LaVignes in Swaziland

What's Next?

2010-07-27T10:36:00.002-05:00

This is also a popular question we've heard a lot in the last month! Well, we can happily say that we now know where we're going and what we're doing.

Michaele has been hired by Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma as pastor of equipping ministries. Brent has several job opportunities in the Oklahoma City area, but none nailed down yet. We will be moving in the third week of August, and are excited about joining the community and work in Bethany!

While we worked with BFC this past year in Swaziland, God grew wonderful friendships and allowed us to develop much respect for the church's vision and leadership. We know that they are people of vision and passion and are doing great things as a part of the Kingdom of God.

Over the past few weeks we have been able to see many of our friends and spend a lot of time with family. We are now in Johnson Vermont working as teen camp directors for the next two weeks.

As always we appreciate your prayers as we drive many miles, and walk in faith the road marked out for us!!

What did you learn in Swaziland?

2010-07-27T10:33:00.001-05:00

Since being back in the US just over a month, we’ve been asked a lot of questions about Swaziland. Among the top 5 is – What’s the biggest thing you learned? Superlative questions are always the hardest, but this has been especially difficult to answer. I think we will continue to reap lessons from our time in Swaziland for years to come, but in this last month a few things have crystallized in our minds.

I have learned the truth that compassion is a lifestyle. Working with Americans and other westerners in a developing country, I watched the discomfort and shock that comes with seeing poverty one’s never encountered. Often in the processing of thoughts and emotions, I’d hear someone ask, “Why do the Swazis not have compassion on their own people?” Usually “the Swazis” referred to the collective society of systems and culture, not individuals. They were basically asking how could they let it get this bad for this child, or this person with HIV? Of course there are many individuals who exhibit stronger compassion that anyone I’ve ever known. But in our sweeping, generalizing analysis of an unfamiliar situation we often look over those small things.

It is not the crisis, one-time events that determine whether individuals are compassionate. Rather, it is the daily even hourly decisions that are made. It is the motivation or goal of our life that determines our compassion. Anyone can give clothes to a person in rags – yet that can even be motivated by guilt or a sense of pride or obligation. But what motivates people like Evelyn and Mary of the Task Force to search out the people in rags? Anyone can give medicine to the sick person comes through your door, but what brings someone to look for the sickest, weakest people who can’t get off the floor let alone get to a doctor? A compassionate person is not one who merely gives out the right materials to a person in need at the right time. Rather, a compassionate person is one who has made compassion into a way of life and not just an event. Mary and Evelyn and those who work with them have re-ordered their lives to minister to the poor, sick, dying, parent-less and hungry. Yes, Swaziland could use many more people like that – but who are we as “outsiders” to say that Swazis have no compassion in light of this? And how many people of Mary and Evelyn’s stature can we boast of in our own churches and communities?

The longer I was with them, the more I realized we were the ones without compassion – at least the kind of the compassion I saw in them. What would it look like if I lived a lifestyle of compassion at home in American like they do in Swaziland? How many of us have been so filled with God’s compassion for others that we went looking for people in need? I don’t know if I’ve ever done that. Usually I’m doing good if I have a compassionate response when a need is starting me in the face. At times this revelation has left me feeling hopelessly bad and inadequate. Yet I have been reminded that yes, compassion is a way of life, but it is part of the whole new life God is bringing me into. As the Spirit works in me to make me more like Christ, I cannot help but become compassionate – because Christ is. Compassion is a lifestyle, but it is part of the lifestyle of a disciple of Christ. If we are growing into discipleship, we will certainly be growing into compassion. And it will be a compassion rooted in our way of life, not just special events.

Out of necessity, I have also learned how to trust God for some of the simplest things. In regular American life, we have good systems in place to get us what we need or want. (And if you just rolled your eyes as if to say, ‘Well, sometimes our systems are good…’ then you need to spend time in Africa. Our systems are good. Period.) We rely on systems to make things fast and easy, because the customer is always right. The downside is that we unknowingly become self-absorbed consumers who expect that things should be fast and easy. Yet systems and customer service are not the strong suits of Swaziland.

Needless to say there were times we literally prayed to get online so we could send an email. There was also the time our four pieces of luggage were lost in Johannesburg, and no one at the airport could help us at all. Long story short, I finally stopped trying to find my bags, prayed about it, and three hours later they were found. Another story that comes to mind is when we needed to hire a crane to lift a container of medical supplies that was being shipped to the hospital. After calling company after company and hitting roadblock after roadblock, I was exhausted and on the verge of tears. I slumped into a chair in our living room to pray, and ended up asleep. An hour later I awoke to the phone ringing and found out the whole problem was solved while I slept. Each of these situations (and many more) taught me what I said I already knew: that we serve a powerful God who cares about the smallest details of our lives, and has resources and methods we can’t even imagine.

Coming back to America, I was worried that I might lose this precious gift back in the land of customer service and orderly systems. We learned to rely on God more than others or ourselves, and we didn’t want to revert back. So Brent and I prayed that God would help us to see Him and know Him here as we did in Swaziland. And already, He has.

Our second week back I was flying from Maryland to Wisconsin for a conference. There was a problem with my boarding pass, and was sent from the front of the security check-in line to the back of a customer service line with 20 minutes until my plane boarded. I was feeling anxious and antsy, and growing ever-more worried as the time stretched out and the line got no shorter. I began to think about customer service and how I could push myself to the front by yelling, ‘My plane is boarding in 15 minutes, let me through!’ I knew people would not be happy, but they would probably let me. But then I thought about what I would do if this line were in Swaziland. I would wait quietly like everyone else and pray that somehow God would not let me miss my flight. So I did that instead of pushing and yelling. Not one minute later an airline employee came through the line asking what people needed, and I told her (not as calmly as I would like) about my situation. She took me to the front of the line, got me my boarding pass, and sent me on my way. I got through security, boarded the plane, and even had time to buy breakfast on the way!

In America

2010-06-22T09:58:00.003-05:00

After these few months we are back in America again!!

We have been as the Swazi's say "Moving Up and Down" since we arrived last Thursday. We are visiting family for the next few weeks as we pray about the future.

Our arrival back into the US is bittersweet but we are confident that those that we have worked with in Swaziland are continuing to search out the Lord and to courageously give our Lords love to those in Swaziland.

We will post more in the coming days but wanted to give this much delayed update to let you know where we are and praise God for what he has done.

Answers to Prayer

2010-06-10T07:36:00.004-05:00

As our time in Swaziland is winding down (six days left!!), we are thanking God for the many, many prayers he has answered during this year. At the top of the list is the answered prayer for people to follow us here in Swaziland.

Andy and Amy Curry, the new on-site coordinators for the Swaziland Partnership, have been in country with us for the last three weeks. They graduated from Southern Nazarene University and have been friends with Brent since college. Andy grew up in Swaziland while his parents spent four years here as missionaries. Not only have they been a huge help to us during the last crazy weeks, but we are excited to see the gifts and passions they bring to this position and to Swaziland. We continue to celebrate God's faithfulness and His perfect timing.

They have developed their own blog to chronicle their time in Swaziland, and we invite all of our followers to follow them as they learn and write about their time here. We know that many of you who have been praying with us, have in fact been praying for them, since we asked people to pray for those who would follow us.

You can follow their Swaziland adventures at: CurryExcursion.blogspot.com

Three Teams in Three Weeks

2010-06-10T07:27:00.005-05:00

This last month has been a whirlwind of activity. In three weeks we helped to host and lead 3 teams totaling 65 people in all! There was a team of Southern Nazarene University students and three of SNU's administration; a class from Eastern Nazarene College; and a combined team from Lenexa Central Church of the Nazarene and MidAMerican Nazarene University students. In addition, we also were happy to have Michaele's Dad as a part of these groups and Andy and Amy Curry, who will be taking over as the new on-site coordinators for the Swaziland Partnerhsip.

It's true that we are tired, but God blessed us richly with 65 wonderful people, no accidents or serious illnesses, successful projects, and meaningful relationships with the Swazis we worked with. Once again we feel blessed to be in the connecting role, enabling the relationships and interactions that change lives on both sides of the ocean. As time permits, we will try to get a more complete update of what these teams accomplished while they were here.

Thank you to all who have prayed for us in these busy weeks!

What does the Bible say about HIV and AIDs? Part 2

2010-05-12T07:34:00.002-05:00

There is an interesting and sad misconception that can be found all over the world. In fact it was a misconception that existed when Jesus walked the earth as well. It has permeated every generation of God-followers, and is often found in a misunderstanding of God himself. It is the half-truth that says "holiness" -- the set-apartness and special quality of the people of God -- is all about doing certain good things and not doing certain bad things.

The Pharisees and other religious groups of Jesus’ day fell into believing this very thing. They were so careful not to wander into any of the bad areas that they purposefully fenced off other areas that were not bad per se, but might let people get too close to the bad. Following these rules and living within the fenced-in areas was said to safely assure one’s holiness. This is what we commonly know as legalism.

When Jesus came to earth in the middle of this very legalistic religious society, He purposefully smashed down every fence he came upon. He ate with people who were on the other side of the fence; he talked with women; he touched sick people; he gave forgiveness and compassion instead of judgment and shame for those who broke the rules.

He not only taught by his actions that "fence-making" was not a true concept of holiness, but by his words as well. He preached that hate, lust, pride, and judgmentalism were the true barriers to holiness -- not just behaviors, but the desires of the heart. He said that knowledge of one’s need of God was the most important aspect of true holiness – realizing one’s own inability to produce holiness. He also painted for us a full picture of God and said that holiness is being like God. This included not only doing right things, but also having the love, compassion, forgiveness and grace of God as well. (Check out the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.)

This was not really a new sentiment. Jesus was just reiterating what had been said many years before, but had been neglected or unheard. Early in God’s relationship with Israel He told them to “be holy, as I am holy.” Holiness is being like God, who was revealed in fullest form as Jesus Christ. And so we say true holiness is Christ-likeness.

Therefore the picture of holiness as doing right behaviors and avoiding wrong ones is a sadly truncated version of the truth. Holiness is loving like Christ, showing compassion like Christ, offering grace and forgiveness like Christ, and bringing the outsiders in like Christ. A professed holiness that shuns, judges and brow-beats Is not holiness at all.

In light of this, the Church all over the world needs to find out what their response should be to the HIV and AIDs crisis. What is the response of people who are “holy as God is holy”? I think we can safely say that attitudes of judgmentalism and picketing with signs that say “HIV is God’s punishment on sinners” isn’t it. I think we can also count out the option of ignoring it and effectively shunning the ones who need the Church the most.

What does the Bible say about HIV and AIDs? Part 1

2010-05-01T17:10:00.001-05:00

This may seem like a very odd question, seeing as the virus and its resulting disease did not descend upon humanity until nearly two thousand years after the last books of the Bible were written. Yet it is a crucial question, and our dear friends here in Swaziland and all over the world are desperate for the answer. Closely related to this question is the one which asks what the church’s response is to this disease and the plethora of issues surrounding it. Yet it is difficult to know how to respond before we know what, if anything, the Bible has to say about it.

Let’s start with Jesus. (Always a good place to start.) What do his words and actions say about HIV? Well, at face value, nothing. But when we spend time digging deeper and looking closer, we realize that Jesus spoke and ministered to the most basic of human conditions that are found everywhere and throughout time: suffering, rejection, sinfulness, shame, and the desires for love, belonging, and redemption. All of these elements are familiar to anyone who has been affected by or infected with HIV/ AIDs.

When Jesus touched lepers, He provided more than physical healing. Lepers were the most ostracized group of people in Jesus’ time. They were literally shunned by their societies and families, and sent to live by themselves or with other lepers. “Clean” members of society could not touch, eat with, or be knowingly in the presence of someone who had leprosy. Part of this was a misunderstanding of the disease that led people to think that it could be spread by touching a leper. However, there was also a belief that a person who had contracted leprosy had done something wrong to deserve it. He or she had sinned against God, and this was their punishment. In the sacrificial system of the Jewish temple, however, they were not able to offer a sacrifice for atonement because they were “unclean” and could not enter the temple.

When Jesus interacted with, touched, and healed people with leprosy he was making a statement. He was bringing justice. He was giving emotional and social healing as well as physical healing. He was restoring the humanity that years of shame and rejection had taken away. He was bringing the outsiders into the inner circle of relationship, chosen-ness and blessing.

The same is true for a number of other people groups with whom Jesus freely mingled. He ate with tax collectors, a despised group of people in the eyes of the first century’s “religious right.” He talked openly with women, even sinful women who were known to be prostitutes. In John 8 we even see Jesus defending a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery, rescuing her from the punishment she deserved, and most importantly offering her free forgiveness. This is a Jesus who was fearless in breaking down the walls resurrected by judgment, shame, fear, stigma and sin.

In Swaziland and many places of the world, there is nothing more shameful, nothing that can bring more rejection, and no more ostracized group than those who receive a positive result on an HIV test. These people are placed firmly on the “outside” of society life, often times even in the church. There is a shockingly deep and penetrating stigma surrounding HIV. This is primarily fueled by fear and a lack of understanding, as most stigmas are. This fear leads to silence and denial, because not talking about it is better than being confronted with a shameful truth.

Yet what can we learn from the life of Jesus? What does the Bible say about HIV and AIDs? It says that Jesus is not afraid of it. He’s also not afraid of what causes it. Loud and clear, it says that Jesus’ compassion, love, forgiveness and grace is extended especially for those who are suffering on the “outside,” including those with HIV and AIDs. Knowing what we know about Jesus, I think it is safe to say that He would spend plenty of time with people who had been pushed to the outside by HIV/ AIDs. His whole mission was and is to bring outsiders in – into grace, into relationship, into forgiveness, and into the blessedness of being chosen by God. This is to be the church’s mission as well.

Mighty Men's Conference

2010-04-21T09:35:00.004-05:00

This past Wednesday, I (Brent) was able to go to the Mighty Men’s Conference in Greytown, South Africa. I went with 8 boys and one caregiver from the New Hope Centre in Swaziland. We left Wednesday morning for the eight hour trip. This was to be the final MMC, and 400,000 men anticipated.

Seven years ago, the Mighty Men’s Conference started with 14 men led by farmer and evangelist Angus Buchan. The story of his faith and ministry is told in the book and movie “Faith like Potatoes”. The second year of MMC had 50 in attendance, and the following years grew to 700, then 2,000. Last year there were 200,000 men and as this year was the final meeting they were anticipating many more. This growth has come without any advertising or publicity campaigns. In recent years they have launched a website, but only to organize camping and registration for the event.

Each morning having the opportunity to wake up and see tents and men moving around, as far as the eye could see, was something I could not adequately take a picture of or describe in words. Having the additional knowledge that each man was there to search for and hear from God more than awesome. The focus of the week was Men of the Watchtower, the premise being that we as men have been called to stand watch against the enemy in our homes, communities and churches. We are the ones called to blow the trumpet to alert everyone of the presence of incoming enemies.

When talking to other men at the conference they offered me an interesting perspective concerning the magnitude of this event. 400,000 men represent nearly 20% of the white South African male population. And in a time of real testing with new issues in the country, Angus spoke for all when he said, “men are coming to this place for answers from God”.

We arrived Wednesday night at dark and set up camp. Think about how challenging that would be with eight boys under 14! For the next few days, we were able to camp and attend the conference that started on Friday and went through Sunday. (four services) I have never been in such a large group of people, let alone men.

If you want to know more about this event and resources associated with it you can search on the internet thru Google “Mighty Men’s Conference South Africa 2010”
For those of you that knew I was going on this trip and prayed specifically for safety and hearing from God your prayers were answered (Glory to God!!!!!) and for those that continue to life Michaele and I up in general your prayers were answered this past week as well.

Ndubazi Church Update

2010-04-19T10:04:00.002-05:00

This Update was sent specifically to the team from BFC (Plus Matt Bunnell) that came in March concerning ongoing and exciting work at the church our ministry focused on..

Enjoy!!

Last week we received a call from Reverend Mahlalela (South District Superintendent), asking us to come visit the Ndubazi church. We hoped that the congregation had been meeting in the new building, but he told us they had not yet. We were disappointed, but understand that it can be very cold without doors or windows now that winter season is coming. We did agree to come down to Ndubazi today (Monday April 19). We have been working to get additional groups involved to get the church finished, but that would not require us to be there in person. We usually are able to talk on the phone or when Reverend Mahlalela is in Manzini. So we were just curious as to the purpose of our visit.

When we got down south we met at Rev Mahlalela’s home and we loaded into the car with Mrs. Mahlalela and drove the short dirty road to Ndubazi. On the way there they talked the good memories of the team and the success of the projects. And then we arrived at the church..

When we first arrived I looked up the road and saw Babe Masuko walking down to us. We greeted each other and then began to walk to the church and as I looked in the open windows I saw… a poured, finished, concrete floor!!!!!

In the weeks since the team has left the church has been working hard. The walls have been completed with plaster and the entire floor has been poured – even the back rooms. There was much rejoicing today!! We could not believe what was in front of our eyes and were excited to see what God is continuing to do there in Ndubazi. With pride Babe Masuko and Rev Mahlalela walked us through the church on a hard smooth concrete floor. I still remember the few days that the men of our team and Ndubazi worked hard to get that floor leveled and now it is completed. Babe Masuko also shared with us that he has ordered and made plans for the installation of all window frames, complete with burglar bars.

This is exciting news that we wanted to share ASAP.
With this tremendous work it is going to take much less to complete the church!

Additional needs at the church:
Payment for window frames and burglar bars
Window panes
Doors
Plaster of the outside (only 12 more bags of cement will be needed)
Final labor payment for plastering of the outside and installing the windows
Paint for walls inside and out

The total cost to complete the church now looks to be about $2,000 USD instead of our original higher expectation, which was a much larger number.

We wanted to share this exciting news with you all and let you know how the work that was started is being taken to completion by the hands of our brothers and sisters here in Swaziland.

In Transit

2010-04-12T05:24:00.001-05:00

Greetings to all!!

We have just had a great two weeks with our family (Brents Mom and Dad as well as Michaele's brother Caleb). It was such a rich time and a great honor to have them see and experience things that God has allowed us to be apart of in Swaziland. They are now all safely home and getting back to the things that they do on a daily basis (hopefully jet lag is not to bad on them).

This week Brent leaves to take some boys from New Hope Center to the Mighty Men's conference in South Africa and Michaele takes part in a Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Conference here in Swaziland.

Please pray for safety as we travel and for God's strength as we continue preparations for the three teams that are coming to serve here in May.

More updates to come soon!!

March BFC GO Team

2010-03-24T13:52:00.000-05:00

Thank you for all who prayed for us and the team during the last weeks. It was a wonderful ten days of service and learning and transformation. The two major projects were the finishing of a church building at Ndubazi, and the painting of a nearby school. The compassion team also led school assemblies and VBS’s for nearly 2,000 children by the end of the week. The medical team spent time at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, visiting clients of the HIV/ AIDs Task Force, and at a clinic day with The Luke Commission.

Joy is a nurse who was a member of this team. She shared very honestly one night that the whole trip seemed like a roller coaster to her. Sometimes she felt like she had nothing to give, other times she was overjoyed that she was able to be present and serve. I think she spoke for all of us.

Some of the places we’ve been – both with the team and by ourselves – are so hard and heartbreaking that we feel overwhelmed with hopelessness. It is sometimes a struggle to see where God is working in the middle of so much pain and suffering and chaos. And it is intensely uncomfortable to watch it all and feel unable to fix it. Yet I firmly believe, and it has been confirmed in the past week, that until we are uncomfortable God is not able to change us.

I praise God for the Ndubazi Church of the Nazarene having a roof and plastered walls. I praise God for the Nyamane school having fresh paint, new school supplies, and a beautiful mural. I praise God that nearly 2,000 children saw His love in the songs, games, crafts and faces of ten Americans. I praise God for the encouragement brought to doctors, nurses and pastors of our Nazarene institutions.

But my heart swells with excitement and gratitude when I think about the unseen, but much longer-lasting, effects of this week. I was able to witness the transformation of hearts and minds. I was able to see people being broken and others being healed. I was able to watch God shape and mold his children to look more like Christ, and to see the world a little more like Christ sees it.

I know the Swazis are grateful for our presence and the work we’ve done. I know they feel they need us. However, I think our whole team has been reminded this past week that we desperately need our Swazi brothers and sisters. We need the lessons God teaches us through them. We need the opportunity to serve and see Jesus’ face in those who are sick, hungry and without clothes (Matthew 25:35-36). And we desperately need the experience of going to give, and coming back having received much more.

BFC March GO Team

2010-03-11T13:38:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow (Friday March 12) a team of 21 people arrive from Bethany First Church to spend 11 days in Swaziland. We have been working hard to get everything ready for them -- all the housing and transportation logistics, project plans and costs, and all the events the team will be a part of. This will be our third team since we've been in Swaziland, and it's nice to feel like we know a little bit about what we're doing this time! Although of course this past week has still had many unforeseen adventures and obstacles in leading up to this point. But hey, it's Africa! That's what makes it fun.

While the team is here, the majority of their time will be spent in the Shiselwini area, the South District of the Swaziland Church of the Nazarene. Outside a large southern town, in an area called Ndubazi, there is a small church of 36 people who have been meeting in a small structure made of something a little thicker than cardboard. Several years ago, a member of the church bought a kombi (mini-bus used for public transportation), and has used the profits of this small transport business to build a proper church building. With these funds and congregation coordination, the foundation and walls are finished.

Our team has the awesome privilege of helping this group of dedicated believers finish their church building! They will putting up the roof, finishing the floor inside, and helping with finishing of doors and windows. Their pastor is a retired woman minister who goes by Gogo (Grannie) Rebecca. She has a fiery spirit and a radiant smile bursting out of her small stature and aging features. She keeps saying we are a blessing for their church, but I know each of us will be blessed after working alongside her for one week.

Other members of the team will be doing painting at two local schools, school assemblies and Bible clubs. We will also spend a day visiting HIV positive clients from the Task Force. It's going to be a full, tiring, but wonderful week.

Please join us in prayer March 12 - 21:
- safe travels as the team goes throughout South Africa and Swaziland
- safety for the construction crew as they work on the roof
- pray that deep relationships will be made between Americans and Swazis
- pray for the Ndubazi community and church, that they will be reminded of God's great love for them this week
- pray that the Holy Spirit will have ultimate authority to move and change his people, even if it goes against our schedule

Sunday February 21

2010-02-24T13:44:00.001-06:00

Sunday 2/21/2010

5:30 am : Woken up by a phone call from Brent’s dad telling us that our first nephew, Graham Rylan Howe had been born and was healthy.

8;50 am: About ten minutes before we leave the house for church, Brent received another call from our landlady and friend, Val, asking if we could help out Elvis. Elvis is a groundskeeper on the mission and we have a good relationship with him. He’s getting married in a few weeks, and Val said he needed help picking up the cow.

9:15 am: Brent and Elvis hook up the trailer to the B3. (The new name for our vehicle: the Blue BFC Bakkie [Bakkie is pronounced “buckey” and is Afrikaans for a truck]).

9:30 am: Brent, Michaele and Elvis head out to Luve where Michaele is preaching. The cow is apparently not far from Luve, so we planned on picking it up after church.

10:15 am: We attended Sunday School, Michaele led NYI, then Brent played guitar for worship and Michaele preached. We visited with the pastor and his wife, drank some Coke and ate some biscuits.

1:30 pm: Head to Dvolkolwako (about 45 minutes from Luve in the opposite direction of home) to pick up the butchered cow for Elvis’s wedding feast, which is not until March 6. On the way we found out that the cow had been wounded and so needed to be killed early.

2:15 pm: Arrive at the homestead where the cow was butchered. The skin was laid out over a large metal tub, still freshly bloody. One leg could be seen beside the skin, which was just a bone all but the ankle which still had hair and the hoof. Beside it were the horns, which had been removed from the skull. The rest of the cow was lying in pieces on the ground under a tree. Michaele took pictures as Brent tried to be helpful yet really wanting to keep his distance. Three members of the homestead bagged up the meat in any kind of plastic bag available, and loaded them into the trailer. Not wanting to watch too closely, Michaele played with three toddlers who were fascinated by the camera.

3:00 pm: Leave Dvolkolwako, picking up one more passenger from the homestead who needed a lift. We drive to Matsapha, passing our house on the way, in order to drop the meat off at Elvis’s fiance’s places, which has a deep freezer.

4:15 pm: As we’re getting close to Matsapha, we realize that the cell phone network is down so Elvis cannot contact his fiancé to let her know we are coming.

4:30 pm: Arrive in Matsapha and wait on the side of the road until a plan can be formulated.

4:40 pm: A man in a pick up truck (bakkie) pulls up and says we can put the meat in his truck. Elvis says this is a good plan. But we offered to take the meat wherever it needed to go, so we follow the bakkie up a winding, washed out dirt road into a densely populated area of Matsapha.

4:50 pm: After having driven too far past the drop off point, Brent spends 10 minutes trying to back up with the trailer and turn around in a narrow, crowded street.

5:00 pm: Even though we thought the meat was going to be put into someone’s house, it’s actually transferred to the back of the bakkie we had followed. Needless to say this could have been done earlier, without the crowd watching and on a much better road.

5:05 pm: Michaele and Brent head home alone, since Elvis needed to stay and sort out the meat situation.

5:30 pm: Arrive at home, tired and hungry and laughing.

8:00 pm: Saw our nephew on SKYPE for the first time and got to talk to Matt and Beth for a while.

.....We decided to wait to later to tell them what we were doing during Graham’s first day of life.

Kings and Kingdoms

2010-02-15T11:59:00.001-06:00

A few months ago (hard to think that it was only a few months) as we were preparing to leave for Swaziland, we were packing and our neighbor came over to talk to us. He was kindly cautioning us to think more about this decision to move to Africa and volunteer. At the time I (Brent) was impressed by God to remember that He has risen up and deposed Kings, and He has more than enough resource and power to take care of us. At the time that was the message that I felt that God wanted me to be speaking and living.

Since then our Lord has been proving himself daily. First and foremost He has proven himself by using the people of God to provide for us and pray for us. We have received more in prayer and financial support than we could have ever imagined. God has thus far given us favor with, and a great love for, the people that we have worked with both in Swaziland and in America. Also our God has protected us as we have crossed many miles in Africa and crossed the borders so many times.

This past week has involved a lot of challenges here on the ground as well as questions beginning to arise for when our service here is over. Yet at the end of this week, I feel that God wants me to say out loud…and proclaim to those that will listen (or read), that our God is the one who created the universe. Our God knew these brief days that I would be on this earth before I was born. And the one true God whom we serve has raised and deposed kings in a moment’s time. Our God can and will take care of each of us as we serve Him and wholeheartedly surrender ourselves to His direction.

Please be praying for

- Wisdom as we plan for many teams to arrive in Swaziland over the next few months
- A new passion to serve and to “wash feet”
- Open eyes to see what God is doing here
- An increasing faith in our Lord that the more we lean on him the stronger we are
- God’s guidance and wisdom as we begin to think about what is next

Naledi Child Development Center, Soweto, South Africa

2010-02-04T14:36:00.003-06:00

Bethany First Church is embarking on two focused initiatives starting in 2010 and the future years of their partnership with Swaziland. The first is partnering with Nazarene churches and institutions to reduce the HIV infection rate in the country, through the wide sphere of influence the Nazarene church already has. The second is to partner with these same groups to support the care of the growing number of children left orphaned and vulnerable in the wake of the AIDs pandemic. It is estimated that now there are at least 15,000 households in Swaziland which are headed by children because there is no adult left in the home. It is projected that by 2012 Swaziland will have an orphan population of 200,000 – a full fifth (20%) of their national population. In light of these staggering statistics, Bethany First Church is looking for ways it they can support those people and groups who are caring for this growing orphan population.

Last week, Barbi Moore (Director of Global Outreach for BFC) was with us in country and we traveled throughout Swaziland and Johannesburg on a fact-finding mission regarding these two areas. We looked at what is already being done, what needs to be done, and most importantly, what our Swazi leaders want to do in the face of this present crisis.

Some of our meetings were with regional leadership in Johannesburg. As we learned about the Child Development Centers sponsored through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, we were curious to see this comprehensive model in action. Faith, the director of the Child Development program invited us to tour one of the Child Development Centers in Soweto.

Driving through Soweto was an experience in itself as we had never been to this remnant of one of the largest townships in South Africa. The number of people everywhere was like being in the middle of New York City at rush hour! We arrived at the Naledi Church of the Nazarene and were greeted by Pastor Pule and Thandi, the Coordinator for this Child Development Center. We talked for half an hour as they shared how God had led their church to become the literal “FAMILY” of God to the children in their community that no longer have earthly family. Once we were finished sharing together they led us to see the Child Development Center in action. We met a GoGo (Grandma) that has taken up the call of God to cook for these children each day. She also takes on many other responsibilities for these 40 plus kids.

As we moved from the kitchen to the sanctuary we saw that the worship room had been transitioned into a learning center with children in different age groups who were getting help on their homework and even being instructed in some cases by teenagers who used to be children cared for by this Child Development Center.
I will never forget what was said by Thandi when we asked her what she would say to anyone considering starting this type of program in their church. She said “you only need passion for these children.” She went on to say that there are many days she finds herself doing things that she may not be equipped for, but it is in those days that the passion that God has given her for these kids sustains her.

As you read this post please..

- Pray for those in Africa who are leading the way with their churches and creating the “family of God” in their communities for children who have little or no family left through these Child Development Centers
- Look for opportunities to pray for, affirm, and support those children that you know that are in need.
- Ask God to give you the strength to use what you do have as a platform for God’s Passion to sustain you and help you do something new.

To see more information on the Child Development Centers and Child Sponsorship through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, visit: http://www.ncm.org/learn/childdevelopment/

Lost and Found

2010-01-18T15:23:00.002-06:00

Our return trip to Swaziland was pretty uneventful… until we arrived at the Matsapha airport in Swaziland and found only one of our four checked bags. This was on Saturday morning, and being the weekend our options were already severely limited. So, we registered the missing items with the airport baggage staff (who also serve as the check-in staff and runway traffic control [you know, the guys with the orange sticks directing the planes]). We were told to call them at 3pm to check if our bags had arrived on a later flight.

We tried calling the airport after 3pm, but no one answered. We’ve learned that the best results come from in-person conversations anyway, so we drove the 15 minutes to the airport. However, once there, we found that the last plane had come and gone by 2:30, and the whole airport staff promptly left.

Sunday morning we decided to get to the airport for the first arrival from Johannesburg. We thought we could quickly pick up the bags (we were hopeful they were there), and be at church no more than 15 minutes late. Of course things went very differently. The bags were not there, and apparently the airport’s computer system had been down and so the report of our bags had not yet been filed. We found the staff to be incredibly helpful, however, and were invited into their back room to make phone calls to all kinds of people in Johannesburg. Between the four of us in that office, we spent an hour on the phones trying to get information from various airlines and offices in the Johannesburg airport. All to no avail. And we didn’t get to go to church.

Back at home, with no real prospects, I (Michaele) was feeling incredibly discouraged. All the nightmare stories of stolen bags were coming back to me, and I just kept remembering more and more items that were stowed away in those three bags. Not willing to give up, I continued to call all the dead-end numbers we had tried earlier. I finally was able to talk to one person who was very helpful, but still had no news about where the bags were located.

Brent gave up and took a nap, and I got online and started emailing everyone I could think of who might be able help – baggage claim service, customer service, and friends I knew would be passing through the airport on Monday. I also left a pretty despairing status on my Facebook account regarding our lost luggage. Within a few minutes, I had received a message from Dr. Filimao Chambo, Africa’s regional director for the Church of the Nazarene. He said he would be traveling through JoBurg airport that night (Sunday), and he would check on our bags for us. Saying a prayer and thanking God for this small glimmer of hope, I sent him all the information on our lost luggage.

Last night, over a late dinner, Brent and I tried to remind ourselves that God could take care of this, even though it looked like our bags might be gone for good. We also reminded ourselves that there were worse things in the world than lost luggage, (though we had a tough time considering it as the luggage lost was full of presents for our Swazi friends). We went to bed at peace with the situation, feeling wholly out of control, but aware that God could handle it.

This morning we received an email from Dr. Chambo bringing the awesome news that he had located our bags!! Somehow, they were in a storage room for domestic luggage with one of the airlines who had said they had nothing to do with our bags when we had called them. Since they could offer him no guarantees that the bags would arrive safely in Matsapha, he took the bags with him. They are safely at his home in Johannesburg and we will pick them up when we go there for scheduled meetings on Friday! When we looked at the time stamp on Dr. Chambo’s email to us, we realized that even as we were trying to encourage ourselves over dinner the night before, God had already taken care of it.

This story is a great reminder to us of several things. Even in the most seemingly insignificant circumstances, God is at work. And in the areas in which we feel we have absolutely no control, God is at work. Even when we give up and go to sleep, God is at work! We are also reminded that in Africa, relationship is everything. Processes and systems have their place (but not usually in Africa when emails and telephone calls and customer service fails, a face-to-face means everything. Dr. Chambo was able to accomplish in person what we never could have in a million phone calls.

Although a bit anxious and frustrating, our first 48 hours back in Swaziland have been rich in lessons and many reminders of why we’re blessed to be in Africa!

Back to Africa

2010-01-15T11:59:00.004-06:00

36 days

3 countries

9 airports

5 states (excluding lay overs)

10 different beds slept in (excluding plane seats)

11 flights

4 pieces of checked luggage, weighing in at just under 50 lbs. each for a total of 200 lbs.

4 carry-ons (weighing more than our shoulders should carry)

Traveling home to see family and friends for Christmas...

PRICELESS!!!

Thank you to all who made our month at home such a wonderful time. We are feeling richly blessed with friends and family like you. The next months will be full and busy, but we're excited to jump back into life in Swaziland. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

A Quote

2009-12-28T19:41:00.004-06:00

May the peace of Christ bless you and keep you. And today, may you hold those in your house close to your body and feel them breath and take in their remarkable scent and give them your love.

- Jim Chaffee

On the Road Again

2009-12-19T20:27:00.002-06:00

Well

this week finds us traveling again!!

Since we arrived we have been able to visit with Michaele's family in Ohio. Monday we traveled to Philadelphia to spend the week with my parents. And today we traveled to Syracuse New York to visit with my Dad's parents. This picture shows Michaele doing a crossword puzzle and yawning..but not because she is bored...

We are so blessed to visit with our families these weeks.

We thank you all for the prayers as we have been traveling and continue to travel.

May God's blessing be on you this season as you realize the most important gift of his Son!!

Back in the USA

2009-12-13T15:21:00.003-06:00

Don't know how it happened but in just a few hours of travel (16) we arrived back in America. It is great to begin spending time with family. We feel extremely blessed to be given the opportunity to make this mid year trip home.

As we sat in church today it was hard to imagine that last week we were at a preaching point of the Bhalekane church and worshiping with them.

We will be writing more from the last few weeks and about our plans in the next few weeks later but wanted to praise God for his protection as we traveled and let everyone know that has been praying for us.

(Just so that no one gets confused the picture attached was not taken in America..it is really cold here and does not have the 12 apostles)

A Beautiful Vote of Thanks

2009-12-02T07:18:00.002-06:00

This story could not be told without an understanding of Sisatsaweni, so please see the previous post for important details!

Last week we received a call from David Tembe who is the water manager for Sitsatsaweni. He asked if we could visit the primary and high school as they wanted to say thank you to us for the Solar Water Pump that was donated by BFC November 2008. In accepting the invitation we did not know what to expect but were excited for Monday morning to come.

We all sat in chairs lining the small office, which was actually a portion of a large classroom sectioned off with shelves. The rest of the room was used as storage and the secretary’s office. The head teacher, Mr. Mahlalela addressed the group first and announced his community’s intentions of being like the one leper in ten who returned to thank Jesus for his healing. His short speech was followed by several others in the group, until nearly all had said their thank you’s. Each person highlighted a different aspect that had been helped by the presence of the water, and it was amazing to hear it all!

The primary school (1st – 7th grade) has begun agricultural classes this past school year (2009) so that students can learn to plow, plant, and grown crops. Next year they will also be adding chicken to the agricultural program so that students will learn how to care for, breed and sell chickens. The primary school is also working on a home economics class which is now possible with the presence of water.

The high school has also added an agricultural component to their students’ curriculum, and we were able to see some of the fruits of this labor. Two small fields have been planted with maize (corn) and other vegetables. Two taps have been added to the system in the high school premises to accommodate these gardens as well as hand-washing near the toilets.

The head teachers and school committee representatives commented on how the presence of water has helped retain teachers as well. Previously, they said teachers would not want to come, or would not stay very long at Sisatsaweni because there was no water available at their homes. Now teachers are content, and as Mr. Mahlalela said, “happy teachers make for better students”! He also commented that this pump has put their small community “on the map” as he has been asked about it many times from other head teachers during seminars and conferences.

Sisatsaweni is not yet without challenges, however. Although the primary school had 750 students in 2009 and will likely have 850 in 2010, they only have 300 suitable chairs for students. The high school is also in need of much-needed expansion because they can only accommodate 170 students in their school. This means many students cannot continue to high school or have to take years off before moving on after grade 7. Usually in Swaziland these issues would be resolved by raising school fees marginally for the year in order to raise funds for necessary improvements. In Sisatsaweni, however, there is a high number of orphans and vulnerable children who cannot pay the full amount of school fees, let alone a temporary increase. Mr. Mahlalela told us separately that 80% of his students are orphans.

In spite of its challenges, this community has taken it upon itself to make continuous improvements capitalizing on the presence of water. David Tembe has increased the number of taps in the system so that water is available many places throughout the school and clinic grounds. They also requested that this same gift be given to other places in Swaziland, and said they had been praying about that.
After their thanks had been said, it was our turn to say a few words. We told them about the Coca-Cola project and the fact the Sisatsaweni pump had been the first of its kind that sparked interest for a much larger project to go all throughout Swaziland, just as they had prayed. We also reminded them that just as Bethany First had been the ones to offer them a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, now they had the ability to offer that same gift to others in their community.

Our time ended together with light refreshments, a stroll of the grounds to see the gardens and new taps, and then a group picture under the solar pump. There were too many thank you’s to count, but apparently there were not enough said to satisfy one community member present. He said, “We wish we had a million mouths to say thank you a million times!” We felt that we truly experienced that it is somehow, miraculously more blessed to give than to receive – and that in the family of Christ, you often get the privilege of reaping what had been sowed before you.

Faith for Water

2009-12-02T07:03:00.003-06:00

Hebrews 11:1
“Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”
James 2:17
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

For many people across Africa life revolves around the daily challenge of finding enough clean water for basic needs. This is the case in many places in Swaziland as well, especially in the rural areas where large water sources have not been developed and brought close to homes.

In July of 2008 a Global Outreach team from Bethany First Church of the Nazarene traveled to Swaziland to work in a small village called Sisatsaweni, Swaziland. As most of the team worked, one team member looked up the hill at the primary school and saw a tall windmill that was not turning. He wandered up the hill to check it out and asked the teachers and other community members about this windmill water pump. He was told that it had been broken for quite a while yet the water source beneath it was still strong.

The idea of water being just below the surface and yet not accessible to the community above who was in desperate need created a holy discontent in this team member. It was a discontent that caused him to begin to research water systems in the country and to find professionals that could assess and possibly remedy this issue in this community.

Before the team went home this man had met a contractor who gave information and a quote for installation of a solar-based water pump system. This came with a price, however, and when the team got home this team member felt led by the Lord to share this need with others. Together with other members of the church he raised the necessary moneys to hire the contractor and install a new system into this bore hole. It was a solar system that would bring water at no cost to this school and the clinic.

With this project finished, the church members continued to dream and pray about the water needs in Swaziland. In March of 2009 they came back to Swaziland to do an assessment of the other 16 clinics and surrounding communities in the country. When they had finished they found that putting a solar pump at the remaining 16 Nazarene clinics came with a large price tag. The cost did not deter them, but they knew it would take a long time to complete all of the Nazarene clinics. They felt led by God to continue on this path, but unbeknownst to them God was leading others down the same path as well.

Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola Foundation was looking for a group that had a vision and a plan to bring water to Swaziland. Jim and Colleen Copple, BFC members and grant-writers for NCMI, made the connections between Coca-Cola, NCM Swaziland, NCMI, Swaziland’s Nazarene hospital, RFM, and Bethany First Church. The plan that had already been developed by BFC’s assessment in March became the basis for the proposal to Coca-Cola.

By July 2009, Coca-Cola had awarded a grant to NCMI to bring solar powered water systems to Nazarene clinics in need, as well as several community gardens. The gardens are operated by HIV support groups initiated by Swaziland’s Nazarene HIV and AIDS Task Force, and are a life source for people with HIV/AIDS. The first phase of the project began in mid-August, and there are already several solar water systems up and running, providing free and clean water to their surrounding communities.

It is the plan for the twelve Nazarene clinics and communities in need of a better water supply to receive a solar water system with associated water harvesting and sanitation systems in the remainder of 2009 and the first half of 2010. As the water supply dictates, the system is intended to serve the clinic first, then the school and church on the mission station, and finally the community. Yet this is only the first of three phases in the grant.

This story would not be what it is if it were not for the strong faith exhibited by many. It was the faith of one team member who felt a holy discontent and urgency about water. It was the faith of a team who prayed around a broken windmill in July 2008, and whose continued prayers multiplied the supply of water throughout the country! It was also the faith of those who were able to see God’s hand in the small plans of one church as well as the large plans of an outside donor. Stepping out in faith is one of the ways that God uses us to bring glory to himself and to his Church. Sometimes the glory of God comes in the tangible form of clean water in the name of Jesus – the living water!

(This article recently appeared in the regional Nazarene publication, Out of Africa.)

Five Things We're Thankful For

2009-11-26T15:12:00.002-06:00

Every year at Thanksgiving Brent’s father challenges everyone around the table to say five things they’re thankful for. This Thanksgiving, we have a list of the things we’re thankful for here in Swaziland.

1.Michaele is thankful for celebrating Thanksgiving in Swaziland, because here it’s not a national holiday. This means that the post office is open and therefore, even on Thanksgiving, she can go and pick up the long-awaited package sent by Liz!!

2.Michaele is also thankful that this is first time she has to roast a turkey by herself. With the oven in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, no true roasting pans available, and the only turkey available comes with “butter flavor added,” there are so many things to blame (other than a bad cook) if it doesn’t come out well. (The turkey turned good quite well, actually, but still she was glad to have something to blame just in case.)

3.Brent is thankful for the 90 degree (Fahrenheit) weather. Instead of being cold and worrying about paying for the heat, he gets to wear shorts and just worry about not sweating.

4.We are both thankful to have Colleen Copple here with us, so that we can celebrate with a fellow American (and a great friend!!).

5.And we are both very thankful for family at home and all the new “family” we’ve developed here in Swaziland. We are truly blessed!!

The Children of Nkilji

2009-11-09T06:25:00.003-06:00

Brent and I visited Nkiliji a few days ago to visit the orphans and vulnerable children supported by the Task Force, and also to see the progress of the BFC-sponsored garden there. We traveled with Mary Magagula and Evelyn Shongwe, over rain-washed, pot-holed roads and through what seemed to be small lakes! The most recent GO Team in August left behind many children’s clothes and toys to be distributed, so we were bearing many gifts. Mary and Evelyn also brought school supplies which had been donated to the Task Force, so the children would be getting clothing, a toy, a bar of soap, and school supplies. We were all excited for this day.

The Task Force has recently joined the ranks of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries as one of their Child Development Programs. This is the vehicle through which children are sponsored and provided school fees and other support. As a part of this program, the children are gathered once a month for a meal, a Bible story, and life skills training. Since they are more orphans and vulnerable children in the area than are sponsored through NCM, these monthly gatherings include many more than just the sponsored children. Most of them are orphans, or at least have lost one parent. Most of their parents have died from AIDs, or AIDs related illnesses. Evelyn told me that many of the children are themselves HIV+ and are undergoing treatment.

Usually the Nkiliji group meets under a tree since the Nazarene church is far away; but this day they had requested the use of a nearby Methodist church building to use. When we arrived, the children were well into their Bible lesson and I was surprised by how many children I saw! There were at least 60 children from 2 months through 15 years, sitting on wooden benches and listening to the story of Abraham. We were also able to hear them sing and recite their Bible verses.

“Gogo” (Grandma) Magagula introduced us and we spoke for a few minutes to the children. We explained who are and how we are working in partnership with the Task Force. We also explained that the gifts we brought were not only from people in the US and Canada, but from Jesus, who loves them and provides for them. We moved outside for the gift-giving, where the kids lined up oldest to youngest to receive the goodies. With each child we tried hard to find at least one piece of clothing that they liked and fit them, then they received a bar of soap, a small beanie baby or ball, and school supplies.

When it was all said and done, there were many happy faces and somehow we hadn’t run out of clothing, soap, or toys! The care supporters were just as pleased as the kids were, and thanked us and the people who donated the supplies. Once again we were privileged to be in the "middle man" position, where we can pass along the generous gifts of others and see the joy that it produces!

“Before I Lived in Africa, I Never…”

2009-11-03T01:16:00.000-06:00

…made brownies from scratch because there aren’t any box mixes.
…prayed about getting online and actually having to trust that God and God alone could make the dial-up connection work – and He did!
… used my vacuum cleaner to sweep up the nightly slaughter of bugs.
… had a padlock on my front door (everyone has a padlock on their front door).
… went so long without watching TV.
… read so many books in so little time (most because of the former point).
… played FreeCell (this started as mostly something to do while waiting to get online, but has now grown to any time I’m waiting for anything).
… bought phone minutes from a guy on the street wearing a bright yellow MTN vest.
… bought phone minutes at all, for that matter.
… washed clothes by hand in my bathtub (only once a while, not an every day occurance).
… drove on the left side of the road and the right side of the car.
… made apple pie crust without a food processor.
… spoke siSwati.
… had church for three hours on Sunday morning.
… got to see the Southern Cross in the sky at night.
… saw the beautiful purple blooms of a jacaranda tree all over the landscape.
… learned to love SKYPE so much!

The Arrival of the Container

2009-10-27T14:55:00.003-05:00

For those who don't know, several people at Bethany First Church organized a large donation of medical equipment and supplies and sent it on a 40' container here to Swaziland for the Nazarene hospital. The container was purchased for the hospital so that they could use it as secure additional storage on the grounds. We have been working for the last six weeks with a local clearing agent on preparing all the logistics for its arrival, which was to be between October 24- 28.

However, the container arrived a week ahead of schedule on October 19. Neither our clearing agent nor the hospital was notified of its arrival. Instead, on Wednesday the 21st, someone from the railway company (where the container is stored until pick up) called the hospital administrator to inform him that RFM would be charged beginning Monday the 26th for storage of the container. We contacted our agent immediately, who verified that the container had arrived. From that point we had to move very quickly to ensure that the container could get to the hospital by Friday so no storage charges would have to be paid.

Since the container was staying on the hospital grounds, we knew we had to arrange for a way for it to be lifted off the truck bed. We had talked with The Luke Commission, who have had multiple containers delivered, and found contact information for the one crane in country large enough to pick up a full container.
However on Thursday the 22nd, we found out that the crane RFM had “reserved” was double booked and would not be available for us. This led to a frenzy of activity as we and Michelle (RFM's resource mobilization officer) looked for other options for lifting the container. Yet we knew that no other crane could lift the container while it was full. Added to our concern was the fact that we had not wanted to unload the contents all at once, so that we could do a better job of monitoring implementation.

By the end of the day we had only one option, and had to go with it. Our agent suggested a company who had a small crane and large forklift who could move the container once it was fully unloaded. We talked this over with Michelle, and decided we would try to empty the container, move it, then try to put as much back in as possible.

The container arrived at 9:30am Friday morning October 23. Brent rode on top of it with a large stick to move the low-hanging wires out of its way on the hospital grounds. The closest the truck could get to the storeroom was about 40 yards, and there was no platform for it to back up to. This meant that the contents of the container had to be emptied by hand, down to the ground and across the 40 yards to the storeroom. All of the donations had been packaged into pallets or crates, secured well with nails, and screws into plywood and four-by-fours. So, once the container was opened we realized it would be impossible to unload it quickly and then load it back up, pallets full and untouched.

Michelle made the decision to unpack every pallet and move the contents in their boxes inside the storeroom. We had to move quickly to utilize maintenance staff who were scheduled to get off work at 1pm. They used one side of one opened pallet as a steep ramp/ latter leaned up against the opened container which helped them lower the pallets down to the ground. From there the pallets were opened with the only tool available for the day – one crowbar. Boxes, equipment and furniture were carried back to the storeroom, and materials like linens and bandages were put into trolleys that took them directly to the storeroom shelves.

The hospital had hired a small forklift to help in offloading the pallets from the container. The forklift was immensely helpful while it worked, but it got stuck in the coal dust between the storeroom and the container for about an hour and half. When it did work, it carried the pallets as far as the entry of the storeroom where they were opened and unloaded.

With this method the container was fully unloaded by 2:30. By 4:00 all the contents of the pallets had been brought inside the storeroom. The mobile X-Ray machine was retrieved by one of the X-Ray technicians immediately, along with one patient bed and the lead vests. He was very excited! Other large pieces, like the steel countertop/ cabinet and several beds, were quickly implemented as well.

The container stayed at the hospital over the weekend without charge from the trucking company, and this Monday a large forklift arrivee and lifted the container into its new location near the maintenance building at the hospital. Everyone seems pleased with its placement. That same day, there was a meeting of matrons from many of the hospital wards to discuss implementation of the container’s contents. They went through item by item, saying which ward needed the particular equipment or supplies. In this way much of the donated goods are spoken for and have a home waiting for them. It will still take work to get them there, but the hardest part is finished.

Dr. Bitchong, the Chief Medical Officer, was away at a convention when the container arrived. When he saw the full storeroom and met with his staff he was exceedingly pleased. He told both of us that there were many good surprises on this container and that its contents would help the hospital in many of the areas it had been struggling with for so long. The work is not yet finished, but we are happy to have the container here, all contents accounted for and in one piece, and the hospital happy!

Working at the RFM Storeroom

2009-10-22T14:58:00.001-05:00

The store room at RFM has been the location for thousands and thousands of pieces of medical equipment over the years that it has been in existence. A number of years ago the middle section was divided into rooms/offices and a ceiling was put over that space, which opened a second level to increase the space in the store room. Due to leaks in the roof over the past few years, that second story storage has seen significant damage to the floor boards to such a point that there were holes and nothing was safe for storage there.

In preparation for the container that was shipped from BFC, we have been looking for options for short term storage in that area. This un-utilized space was a clear need that was identified and essential for use. BFC was able to contribute the finances for the patching of the roof and the new flooring to replace the rotted floor. Once they had the supplies, RFM staff made quick work of the roof patching and installation of the flooring.

Several weeks ago there was a container of consumables that arrived from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (Hands of Hope ministries out of Idaho) which included everything from bandages, to surgical supplies and office equipment. When it arrived it was stacked near the entry of the store room as there is always a rush to get a container unloaded as to not accrue additional charges for container rental. In preparation for the BFC container which is arriving tomorrow (Friday 23 October) we went to assist in getting things moved into the new space to make way for items from BFC.

We worked with the RFM staff for nearly three hours to get everything dispersed and organized but as the rain poured down outside (and also made it much cooler in the upper level of the store room) there were no leaks and the new flooring was study underfoot.

We praise God for his providence and the opportunity to assist with his work. It is an incredible thing to realize that the items that we were moving, which were originally packed by fellow Christians overseas, will be utilized in life saving surgeries and in many cases will be given with minimal charge to people with great need here in Swaziland. We also are privileged and honored to work with RFM Resource Mobilization office (Michelle Fidelli) to enact critical support from BFC.

As we made room for yet another container in the store room we look forward to watching how God continues to move in tangible ways to enact his miracles.

The Cattle On A Thousand Hills

2009-10-14T16:03:00.005-05:00

Several months ago we sent out emails, letters, and visited churches asking for prayer and financial support as we set off for a year in Swaziland. The money we needed to raise felt like a daunting task in the midst of a national financial crisis. We received a flood of prayers, however, and were reminded often that God has made and will continue to make a way for his people whom he has called. He is the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills, the psalmist says, and so we were encouraged and challenged to trust that he would allocate those cattle to us as he saw fit!

We are writing today with hearts full of thanksgiving and gratitude to say that we have all the funds we needed – and then some! Four months into our stay here, we have the full amount that we will need for the year, with extra moneys available for further donations. This is yet again another HUGE reminder of God’s constant provision and faithfulness to us and to all who he calls. We know that many people gave sacrificially to make this happen, and we are more thankful than we know how to say. We continue to pray for you who have given from your hearts, that God will bless you in abundance for your generosity and obedience. We also hope and pray that you all – whether you contributed financially, through prayers, or in any other way – are able to feel that you are truly a part of our ministry here. Truly, if it was not for your generosity we would not be here.

“Praise and Prayer Requests!!”

2009-10-03T15:13:00.002-05:00

Well we have a praise to share!! We found a replacement window for the passenger side of the BFC Mobile that we use here in Swaziland. On the 21st of August it was broken as some thieves were trying to steal some items in the car. (They did not get anything of value praise the Lord). Since that time we have been calling everywhere (even South Africa and Mozambique) to find a replacement. What a frustration and challenge but God provided a replacement yesterday. And for a very good cost. This is a praise as the sound of the plastic on the window was getting really annoying..and with plastic on the windows we never felt secure leaving anything in the car when it was parked, and it is starting to rain more and more here. Praise to God!!

Another praise from this past weekend is that we were able to attend a Spiritual Renewal Retreat with other Nazarene Missionaries and leaders from Africa. The focus was on Sabbath Rest. It was another chance again to be renewed by God and to learn from him. Also the opportunity to meet others who serve our lord and the church of the Nazarene in Africa was a great blessing!! The facilitator Cindy North who has served before in Africa was a great leader during this time and we thank her and her family (for letting her come to Africa)

We also have some prayer requests

- Swaziland – HIV/AIDS that a miracle comes from the Lord. In the past week a nationwide study/report has come out showing again the incredible odds that face the country of Swaziland in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
- For those we interact with that they can see the love of our Lord and know him and his peace. There are a few who are asking a lot of questions and need answers from the Lord!!
- For our friend Sizwe who is feeling a strong call of God on his life. For safety as he works to provide for his family (as a combi driver across borders) and for wisdom.
- For traveling mercies for Michaele and I as we continue to drive across country and borders.
- For the four district assemblies that are happening this week! Wisdom and unity for the leaders of our church in this country!

Task Force Graduation

2009-10-01T14:15:00.005-05:00

Several weeks ago I (Michaele) had the privilege of joining a “graduation” ceremony for the newest care supporters of the Nazarene HIV/ AIDs Task Force. Care supporters are individuals who have volunteered to provide consistent care, encouragement and support to HIV patients and their families. One care supporter I met in the eastern district of Swaziland has twenty clients that she looks after, seeing each of them at least once a week. It is the care supporters who make sure these clients are getting the right medicines and staying on their ARV’s (Anti-retro-viral treatment helps the body to fight against HIV and prolongs health and life). Care supporters also work to provide food and other goods when they are needed, as well as emotional and spiritual support. Much of this support is gained through the formation of HIV support groups, some of which form garden co-ops and begin garden projects together. All of these efforts have a remarkable impact and do an amazing job at prolonging life, increasing awareness of HIV, and de-stigmatizing the disease and those who are infected.

New care supporters go through an intensive three-week training process before they are sent to do the work. I was able to join them for the closing ceremony of this training. They shared a short drama depicting a typical scenario in which the care supporters would work: A young lady who is bed ridden is prohibited by her father, mother and aunt from seeking medical help because they are convinced she has been bewitched or that is the work of some ancestor’s curse. The care supporter made regular trips to the family before finally being able to take the young lady to see a doctor for TB treatment and to begin ARV’s. When she returns, healthy, to her family they are all amazed at the miracle that has taken place and the care supporter is able to pray with the family.

I was so impressed and touched by the emotions depicted in the drama and those of the other care supporters watching it. The drama depicted the true-to-life difficulties each of these new care supporters will face, yet they were ready and eager to take on the challenge. The keynote speaker was a woman from a similar organization that focuses on youth, Acts of Faith, supported through the Mennonite church. Her address focused on why we as Christians are different in the care we provide and in the way we respond to these challenges. She said we as Christians are blessed by the dying not because we do big things, but because we can do the small work of touching and changing someone’s heart. Again I saw the agreement and even the excitement in the faces of the new care supporters and was overwhelmed by their determination to do the hard, hard work of giving the smallest acts of compassion in the face of a horrible, depressing situation.

To close their session they sang a triumphant-sounding song that matched in melody and rhythm any siSwati praise song I had heard. Yet I kept hearing “A-R-V’s” at the end of the refrain. I asked for a translation of the song, and this is what I got: I promise never to forget my ARV therapy/ I promise never to quit my ARV therapy/ In the morning and in the evening its ARV therapy (2X)/ I promise never to quit my ARV therapy. So, in addition to using drama, the care supporters have also written this and other songs to communicate to and rally their clients.

These are the wonderful men and women (mostly women) who are doing the work that will turn the tide of the HIV crisis! These are the people who are really on the frontlines, being the hands and feet of Jesus in more ways that we can count. These are our brothers and sisters who I love and have the highest respect for. These beloved people are the ones who need to be covered in our constant prayers!

The Nazarene Task Force has, at present, around 114 such volunteers in all four districts. Please join us in prayer for their leaders, Mary Magagula and Evelyn Shongwe. You can find information about them and how to donate at NCM.org.

Operation Christmas Child

2009-09-21T10:52:00.001-05:00

This past Monday we were given the awesome opportunity to help distribute shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child to four schools in rural Swaziland areas. I have been on the other side of Operation Christmas Child before, assembling the gifts for a boy or girl in a certain age range, fitting them inside gift-wrapped shoeboxes, and dropping them off at a collection point. I knew that my box somehow got to a child in a developing world country, along with the message of salvation. Yet I never imagined being able to see or be a part of the gift-giving myself!

In Swaziland there are several NGO’s who distribute the gift boxes, and The Luke Commission is the last who fills in gaps that have been missed by others – mostly in very remote areas. When we started driving with our friends from The Luke Commission, I didn’t really know how remote we were going to get. We started up this mountain with our vehicles pulling two large trailers full of the gift boxes, and it was so steep that at some points I thought we would roll backwards! Each of the four schools we visited became more and more remote, and I began to see how they could have been looked over.

The children lined up neatly and quietly and came through lines according to age to receive their gift. Many of them gave shy smiles and said thank you in English. Then they sat on the grass together and listened to Dr. Harry give a short explanation that these are gifts from Jesus, and told them this was a reminder of Jesus’ biggest gift. Harry said, if you’re excited about your gift, tap on your boxes – the noise was nearly deafening! The children broke out into wide smiles and even cheered, some holding their boxes up in the air. Still, nothing could have prepared us for the explosion of joy that we witnessed as the gifts were opened!

Never before have either of us witnessed an event that brought so much joy and rejoicing. Each child received a toothbrush and toothpaste, an age appropriate gift, some candy, socks or underwear, and hat, scarf, or mittens. There was nothing expensive or extravagant in any of them, but I don’t think there could have been any more excitement if there had been. We were told this would be a once-in-a-lifetime event for these kids, something they would remember and talk about for the rest of their lives.

I was reminded again of Jesus’ words – “blessed are the poor.” It is a blessing to have such joy over a simple gift! It is a blessing to be able to receive with such open hearts, hearts that are excited and enthralled with a gift, although from someone they might not even know.

Recent Readings

2009-09-08T13:32:00.000-05:00

Following in the footsteps of the last On-Site Coordinators (Will and Karis Stemen) we have been able to do some reading over the past months (OTHER THAN THE BIBLE). Michaele is much quicker than I so she has taken on larger books. She has read “The Invisible Cure”, “The State of Africa” and Desmond Tutu’s “No Future without Forgiveness” and is now moving onto “Compassion” by Henry Nouwen. I have read “The Invisible Cure”, “Dangerous Wonder”, “Compassion” and parts of “the Next Level” by Scott Elbin. I am now debating whether to jump into “The State of Africa” or re-read “The Screwtape Letters” by CS Lewis… but I will probably end up reading both at once and taking forever to complete both of them…

I wanted though to share some thoughts from “Compassion”. It is a book discussing the centrality of compassion (suffering with) in the Christian life. Especially as God is allowing us to be in places where there are many opportunities to “suffer with”. The book highlights three ways that we are to have compassion.

1. Patience - This is a spiritual discipline of waiting on the Lord. Waiting until the Lord is telling us to move. It is a patience which, instead of charging ahead because I am uncomfortable, waits to work in his time and in his direction.

2. Prayer – In order for us to know how and where God wants us to be and how he wants us to respond we must be in prayer daily and momentarily to hear the direction of God over the noise of culture and pressures of our world.

3. Action – From the book “Prayer without action grows into powerless pietism, and action without prayer degenerates into questionable manipulation. If prayer leads us into deeper unity with the compassionate Christ, it will always give rise to concrete acts of service. “
In a place where I am obviously a foreigner in a foreign land I naturally want to take action to validate my time and my offering to God, and yet I have a desire to act on his prompting and in his direction more than I am drawn to act for the sake of action.

I am being reminded that the only lasting action here will be that which is to bring the love of God to these brothers and sisters.

And for those of you that know me you know that patience in the face of opportunity is something very hard for me.

I pray that where you are you can have the Holy Spirit given fortitude to take action when he directs and even more so to wait when we are being asked to wait.

Correction and Update on Dr. Hynd

2009-09-04T01:08:00.002-05:00

Thank you for so many prayers and well wishes for Dr. Hynd. We have spoken to his family and he is on the mend -- praise God! In fact, it seems the original prognosis was too dire. Dr. Hynd is still resting with his leg elevated, but there is no foreseeable possibility of amputation.

Please continue to pray that his recovery is both quick and complete!!

Vote of Thanks

2009-09-03T09:11:00.003-05:00

We have found that during official events, when a dignitary is speaking there is a very elaborate introduction before his or her speech. Following the speech, the hosting organization will present the dignitary with a gift. Then the speaker will again get up and offer a “vote of thanks” for the gift that they have received. Then the hosting organization representative will get up and offer their own “vote of thanks” for the vote of thanks that the dignitary has offered, and then extend the thanks to the rest of the people that assisted in the preparation of the event.
So in the gracious manner of the Swazi culture (and I am sure many other cultures as well), we want to offer our vote of thanks to individuals and groups that have played a critical role during the last team as well as our stay so far.

We want to first of all thank all those that pray for us on a routine basis. While we cannot hear your prayers from here, we know that God is granting the requests that you are making on our behalf.

- We especially thank our local church -- West Side Church of the Nazarene -- for their encouragement and prayers (know we are praying for you and thinking of you every day!)
- To the people here in Swaziland that have made us feel so welcome including people from the national board and the four districts (DS’s and other pastors), Valerie Young, all of the hospital staff and administration (COE, Administrator, CMO, RMO, chief matron and community clinics matron), and any other Swazi that has smiled when we try to communicate in siSwati or ask many questions about the culture.
- To our families -- your encouragement and prayers have allowed us to be here and encouraged us to follow the leading of God no matter where that is.
- To each of the guests that we have had in between teams (Evelyn, JaNena, Bill and now Shane) -- our time with you has been exciting and uplifting as we have learned from each of you (Up and down the river..Kruger Elephant attacks, Al Denson, Salticrax)
- To each of the churches that we were able to speak at -- Your prayers for us humble us and generous financial support has made it possible to serve our Lord in this beautiful country.
- To our BFC family -- We thank you for the embrace that you have provided to us (Barbi, Pat, Pastor David and Christi). As we represent you in country we are reminded of your support and prayers on a daily basis. Can’t wait for the next group of BFC’ers to come across the ocean!!

Please Pray for Dr. Hynd

2009-09-02T02:19:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday (over a week) Dr. Hynd tripped and fell on his knee while he was doing a survey of the building progress at his ACTS II clinic. While he thought his knee was only bruised, there was actually a small cut. But because he didn't know about it, he didn't do anything to wash it out. Now, over a week later that cut has become incredibly infected and has spread to his whole leg below the knee. He is currently on antibiotics and has someone coming to give medical care for him at home. If the infection cannot be restrained it could result in an amputation or death. Please keep him and the Hynd family in your prayers!

They feel like the enemy is trying to take him too soon, before any of the work of the ACTS II clinic can start. Thank you for surrounding this servant of God in prayer!

Weekend Update

2009-08-30T10:43:00.002-05:00

It has been a few weeks since our last posting and WOW has it been a whirlwind. The Coca-Cola water project under Nazarene Compassionate Ministries is on its way and we have been traveling the country talking to community leaders, chiefs, clinic nurses, school headmasters and others about the work. We have also been able to take part in trench digging for water lines in the communities.

Last Friday our car was broken into, but God was with us! The passenger window was smashed and only my (Brent's) briefcase was stolen. Only a very little bit of money was stolen and there were no personal records or documents in the briefcase. In fact the thief didn't get much at all! We praise God that no one was hurt during the burglary which took place in the middle of the day. However, we have been working for the last week to even find a replacement for the broken passenger side window. “Import car” is taking on a new meaning here in Swaziland. It’s much harder to find parts here.

We are working with hospital administration to complete the Bhalekane project and look to the future on ways that teams can continue to contribute to the work here.

We are also preparing for the arrival of the container full of medical equipment sent by BFC, which should arrive sometime in October.

Thank you for your prayers, and please continue to lift these needs before the Lord:

Please pray for Swazi Leaders we work with the Districts, Region, Hospital, Government
Please pray for our friend Sizwe that God will continue to protect him as he works as a kombi driver and protects his spirit as God has called him to serve in some exciting ways in Swaziland.
Pray that we would quickly find the right replacement for our car window.
Please pray for continued good communication and quick action on the Coca-Cola water project that is now under way.
Please continue to praise the Lord with us for the safety and providence that God has provided as we move around the country.

August BFC and Canadian Central GO TEAM!!!

2009-08-16T16:00:00.002-05:00

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!

August GO Team

2009-08-05T15:11:00.002-05:00

This past week has been a flurry of activity getting ready for the upcoming BFC/ Canadian Central District GO Team. Barbi and her assistant Pat have been here and we have all been working hard together! It’s been easier preparing for this team in that Brent and I now know where to find things, how to go shopping and drive, etc. Another thing that has been so good is that we’ve been able to host them and a few others for dinners this week. It has been wonderful to share our new home with new friends!

The GO Team that arrives on Saturday will be doing divided up into several different teams who will be concentrating in different areas of the country and of service.

Medical Team – A group of twelve people (doctors, nurses, dentist, dental hygienist and two students) will be working several days in the hospital. They will also have two days of free medical care at two Nazarene clinics, and seeing critical patients of the HIV/ AIDS Task Force.

Construction Team – Thirteen people (including Brent) will be working to help complete the renovations of the Bhalekane Nazarene clinic. Their main task will be to enclose a portion of the veranda to create a new card room, and laying brick in the new septic tank.

Compassion Team – This group is the largest at35 people (including Michaele). This team will be visiting the homes of patients of the HIV/ AIDS task force to deliver gifts of food and supplies, leading a VBS for the children of the Bhalekane community and spending time at the New Hope Centre childrens’ home and at Gigi’s Kitchen.

Ministerial Team – There are five ministers (including Michaele and one counselor) who are mostly with the compassion team. However, one day will be spent encouraging, praying with, and leading seminars with the pastors of the Eastern District.

Videographers – Two men from BFC will be travelling throughout the country this week in order to capture the spirit and impact of the Swaziland Partnership. This footage will be used in several pieces for BFC and others.

Artist Team – Three members from BFC are working on an art exhibit to increase awareness and support of the AIDs crisis and Swaziland. The title of their project is “Lizinga Lemandla Ami: The Measure of My Strength.” They will be interviewing women affected by and infected with HIV to capture their stories of strength, endurance and courage. The interview and photograph of participants will then be used in creating a sculpture exhibit that expresses the stories of these remarkable women and children.

Educational Team – One counselor from BFC and an ordained prison chaplain from Canada will be working together to provide training and encouragement to many caregivers. Their audiences will include the care supporters of the HIV/ AIDS task force, the caregivers of the New Hope Centre, and Nazarene pastors of the Eastern district.

As you can see, August 8 - 15 will be a busy week for these 60 people! We are excited to have them here and are even more excited to see what God will do through and in them during their stay.

Please join us in prayer for all the many activities that will be happening in the next days!
· Safety, protection and health as we have people travelling all throughout the country
· That we would all be open to the Spirit’s guidance even if it means moving away from the schedule
· That lives would be changed – Swazi, American, and Canadian lives – for the Kingdom

Richard's Bay, South Africa

2009-07-27T15:01:00.003-05:00

Today we greet you from Richard's Bay, on the east coast South Africa, also known as Kwazulu/Natal. We are here for a few days with the VanderWal family of The Luke Comission, and their team of nurses from Cedarville University. For the first time we saw and were in (Brent more than Michaele) the Indian Ocean. It is a beautiful beach, as you can tell -- and the water was a bit cold, so it really did take my breath away!

We return to Swaziland Tuesday evening in time to greet Barbi Moore and her assistant Pat Burton on their arrival Wednesday morning. The rest of this week and the next will be full of pre-team meetings and preparations. The GO Team from Bethany First Church, along with some from the Central Canada District, will arrive on August 8 in Swaziland. This group of 60 people is comprised of a medical team, an educational team, a compassion team, and a construction team. We will share with you the details of their plans and activities -- there will be much going on while they are here!

This week please continue to pray with us for:

Health and safety of Barbi and Pat as they travel

Health and safety for all of us as we travel back to Swaziland (about a 4 hour drive)

The pre-team meetings and plans that need to be finalized

That God would accomplish amazing things in and through the GO Team while they are here!

GiGi's Kitchen

2009-07-23T10:55:00.001-05:00

GiGi’s kitchen is a small school and “Soup Kitchen,” for lack of a better term, which feeds those children in this particular area of Manzini who are termed orphans or vulnerable. Although these kids have a place to live and sleep, and some even have people to pay their school fees, most do not have families of their own anymore. One woman helping the children explained that the kids who do have a parent left are fending for themselves anyway, because that parent is often very sick and/or extremely poor. Brent and I visited this place for the first time a week ago, and we hope to return many times. I had wanted to write about this earlier, but truthfully I have been struggling with it ever since we left.

We went with a wonderful woman, Evelyn, who is the District Superintendant’s wife and the co-leader of the HIV/AIDS Task Force. She goes once a week to bring the kids a Bible lesson before they eat at about 3pm. Brent brought his guitar, so we sang with them a little bit and then served them their food. I served out of a huge pot of mealie meal (a corn porridge, like thick grits), and Brent ladled out the gravy, which had beans but no meat or vegetables in it. Someone had donated a huge bag of oranges, so each child also received an orange.

As we were serving I did not have an opportunity to think about each child and their struggle ut when we left the tears didn’t stop for over an hour. A day and half later the enormity of the truth finally set it: each of those beautiful, precious children has such a difficult challenge ahead of them, just to grow up! An abundance of questions sprang out of my tears and frustration: Will their lives be any better or different than their parents’? Will their children be orphans? Will they even live long enough to have children? If they do, what kind of life will they have without education? Will they have jobs? Is anyone at home fighting for them? And the worst question of all: what on earth can I do about it!? What was the point of me being here if I couldn’t do anything to help??

In the middle of my anger and tears, God spoke very clearly: compassion is not about fixing things. Compassion is about suffering with. Yet I was still not satisfied to think that God’s solution to suffering was just more suffering. How are my tears and pain going to help their hunger, their poverty, their sickness and their lack of education? I fought with God again for a few more minutes, but then he gently turned me around again.

In Genesis 16 when Hagar names God “the God who sees me,” she didn’t just mean a God who stands far off watching a situation. In the Hebrew understanding, to see meant to "act" upon something, just as God acted upon Hagar’s own situation as she was homeless, pregnant, and running away from Sarah and Abraham. Therefore our God does indeed suffer with… but He is also a God of action. And he calls His Church to suffer to the point of action as well!

I am reminded of the strong, generous women who ran GiGi’s kitchen in the first place – their compassion, their relationship with the children, the way they provide for them. We rejoice with our Lord that our God is not dead nor is he too busy for any circumstance. Even as he asks us to suffer with others in their pain.. praise be to God that he does not stop calling and his people still answer him.

Please join us in prayer this week:
· That God would call His Church to action here in Swaziland and all over the world
· That Brent and I would hear clearly the actions God is calling us to while we are here
· For the many orphans and vulnerable children here in Swaziland (about 150,000)
· For the strength and encouragement of many volunteers whose compassion leads them to action

Water

2009-07-12T05:06:00.003-05:00

As we mentioned last week, the Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded a grant to supply water in Swaziland through Nazarene Compassion Ministries, Inc (NCMI). This is definitely a gift from God and here is why…

During last July’s GO Team from Bethany First Church, one of the team members became very passionate about the need for clean running water in Swazi communities. Since that time he and BFC worked with a local pumping company to purchase and install a solar water pump in the community of Sisatsaweni, where there is a Nazarene school, church, and clinic. With the success of this first installation BFC made a commitment to do the same for other Nazarene clinics that needed water. Though BFC made an aggressive commitment of funds it was going to take a number of years to even begin to reach their goal...

BUT…

God has another timeline in mind. As the sites were being surveyed for the BFC plan Coca-Cola approached NCMI and asked them if they had any interest in working on getting water for Swaziland. The answer was definitely YES!!! Coca-Cola has decided to fund the entire vision of bringing water to all Nazarene clinics and several other communities in need! The goal is for the clinic to receive water and also have a good enough supply system for the surrounding community to use as well. The contract was signed this week in Washington, DC, and so there are now many things we are working on in order to get the project going. The same kind of solar system used at Sisatsaweni will be supplied in each of these areas and implemented by the same water pump professional, Jimmy, who has become a good friend.

Two days this week were spent with Jimmy and his 11-year-old son Josh, scoping out the various sites that are on the first priority list to receive water. It was quite a wake-up call to realize each person we saw on these visits did not have adequate access to water, and often were left to drink, wash clothes, and cook with very dirty water. There was one community which was especially difficult to see. The road to this very rural area was in some places hardly a road at all. Several times we had to get out of the car to move rocks out of the way! Right now is the driest season of the year, and I could only imagine how impassable this road would be when the rains began! Jimmy explained that this area was just about as close as you could get to Mozambique without crossing the border, and that the people here were often out of reach for even the Swaziland government. I was astonished to see the traditional mud and stick homes I had read about the Schmelzenbachs seeing when they first arrived here over 100 years ago. The children were dressed, but their clothes were obviously very old and dirty, and some quite ragged.

The community members have no school to which they can send their children, and could not afford school fees if they had one. There are no clinics, no stores, no churches. There is no opportunity for work out there, and we did not see one vehicle which would allow transport into a town that had work. We saw a few homes that had gardens, but without good water supply they were not large or prosperous. We saw two women getting water, and Jimmy asked each about the water supplies. One supply was a small river or creek down in a valley and a long walk from the homes at the top of the mountain. Another supply was a little spring that produced what looked like a puddle. It was protected by a home-made fence of sticks, and we were told it supplied each family in the area at least one bucket of water a day, and sometimes two. The buckets she was using were about one gallon each. The families she was speaking of would consist of up to 18 people. So that means two gallons of water a day, at most, for all the drinking, washing, cooking, and gardening for an 18-person family!

As we drove away I groped at my feet for my water bottle, filled with clean drinking water brought from our flat. With my eyes still glued on the terrain, I brought the water to my lips and drank. Then I realized, for the first time ever, what an amazing gift I had just enjoyed. Instantly I almost felt guilty for drinking my good, clean water, in the presence of my brothers and sisters who had none.

I am overjoyed and grateful that we will be able to see the transformation of this community, first hand. Yet at the same time we are both left feeling a little stunned to be face to face with such great need. I know water will change this community completely in a few short weeks… but how many more communities throughout the world will still be in need? Let us continue to respond to our Lord in faith and see what he can do..

This week, please join us in prayer:
· for the many people here in Swaziland, in Africa, and all over the world who have no water.
· that we may hear all that God wants to tell us as we see places of such need.
· for Gods wisdom as we work alongside our Swazi brothers and sisters to bring water access to communities
· for meetings to be had with various local and government leaders regarding plans for the water installation projects.
· Remebering to praise God for the gifts he provides for us (water, shelter, food, clothing…)

What do we do?

2009-07-04T08:16:00.003-05:00

This is a question we have been asked often. "So, as on-site coordinators... what do you actually do day to day?" We thought this week would be a good snap shot of what we do, so here is a small summary of these week's activities.

Brent spent a good amount of time on several financial reports regarding some previous and upcoming projects.

Although neither of us are architects, we worked to draw a floor plan of a clinic (future project site) with measurements and dimensions to send back to Bethany First Church. You should have seen us doing the whole thing with the "insert shapes" feature in Microsoft Word!!

We met with Matron Anna, who oversees the community clinics to get feedback from two previous events/ projects and hear her priorities for moving forward

Brent visited the Shewula and Ndwvabageni clinics with Michael Mabuza, who is the maintenance supervisor for the hospital and clinics. He met the nurses and staff and assessed what work was needed there.

This week we received word that a grant had been awared from the Coca-Cola foundation to fund water projects in the Nazarne clinics in Swaziland through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc.! Therefore we facilitated communication between several people in the US and here in order to move forward quickly with that project.

We were honored to host four volunteers from the New Hope Centre for dinner and Bible study. It was a wonderful time and we hope to do it once a week!

We were also able to host Dr. Raymond Bitchong (the chief medical officer at the hospital and our next-door neighbor) and his family for dinner. His wife Beatrice plays the guitar and sings, so we had a great time singing together after dinner.

We spent one day scouting out accommodations for the next team coming in August. The construction team will be working in Bhalekane, which is in the north-central part of the country. Our friend Sizwe, who has been a driver for all of the teams, joined us. We had a great time and were successful in finding several suitable places.

As you can tell, no two days are alike, but all were good. We are thanking God for allowing us to be here, and to be working with so many amazing and passionate people. We are especially excited about this Coca-Cola grant, and will keep you updated on what is happening there.

This coming week, please pray for us along these lines:

Sunday morning services with pastor Nomvula Dlamini at Mphondla Church of the Nazarene. We will be speaking in the NYI and regular worship services.

Wisdom! For decisions, for understanding, and communicating in a different culture

Important meetings this week regarding upcoming projects

Continued health and safety -- no sicknesses yet! Praise God!
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouraging notes through the blog, facebook, and email. We even received another piece of mail this week! God is good and you are too!

Michaele Preaches at Sharpe Memorial Church

2009-06-28T11:20:00.000-05:00

Today Michaele preached for the first time since we have been here in Swaziland. She preached at Sharpe Memorial Church here in Manzini. It was a great morning of worship with beautiful music (as always) and baptism of more than 20 members of the church. Michaele was originally told that she would not be speaking thru a translator..but right before she began the pastor took a vote and the church members voted to have a translator for her. Talk about adjusting on the fly..it was a great sermon where Michaele spoke on Romans 12 verses 1 and 2. She focused on the work of transformation after Salvation. Service was great and the message was well received. We thank God for this opportunity to share the word of God with brothers and sisters in Swaziland and look forward to sharing again next week in a town close to Endzingeni.

Michaele's Swazi Birthday

2009-06-28T11:01:00.002-05:00

This past Tuesday was Michaele’s birthday!! I (Brent) had been worried that this might possibly be a hard day for Michaele in that she would be away from home..

BUT …

God had plans for Michaele.

The day before her birthday Michaele received a call from one of the leaders of the New Hope center asking her if she could come over at 4 as the kids wanted to celebrate their “Thanksgiving Time” with her. New Hope center is a home operated by Elizabeth and Tracy Hynd along with their staff that have adopted 40 orphaned children. We arrived at 4pm and the children sang songs of praise to God for all he had given to them that day and than began to “thank” God for Michaele on her Birthday. It was an awesome event to take part in with 40 plus people thanking God for the life of my wife Michaele. The girls there had also purchased Michaele a gift (a coffee mug) which she especially enjoyed as she loves coffee. After that each child came up to Michaele and gave her a blessing in their own way..some blessed her with the fruits of the spirit..others blessed her with a hug if they were to young to say something.

After that Michaele and I came home and made Chilli and corn bread for about 7 of our new friends who came over to celebrate Michaele’s birthday. For some of them it was their first time having chilli and corn bread. At the end of the day being able to watch Michaele relax and enjoy herself with new friends drinking out of her new mug I was praising God for taking care of our needs ..even going far beyond our needs by making Michaele’s birthday very special for her.

The next day Michaele received a notice from the post office that there was a package for her. We picked it up and it was from BFC thru their links program. It was a great reminder to us that there as SOOOOOOOOOO many praying for us and supporting our ministry here in Swaziland.

Many thanks to our God and to the people of God for taking such good care of my wife.

Father's Day with Dr. Samuel "Babe" Hynd

2009-06-21T12:35:00.003-05:00

On Saturday we were honored to spend much of the day with Babe (pronounced bah-bay) (father in Siswati) Hynd on the day before Father's Day. First we went to a celebration commemorating the continued work of his dream HIV clinic, the ACTS II clinic here in Manzini.

The King’s man walked everyone there around the property to show the boundaries. After that there was prayer and than we had meeli meal and some grilled pork. We would not learn until much later today the signifigance of what happened there in the blazing sun!

Later that evening we went to a restaurant for a Father's Day celebration with Babe Hynd. There was a pretty large group of about 15, many of which were from Dr. Elizabeth Hynd's New Hope Centre, and Dr. Tom Noble from NTS (who is here researching his book on Dr. David Hynd) and Dr. Margaret Hynd (Samuel's sister). We went around the table and talked about each of our stories as an introduction, which was wonderful to hear God’s call on so many people and his miraculous work that is going on here in Swaziland and across so many continents. At the table were people from South Africa, Swaziland, Korea, Australia, UK, Scotland, Canada and the USA.

Doctor Hynd shared more about the ACTS II clinic and the long story of having the Hospital give him the land, having construction start, then getting miraculous funding from even the Canadian government. Several months into construction, one of the King’s men stopped the work due to conflicting desires for the land. Now, two years later, the work could finally continue. Dr. Hynd had said he was ready to write to his donors this very weekend to tell them that the work could not continue and send his apologies. Yet this past Wednesday he received a call to come to the King's palace, where he learned that the work could commence again.

Apparently about two years ago Doctor Hynd and Elizabeth had a conversation with one of the wives of the previous King (Sobuhza), and she was finally able to sit down with King Mswati this Tuesday in a private audience and ask that he allow the work to go on. Dr. Samuel Hynd has been in Swaziland his whole life and has been very involved with the royal family. Yet he told us that this was the first time he had ever heard of someone being allowed to speak to the King in private, as this woman had done. All Glory to God and thank you Jesus that we were able to see the mighty hand of God move in ways that could not have been dreamed!

The story of Esther in the Bible ringing in our ears, we learned that the King's man who led the ceremony that morning was the very man who had the project halted two years ago! We delighted in the Lord's sense of irony and were glad for the King's man's sake that his end was better than Hamaan's.

It was an honor and blessing to spend the day in such company and in the presence of God's work. Babe Hynd kept saying that night, "You know people say God is dead... well I just don't see it!"

Over-due Update on the Lenexa Team

2009-06-17T02:48:00.003-05:00

Due to the lack of internet service while the team was here, it was difficult to give you updates on what we were doing. But now here are some highlights of our time with the team and what they accomplished. Thank you for all of your prayers!! As you can tell, it was a great week and God richly blessed all those involved.

The team arrived Friday, May 29, and we were there in Johannesburg to pick them up at the airport. Saturday through Monday were spent in Manzini, during which the team was introduced to many of Swaziland’s Nazarene leaders. On Sunday the team worshiped at Sharpe Memorial, and on Monday we toured the hospital, visited clients with the HIV/AIDS Task Force, and spent time at the New Hope Centre (an orphanage run by Dr. Elizabeth Hynd). Tuesday through Saturday of that week were spent working at Endzigeni, preparing an interim nurses’ home so that extensive renovations could be done on the existing home.

The team’s work there caught the attention of Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini, and he visited the work site on Wednesday, adding his own financial contribution to the clinic. This was a wonderful day and a huge event for our team to be involved in!

The community rallied around the project and there was a great deal of support from community members – both in encouragement and helping to do the work. One of the local chiefs gave a cow to the team to show his appreciation!

Along with the construction work, there was also a large group of the team who focused on providing a VBS for the area children. Each day of the VBS they saw over 500 children! Kids and adults both enjoyed the lessons and activities. The team also made significant contributions of food, supplies, and clothes to the HIV/AIDS Task Force.

Additionally, on June 3, Rev. Rob Prince of Lenexa Central and I led a workshop for the pastors of the Hhohho region, organized by DS Rev. Philemon Dlamini. This was a great time of discussion, teaching, and fellowship with many of the pastors in the district. Thank you for all who prayed for that day, and my part of it. I felt that the Lord really guided us and used my teaching on discipleship and mentoring young leaders in the church.

We ended our time in Swaziland by visiting the rock on which Harmon Schmelzenbach received his call to seek and save the lost of Swaziland. The view from there allows you to see a vast territory of Swaziland, and it was a breathtaking sight. Even more special was to know that all of us were there, 100 years later, because of the message that Harmon received from God on that very spot. The picture is of the team on that rock.

Thank you for your continued prayers! God is continuing to lead us into exciting and surprising new adventures all the time!

Settling into our Flat!!

2009-06-15T06:39:00.003-05:00

Well after a wild weekend (We got to take another trip to Kruger) we are settling into our flat here at the mission. There is much to do (like make sure we know where the plates and utencils are) but God is showing himself in large and small ways (like helping us get connected to the internet today) This week we are beginning preparation for the August team and taking actions to complete the great work that the Lenexa team did while they were here.

Please be praying for
- Michaele and I to have wisdom in the meetings that we have each day
- Michaele and I to continue to make cultural adjustments
- Soft hearts and many opportunities to share the love and hope that is in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- God's help as we begin seriously to learn Siswati.

Day 2 in Kruger

2009-06-09T11:50:00.004-05:00

Well!! DAY 1 was great but Day 2 has been even better.

We began the day with a 5:30 am morning drive and spotted animals I had never dreamed of seeing..rhinos, giraffes, and Lions.. check out the picture (will have to upload later it is taking to long)!!

We travel tomorrow to Johannesburg to drop of the team from Lenexa. Please continue to pray for safety and celebrate with us the protection he has provided thus far.

In Him..

Brent

(Ultimate Alliance member)

..that was for you Jason!!)

Kruger Park

2009-06-08T13:37:00.002-05:00

Today we are once again in South Africa, in the far northern section outside of Kruger Park, near Melalane. The Lenexa team is still here, but they will be leaving on Wednesday. The week in Endzigeni was wonderful -- there will be a much longer post to follow on all the highlights and some pictures of the week. We left Swaziland this morning and spent several hours inside Kruger Park in South Africa. Our few hours were quite profitable -- we saw giraffes, impalas, elephants, and hippos! Tomorrow we get to go again, and we are all excited.

Thank you again for all of your prayers. God has been doing wonderful things and we know we have Him and many of your prayers to thank.

God bless, and we'll update again soon!

More pictures

2009-05-29T18:06:00.000-05:00

Maguga dam -- isn't it beautiful!

A member of the Endzigeni health comittee.
Talking over the construction plans of the clinic with Endzigeni locals and hospital staff.

The Lenexa Team Has Arrived!

2009-05-29T17:54:00.002-05:00

*This post was supposed to go up over a week ago, but somehow that didn't happen. Thank you anyway for the continued prayers even without the specific prayer requests!

Today we traveled by plane up to Johannesburg, retracing our steps from last week. We met the team from Lenexa, Kansas City at the airport and will travel back with them to Swaziland by bus tomorrow. Through Monday we'll be staying in Manzini, and then the team will head up to Endzigeni to work on the clinic, the nurse's houses, and do a VBS for the local kids.

Please pray for our safety, for the unity of the team, and for a true revival to come to this first mission of Endzigeni. Recently there have been some difficult situations for this community, and there are a great many people praying for change, hope, and revival!

Pictures from Swaziland

2009-05-29T17:43:00.001-05:00

Our first welcome. :)

Brent's first time driving -- he did great!

A view from the car -- lots of mountains -- and lots of these little shops too.

The view from Jim Copple's favorite hotel room outside of Mbabne, overlooking the valley.

"Sanibonani!"

2009-05-26T10:26:00.003-05:00

Every time we greet in siSwati,, we receive warm smiles and some chuckles. I think sometimes it means they are pleased, and sometimes it means they can tell we're butchering their language! But we are getting pretty good at saying hello to many people (the greeting in the title), and to one person -- "sawbona". We can also say thank you (gniyabonga/ siyabonga), how are you (unjani), and goodbye (hamba/ sale kahle [sounds like gashle]). You will be happy to know that Brent is also getting good at driving on the right side of the car, and the left side of the road! Karis and Will, he's only given us a windshield wiper twice, when he wanted to turn on the turn signal. :)

We have been quite busy this first week. Saturday, the day after our last post, we visited Endzigeni, near Piggs Peak. This was the first mission station of the Church of the Nazarene, started by Harmon and Lula Schmelzenbach in 1909 (or sometime near there). Each mission in Swaziland has a church, clinic, and at least one school altogether. This was to complete the initial, and ongoing vision to "preach, teach, and heal." Each clinic is run by several nurses who have been trained at the Nazarene College of Nursing here in Manzini. (I'm actually writing this from a computer in the college offices!) We were able to meet two of the four nurses who work at Endzigeni while we are there. They are some of the bravest and most sacrificial women I have ever met. Most of these clinics are in very rural areas, and their homes were built a long time ago. The nurses at Endzigeni have homes on the compound, next to the clinic, but they have neded a renovation a LONG time ago. As I was touring their living spaces, I was so humbled. They have such a desire to serve their people through these clinics that they have been living in a bug, rat, bat, even iguana-infested home! We were told by the construction crew that an entire ecosystem would need to be resettled after that home was redone.

The team coming this weekend will spend most of their time working in Endzigeni, working on those nurses' homes and the clinic, which also needs some work. They have also planned a big free clinic day on Friday June 4, and a week long vacation Bible school/ sports camp for the children.

While we were there on Saturday we also got to meet the leadership of the Endzigeni church and the district superintendent of the northern district, Rev. Philemon Dlamini. I was surprised but honored when he asked me (Michaele) to help give a workshop next week for the pastors on his district!

It is hard to describe the driving... when we are on "tarred" roads, as they call them, it is pretty good. However, a majority of the country's roads are not paved. Driving home from Endzigeni in the dark on Saturday night was therefore a memorable experience. There were people walking alongside the road, without flashlights, in the dark. There were also plenty of cows that roam freely through the land. In fact, we nearly ran into a black cow who was in the middle of the road. If not for his white legs, we would not have seen him until it was too late!

It is only Tuesday, but already this week has been full of very memorable events. We attended our first Swazi church service at Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene, here in Manzini. We ate lunch with the legendary Dr. Samuel Hynd and his daughter Dr. Elizabeth Hynd. Sanuel's father, David Hynd was the first missionary doctor to Swaziland, and the one who began the RFM hospital here in Manzini. Samuel has also served as a doctor here for his whole career, even delivering the current king! (Samuel told us the king's best speech was his first -- right after he smacked his bum!!) His daughter Elizabeth runs an innovative orphanage, which we will visit next week, called the New Hope Centre.

Monday we had a day full of meetings, getting food, transportation, and scheduling all completed for the team who arrives this weekend. Brent and I also had our first shopping experiences! We went to KFC, and also to the SuperStar grocery store. We were quite proud to come back with our purchases and show Barbi the first things we bought in Swaziland! :)

Today provided our first opportunity to have a bit of a safari. Although we only saw cows! We went with Mary Magagula, the director of the HIV/AIDS task force to visit potential garden sites for her HIV support groups to work in. We drove on dirt roads, and then we drove where there were no roads at all! In fact at one point Brent was instructed to follow the "footpath" down into a ravine where the cows were grazing. It was really an experience! But we did see some beautiful country and some good areas that were given to be used as gardens.

The HIV Task Force is kind of like a hospice group that provides care to AIDS victims in their homes. They have also rallied behind many HIV+ individuals, bring hope and encouragement, and empowerment. There are now many HIV+ support groups that have started up all over the area, due to this woman and her fellow workers. Recently they have worked to get each of these support groups their own land to garden, so that they form an agricultural co-op. The food is used to feed their own families and the excess is sold so that these individuals, mostly women, will have money for their families. Each garden (really like a small farm!) takes about $5,000 to start. This includes fencing, preparing the soil, and buying the starter seeds. Both of the sites we visited were great candidates for gardens, but we are not sure there are enough funds for both at the moment. I encourage any of you who want to be a part of the Swaziland partnership, that this would be a great way to give! I wish you could have seen the co-op members we met today, and the looks of anticipation on their faces.

This is by now at least the length of two postings. I will close with some requests for prayer:
--the group from Lenexa, KS that comes in May 30th - June 11, and all the preparation that still needs to be done
-- the workshop I will participate in June 3 with the local pastors of the northern district, and Rev. Rob Prince of Lenexa Central Church of the Nazarene
-- our continued health and safety as we travel all over the place!
-- that we will continue to find favor in the people that we meet -- this is a prayer request that continues to be answered, thank you and praise God!
--developing opportunities Brent and I have to speak with students about God and sexuality
--Sunday, June 14 -- I have already been asked to preach at Sharpe Memorial Church!!

Thank you for all of your continued support and prayers and encouragement. We love you all and are excited to share more of what God is doing here and what we are learning!

From beautiful, mountainous Swaziland!

2009-05-22T10:10:00.003-05:00

*This post was written on Wednesday, May 20th, the night we arrived in Johannesburg. I am just now been able to connect to the internet, and it is the evening of Friday the 20th here in Swaziland. We will be sure to bring an update as soon as possible regarding our most recent activities here. But just to say this much -- we are loving it! The country is beautiful, and every hour we are more excited about being here!

We Have Arrived!
Tuesday morning, May 19, we left for the Columbus airport. The ride was very tight, seeing as we had four large suitcases, a guitar, golf clubs, a carry-on suitcase, a backpack and a laptap computer bag! Brent’s sister, Bethany, drove us there, and Michaele’s brother Ben met us at the airport for one more hug. Everything went smoothly, and even though we were concerned our bags would be too heavy, all four of them were just under 50 lbs! We need to check a third piece of luggage for Brent because he was encouraged to bring his golf clubs. This did have an extra fee – BUT, praise God! – the day before we left, someone had given us a check for that exact amount! God knew what we needed even before we did!
From Columbus we flew into Atlanta and met up with Barbi Moore, the global outreach coordinator for Bethany First Church . The layover was pretty short, but it gave me (Michaele) one more chance to buy Starbucks, and both of us a chance to use our cell phones one last time to talk to our parents.
From Atlanta we flew to Dakar, Senegal, where we had a 2 hour layover, but did not exit the plane. As we followed the plane’s route on the screen in front of us, we were both reminded again just how huge Africa is! Our stop in Dakar, at the western-most point of Africa, was only the halfway point to Johannesburg. After plane refueled and we were engaged in some routine security checks, we left again for Johannesburg, South Africa. Our departure from Dakar was 6am local time, 2am Ohio time. We arrived in Johannesburg, after another 8+ hour flight at 4pm, local time, 10am Ohio time.
We were able to sleep a little bit on the plane, and the ride actually did not seem quite so long as it sounded. Customs and passport checks in Jo-burg were a breeze, and all of our luggage came out safely into our hands. We could not have asked for a better trip!!
After checking into our hotel tonight, we went to dinner at a Japanese restaurant with very good, authentic food. Japanese cuisine in South Africa! It never ceases to amaze me, how small the world is.
Tomorrow morning we will board one more flight on a much smaller plane for the hour-long flight into Manzini, Swaziland. Once there we hit the ground running! This next week will be spent in preparation for the GO Team from Lenexa, Kansas, which is coming in on the 29th.
We so appreciate all of the prayers that have been prayed on our behalf! The safety, ease, and swiftness of our trip is a testimony to God’s provision and care during our travel.

Two Weeks!

2009-05-06T10:32:00.002-05:00

As you can tell, the last months have been very busy! Now we are down to a mere 14 days before we leave, and they promise to be quite full as well. Please join us in prayer in these areas as we make the final push toward Swaziland:

Good health for Brent and Michaele, and Barbi Moore, who will be traveling with us

Pray that the final packing, yard sale, and moving out of our apartment happen smoothly and quickly

Begin to pray now for our safety as we travel on May 20-22

Pray that God will give us favor with the people we will meet and work with in Swaziland, so that we can build good and strong relationships

That somehow we would find time to study so that we are able to greet the people we meet in siSwati!

The first GO Team from Lenexa, Kansas that will arrive a week after we do!

That God will give peace and grace to us and our friends, families, and our church as we say goodbye

Thank you for your strong and continued prayer support! We have already seen the hand of God at work in mighty ways in these past months. You are such an important part of what we are doing! We praise God every time we think of you (Phil. 1:3).

Bethany First Church Comissioning

2009-05-05T12:49:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, May 3, Pastor David Busic (furthest on the left), pastor of Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, commissioned us as on-site coordinators for the Swaziland Partnership. Wayne and Kay Rice, long time friends of Michaele's parents, joined us in prayer.
This was such a special time! After each service, so many wonderful people introduced themselves to us, encouraged us, and told us how they'd been and will continue to pray for us.

We also were able to spend time with the church staff on Monday morning, which was again a time of blessing and encouragement. It is wonderful to know we are a part of such a great team!!

Kay and Wayne Rice, who stood in for our families in prayer that Sunday. We and our families (especially Michaele's dad!) are so grateful!

One of the highlights of the weekend was to meet Will and Karis Stemen, who have been the on-site coordinators in Swaziland for nine months. Their friendship, encouragement, and insight are more valuable than we can say. The baton has been passed! ...along with luggage straps, cell phones, pictures, and much important information... We talked for four hours one night, and I think we could have all kept going! We are blessed and privileged to be following in their footsteps as we go to Manzini, Swaziland. They have certainly paved the way for us, and the Swaziland partnership, in many, many ways.

Throughout the weekend we were hosted by the Eatons who are dear friends and have provided much guidance, prayer and direction throughout our marriage and this next step on the journey.

Our time in Oklahoma City wrapped up with a meeting with BFC Global Outreach Coordinator Barbi Moore who will be traveling with us and guiding us in our first few weeks in Swaziland. Please pray for her and her assistant (Pat Burton) as they make preparations for the June Team and the many things that need completed before we leave on the 20th.

"Birdies for Brent" Update

2009-04-27T15:03:00.002-05:00

Brent had a wonderful time with his golfing buddies, and this longhorn, in Texas this past weekend.

And now, the final tally is in. In five rounds of golf between four players there were a total of 61 birdies and 5 eagles! Well done gentlemen!

At the rate of $1 per birdie and $5 per eagle, that's a total of $86 per donor. Thank you to all who pledged and are now partnering with us as we go to Swaziland!

God's Wonderful Surprises

2009-04-20T11:25:00.000-05:00

This past week was mostly spent in Maryland, visiting Brent's side of the family and speaking at two churches there. Our time there was wonderful!

Wednesday evening's service with Frederick First Church of the Nazarene was a great time to be with family and friends that Brent had known while his father was an associate pastor there some years ago. They were all so encouraging, and lifted us up in prayer at the close of the service. We were also surprised to meet two people who had very close connections to Swaziland.

Pastor Rob Merki's father had served several years at the hospital in Manzini, Swaziland -- right where we will be living! He had some wonderful stories and helpful tips about life there. Another church member, Eunice Rockwell, had lived in Swaziland for five years in hte 1960's, serving as a nurse in the hospital and traveling to clinics. I was especially astounded to hear that I had already read about her in a missionary book. Dorothy Bevill Eby had written about Eunice in one of her stories in the book Wherever God Plants Us!

Eunice had an accordion that she carried with her and played at the "tree Sunday schools" that they established out in the bush before churches were built. The accordion would attract so many children and they would sing to it. Eunice told me that one of the little boys who became a Christian at one of the Sunday schools is now serving as a District Superintendent there in Swaziland! I could see the tears of joy glistening in her eyes as she told me this -- and I'm sure I had some too!

The surprises did not end there, however. In attendance that evening were Brent's Aunt Karen and Uncle Kurt, who lived about 40 minutes away in Hagerstown, MD. After the service they asked if we could also speak at their church in Hagerstown at their Saturday evening service. I had to preach Sunday morning at our home church in Mt. Vernon, so we hesitated a bit before saying yes. But I'm so glad we agreed to!

Saturday evening we spoke at a Nazarene new start church in Hagerstown, called Hope Bridge Church, pastored by Pete Zerphy. What a wonderful evening! The passion their people have for the lost is exciting, and very evident. That evening a lady named Gina was there for the first time. After I finished preaching, and the pastor opened it up for a Q&A time, she asked why I had chosen to preach about Luke 4. She said the other night, just after having been invited to come to church, she turned on the TV and found a movie about Jesus, quoting the passage in Luke 4:18. I told her with joy that I hadn't been spying on her television, but that this is the message God had given me more than a month ago, and that maybe God was just trying to get her attention! She agreed, and was quite joyful when I talked with her after the service.

At the end of the evening, the pastor invited people to pray with us down at the altar. Mind you, we had never met any of these people before -- yet their prayers were so fervent and Spirit-filled! I remember asking God in the middle of our prayer time -- "why do these people care so much about us??" and He said, quite clearly -- "They are not responding to you. They are responsive to my Spirit." And I am so thankful! It is further confirmation to us that we are only a small part of something much bigger God is doing. We are finding quite often that God is already moving hearts and minds before we even open our mouths.

Among those prayers that night were prayers for our safety as we traveled through the night back to Ohio. God proved faithful, and we thanked him for our protection as we pulled up next to our house at 2:30am Sunday morning. After a few hours of sleep we were again blessed to be in a rich time of worship and fellowship with our church. Again I felt the Spirit's presence as we sang and I preached -- I know it all went much better than it should have on such little sleep. God is so good and so faithful!

For all who are praying -- know that your prayers are already being answered, before we even leave. Thank you, thank you for your obedience and faithfulness to God!

"Birdies for Brent" Golf Tournament

2009-04-20T11:02:00.001-05:00

This coming weekend, Brent will be traveling to play golf with several buddies who were on the golf team at Southern Nazarene University together. His good friend, Justin Pusey, has come up with a great way to make the weekend into another way for people to support us on our way to Swaziland. The following is an email that is circulating right now, in preparation for this weekend.

"Four old golfing buddies are getting together as one of their rank is going overseas for the next year. They are all traveling from different parts of the country (Oklahoma, California, and Ohio) and meeting in San Antonio to play golf from April 24th to the 26th. This weekend will be the second playing of the annual Ol’ College Hackers Open. Brent LaVigne and his wife are going to Swaziland this next year to serve with the Church of the Nazarene in their efforts to provide HIV/AIDS relief. Swaziland (a small country in Africa) has the distinction of having the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate per capita in the world. He and his wife are quitting their jobs and will have to raise their own funds ($15,000) for the year.

"As people who know Brent, or know one of the golfers who are taking part in this event, we ask you to take part in a little fund-raising venture called "Birdies for Brent". Here is the premise. The four golfers are going to be playing five rounds in three days (90 holes a piece, 360 holes between the four of them). We ask you to partner in this program by pledging a certain amount per birdie and another amount per eagle (example $1 for a birdie $5 for an eagle) or if you don't want to leave the amount in the hands of the competitors (they have been practicing) you can also pledge a one time amount. As these four who used to be really good at golf now have jobs, wives, and children…(well, you know we don’t play golf every day anymore) the odds of 360 birdies are not very high, yet we thought this would be a fun way to continue to raise funds for this exciting journey for Brent and Michaele LaVigne.

"If you would like to take part please let who ever sent this e-mail to you know the amount per birdie or eagle or one time donation amount and they will get the information back to the "Tournament Committee" (aka Justin, Jonny, Brent, or Chad). At the end of the weekend we will send you an e-mail with the totals of birdies and eagles for the weekend (the winner of the weekend will be reported as well..just to exercise their bragging rights). Step by step information regarding how to complete your tax deductible contribution will be distributed when results are distributed."

We are so appreciative of the support of the golfers as well as those who are pledging per birdie or eagle! If you would like to be involved in Birdies for Brent, let us know!

New Address and Updated Speaking Itinerary

2009-04-09T14:04:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your continued prayers -- we are feeling incredibly blessed by so many who care so much about us! Several people have asked about our address there in Manzini, so here it is:

Brent and Michaele LaVigne

P O Box 1460

Manzini 200M, Swaziland

Also, we have another speaking engagement to add to our list:

--Wed. April 15, 7pm -- Frederick First Church of the Nazarene (Frederick, MD)
--Sun. April 26, 10:30am -- Mansfield First Church of the Nazarene
-- Sun. May 3 -- Comissioning services at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene (Oklahoma City)
-- Sun. May 10, 11am -- Comissioning service at West Side Church of the Nazarene (Mt. Vernon)
-- Sun. May 10, 6pm -- Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene (Mt Vernon)

Finally we are happy to report that we have reached the halfway point toward our financial goal for the year! Praise the Lord for His faithfulness, and for so many wonderful generous people who are supporting us!!

Stay tuned to hear what Brent's golf buddies are planning to help us reach our goal as well!

May is not too far away!

2009-04-01T13:35:00.000-05:00

Well friends and family, we are now only 6 weeks away from departure to Swaziland!! We are so thankful for your prayers and support, because even getting ready to go has its challenges!
Here are some updates and answers to prayer for which we are already praising God:

While in Cleveland last month, my father's friend and fellow pastor, Roscoe Heath, invited me(Michaele) to share about the Swaziland Partnership with his congregation at New Praise Ministries. The people were so encouraging and blessed me tremendously with their prayers, their enthusiasm, and their pledge to support us financially and with prayers!

We spoke at Bedford Church of the Nazarene (my parents' church) on Sunday, March 29. This was a wonderful time! The people were so welcoming and affirming, and prayed over us a great deal. They also gave us a very generous love offering that is moving us closer to our goal!! You can hear audio of that service by going to the BedNaz website. http://www.bcn.org/media/media/recent.php?mediatype=Audio

As of today we are close to 1/3 of the way to completing our financial goal! In order to live for a year as volunteers in Swaziland, we need to raise $15,000 -- and God is certainly providing.

The packing at home is also getting underway. I'm so thankful for friends (Kristin VanValkenburg especially) and family (Robin & Cal, Beth & Matt) who are helping us to pack and store our belongings while we are gone.

Several other churches are supporting us as well, and have asked us to speak in their services. Here is our speaking itinerary if you'd like to join us!

-- Wed. April 1, 7pm -- Mount Vernon First Church of the Nazarene
-- Sun. April 5, 11am -- Kelloggsville Church of the Nazarene
-- Sun. April 5, 6pm -- Cherry Valley Church of the Nazarene
-- Sun. April 26, 10:30am -- Mansfield First Church of the Nazarene
-- Sun. May 3 -- Comissioning services at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene (Oklahoma City)
-- Sun. May 10, 11am -- Comissioning service at West Side Church of the Nazarene (Mt. Vernon)
-- Sun. May 10, 6pm -- Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene (Mt Vernon)

As you can see, we will be busy in the next six weeks! We are so appreciative of all prayers and support. Packing and planning are far less exciting than actually going to Swaziland -- and we feel very ready to go! Yet we know there are many important things to be done here. Please pray for the following in these next weeks:

That God would continue to prepare our hearts and minds for Swaziland
That all necessary finances would be raised
That our speaking engagements at each church would be blessed of God, ane encouraging for us and those congregations
That our time with family and friends would be wonderfully rich in the next 6 weeks
That God will grant us, me (Michaele) especially, a greater attention span for the packing and arrangement-making that needs to be done! :)

Thank you for partnering with us on this exciting journey! God bless you!!

ps -- the picture is what we are giving out at churches as prayer card reminders. If you want one, let us know!