Over the Last Few Weeks

The time the Lord has given me here in Swaziland is flying by. I will share with you some experiences from the last few weeks:


On December 11th and 12th a short-term volunteer from the US and I took nine of the teenage girls from Hawane Farm to minister at the children's ward of the Mbabane Government Hospital.



It was so awesome to see the girls jump right in laying hands on and praying for children who were sick and their families, passing out Books of Hope, sharing the gospel, getting in tune with God's heart, and most importantly sharing God's love with those we came into contact with during our time there. One young 9 year-old boy we were able to minister to is an orphan infected with HIV and TB. After both of his parents died he was left at the hospital by his grandmother. As the girls and I were distributing the Book of Hope we asked the boy if he had ever heard of Jesus to which he responded "no". We were able to share God's Truth with him and that God has a plan for his life. Then, a very moving thing happened… some of the girls from Hawane who have also lost both of their parents listened to this boy's story, began crying with compassion for him, and started hugging this precious boy.
How true it is that God uses all things to work together for the good of those who love him (Rom. 8:28). I believe and can see God is raising up these children of Hawane Farm who have been through various trials and loss in their own lives to minister in powerful ways to those who are in need here in Swaziland.












On Saturday December 20th Hawane CLC had its first community fun day on the new church property. Hundreds of people were invited from the surrounding community and about 400 or more people attended.




The GodMan movie (explains the gospel) was played, Books of Hope were given out, food was served,



team games were played,



and a worship band sang. It was a wonderful day.








The weeks before Christmas the Sunday school classes at Hawane CLC practiced for the Christmas drama which was held on the first ever Christmas Day service at the church. Pastor Stan and his family directed and participated in the play as well as several children from the church. The children's choir also sang some songs. It was a success and all of the children looked so cute in the special new costumes hand-made by a special lady at CLC in Dayton.



Christmas Day here started for me at 4:45 a.m. as the volunteers here, including the Tharps, began in the children's homes at Hawane Farm at 6 a.m. The expressions on the children's faces were priceless as they opened their special gifts, including those generously donated by CLC. One little boy, Phiwa, was very excited to receive his new shoes on Christmas morning.














In the afternoon about 150 people gathered together at the new Hawane CLC church for lunch. Many people went up front to share encouraging testimonies, songs and dances with us, including the men from Teen Challenge and mothers and children from Hawane.

Pastor Stan and family were such a blessing to have here in Swaziland to minister, especially at this special time of year. During their time here we were able to visit some homesteads in the community with Pastor Augustine. At one homestead that has 16 children one of the kids brought out his drum and they began dancing. Even Pastor Stan got in on the fun!












We were also prompted to visit Justice, a man who lives in the Hawane community who has been very sick during the last few months. When we arrived we saw him lying on a mat seemingly drained of energy, even skinnier than the last time I saw him. His feet were swollen. When we prayed for him he began crying, followed by tears streaming down our faces as well. This is God's heart- to minister to those who are sick and in need.


















God continues to be at work in Swaziland. Thanks to everyone for their continued prayers, their work in the ministry and the sharing of their gifts and offerings.

Swaziland Ministry: A Year at a Glance

It was one year ago today that CLC's Swaziland Ministry was born. On December 3, 2007, Pastor Stan and 6 CLC members left for a 10 day trip to Swaziland. The purpose of the mission trip was to confirm God's calling for our congregation to address the challenges currently facing Swaziland, including HIV/AIDS, care for widows and orphans and poverty. Furthermore, the team was to discern if there was an individual or organization whom we could partner with in sharing the hope and love of Christ.

Over the course of the trip, it became very clear to the exploratory team that God did indeed have plans for CLC to begin serving the people of Swaziland and that His desire was for us to partner with Kevin Ward and the Teen Challenge Swaziland program to implement an "In Community By Community" model. Through this model we were to establish a church, identify a local pastor and provide him a home near the church and build children's homes that would ultimately serve orphaned children and widowed women in the local community. Achieving this goal would require a new ministry team for CLC.

And so, as the team prepared to return to the U.S., prayers were raised, ideas were shared, ministry models were drawn on napkins and initial tasks were identified. As we sat in the airport in Johannesburg, South African and flew home over the Atlantice Ocean, the excitement was palable and hopes were high that the peole of CLC would rally around this opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters in Swaziland.

No one could have anticipated all that would be accomplished in the course of just one year. It is nothing short of miraculous! Since January of 2008:

* A lay-led ministry was created with approval of the CLC Board. Currently 13 people serve in leadership or assistant leadership positions within the ministry.

* Just over 100 people volunteered to serve on one of five ministry subcommittees: Communications & Education, Internal Projects, Prayer & Care, Travel Business Partnerships/Resource Development and Church Partnerships.

* Over $130,000 has been given in offerings to support the ICBC project. Of that total, $85,000 was spent to establish our first ICBC, Hawane CLC.

* Over $ 15,450 was raised by our children and youth to purchase water coolers that will be rented to Swazi businesses with proceeds designated for the ICBC operations.

* A pastor was identified to lead and serve Hawane CLC. Meet Pastor Augustine and his wife Elizabeth!




* 27 individuals traveled to Swaziland. 24 served on one of three construction teams and 3 completed an extended stay, individual mission assiginment.

* The 27 travelers raised over $77,700 in donations/gifts to cover their trip costs.

* Over $13,000 in revenue has been raised through our Swaziland Arts sales.

* CLC welcomed Pastor Kevin Ward, his wife Helen and their children Ashar and Joshua during a visit to the US in July.

* The Kook Sul Wan program at CLC held a Kick-A-Thon to raise funds for the Swaziland Minstry. By completing 1,850 kicks in one hour, $1,000 was raised!

* The first annual Swaziland 5K Race was held which raised over $2,000.

* CLC members have sent donations of tools, computers, books/videos, personal hygeine items and vitamins with visiting construction teams.

* A Church was erected.





* The church site was dedicated and Sunday morning services and Sunday School classes are now being conducted at CLC Hawane





* A storage building was rennovated to become a Pastor's home and the family now occupies the home.





* A second building was rennovated to become a Children's home and a house mom and children now occupy the home.







* A soccer field is being added to the ICBC land



* A third building is being rennovated to become a pre-school for local children.

* Computers have been purchased for the church/preschool at Hawane CLC.

* Thousands of prayers have been lifted up.

* A ministry identity and logo have been created

* Partnerships with local businesses/local organizations are being created.

As this first year of the Swaziland ministry draws to a close, Pastor Stan and his family prepare to visit Swaziland. A part of this visit will be dedicated to discerning the next steps for the ministry.

It is evident that there is much to celebrate and we give God the glory for all that has been accomplished in 2008. What an honor and blessing it has been for us to serve Him by serving the people of Swaziland. We stand in awe of the progress that has been made and we look foward to seeing what God has in store for the ministry in 2009.

To everyone who has served in, prayed for and given to this ministry, we say "thank you". We look forward to joining with you in the coming year as God continues to use us to accomplish His will for Swaziland.