Since June-July of 2011, student summer missionaries from South Carolina Baptist Convention have come to spread the True Love Waits message in schools and churches throughout Swaziland. This year, four more young ladies will minister among the Swazis. Living conditions will be difficult so please pray the girls will be able to handle the situation well. Pray many Swazis will hear and accept God’s message of abstinence. Pray each missionary will receive God’s blessings as they serve.
Many children attended the children’s program of the National Easter Services here in Swaziland. Missionary B says: “We praise the Lord for each one. For the morning worship, the children sang the song Alive, Alive, Jesus is Alive as well as did a little skit about the theme verse (Matthew 4:19). Marching and singing we made our way from our classroom to the tent where worship services were conducted. As we passed the cooks beginning the lunch, I noticed they were looking intently at us. Later one said to me, “When I heard and saw the children singing and marching, I just had to take a break from cooking and come to the tent and see what would happen next!” Our Savior is truly alive.” Pray for the children of Swaziland.
Many children deal with very little parental support, abuse and rape on the homesteads (boys and girls), grandmothers or other family member that allow them to stay with them but do not give the love and support needed. So many issues confront our little ones. Pray for a special sense of direction as the Lord leads and guides.
Reflections from a medical volunteer in Swaziland (February 12-22) after delivering BGR buckets: The lady was 26 years old and had 4 children. She has AIDS and cancer. The youngest child was sick as well. The lady was lying on the dirt floor in a block building about 10 x10. We were told the woman would not live long. The appreciation for the bucket from her and the caretaker was such a blessing. The group asked if they could with pray with her (sick lady) before they left and she was very determined to stay and pray with us, though her strength was so weak.
The caretaker and the Swazi woman praised the contents of the BGR bucket and thanked us over and over. The feeling when leaving that homestead was overwhelming, knowing the outcome and what the days ahead would bring for these 4 children. Yet, another orphaned family. The group was told the father had rejected her and would not help her though she was dying. I (Jeff) felt so useless to her and all I could offer her was prayer for peace and comfort and praying the Lord would be graceful to her. I don’t think I will ever forget this visit that reminded me of my calling to Africa to minister. It also provided me with a perspective upon return to the states of how by the grace of God we live as we do and have all the necessities of life, abundantly. –Written by Jeff Williamson
Monica writes: Our hearts were saddened to hear the news that the new church building Lesibovu Baptist Church was about to put a roof on collapsed in a recent horrible storm. Lesibovu is south of Manzini (about a 1 1/2 hour drive down for us) and was one of the last day of clinics for our recent medical team. This faithful church has been slowly gathering their resources and building their own church building by themselves. Now the church needs to rebuild and I know they are discouraged. We were all looking forward to meeting in their new structure very soon. Pray for this precious church to press on with all God has called them to do and not give up on the task of rebuilding their church structure. Thank you for praying for this church and community that means much to our family!
Missionaries know a lot about travel. Whether packing suitcases always being mindful of taking those special items that can’t be found in your country, filling out travel documents for every family member, or making necessary contacts with local believers to ensure the continuation of ministry – a missionary’s life is full of comings and goings.
Some of our South African Town, Village and Rural missionaries are caught up in transition over the next couple of months. Please be in prayer for the Allens as they have just returned to Swaziland from a Stateside Assignment. Pray for them as they finalize logistics for a volunteer medical team soon to arrive. Pray for their daughter as she settles in school and their small son who is in pre-K.
The Myers have a full schedule as they continue to share what God is doing in Swaziland with churches in Kentucky and North Carolina before their return to Africa in March. Pray for safe travels, fruitful times of fellowship, and new opportunities to share God’s story.
In 2008 a volunteer medical team arrived in Swaziland to conduct rural medical clinics for 10 days. With the problematic AIDS pandemic, extensive to even basic health care for the Swazis is very limited. While ministering the team helped many Swazis and were able to diagnose life threatening symptoms and illnesses. It was a wonderful gift to the Swazi people. February 12-22 another volunteer medical team from North Carolina has committed to conducting medical clinics in the rural areas throughout Swaziland. The Swazi Team is very thankful for these who have felt the call to come and minister among the sick and hurting. Pray this team will be prepared to conduct clinics in difficult settings and situations. Pray each member will feel the presence of the Lord with every touch given or word spoken to those they came to help.
The National Youth Camp for our Swazi Baptist churches was as always a wonderful event for our Swazi youth.
Youth Camp is such a special part of my heart as it was “my project” started back in the year 2000 when I served during my 2-years single days. It has been such a joy to watch so many of these youth grow in their walks with the Lord and several that are serving in leadership positions in many of our churches. Youth are youth everyone and know that the youth were just so excited to be hanging out together having loads of fun. Thanks for all your prayers!!!
Over 220 youth gathered together…praise the Lord! As the youth camp has wrapped up, please pray for the youth as they have returned to their homes, churches, schools and communities sharing all God taught them at camp.
Thanks again for always praying forSwaziland!
We thank God for everything that happened this week. Todd taught on the Lord’s Prayer in a local school, and then spent another 30 minutes explaining the part in the prayer which said “and forgive us our trespasses”. He prepared siSwati/English handouts, and told the students he would not collect the papers.
Even still, two of the children went out of their way to show him that they made decisions to follow Christ.