With mission trips in 9 nations including 5 states in the U.S. it’s not hard to find great stories of changed lives. Pictured here is Ann Buchanan, wife of Mission Discovery founder Maury Buchanan in Bulembu, Swaziland. Ann spent a week in the tiny African nation as a part of Mission Discovery’s partnership with Bulembu Ministries Swaziland. Along with 38 other youth and adults, Ann worked on physical projects in the morning and spent her afternoons in the home of 6 orphans and their “Auntie”.
Bulembu Ministries Swaziland is in a life and death battle to rescue children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic that has the nation listed as the only in the world with a negative population growth. BMS is determined to raise leaders for Swaziland who in turn will be able to bring life to this dying nation.
One afternoon Ann decided to teach the “Auntie” and the girls in her home how to knit. After two days most had the hang of it, especially the “Auntie”. She had created a beautiful scarf. As she was showing Ann her work she said, “You have given me bread.” Every skill here in Swaziland could be a source of potential income.
The idea of teaching a skill to earn an income is not a new one in Bulembu. BMS intends to support the care of orphans through enterprise. Already thriving, is a water bottling company, honey farm, timber industry, lodge business, and dairy. Every dollar pays its workers and supports the care of over 300 orphans there. By 2020 BMS hopes to see thriving industries supporting the care of 2000 children.
“You have given me bread.” Consider being a part of giving “bread” to someone in need on Mission Discovery’s next mission trip to Bulembu, Swaziland.
