AWESOME MEETING WITH THE SWAZI HIGH CHIEF
by Dave Ohlerking

They came from all around the valley. The High Chief of the region had called a meeting.

About 120 residents sat on the floor in a small concrete block pavilion. Another 50 or so sat on the ground along the sides of the structure.

I wanted to photo or video the meeting, but I felt that would intrude on the traditional sacredness of the event.

About 30 officials and dignitaries, including the High Chief and three of the Kingdom of Swaziland’s Princes, sat at one end of the pavilion, facing the crowd.

These were the authorities who had led the effort for the King to approve allocating to Children’s Cup the 10 plus acres of prime property around a lake to build a CarePoint for 300 plus children, a multi-purpose large auditorium for youth camps, training seminars and worship services, an Intern kitchen, dining room, laundry, classrooms, dorms, and assembly hall. The campus will house and train up to 42 international Interns. The Mbekelweni campus is a place of training for committed and enabled young orphan care leaders and pastors.

As the High Chief motioned for Cup’s Africa Director Ben Rodgers, his assistant Nathie Hlatswayo, and me to come in, there was a respectful silence. Soft rain was falling and our feet were covered with red mud from the long, slippery climb up to the meeting place on the hill that overlooks the donated lake property.

The High Chief motioned for me to sit beside him and he stood to address the people. His voice was quiet, yet it was charged with centuries of tribal authority. He spoke mostly in SiSwati but addressed us enough in English for us to know what he was saying.

He introduced us to the people and told why he had granted the property to us. “We have studied these people and we know that they have already established 19 CarePoints for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in Swaziland—our children. They are not doing this for a profit. They are helping the youth of our country become diligent leaders. Wherever they work children’s lives are changed.

“In fact, I am so in awe of what they are doing for us and that they have come here to meet us, I feel like crying right now. We pledge to Children’s Cup that we will do all in our power to facilitate their work.”

With that he motioned for me to stand and speak. “This is one of the happiest days of my life. I have been in love with Swaziland since the 1980’s. Although missions work has taken me to 109 countries, this is my favorite project of all time. In my mind I live here in Swaziland. I was here at the time of King Mswati III’s coronation as King.

“Now you have generously given Children’s Cup what is really a great gift to your own children.

“Your children are Swaziland’s greatest resource and we pledge to do all in our power to help them defeat two of their enemies: AIDS and lack of training. The facilities we are building on the site will be a great venue for shaping future leaders in your communities and for this great country.”

When I finished speaking, the High Chief opened the floor for any who wished to say something. A Prince, several regional counselors, and some parents spoke—all with impassioned words of gratitude.

My mind was areel with a great sense of being part of a traditional African cultural event and at the same time witnessing Africans’ commitment to prepare their children to lead Swaziland business and government forward into the twenty-first century.

To close the meeting, the High Chief led the people in prayer for Children’s Cup—specifically for the donors who provided the dollars to build the campus.

As I sat in the meeting I was very aware of friends whose generous sacrifices made the construction possible. It is not beyond truth to say that what they have done is changing this part of Africa.

In the words of former US Ambassador to Swaziland Lewis Lucke (now Ambassador to Haiti), “Children’s Cup is one of the best faces of America in Swaziland.”