Our in-country staff truly make an impact in the lives of the children they serve. Transformation could not occur without them. Oftentimes, the children who attend our CarePoints have lost their father, their mother, or both. When they arrive at a CarePoint they are greeted by staff who tell them that they are valuable, loved, and that their lives have purpose.
The CarePoint staff take the time to get to know each child, conduct home visits where they get to know the child’s family, and form lasting relationships.
This week we would like to introduce you to Sanele Magagula, who comes from Mahlabaneni and, as CarePoint Oversight and Development Plan Coordinator, oversees much of what happens in Nsoko, Swaziland. He interacts with the CarePoint youth on a daily basis, writes Development Plans for CarePoints, and builds relationships with local churches. We interviewed Sanele about his daily activities and how he has seen God move during his time with Children’s HopeChest.
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Tell us a little about yourself, where you are from, where you live, and your family.
My name is Sanele Magagula, a 26-year-old man who loves the Lord. I am from a community called Mahlabaneni, where I grew up with both my parents and four other siblings.
How did you find out about HopeChest?
I grew up at a community where there was so much need, a lot of people lived below the poverty line and so a CarePoint was introduced by Adventures In Missions/Children’s HopeChest and I joined the CarePoint as a kid, and I enjoyed my childhood time at the CarePoint.
What is your role? What is a typical day like?
I work as a CarePoint oversight person for five CarePoints–Development Planning Coordinator, Pastors Relations, and Public Relations Officer. I spend most of my time in the CarePoints that I oversee meeting with the Shepherds and connecting with them. If I am not at the CarePoint then I am at a community meeting explaining more about our services to the communities and how communities can better partner with us as an organization.
I also spend some days creating development plans with the communities and then emailing them to our offices in the United States. I also meet with local pastors often to see how we, as an organization, can help partner with them as they win souls for Christ.
Share a story about working with a particular child in the program.
Senzo is an 18-year-old boy who is from Mahlabaneni CarePoint who I mentored and discipled in 2012 and has grown amazingly in his relationship with the Lord. He is a very influential person in the youth ministry in the church (operates inside the CarePoint premises) and is a role model for many kids. We have been paying his school fees for the past four years, and he will be graduating high school next year. He is excelling in school and is one of the best students in the school and is currently in a national mathematics competition that is broadcasted live on our only television station. It’s amazing to see a young man who grew up in a CarePoint in the rural area of the country, being an influential young person country-wide. I can’t wait to see what the Lord will be doing with his life in the next five years.
What do you like to do in your free time, when you are not at work?
I love spending time with family when I am not at work. I spend most of my time In church meetings with our youth and I also play volleyball!
How has your faith in Jesus grown through working at the CarePoint?
I have seen God’s faithfulness in the lives of many kids who grew up in hopeless situations striving to become better people. That made me believe that God never leaves nor forsakes his people.
What have you learned since you started working with HopeChest?
A thing I’ve learned is that God loves us all equally and has called us to love and serve others. In doing that, we need to constantly remind ourselves that it is always about Jesus, and whatever we do should bring glory to him. We are to be fishers of men all the time.
