In the book, The Celestine Prophecy, the author, James Redfield, maintains in the late 20th century or early in the 21st century that certain people will… follow their deep insights and intuitions, and find purpose in coincidence, and discover true feeling and consciousness.

Whether or not you ascribe to the Celestine Prophecy theories, the story you are about to read centers around coincidence and the convergence of well- intentioned, pro-active people.

J. Jeff Scott works as a receiving supervisor for Langer, Inc., which is a biomedical company that makes orthotic and orthopedic devices. Jeff Scott has a friend named Helen Peluso who read about Cabrini Ministries work in Swaziland in an article written by New York Times reporter, Nicholas Kristof. On the strength of the article, Helen Peluso began an email conversation with Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSCs), Diane Dalle Molle and Barbara Staley, who are currently missioned at Cabrini Ministries, St. Philip's Mission.

The Missionary Sisters have been serving at St. Philip’s Mission in the lowveld region of Swaziland, Southern Africa since 1971 at the request of King Sobhuza II and the Servite priests. Today, they continue to serve at the mission running the health care services, the outreaches, and caring for the many children in the boarding hostels, along with providing skills training for those in the mission.

In recent years, efforts have been made by the MSCs in responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Swaziland, expanding their services directly related to the pandemic which now include:

• Healthcare including home based care to HIV/AIDS patients,
• Care of orphans and vulnerable children,
• Provision of food and food supplements to the elderly and HIV patients,
• Education of the children in the homesteads.

Swaziland has a 40+% of HIV infection (highest in the world), rampant TB, and the lowest life expectancy on the planet: 32.6 years and expected to drop to 29 in 4 years.

The Cabrini Hostel was established as a direct response to the high rate of children orphaned by AIDS, who have been left without parents or with only one parent. Cabrini Hostel has 127 children in its care, 24 groups of siblings and 31 individual orphans. Many of these children are compromised by malnutrition, scabies, worms, and chronic conditions such as TB and kidney disease.

Helen Peluso mentioned to Jeff Scott that as a result of her email conversations with the Sisters she was now donating items that were very difficult to come by in Swaziland - items such as shoes.

Jeff Scott relates, "Coincidental to my conversation with Helen, I became aware of the fact that [my firm] Langer, Inc., receives custom made orthotic sandals that were returned to Langer for a variety of reasons, and it had been company policy to throw them away. I was determined not only to change that policy, but also to seek permission to assume custody of the sandals and donate them to a worthy charity. That charity became Cabrini Mission Foundation."

Acting on his determination, Jeff Scott wrote to his CEO Gray Hudkins asking to revise company policy and detailing what he would like to do with the sandals. Gray Hudkins gave Jeff Scott the go-ahead.

Jeff Scott sprang into action only to be met by enormous red tape in attempting to ship the sandals to Swaziland.

It was at this time that he was speaking to another good friend, Brenda Young, to whom he voiced his frustration. Ms. Young told Jeff that there was an attorney in the law firm where she works who travels to South Africa frequently and who might know someone who could help. Jeff Scott continues his story, "It was at that moment that God sent Brian Gaisford. Brian is a native-born South African who lives in New York City and co-owns a gallery named Hemingway African Safari Gallery. I told Brian what I was trying to do and he immediately agreed to help in any way he could."

Brian Gaisford also supports a school and orphanage in South Africa. In appreciation for his assistance in getting the sandals to Cabrini Ministries, Jeff Scott offered to donate sandals to his organizations as well. But the issue remained – how to get the sandals and shoes to Africa?

Again, coincidence emerges. In addition to his New York gallery, Brian also conducts safaris. It was Brian's idea to enlist the people he brings on safari to help with the transport of the sandals! Each traveler could bring a bag of shoes with them to Africa as personal luggage and thereby skip the hassle of going through customs.

It was just at this time that Jeff received news from a Langer colleague, Ed Haas, that in their warehouse there were 600 pairs of New Balance sneakers that were deemed obsolete and could be donated to Cabrini Ministries and the school and orphanage supported by Brian Gaisford.

"Once I put Sisters Diane and Barbara in touch with Brian, they figured out a site at which to meet. The eventual tally of shoes, sneakers and sandals came to just over a 1,000 pairs!" said Jeff Scott.

Brian Gaisford will continue to bring the shoes and sandals to South Africa just about every three months and Jeff Scott will continue to forward the Birkenstock sandals to him.

Jeff Scott's philanthropy continues as do the coincidences. He has recently been in touch with a woman by the name of Lydia C. Hilton. Lydia is working on securing vitamins from a pharmaceutical group that they plan to ship to Swaziland as well. Co-workers at Langer, Inc. upon hearing of the shoes and sandals donation now are wondering if they can donate clothing. Jeff Scott says, "Of course, I am accepting all donations."

What is next for Jeff? "I plan on approaching the New Balance company and asking them to become a contributor as I would like to secure more children's sizes."

It is more than mere coincidence that Jeff Scott has come into the lives of those at Cabrini Ministries; it is truly the work of God.

Donate now to help Cabrini Ministries and other MSC missions

Learn more about Cabrini Ministries in Swaziland

Learn more about the Missionary Sisters

Learn about the other mission sites of the Missionary Sisters throughout the world

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