Miracles and Send Offs

They still happen, you know. You should watch for them. You should expect to see them or experience them. Sometimes they are big. Sometimes they are small. Sometimes they come as an answer to prayer. Sometimes they are just an unexpected blessing. They are always extraordinary.

We're talking about miracles.... and we know a thing or two about them because they have been happening as we have prepared to send the Outreach Team to Swaziland. Here are two examples from within the last 48 hours:

1. As a part of the Seeds for Swaziland project, we needed to take specific varieties of seeds with us. Earlier in the summer Kevin R. had spoken with a local home and garden center about purchasing seeds from them for the project. The plan was that as time got closer for the team to leave, he would stop in and pick up the seeds. Well, time passed a little too quickly and suddenly we realized we didn't have the seeds we needed. When Kevin called the local company he was told that unfortunately, since planting season was over, all of their seeds had been shipped back to the distributor. Kevin got the same response from the next several businesses he called. With panic setting in, Kevin prayed. He asked God for some divine intervention and for the patience to deal with the situation. Then he picked up the phone again. A "funny thing" happened when he talked with the folks at Knollwood Garden Center in Beavercreek. They too had returned all their seeds to their supplier a few weeks ago; but some how one of the boxes of seeds had just been returned to them. They had no idea what they were going to do with them.... until Kevin called. They sorted through the box, found the varieties and quantities of seeds we needed, and then they donated them to the project! They were pleased to support the mission trip. Praise God!

2. When we first began planning for the Women's Retreat portion of the Outreach trip, Cassandra requested that we form an intercessory prayer group to pray specifically for the Women's retreat; its leaders, the curriculum and the women who would attend. For the past several weeks prayer warriors have lifted up those requests. One of their prayers was that the Holy Spirit would begin stirring the hearts of the Swazi women who needed to hear the message. At the outset we were told to expect between 35 and 50 women at the retreat. Imagine our surprise to get a message last week that 60 women had preregisterd for the event and that a few more might show up the day of the event. Imagine our even greater surprise to find out this morning (just 6 hours before the team was to leave) that the registration total had climbed to 111 women! We can't wait to see and experience what God has in store for the women of the retreat.

And so, the Outreach Team began its journey today humbled and joyous, anticipating more miracles in the coming weeks. Please be in prayer for them.



The team left the gate on time, but had to sit on the runway for 45 minutes before taking off. They then had to circle Dulles Airport for a while because of weather. When they finally touched down, they had just enough time to walk to the international terminal, check in with the gate attendant and then board the plane. They are now winging their way over the Atlantic Ocean. Hopefully they are enjoying some much needed rest!

To the family, friends and CLC staff members who came to the airport to see them off, thank you for coming. Your love and support mean so much. May you experience God's presence and peace until they are safesly back in our midst.

Luke Commission Bush Clinic Day Two - Visit to Hawane CLC - Visit to Local Hospital

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

We began our day by gathering at Echo and Harry’s house where all eight of us, plus the six VanderWals, and ten Swazi Luke Commission translators sang and prayed before we began our journey to the Hawane Christian Life Community Church.

Almost four hundred people were there waiting for us for medical care. We were excited to be at CLC Hawane and see what all the prior CLC teams had built and refurbished. First we stopped at Hawane Farm (a Teen Challenge Swaziland project - learn more at www.swazitc.com/Vent/Haw/hawpage.html)

We met people from the Potter’s Wheel Church who were here from London, England who took us on a tour of Hawane Farms. We were impressed by the physical outlay of the farm and were able to meet some of the children. We were there for about an hour when Helen Ward came to pick us up for the newly set up clinic at Hawane CLC Church.

The people were already in lines when we arrived back at the church, so we began putting together more bush friendly wheelchairs. There were a few young men and women from Hawane Teen Challenge that helped fill out registration cards, and translated for us, which was very helpful. As each station was readied we began our individual tasks to minister to the people. The main medical clinic was set up in the sanctuary with the prayer department next to them. It was a beautiful sunny day and Kathy and Phyllis were set up outside to triage the patients. For several hours one of our tour guides, who was a nurse, assisted in the triage department.

Today we saw 396 patients, with over 90 of them having received HIV testing, 175 fitted with glasses, 30 dental patients with 75 tooth extractions, and 3 patients fitted with wheelchairs. We tried to fit one man with a crank type wheelchair, but due to his severe leg and body stiffness (which he has had for twenty years) he was unable to utilize what we tried to give him.

At one point during the clinic, a horse ran through the church compound and out into the road. It got hit in the rump by a truck; bounced into a ditch with all four legs straight up in the air; then got up and tried to run back into the church compound. Luckily, someone quickly closed the gate and the horse ran down the road. The truck’s windshield was shattered and the front of the truck smashed in. This goes to show that not even a wild horse could drive us away from our clinic!


Thursday, August 20, 2009

Echo took us on a tour of Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital. We started in the lab then toured the surgical ward, emergency room, pharmacy, medical records, and made a stop in the male medical ward. In the male ward we saw a man who had suffered for thirty nine years with a draining wound due to a bone infection caused by an accident. He pulled a hankie from his pocket and in it was a fragment of petrified bone that had been surgically removed. He proudly showed all of us and praised Jesus.

We then continued on to the pediatric ward where we passed out clothes, paper and crayons, and tracts to the families and children. The mothers and children clapped and giggled with delight.

We ended the tour with the male and then female medical wards. At the very end of each ward were patients in the end stages of HIV. They received very basic care as they struggled to breathe. Their family and friends were at the bedside caring for them. We sang and prayed for them with our lead translator praying in SiSwati. It was very sad and many of us were moved to tears. They are just like us.

We left the hospital and went back to Echo and Harry’s house for yet another delicious homemade meal. All the meals have been different and we have appreciated them very much. After our meal we left for the Manzini Market where we bargained and haggled for the best prices on souvenirs and new treasures. Back to the house for fellowship, more delicious food, and to watch a South African film called “Faith like Potatoes”. We highly recommend it.

It's been a long day and we are now getting ready to head off to our house. Please stay tuned for Bush Clinic Day Three.

Medical Team Visits Hawane CLC

On Wenesday, August 19, our Medical Team members and the Luke Commission held a medical clinic at Hawane Christian Life Community Church. This information came to us from Kevin R., one of our Outreach Team members who leaves today for a 14 day mission trip.

Kevin traveled to Swaziland in 2008 as a member of the team that built the pastor's home at Hawane CLC. Through that experience, he built a relationship with Pastor Augustine and the two of them communicate on a regular basis.

On Wednesday Kevin called Pastor Augustine to touch base one last time before the Outreach Team left and the conversation went something like this:

K: Good morning Pastor. It is Kevin. How are you?

PA: Oh Kevin. It is good to hear from you. We are very busy here.

K: It sounds like it. What is all that noise in the background? Are you having a party?

PA: Not a party. The Luke Commission and members of your church are here at Hawane today. They have set up a medical clinic for the people of our community. We have just begun and already there are over 400 people here and there more and more people coming down from the hills! It is a good day.

We look forward to hearing from the medical team about their experience at Hawane CLC. How awesome it is to have people from our church, being the church, through the church to the people of the church and the greater church community. That's what church is all about!

An Incredible Day at the Sidvokodvo Clinic

What an incredible day! Words cannot describe what we saw and experienced on our first medical clinic.

We left at 8:00 in the morning on Monday and got back close to 2:00 a.m. the next morning. A crowd of nearly five hundred people, young and old, were already there waiting around the open dusty area for our arrival. The women and young girls were carrying babies on their backs and baskets on their heads; one family brought a foam mattress for one very disabled child.

The Luke Commission team members quickly set up different stations which included:

~ registration including their medical complaints and problems
~ nursing for blood pressure and blood work for diabetes and HIV testing
~ prayer
~ doctor exam
~ dental exam if needed
~ eyeglasses
~ pharmacy.
~ waiting area:The Passion of Christ was run twice during the day so people could watch the movie any time they had time.

While the stations were being set up, the CLC Dayton team members started assembling bush friendly wheelchairs. After they were assembled and assigned to the patients they were presented to the recipients to the great delight of everyone including the crowd. Young children were able to hand crank their “wheelchair” and move themselves around without assistance. Adults who could barely walk with crutches were provided with these wheelchairs so they, too, could move independently in their environment. Those who were unable to use the hand crank were assigned a pull cart to the delight of their families. It was very exciting to see the joy on their faces. To learn more about the wheelchair ministry, cut and paste this web address to your browser:

http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ViewInBrowser.aspx?pubids=57m%2ffULUUNqyTuzlcB36zg%3d%3d&digest=fVAvn0GI%2bTUoOzxH7dcryg



At the medical clinic we evaluated an eight year old boy named Banele who was very sick. He was HIV positive and had pneumonia and was too sick to be able to care for at the bush clinic. Echo promised Banele's mother that we would take her son for treatment to the Manzini hospital at the end of the day.

The people were really patient as they waited in the long lines for triage from the nurses. They were quiet and courteous and didn’t complain about how long they had to wait. They knew from past visits that The Luke Commission would not leave until everyone had been seen.

A total of 535 people were seen at the Sidvokodvo North school site.

~ About 25 people saw the dentist with a total of more than 50 extractions.
~ 175 were fitted with eyeglasses
~ Everyone went to the pharmacy for medications and vitamins.

As it got later in the evening people were waiting and asking for Bibles. At 11:45 p.m. the team started to pass out Bibles in both English and Siswati depending on the preference of the patient. This was a very joyous time for the team and concluded with Harry offering a call to know Christ as their personal savior. About 70 people came forward and accepted Christ as their Savior! The translator ended the day with a prayer in Siswati, and the Swazi’s concluded with a beautiful harmonious song.

Then we challenged the world record for how many people could fit in to the back of a truck to travel home! We, Banele and his mother bounced on the dirt road for several miles until we finally got back onto the main highway. We were tired but full of joy from the day as we headed back to our Swazi apartment home. Echo then continued to the hospital with Banele.

We quickly ate some junk food and headed to bed. End of bush clinic day one!

Medical Team Worships at Potter's Wheel Church

CLC's medical team spent Saturday learning about the Swazi culture, and how The Luke Commission operates its medical bush clinic. On Saturday evening, Kevin Ward and his wife Helen had a chance to visit with the team. According to Helen, the team was "a bit tired, but fired up to go; excited to start ministry."

This morning the team headed into Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland, to worship at Potter's Wheel Church. Kevin Ward is the Senior Pastor at Potter's Wheel. It is a dynamic and growing church whose mission is to:

- Encourage through promoting fellowship with God and man, through worship, prayer, His Word, in counsel and community for lifting up Christ and encouraging unity in this house and to other ministries of faith.

- Edify by providing progress through the hearing of the Word, maturity, stability and integrity in individual lives resulting in growth for the whole body of Christ.

- Equip by preparing, training, perfecting and cultivating lives to be fully qualified for His service.

- Engage by releasing individuals to serve, yielding ourselves completely to the power of the Holy Spirit to perform in us His purpose for our lives as we step out to fulfill the Great Commission.

You can learn more about Potter's Wheel Church at:

http://swazitc.org/Vent/PWC/pwcmispwc.html

Ephesians 4:3-6 tells us:

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

How awesome it is to know that, eventhough our Medical Team is halfway around the world from us, they are united with our Swaziland brothers and sisters in Christ and are worshipping the same Lord we prepare to worship now!

Safe and Sound in Swaziland

Once again, God has proven Himself faithful and has answered our prayers. Our medical team arrived as expected in Swaziland today (8:30 p.m. Swaziland time; 2:30 p.m. local time). And as an added blessing, all of their luggage arrived with them!

They were greeted at the airport by the VanderWals. After going through customs they drove about 30 minutes to the house in which they will be staying for the next 10 days. According to Echo they "had a good time of fellowship". As this blog is posted, the team has settled in for some much needed rest.

We look forward with anticipation to all that will happen in the days ahead. The weather forecast looks great; sunshine every day with daytime highs in the mid to upper 70's and night time lows in the mid 40's (okay, so that may be a little chilly!). At this time of year sunrise occurrs about 6:27 a.m. and the sun sets about 5:30.

There are several clinics scheduled in the days ahead and they are expecting very large crowds while the team is there. We covet your continued prayers for the team's safety and effectiveness. May they not only minister to the physicial needs of those with whom they come in contact, but more importantly may God use the team to change hearts for Christ.

Medical Team Takes Flight

Well, the Dayton International Airport has felt like a home away from home the last few weeks. On July 30th we welcomed Julie Mitchell home from a 3 month stay in Swaziland. On August 7th we welcomed Chris Kavcsak home from a 6 week stay in Swaziland. And today - August 13th - we said good bye to the eight members of our Medical Team who are leaving for a 14 day trip to Swaziland.

The members of our team include:

Phyllis Brown, RN
Angela Long-Prentice, M.D.
Kathy Lovely-Marshall, RN
Faye McNerney, PT
Jim McNerney, D.O.
Sarah Miller
Niles Syska, DDS
Jenna Weaver

Once in Swaziland, the Medical Team will be serving with The Luke Commission. TLC is a Christian medical mission serving remote regions in southern Africa. They take their mobile medical clinic to rural villages, schools, churches, chief's kraals, and orphan care points and offer free medical care, free medications, free HIV testing and counseling, free vision care, free eyeglasses, free Bibles and the Hope of the Gospel. Their current efforts are concentrated in the bush of Swaziland, which made them a logical partner for CLC. This is our first partnership with the Luke Commission and, with God's blessing, we look foward to sending additional teams in the future. You can learn more about The Luke Commission at http://www.lukecommission.org.



CLC's Medical Team was commissioned during the weekend services on August 7th &
8th ....






.....and they were covered in prayer again at the airport.












We ask that you continue to remember this team in prayer until their return on August 26th. Please pray as well for the communities that will be serviced when the team is there. Very large crowds are expected at all the locations.

Thanks to all the family members who supported their loved ones in going on this trip. May God keep you safe, provide for your needs and keep you united in spirit until your family member returns.

The Swaziland Travel Team