Walls Go Up

Saturday was our team's last day for work at Lavumisa. As a result of their hard work, they were able to get the framing up and bags stacked for two complete walls of the church before running out of materials.

During the week, they also had the opportunity to make visits to 3 homesteads. The visits are very meaningful experiences as they give the travelers a first-hand glimpse of what it is like to live in Swaziland for a typical family. The dwellings are very modest and frequently sparsely appointed. Yet, the family takes great pride in their home and is honored that visitors would come. On each visit our teams took some of the rice meals CLC packaged back in December, and left them as gifts. Sharing testimonies and scriptures and praying with the family is frequently a part of the homestead visit; for this is when the good news of Jesus is actually spread and the real work is done. Acts 20:24 tells us:

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."

On Sunday morning the team worshipped at Lavumisa with Pastor Sabelo and members of the Lavumisa community, then they headed back to Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland. There was quite a temperature change in moving from the low veld (where the high during the week got to 85 some days) and the upper veld (where the high temperature today is currently 64 and it will get down to freezing this evening). The team spent last evening at the Mountain Inn and today they headed back to Hawane CLC. Today is a "team day", so they will have some time to visit some local craft merchants to purchase souvenirs. The may also go to the government hospital where they will visit with patients (frequently children) and pray with them. This can be extrememly heart-breaking, yet the prayers are so very necessary! James 5:16 tells us "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

We are grateful to those who have been praying for this team. Thank you for interceding on their behalf. Very soon they will be back with us. We trust God to continue to guide and protect them. We pray as they prayed in days of old (Numbers 6:24-26)

The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.