A praise report and prayer request all rolled into one! The praise: God has blessed John with the the support and time so he can work full time on preparing to move to Swaziland! He is an amazing God! The prayer: translation to above--John was laid off from work yesterday, after 24 years of devoted service to the same company, and now has the time necessary to devote fully to preparing us to go. Please keep us in prayer as we adjust to this!

God's Willing Servant

These are photos of the beautiful Pastor La'Salette Duarte, who will NOT be pleased with me for posting her photos for the world to see. Please forgive me, Pastor, but I want to share about the wonderful works God is doing through you for the people in Swaziland. Pastor La'Salette shares the love of Jesus with the poorest of the poor, many of whom are HIV positive, or have AIDS. It will be a priviledge and honor to work under her ministry. God has mightily equipped this woman, His willing servant. He has given her a big vision and together He and she are doing amazing works.

Hope and Initiative

This mud hut is special--the woman who lives here is amazing. Amidst the squalor, poverty, disease, and hopelessness, she stands out. She has planted a very neat little garden, has curtains in her windows and a tablecloth on her crude table. She is a great example of what a little initiative can do. I can hardly wait to get to Swaziland to help encourage her and others like her, as well as those still stuck in hopelessness and despair.

James 1:27a Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress....
Swazi women have heavy loads figuratively and literally--many are widows and caring for others children as well as their own, or their husbands have left them. This is compounded by the fact that 25-40% of them or their ...children are HIV postive or have full-blown AIDS, as well as severe poverty.
God has placed the desire on my heart to share the love of Jesus with them by visiting the sick and lonely, sharing God's Word with them (especially those who can't read it on their own), praying with them, discipling them, and encouraging them in practical ways.

Thanking God for His provision through His wonderful people! Jeremy's percussion teacher for donating Jeremy's lessons so that money can go to Africa, a dear friend found a New Testament in siSwati for me--now I can truly begin learning the... language through the best book of all, Monica at Mail and More on Chandler for spending almost an hour helping me collate our support raising letter, a young woman working to put herself through college quietly handing over 10 $100 bills with the admonition that it was from the Lord, the list goes on and on. Thank you Lord, thank you brothers and sisters!

This sign says "Beware of Crocodiles" in both English and siSwati. It is especially poignant to me today. John, the kids, and I were blessed with a wonderful weekend at a local resort (probably our last vacation together before three of us move to Swaziland). While enjoying gorgeous fountains and lush swimming pools, I couldn't help but reflect on the disparity on how much we have here, vs. the women and children who walk to crocodile-infested water to get their daily needs met. Some lose their lives each year in this way. Praise God that He is making a way for very real help for our brothers and sisters there as He allows us to be His hands and feet!

God's Call

When God calls, it is wise to answer. So we are answering: "Here we are, Lord, send us." It became abundantly clear while we were there that God wants us in Swaziland as full time missionaries. Our hearts are overflowing with a love for the Swazi people and a burning desire to serve them with our lives. Of course more than that, our hearts are overflowing with love for the Lord of the Universe who calls us His own and we desire to serve Him with all our hearts and lives and strength.

We covet your prayers as we walk this out--so many unknowns at this point. We know that God provides when He calls, but we have no idea how that will look, or what His timing is. We are also aware that, while it is exciting, there will be pain in the leaving behind of family, friends, and the only lifestyle we've ever known.

Most of all, though, we are on our knees in gratitude, surrender, joy, humility, total dependence, and awe!