To give a full report on the events of this past week would exhaust these ten fingers with typing and your eyes with reading. Each team had full, busy days of ministry and saw incredible things accomplished for the kingdom in their lives and those they were serving. In order to just give a taste of the week, here are a few highlights pulled from the number of great things we were able to be a part of.
35 HIV+ and/or disabled people were given a bucket full of food and personal hygiene items. Each person from the team who visited homes and gave these gifts were challenged by what they saw – extremities of poverty and illness and death right alongside the powerful joy and provision of the Lord.
The construction team worked alongside Swazi volunteers and hospital staff to do an amazing renovation of the Bhalekane clinic! They put in a retaining wall to level of the back entrance of the clinic, put up walls, chipped old plaster, threw on new plaster, and much more. It was really an amazing thing to see the physical and relational building that had been done in one week!
The team of artists/ photographers photographed and interviewed many men and women, capturing stories of courage and hope in the face of extreme challenges. It was incredible to hear snippets of what they were experiencing and has made us all excited to see the outcome of this in art form!
Every day the team of doctors and nurses were busy seeing patients or giving a seminar, but one day sticks out among them all. A free clinic day was held up in the northeastern corner of the country at Shewula Nazarene clinic. Amazingly, the doctors with the help of many Swazi nurses saw over 1,300 patients that day!! I (Michaele) was there for the last few hours and was blown away by what I saw.
Unfortunately there were several injuries that affected our team. All five of the senior management staff of New Hope Centre(childrens home which our team knows and visited during their stay) were in a car accident one night. Thanks be to God the injuries were not as serious as they could have been, but we were quite scared for our friends. Two days later one of our team members fell while walking on a rocky hill and broke her ankle. In both of these circumstances we were able to see the hand of God at work bringing peace, healing, and working wonders in the midst of calamity. We rejoice that all are alive and well, and on the mend!
The team ended with a trip to Kruger, which was enjoyable but in many ways a 48-hour comedy of errors. In the end everyone got to see the park and some animals, slept a little, and most importantly got to the airport on time. Everyone was wonderfully easy and flexible to work with all throughout the adventure and we could not be more thankful for their encouraging words and uplifting attitudes!!
On a personal note, Brent and I felt like we gained another church family through this trip. Although we have been serving with and for Bethany First Church now for several months, we hadn’t had time to build relationships with the wider church and pastors. Yet in the last week we have been embraced, loved, and encouraged by Pastor David and Christi Busic and the whole BFC team. We are honored to be serving alongside these wonderful people and new friends.
You prayers for the week did more than we may ever know, but we definitely felt the power and the presence of God with us. Thank you for holding us up!
Thank you for being willing to be in Swaziland so we can hold you up in prayer. God is using you both in a might way. God Bless you! Get some much needed rest though.
ReplyDeleteWell, this certainly is one amazing experience for both of you, not to mention the rest of the team! Hope you get to take some time together to celebrate your anniversary! Wow, four years, congrats!
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Maria