From Milk to Solid Food

September 24, 2009

Lately, all of us here at Hawane Farm, Hawane CLC, and Potter’s Wheel Church have sensed that a season is coming for the Holy Spirit to move. God has really been speaking to many of us about moving things to the next level. The mothers, youth, children and men who live and work in Hawane are ready for God to move them from a basic foundation of faith to a whole other dimension of faith. All of them, including me, are on various levels of spiritual growth, but God has communicated to us that it is time for a wave of growth in everyone. It has come up as a main topic in teaching; whether in cell groups, devotions, personal conversations, conferences or prayer. Even before I came, when I prayed to God asking what He wanted to see done in this phase of life at Hawane, He impressed upon me the need for deeper development, deeper knowledge of Scripture, and deeper connection in relationship with Him.

Last week’s cell group for the mothers was a prime example. Jane, the nurse on the farm (though her work far exceeds just medical care) had planned another topic but she felt that the Spirit wanted to give the moms a chance to be prayed over and be baptized in the Spirit. We ended up spending most of the time in deep worship; we prayed and spoke in tongues for those who asked for it, and a couple of moms were actually baptized in the Spirit. There was a strong feeling of moving deeper into God’s will and into His plan.

This past week was unusual because there was a Teen Challenge conference, which was a real blessing to all of us. One of the teachings was called “Discipline For Change” which was really geared toward Teen Challenge youth, but proved to be a valuable guide in working with the children and teens on the farm. We spent a huge chunk of time again at the mothers’ cell talking about specific kids that we felt needed help now, or were seriously struggling; what was the root of the cause, and how could we discipline for change. How can we move these children on? How does God see them? What does He want to do in their lives? What has been done wrong up to this point? How can we do better with the younger ones? Again, what was on all of our hearts was that God wants the seeds that have been planted to gain DEPTH; For them to really start moving into strong, independent relationships with God.

For my part, I have been trying to encourage the girls in the cell group to have daily devotions with God, and not to rely only on the weekly meetings and Sunday gatherings as their relationship. Jesus wants a sincere, independent bond between us and Him. Please pray that these girls (and the boys too!!) learn how INCREDIBLY important daily time alone with God is. Pray that their hearts are sincere and there is a real relationship with Jesus. We cannot judge this ourselves of course. The only thing we can do is follow the prompting of the Spirit in encouraging them toward the truth and praying.

I have been very touched by some of the girls. Their passion for Scripture, worship and knowledge of God is apparent and seems very sincere. May God use them to impact the others! There has also been a plan to hold a “sword drill” because a lot of the time they are struggling to find Scripture references during lessons. Some of them are more familiar of course than others, but it’s a good idea to really get them into it. Pray that the exciting thought of competition turns into a revelation in the heart and soul that knowing Scripture is precious and necessary to us in our walk with God.

On top of all this the Bible study for the women in the community has been going really well with those who have been attending. We normally have around 10 women. However, last week it dropped to about 5 or 6, but that Tuesday was horrible, dark and wet. These women walk for miles and miles so naturally on bad days not as many may come. Also one of them is pregnant and she fell ill; Jane and I went to see her and thankfully, so far, she is ok, as is the baby.

At first I thought the lack of attendance was a negative thing to be overcome through prayer and persistence; perhaps it still is, but I have gained a new perspective on numbers from the last study we had with just a few women. There were four women who have come whether it was dark or sunny, wet or dry, cold or warm. NOTHING has stopped these women from coming to learn about and worship Jesus. Their names are Mavis, Ester, Maina, and Jabu. They came every day to the retreat and have come every single day to this Bible study. Jane, Elizabeth (Pastor Augustine’s wife) and I have really gotten to know them very well; we take their prayer requests (already huge prayers have been answered), know about their families and lives, and we all feel very comfortable together. We have been able to grow RELATIONSHIPS with them. This is something that is difficult to do in larger numbers.

Maybe God is just trying to empower these particular women before the study grows larger. He is already working in them in very specific ways. I thank Him so much for all of them. They work day and night, in very poor conditions. They are tired, the kind of tired a lot of us could never understand. Some of them barely get the food they need to survive and on top of that they are fighting AIDS/HIV. Would we walk 5 miles in the cold, wet, mud and mist, when we have so much else to do and had a very thin meal the day before, were sick, and had to go with a cane, to a Bible study? Or if like one of them we had to carry children along with us? Or like two of them were over the age of fifty? Would we even think about it? God bless and look after these beloved few who will not be held back, or beaten down. Pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed; blessed beyond the curse. Many around here often say that Swaziland is a living pulpit for the Word of God. I can see why.

Please then continue to pray for growth, that all of these move on from milk to solid food, by the grace of God. Whether a mother on the farm, a teenager in TCMI, a member of the CLC church, a woman in the community, or those of us who are here working with them. We ask that God bring growth, and more real change; that there will be more anointing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Finally we THANK God for the incredible things He has already done and is doing now.


Written by Stacey Weneck who is serving in Swaziland until mid-December.