News from the Jobsite

Eventhough CLC currently does not have a construction team in Swaziland, work at the Hawane CLC jobsite continues! Paul Conover, who's extended mission trip continues until July 7th, has been working with local laborers and managing the job site. Here is an excerpt from a recent e-mail from Paul.

"I just wanted to give a progress report from the jobsite:

• We have all the ceiling and wallboards up with insulation.



• The crew that is doing the tiling of the floors has completed the leveling process. This took several days due to the several inch differences from one end of the building to the other. We have a 2-3 inch step down into all the bedrooms.



• The crew will begin putting the tile down on Wednesday, 6-25-08 and we anticipate 3-4 days to complete this work. The plumber has been in for half a day, but had to stop early due to the tilers. He will probable finish on Wednesday 6-25-08 also.



• The electrician was able to connect all the outlets and switches, but since he is only available on Monday's and Friday's he will be returning on Friday, 6-27-08. Even though God is working miracles in this land, the plumber and electrician have not learned how to walk on wet cement without sinking yet!



• We have added a total of 3 windows to the structure, 2 in the living room and 1 in the master bedroom. These should have the frames installed on Thursday and the glass arranged on Monday, 6-30-08.



• The final carpenter work of doors, trim, and baseboards should be completed on Friday, 6-27-08.



• A porch was added to the front of the structure. It has a metal roof and wood frame. We are adding cement block half walls on the sides and block pillars. These should be completed by Thursday.

With God's grace we will have the Pastor's house completed by 6-30-08.

In addition to work on the Pastor's home, progress continues on the church, but at a slower rate. The church has been in a holding pattern due to the inspection process. However, several engineers have recently taken a look the framework that has already been completed and the plan is to have hired laborers put up concrete pillars at all four corners for reinforcement. Then the floor will be poured and temporary canvas roll-up sides will be ordered for the building so that Pastor Augustine may begin having services there. The hope is that once they start having service in the building, Pastor Augustine will be able to recruit men from within the congregation and community itself to engage in this partnership and offer their time and materials to finish the structure (i.e., block walls, paint, etc.) This should definately make them feel like this is "their" church and bring them together. It will also allow us to be responsible financial stewards. We hope to have photos of the church site soon.

As always, we ask that you continue to keep Hawane CLC, Pastor Augustine and his family, our extended stay travelers (Heidi and Paul) and the people of Swaziland in your prayers. We have accomplished much in the way of construction, but let us not forget that the real purpose of our work in Swaziland is to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to this nation. During our time in their country, we have come to realize that the people of Swaziland are a loving and faithful people, and we have met many who have an incredible faith and a strong dependence on the Lord for all their needs. We have the opportunity to to help spread that faith and dependence to the sick, the poor, the orphaned, the widowed and anyone who faces the daily challenges of life. Pray that the abundant life that Jesus promises will spread through out the land!

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I come that they might have life and might have it abundantly." John 10:10

What We're Learning From Our Time In Swaziland

It's hard to believe that it's only been a little over six months since Pastor Stan and 6 other representatives from CLC stepped foot into Swaziland. Since that time we have:

• established a partnership with Kevin Ward and Teen Challenge Swaziland
• created a lay-led Swaziland ministry structure (with support from Norm Perkins and his Outreach Ministry team)
• engaged 115 people in the ministry
• raised over $112, 000
• purchased property to build a church, pastor's home and orphan homes at Hawane Christian Life Center
• sent two construction teams to begin work on the Hawane CLC project and have a third team scheduled to travel in September.
• sent two individuals for extended mission stays and have a third individual scheduled to travel from September to December.

God has been so gracious in directing our steps and our church has been faithful to follow His call. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support this ministry through your prayers, financial gifts and service.

Last week, we held a meeting with representatives from the first and second travel teams. The major focus of the meeting was to talk about what we are learning from our time in Swaziland. Some of the things were personal revelations; others were things from which all of us can benefit. Here are just a few of the insights that were shared by the men:

• I was always one of those people who felt like we needed to take care of our own people first. I realize now that we are all God's people and we need to take care of each other no matter where they are. Until you see what other people have-or don't have- you really can't believe how important this work is.
• I have learned not to take things for granted. There is a big difference between what I "need" and what I "want". I can survive and be happy on a lot less than what I thought I could and I can help others in the process.
• I have learned to be content with whom I am, where I am and what I have.
• I cried more and prayed more than ever before. I learned that prayer really does work! No matter how big or how small, no matter how crazy the thoughts are, even when you don't know what to say, when you take stuff to God, he listens. Prayer changes things.
• At the job sites, prayer has to come first. Everyday, and multiple times through out the day, we needed to come together and pray. Whether it was to ask for help, fight the enemy, encourage one another or rejoice, it was important to take it to God.
• We are doing God's work in Swaziland and Satan is not happy about it! Spiritual warfare is at work. We underestimated the enemy. We did not respect the power he possess and he acted. However, with God's help, we have been able to move forward.
• Teamwork and a sense of unity among the teams is critical to our success. Team members must learn each others strengths and abilities; they need to share the challenges they face; they must be transparent with one another and encourage one another. It is important to be able to laugh together, cry together and work hard together - all the while being flexible and patient!
• It is very important for team members to take care of themselves physically. The change in altitude, the pace of the work, the time difference, the dietary differences and the lack of a set routine can really have an effect on your system. This work is a marathon and we must pace ourselves accordingly.

We are grateful for the insights the men have shared and we know that God continues to reveal more to them every day. Please continue to keep them in your prayers, and pray for the team that will be traveling in September. With your support, encouragement and involvement, we can continue to make a difference.

Team #2 Arrives Home Safely

On Tuesday, June 3rd, our 2nd Construction Team returned home from Swaziland. They were greeted at the airport by family members and representatives from the first construction team. We rejoiced in their safe return and they were elated to be reunited with their loved ones. In a touching display of affection, one of Jeff's daughters grabbed a hold of his hand as he left the security area and never left his side after that!

As the men waited for their luggage to off-load, you could hear them trying to describe their experience in Swaziland to their families. They used words like "amazing", "life-changing", "eye-opening", "heart breaking", "challenging", "incredible" and "overwhelming".

This team accomplished a great deal of work during their time in Swaziland. The majority of their time was spent rehabbing a large storage building on the Hawane Christian Life Community (CLC) property which will eventually become the home to Pastor Augustine, his wife Elizabeth and their children. In addition to work at the property, the men went out into the community to do repairs or projects on some of the family homesteads.

We are thankful that this team was able to accomplish so much during their trip and we are grateful that they arrived home safe and sound. Thank you to the many people that prayed for them while they were away. We ask that you continue to keep them in your prayers. After spending time in a third-world country, it's not uncommon to experience a bit of "culture shock" upon returning to the states. Please ask God to help these men adjust to being back home and to reveal to them how they are to take all that they learned and experienced and apply to their lives now that they are home.

We look forward to hearing their stories and testimonies in the coming weeks. If you get a chance, be sure to ask them about their experiences!

Hello from Swaziland, Africa

Hello everyone:

I wanted to give you an update of the progress and life here in Swaziland, Africa. The second construction team left on Monday, June 2. We were able to refurbish a concrete structure that will be the Pastor's home. It is on the same property as the new church structure that was started by the first team. We were able to enclose one wall with concrete block - putting in a doorway and a window opening. The team put in ceiling joists and rafters and all the room dividers. We were able to get most of the plumbing ran for the kitchen and bathroom. I have some finish work to do, along with helping to manage the contract labor force that will be brought in to finish varies aspects of the project. Before the team left they we able to meet the first family that will be moving into the orphanage portion of the pastor's home. The family is a mother with 4 children. They are looking forward the possibility of moving into their new home soon. I am shifting to a site-manager and I have several meetings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I have been out in the community delivering food items and offering prayer to some of the local residents. In the states we call them see through houses one's that the house is so big that the people can not afford furniture. Here the walls are so thin that the breezes blow through the clothe hanging from the walls. The stones that make up the walls have gaps in them that you can put a fist through the wall without touching anything. When I woke up on Tuesday morning, 6-10-08 we had to scrap frost from the window of the car bringing me into my first meeting. We have had frost several mornings and this is the beginning of their Winter. They will have 2 more months of bitter cold. It appears that few people have adequate housing and clothing. I have helped distribute boxes of food that are labeled "US Aid, food provided by the American people". The food prices are similar to the states, so most people eat rice and bread. Fruits and Vegetables are a luxury if they can not grow it themselves. It has been an extreme learning experience for me.

I wish that everyone is well and that you continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
Paul Conover

....a time to weep and a time to laugh

God is so great. This second construction team was so into this trip. The brotherhood and unity that God has blessed these guys with is amazing. They laughed together and cried together, shared stories together and confessed together. And it is so obvious that God hand-picked each and every one of them for His purpose here. Just being able to stand back and watch God working in them and through them was a blessing in itself.
First of all, thanks so much to everyone who has been praying for them and those from the leadership team and the first travel team who spent countless hours preparing these men for this journey, both spiritually and informationally. And thanks so much to the families for all of your encouragement. When the guys first stepped off the plane, the spirit of excitement was beaming through their eyes and their smiles. But it was a peaceful excitement, not anxiousness. When we realized none of them had been on a trip like this before, we really knew we needed to be ready to see God work in amazing ways. And He did. God was breaking hearts, healing hearts, tearing down walls, building faiths, renewing minds and growing each and every one of these men in special ways.
Their first day was intended to be a day of relaxation and recovery, nothing too heavy, it usually takes a couple days to adjust here. But these guys hit the ground running. I actually expected to maybe see a bit of hesitation or concern on their faces when they saw the condition of the storage building to be renovated into the Pastor’s house, even though they had seen photos of it. But we’re talking about guys that know this is God’s project, and nothing is too big for God. They obviously have the gift of looking past what it is and seeing what it can be.
Jeff immediately connected with Bruce and was able to work with Patrick and Chris to assess the needs regarding additional electrical, plumbing and framing materials needed. Even though there are a lot of similarities between the methods and materials here, it can still be challenging at times and you have to sometimes get very creative with what’s available. The team managed to have a great amount of patience and creative problem-solving skills. Bruce and his team here did a fantastic job of getting the building cleaned out and having the majority of material on site prior to the team’s arrival.
Most of the first day was spent getting their heads around what needed to be done and then we took a break and headed to the Cultural Village for a bit of education on the lifestyle and beliefs of the Swazi people. Not a re-enactment of how it used to be, but rather how two-thirds of the people of this country still live today. Many of the traditions and expectations within the typical Swazi family are shocking, but when you’re serving in this place it is so crucial that you have a solid understanding and respect of the culture here so as not to offend anyone or come off as rude unintentionally.
Later in the afternoon, we returned to the jobsite with the preliminary floor plan that Dave Tucci had drawn up. We made a few refinements and by Saturday the guys had a great start on the layout and framing of the interior walls. Pastor Augustin’s wife, Elizabeth, stopped by Saturday to see the guys and to check out the house however, she seemed a bit quiet and reserved. Not like Elizabeth at all. She asked if I could tell what was bothering her. I sensed it might be that she couldn’t see the potential in front of her maybe the same way the team could. She said she had been very depressed and had cried most of the day Thursday, so we made a point to do everything we could to speak blessings and encouragement to her.
Later that evening, the team visited a couple of the orphan homes at Hawane. That’s when God really touched some hearts. After hearing bits and pieces of some of the horror stories of the kids here, they were truly amazed at God’s healing power and provision.
The first Sunday was also a very moving day for the team. The worship at Potter’s Wheel church brought many of them to tears. Just the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. After service in town, we came back to Hawane farm to experience a second church service here led by Pastor Augustin. Most of those attending here are the orphan children and house Moms from the farm and the community, so this was a much more lively experience. Most of the worship is sung by the kids in Saswati, but worshipping the Lord can be very moving, no matter what language. Pastor’s message was about the family structure and he spoke God’s words about authority directly to the children.
After church, the team decided it would be nice to treat Pastor Augustin and his wife and three children to a nice dinner and an afternoon of fun, laughs and encouragement. Little did we know how much fun and laughter God had it store! Kevin ran and played with the children all afternoon and Chris had a different trick up his sleeve every five minutes. Elizabeth laughed so hard all day that she claimed her face hurt the next day and she almost lost her voice. It was so awesome to watch God use these men to lift up this family.
Monday and Tuesday were extremely productive at the site and several of the men had a chance to get out to a few homesteads and assess the needs of some of the people there. They came back almost unable to talk about it. It sucks everything out of you. Some of them had brought some candy treats to give to the small children but were almost embarrassed after they realized that what they need is a real meal. Or a shirt. Tiny kids just running around naked, with no food at all. And it’s getting cold here. The guys went into town and got some food and we rounded up some blankets at the farm to give to them. We spoke with our nurse at the farm who provided some medicines for one of the gogos. They went the next day to get some supplies and gather some sticks to do some repair work, but a couple of the guys couldn’t go back two days in a row.
By Wednesday, I think they had started to wear down a bit. I noticed they weren’t laughing much and some of them kind of split off and worked quietly on their own. Ryan decided he just needed to be alone and took off for a walk for a while. That’s the best thing to do when it hits you. Just get alone with God. By afternoon the productivity had slowed down and I think the spirit of discouragement and frustration got a hold of a few of them. By dusk, they all walked back to the house, two or three at a time and didn’t have much to say. Then it hit them… what was happening… the spiritual forces had started moving in against them, so they called everyone together and took total authority over the whole matter. You really have to watch your back here. Satan really is out to destroy whatever he can.
Thursday morning the laughter and jokes were back in full force. They split up around noon again so a few of them could get back out into the community and finish what they had started earlier in the week. We all knocked off a bit early, as Elizabeth had offered to prepare dinner for the entire team. We ate and laughed and prayed and told stories all evening. God has really blessed Pastor Augustine with a vision to reach far out into this community to minister in ways we can’t even imagine to help these people know Christ. He is so dedicated with meeting their every need.
Friday was the last working day at the site. Pastor Kevin, Bruce and Pastor Augustin were simply amazed at how much the men were able to accomplish in such a short period. They worked very hard all week, getting to the job site early every morning, planning their goals for the day and working together for God’s glory.
They had spoken with me earlier in the week about possibly passing on the game reserve visit on Saturday. They had spent a couple of evenings visiting the children’s homes at Hawane, but they were really feeling led as a group to dedicating their free time to the kids at the farm. So Saturday morning while the kids were doing chores, the men did a bit of shopping and then returned to the farm for an afternoon of soccer, relaxation and sharing time with the kids. I can’t tell you how much that meant to the families and staff here.
Sunday morning Alan had the privilege of teaming up with the worship team at Potter’s Wheel Church and sharing his special gift of singing as he led the team with Agnus Dei. What a blessing to both Alan, Pastor Wandy (The worship leader) and the congregation. The Holy Spirit was really moving.
As I post this blog entry, the team is somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean filled with excitement about reuniting with their families and sharing their stories. The love and encouragement that both our teams have poured out here is making a huge difference to some of these people who’ve had very little hope up to now. Please continue to pray for them as they settle back into their daily routines. And please pray without ceasing for the healing of this land. Only God can change this place and He is.

Unless the Lord Builds The House

Psalms 127 begins with these words (taken from the Message Bible)

If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?

As the work of our second construction team draws to a close, we are confident that the work they have done is not in vain. These men were called by God to serve and, through their obedience, He put them to work building what will become the home for Pastor Augustine and his family. What was once a storage building, now looks less like a shack and more like a home.

Team #2 has been extremely productive. They managed to get all of the framing for the interior walls up, all the ceiling joists in, the plumbing roughed in and the electrical wiring completed. With the skilled labor completed for the house, Kevin and his team can now hire local workers to put up the wallboard.

While our men were working, there were also a couple blocklayers on site closing in the front of the house and filling in all open or rough areas of the structure. They did a great job as well.

Kevin and his team have also used local labor to continue work on the church structure that Team 1 began. At this time the roof sheeting is on the church and it will be inspected soon to make sure the steel has been properly straightened and reinforced. Upon approval of the steel, the block walls will need to go up and the floor poured.

Paul Conover will remain in Swaziland and will assist local workers with continued work on the jobsite. The priority is to try to get the pastor and his family moved in and get the church far enough along to start having services there.

In addition to the work at the jobsite, men from the team also offered assistance to homesteads. On one such day, some men from the team picked up a family and traveled several miles to the forrest to gather tree planks. (They saw some wild wart hogs while in the forrest!) The tree planks will be used by the family to build a new house.

This has been a full trip and the men have worked very hard. They are looking foward to enjoying the rest that God promises to give to those He loves! Team 2 will depart Swaziland at approximately 8:30 a.m. (Dayton time) on Monday, June 2nd and we expect them to arrive at the Dayton airport Tuesday morning about 9:30 a.m. We ask that you pray for their safe travel. Also, please continue to pray for Heidi Miller and Paul Conover, both of whom will continue their work in Swaziland until July. Finally, never cease praying that God will continue to transform the lives of the people of Swaziland. May He bless Kevin and Helen Ward and their children, for their leadership and the hope they bring to the country. May He bless Pastor Augustine and his family for the message of love and salvation they share through Jesus Christ. May He raise up the church and change the future of this tiny nation.