Newsletter: Stephen Lewis

Can you imagine having the honour of spending a day with Stephen Lewis?

Sherri, representing Positively Africa, approached an extraordinary NGO in Swaziland called SWAPOL to possibly make an appointment to visit them. Imagine our sheer delight and amazement when they asked us if we could come the same day as Stephen Lewis!

And that’s how Sherri 'hit the ground running'. After a day to land in Joburg and have a night’s sleep we headed out for Swaziland.

Saturday 8^th we were at their offices at the crack of dawn.

I have so many details of comings and goings and getting lost and……..given that I’m not one for details; I’ll skip them!!!! Only because I have no other choice, it is late, tomorrow we do food hampers and the next day we leave for the Cape.

What a privilege to witness him 'at work', so warm, tender, genuine, ego-less, present, loving, laser sharp asking all the relevant questions and more, and more……I am in love!

In the picture along with Stephen and Sherri is Siphiwe the director of the project; a stunningly accomplished and dynamic woman also warm and friendly and generous obviously in love with her work.

We visited heart wrenching situations with child headed households; little ones 14 years and younger caring for each other, walking 3 kms to collect filthy water from a dam, cooking for themselves when they have food and attending school come what may. The desire to attend school is so passionate that when Stephen asked a little girl what she needed and wanted she eventually shyly said; ‘a pen so she could write exams on Monday’ and she cried; she also needed paper for the exams and because she didn’t have a school uniform she was scared she wouldn’t be able to go to school and sit her exams. After their mother died the house had been cleared out by the step-mother, of everything they owned including their uniforms. SWAPOL is taking them to court to fight for the kids’ possessions.

The S.L.F. is a major sponsor of SWAPOL and rest assured they do everything in their power to make things happen.

We visited the children’s centre where the kiddies come for day care and food; they sang for all of us the darlings!

This little one kept falling asleep whilst singing The Lord is my Shepherd and before she fell over they let her gently to the ground! With arms folded and eyes closed they sang like little angels landing right in your heart!

This dear little family is struggling horrendously since their granny who was their caregiver suffered a debilitating stroke and is hemiplegic and confined to her bed. The little 6 year old washes her, the little 8 year old cooks when they have food and they all try and attend school between all their chores. You’ll see this tragic little soul was burned badly by a paraffin lamp fire and has lost her left face and ear and her arm is lame; she is not allowed to attend school because of this, she is damned……. Sherri’s heart reached out to this family and she ensured they will have food hampers to sustain themselves; one thing to not have to worry about at least…..

And we visited the support groups where the women came in their hundreds to see Stephen and bring him gifts. They gather out here come rain or shine. They talk about living with HIV, keeping healthy, taking ARVs, avoiding opportunistic infections, safe sex and more….. Men also came in much smaller numbers and were vocal, a delight to see! And the power and passion of the women is palpable and exciting!

And he hugs and kisses the women as they offer their gifts and they giggle and are delightfully shocked, waves of glee moving through the group!

We were invited to the big dinner and celebrations that night and with hardly any turnaround time we headed out in the pouring rain and cold weather; most unseasonable for Swaziland. Stephen and Sherri were freezing; I had a coat lucky me!!

Beautiful women and glorious outfits! The one in white is a passionate and outspoken cabinet minister.

He was presented with a painting which delighted him no end!

He spoke to the audience of us as friends from Canada and was so warm and inclusive the whole time to the very last moment. I was mesmerized and have told every one I see; I am in love with him! He was very interested in what we all are doing in the townships here with the orphans and of course was not surprised and also delighted to hear what the citizens of Vancouver Island and friends in the U.S. are doing with their generosity!

He invited me initially and reminded me after the dinner to write to the Foundation when I was ready; he said he knew Pietermaritzburg was in good hands; I liked that!! He also hugged and kissed me; I was moved and touched. Sherri also got a hug and kiss as did many other women so don’t worry I won’t melt into some delusional dream!!

I nearly forgot to show you the water!! He met with the minister of health at the end of the day and said they would share the bottle together!! He did say he was impressed with the minister and liked him so hopefully that bodes well for the poverty stricken wonderful people of the rural areas of Swaziland. We know that Stephen will do everything he can to make the corners touch and effect all the change within his power; sincerity is his middle name!

He told us all that he’d just come from Zimbabwe where a delegation is taking affidavits and documenting evidence of the atrocities experienced by the women similar to that of the DRC women. Horrors beyond horrors you can not imagine. As he says the rape and torture of women is a weapon of war.

Ones heart can find a place to rest knowing that there are such people as Stephen Lewis who are devoted to Human Rights and the plight of women and children.

We thank the angels for orchestrating this opportunity to witness the master at work; a role model par excellence! May we follow his footsteps as he shows us the way!!

And…….tomorrow Zah gets her fridge with vanilla ice cream as the first item for the freezer!!!! She and her brother can’t stop smiling!!!!! THANK YOU ALL!