Baby dolls, balls and toy trucks may look a little different in Swaziland, but these kids love to play! They learn to use their imaginations and resourcefulness to “make” these toys. As we have observed their ingenuity over the past few weeks, our hearts have been blessed as they run, laugh and play at the care points.
This little girl has made a baby doll. Her head is a garbage bag and the dress is made of scrap material.
This ball is made of many plastic bags all bundled together. This past week, we played catch and “keep away” throughout the day. We all had a “ball”! (no pun intended:)
This little boy was so proud of his homemade truck. He pushed it around with a tree branch. The wire is scrap wire from a fence and the wheels are bottle caps. The bed of the truck is a cardboard box. So clever!
This is a car in the making…made from wire and coke cans. He may be a future mechanic!
Landon and Lane are also using their imaginations. Livestock is common on the side of the roads, especially on care point roads. The missionary kids have an ongoing game called, “Slap the Cow”. See below the official rule sheet that Lane typed and distributed to all the missionary kids. We got a kick out of the rules and thought we would share with all of you.
SLAP THE COW OFFICIAL RULE SHEET
- SLAPPING A COW SHALL BE WORTH ONE POINT.
- HENCEFORTH SLAPPING A BULL, OR ANY COW WITH HORNS SHALL BE WORTH TWO POINTS.
- SLAPPING A GOAT SHALL ALSO BE WORTH TWO POINTS.
- SLAPPING A CHICKEN SHALL BE WORTH ONE POINT, AND SLAPPING A ROOSTER SHALL BE WORTH TWO POINTS.
- CATCHING A CHICKEN SHALL BE WORTH THREE POINTS (INCLUDING ROOSTERS).
- SLAPPING DONKEYS, MONKEYS, AND PIGS SHALL EACH ACCOUNT FOR FIVE POINTS, AS THEY ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE.
- “ELLIE ANDERSONS” SHALL ENTITLE YOU TO ADD ONE EXTRA POINT TO THE NORMAL SCORE OF WHATEVER ANIMAL YOU HAVE JUST SLAPPED. (THIS RULE IS NAMED AFTER ONE OF THE MISSIONARY KIDS…YOU MUST DOUBLE PUNCH ON THE BOOTY)
- POINTS SHALL NOT BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE INDIVIDUAL TO ANOTHER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
ANY VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE LISTED RULES SHALL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FOR THE WEEK. GAMES OF SLAP THE COW SHALL RUN FROM MONDAY MORNING UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT. POINTS SHALL BE TALLIED AND THE WINNER FOR THE PREVIOUS WEEK ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY NIGHT. SLAPPING A CHICK SHALL EARN YOU NO POINTS AND RESULT IN BEING SHUNNED BY YOUR PEERS FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY. IF THE ANIMAL IS DEAD, OR YOU RUN OVER IT, NO POINTS ARE AWARDED, BUT YOU MAY EAT IT FOR DINNER.
Please continue to keep our family and this ministry in your prayers. Thank you to all of our supporters and prayer partners. You are such a big part of our service in Swaziland!
Because of Him,
Greg, Michelle, Landon and Lane
