solutions, making a real difference where there has been no hope.

Bulembu is a disused mining village that is being transformed into a place where orphans can be nurtured, educated, trained, given health care and healed so they can become productive citizens of Swaziland. Because of AIDS the United Nations has stated that Swaziland will be extinct by 2050. Bulembu offers hope!

BMS is a relief and community aid organisation whose goal is to offer encouragement in this area. Profits generated by the micro enterprises now being developed will, in the future, be used to help support the growing orphan community and fund the education and health care programmes necessary in the Bulembu community. BMS has a growing number of supporters in other nations – Canada, USA and Australia – who contribute financial and other support for the charitable work of BMS.

The deepest desire of those who work in Bulembu is to display the compassion of Jesus to those hurting around them, from feeding the hungry, to building a Church, from rescuing an abandoned baby to renovating a new foster home.

It is the following words from the Bible that motivates the Skinner family as they set out to serve God in Swaziland:

'He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' Micah 6:8