Welcome Home Kylee

Despite the snow, icy roads and frigid temperatures, Kylee successfully returned to Dayton this morning, even arriving a few minutes early! She was greeted at the airport by her mom, Pastor Stan and few friends.








It was great to see her in person after a 5 month stay in Swaziland. Despite the fatigue and emotional toll of traveling, Kylee was beaming with joy (her Swaziland suntan added an additional glow!) As hard as it was to leave the people she has come to love at Hawane CLC, Hawane Farm and the surrounding community, she is able to rejoice in the knowledge that she has been abiding within God's will. He called her to Swaziland, He called her to serve with her whole heart and to use the gifts He blessed her with to touch lives in His name. In return, God revealed more of His will for her life, He blessed her with wonderful relationships and He deeped her faith in Him.

Psalms 16:11 tells us "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand". Kylee has been able to experience the joy of the Lord because she has been abiding in His presence through her obedience.

In the coming days and weeks, please keep Kylee in your prayers as she adjusts to life back here in the states. Also, if you are able, please make contact with her by e-mail, phone or in person. The sharing of stories is a wonderful way to process an experience while simultaneously getting others excited about the work God is doing.

Welcome Home Kylee!

Fun Family Trips

Eight families. Forty-seven children. Twelve mothers, father, and aunts. Six trips. Today was the completion of the family trips to Milwane Game Reserve. All of the families at Hawane Farm received a day trip to a local game reserve as a Christmas present from a generous woman in England. During their fun day each family was able to start at the local grocery store to pick out their favorite foods for a picnic lunch at the game reserve, see wild animals, and swim at the pool located there. I was requested to accompany each family on their trip to take pictures in order to document this event, manage the allocated funds, and closely watch them at the swimming pool as many of the house mothers and children do not know how to swim. It was a blessing to see the kids have so much fun with the families God has divinely placed them with at Hawane Farm.

God is true to His Word. He is the "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." (Psalm 68:5)

Some pictures to illustrate the experience… Enjoy!

Kylee

AIDS, Africa, Reality

This morning at 5am I attended a funeral for Justice, a 45-year-old man who went to Hawane CLC. He had a heart for God though he was very sick. Pastor Augustine, the nurse Jane, and I had been transporting him to the hospital for treatment and to church at Hawane CLC. Justice always expressed his gratitude to us and he affectionately called me "sister". The church was able to bless Justice with his own Bible written in SiSwati. Throughout the last few months as his illness attacked his body, Justice began losing weight and growing weaker. Justice was living with his younger brother and his mother at their homestead near Hawane Farm. Many of his family members have died from AIDS, including Justice's brother and sister.

As I mentioned in the previous blog, Pastor Stan and his family were able to visit Justice shortly before he died. I believe this was a divine appointment set up by God. Justice shared with us the day of our visit with him that he was a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. Due to this fact, we know we will one day see Justice in Heaven and we will all praise the Lord together in unity (Revelation 7:9). What matters is where we will spend eternity. This life is short and it is over. The Bible tells us that if you "believe confess with your mouth ' Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9).

I share this story of Justice to share with you about a real person and a real situation. He has a face and a story. It was a privilege to know him. May God give us His heart for His people here in Swaziland, Africa and all over the world. AIDS in Africa is a devastating reality. Christ is the answer, the hope of glory, and He lives in us (Colossians 1:27). Are we sharing Him with the world?

Kylee