This blog describes the final bush clinic provided by the Medical Team, on August 24th. Even though the team is safely home, they wanted to share this day's adventures with you....
Once again we were up early and ready to go, anticipating another great day for our final clinic. We took group pictures at the Vanderwals, then for our last time did our customary hand holding in a big circle, singing to the Lord and then praying. Just as sports teams get into a circle and put their hands together, we did the same each morning with a zealous “TO THE WORK!”.
The sky was overcast and the temperature was a bit chillier today as we headed out. We were on a tar road for about 1 ¼ hours then on a dirt/sandy/bumpy/washboarded/hilly/rutted road for ¾ hour. There are not many named roads, so how people get to where they are going is amazing. When we were about ½ hour away from the school we met up with the pastor from the area who, on a motorcycle, led us on a shortcut, fording a stream and over rough terrain. When we arrived at the school there were about 400 people awaiting our visit.
The people were gathered together and listened intently as Harry spoke and Sipho interpreted into Siswati. They clapped as Harry talked about Jesus then at the end of Harry’s message sang a beautiful song. Their language is very melodic and lovely to listen to. As the medical stations were being set up we unloaded Operation Christmas Child boxes. The children were all assembled under a tree and Harry (and Sipho) explained how the free gift of the boxes is like the free gift that Jesus gives us with eternal life. We had the honor of distributing them and sharing the joy as they opened their boxes.
The bush wheelchairs were assembled and 3 of these were distributed to the disabled. One of the mothers of a child with cerebral palsy cried because she was so thankful to Jesus and rededicated her life to Him. Over 300 patients were seen for medical evaluation and treatment, over 60 HIV tests done, blood pressures checked, 30 bad teeth pulled and about 100 eye glasses were provided.
After the clinic, people lined up to receive Bibles in Siswati or English. They were very grateful. Those with new eyeglasses could now to see to read! Everything was packed into the trailers and we headed back on the bumpy road towards home, having finished the clinic by 7:30 -earlier than anticipated. Echo, the boys and some of the Swazis headed for home around 6:30 to prepare dinner; she had a flat tire along the way so did not get back much earlier than the rest of the group.
Harry, Jim and the Swazis were in the lead van pulling a trailer as Sipho was driving behind with the CLC team. As the lead van was barreling along the sand and gravel road, all at once there was a loud noise and they stopped -abruptly. It was as if they were in a plane, landing on an aircraft carrier that had just hit the arresting hook! They all looked at each other in disbelief when to their amazement, the wheel that had just broken off from the trailer passed them on the right –rolling down the road, disappearing into the night. The Swazis ran down the road and proudly recovered the tire and wheel. Everyone got out and stared at the trailer sitting lopsided in the sand. After sorting out the situation, the CLC team headed back in one van while Harry and the Swazis waited for the tow truck. Harry did not get back until three-thirty am. So much for the early evening we thought we would have to share with each other! But God was gracious to all. If the wheel had been on the tar road the wheel may have not been able to be found and the trailer would have crashed down onto a hard road rather than landing in sand.
We returned to Echo and Harry’s house for a delicious dinner that was previously prepared. By now we had become quite comfortable with mealtime routines which allowed Echo to take care of everything for Harry and the trailer.
Although this was the end of our bush clinics and our mission to Africa was rapidly coming to a close, it was only the beginning of our true mission. We all are in unity to help The Luke Commission by procuring equipment, supplies and financial support, in order to share the love and compassion of Christ with the Swazi people. We have all had our heart strings pulled and have developed a great love, admiration and caring for the VanderWals and The Luke Commission. Their mission has become our mission to assist them in any way we can. Having had the opportunity to serve them has been an honor and huge blessing to each of us. Words cannot express what all we experienced. We felt God’s presence throughout all the work that was done and are called to continue His work in Dayton.
Even though CLC does not have a medical team currently in Swaziland, you can continue to hear the stories of The Luke Commission by visiting their website:
www.lukecommission.org
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
A Time to Plant
The Outreach Team that is currently serving in Swaziland, has three main areas of focus:
* A week-long Women's Retreat
* Men's discipleship classes
* Seeds for Swaziland (S4S)
We'd like to tell you a little about the Seeds for Swaziland (S4S) project.
God first "planted" the S4S idea in the heart of Kevin R. after he traveled to Swaizland in May of 2008 to help rennovate the building that would become the home to Pastor Augustine and his family on our first ICBC. Kevin felt God was calling him to plant seeds of love and faith and grow the Kingdom of God in Swaziland through the simple act of providing a source of food for people in need. Kevin wanted to be obedient to God's command in Matthew 28:19 where God tells us, “Go therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Kevin knew he may not have the ability to preach like Paul, but he could certianly figure out what food sources could be grown in Swaziland and what tools were needed to get a garden started and maintained. He trusted God to use him (and others) to show God's love to others.
The purpose of S4S is to provide seed packages and gardening tools to select homesteads in the area surroung the ICBC church. The pastor of the church identifies which homesteads will be included in the program. Once selected, the S4S team:
1. Helps the families prepare their garden plot
2. Provides the tools and seed (including fencing to protect the plot once planted)
3. Assists the family in planting the seeds
4. Teaches the family how to maintain the garden until harvest and for coming
seasons.
The long-term goal of the project is that the gardens not only provide a source of food to the families, but in the long run, will yield enough produce that extras can be sold as a way to earn income for the family.
Because this is a new endeavor, this Outreach Team is conducting an initial 'test run' of the program. The team planned to put in 3 gardens; one on the church site and two at separate homesteads. However, once they arrived, they decided to plant four separate gardens on four separate homesteads, and not plant something at the church at this time.
One of the homesteads that was selected belongs to a Gogo (grandmother). She was attending the Women's retreat and the S4S team said she was a great lady, who had a wonderful "feeling" about her. What a blessing to be able to tend to this woman's soul and garden all in one week!
The four plots were prepared earlier in the week and planting at all four sites should have happened today. Preparing the ground for planting was a bit tricky because the ground was hard due to a lack of rain over the past few months. The team commented, "How great and God-like it would be if we could have some rain before we begin planting on Friday." And ofcourse, everyone was grateful and only a little surprised when it began raining Thursday afternoon and rained for several hours. Praise God!
Please continue to pray for the team. But also, pray for the families who received the gardens. May they seek God and find Him. May they realize that God not only cares about and provides for their physical needs, but more importantly He cares about and provides for their spiritual needs. In Him they will find all that they could ever need or want. As their garden harvests grow and produce food, so may their spiritual lives grow and produce the fruits of the spirit than can only come through a life abiding in Christ.
* A week-long Women's Retreat
* Men's discipleship classes
* Seeds for Swaziland (S4S)
We'd like to tell you a little about the Seeds for Swaziland (S4S) project.
God first "planted" the S4S idea in the heart of Kevin R. after he traveled to Swaizland in May of 2008 to help rennovate the building that would become the home to Pastor Augustine and his family on our first ICBC. Kevin felt God was calling him to plant seeds of love and faith and grow the Kingdom of God in Swaziland through the simple act of providing a source of food for people in need. Kevin wanted to be obedient to God's command in Matthew 28:19 where God tells us, “Go therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Kevin knew he may not have the ability to preach like Paul, but he could certianly figure out what food sources could be grown in Swaziland and what tools were needed to get a garden started and maintained. He trusted God to use him (and others) to show God's love to others.
The purpose of S4S is to provide seed packages and gardening tools to select homesteads in the area surroung the ICBC church. The pastor of the church identifies which homesteads will be included in the program. Once selected, the S4S team:
1. Helps the families prepare their garden plot
2. Provides the tools and seed (including fencing to protect the plot once planted)
3. Assists the family in planting the seeds
4. Teaches the family how to maintain the garden until harvest and for coming
seasons.
The long-term goal of the project is that the gardens not only provide a source of food to the families, but in the long run, will yield enough produce that extras can be sold as a way to earn income for the family.
Because this is a new endeavor, this Outreach Team is conducting an initial 'test run' of the program. The team planned to put in 3 gardens; one on the church site and two at separate homesteads. However, once they arrived, they decided to plant four separate gardens on four separate homesteads, and not plant something at the church at this time.
One of the homesteads that was selected belongs to a Gogo (grandmother). She was attending the Women's retreat and the S4S team said she was a great lady, who had a wonderful "feeling" about her. What a blessing to be able to tend to this woman's soul and garden all in one week!
The four plots were prepared earlier in the week and planting at all four sites should have happened today. Preparing the ground for planting was a bit tricky because the ground was hard due to a lack of rain over the past few months. The team commented, "How great and God-like it would be if we could have some rain before we begin planting on Friday." And ofcourse, everyone was grateful and only a little surprised when it began raining Thursday afternoon and rained for several hours. Praise God!
Please continue to pray for the team. But also, pray for the families who received the gardens. May they seek God and find Him. May they realize that God not only cares about and provides for their physical needs, but more importantly He cares about and provides for their spiritual needs. In Him they will find all that they could ever need or want. As their garden harvests grow and produce food, so may their spiritual lives grow and produce the fruits of the spirit than can only come through a life abiding in Christ.
Medical Team Returns Home
There were plenty of smiles and hugs to go around as CLC's medical team returned home. After spending 10 days with The Luke Commission - 4 of which were dedicated to day-long medical bush clinics- the team returned home to the cheers of many family and friends. Though a little tired from the 28 hours of travel, everyone appeared to be in good spirits. There are plenty of stories to tell; some happy, some harrowing and some heartbreaking.
Though CLC has supported The Luke Commission financially through our missionary outreach, this was our first actual partnership with the organization - and hopefully not our last! If you speak with any team member, they will tell you what an amazing, God-led ministry it is. It changes lives - spiritually and physically- day after day. We look forward to sending future teams to join them in their mission. Will you please pray for TLC? One specific prayer request came through as the team was returning home:
This week we have had a midnight tow for the broken axle on the big trailer (now repaired & ready to go!), our big vehicle is terminal & beyond repair (one that pulls the trailer), and another vehicle was involved in an accident today. Thankfully, no one was injured today & thanks to awesome ministry partners (and God) - we have a vehicle that will tow the big trailer to clinic tomorrow!
In just a few weeks, CLC will launch a three-week, Next Step class on Wednesday nights entitled "The Untold Stories of Swaziland". Various travelers will share their experiences of serving in Swaziland, and members of the Medical Team will be a part of that testimony. We invite you to come hear the amazing and miraculous things that God is doing in Swaziland and how He is using our teams to serve others.
Welcome Home Medical Team!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Spirit is Moving Through the Women's Retreat
Today we received to separate updates from CLC members who are traveling with the Outreach Team. Both ladies are involved with the Women's Outreat Team. They have wonderful news to share!
FROM CASSANDRA:
What an experience!!! We are finished with the 4th day of the Women's Retreat - believe it or not! The ladies have been responsive. We were repeatedly told - at home and here - that they would not; could not, but they have been very responsive. All your prayers were worth it! On Tuesday, I asked those to come forward who had never asked Jesus Christ into their hearts. Ten ladies came forward!!! One of the ladies that I prayed with said she had said the prayer before, but she had "gone way, way far away from God, and I want to come back to Him!" The next day she asked for a couple more booklets because two women could not come because they had to work, and she was going back and telling them what she had learned that day.
We went to a homestead where a wife and husband and six children lived. The father has been walking on crutches for the last 20+ years. It was absolutely amazing to see him walk up the mountain to his house on crutches! He said he never saw God's blessings before his ailment, but since then God has been so good to him!!! I said to his wife, "We have two more days of retreat." She said, "No, I want five more days!"
By the way - it is still Winter here! When we got here, it was in the 30's! We were sooooo cold. We have had no heat in the room we are staying!!! It is colder in the mountains.
Don't stop praying Intercessors - we have one more day to go. Thank you, again, soooooo much for your prayers. I could honestly 'feel' them!!!
FROM STACEY:
The women's retreat has been far more incredible than any of us had ever imagined. All along the way people were telling us, even the pastors, that the women, especially the ones that only spoke Saswati, would be very reluctant to open up and share. That it would take several days of the retreat to get them to respond. However the Lord decided to totally move in all of them...it was as if someone had taken a bottle of water and just poured it out all over the place.
They were talking the very first day, even about things that were personal and difficult to talk about. Every single day I go in there thinking, "ok God, I am so emotionally tired...I hope that today is good too." And He ends up doing something even greater than the day before
The women worship so beautifully and with such power of the Spirit.
They are responding with excitement and joy to everything Cassandra is teaching them, sometimes they just randomly burst into song. One woman gave her testimony and became so moved during it that she began to cry and could not continue. The other women all started to praise Jesus with loud and joyful voices to comfort her so she could finish. On the second day, atleast 10 women either came to accept Jesus as Savior or said they had turned away from God and now wanted to come back.
We have been praying constantly that these women would hear with their hearts, that they would be truly repentant, that there would be no veil over their hearts, that God would bring to us rich soil that would produce real fruit. As far as we can tell these women who are crying out to God are coming to Him with full sincerity of soul. We can all feel the Holy Spirit moving through them. We have reiterated and reiterated that we must accept Jesus not only with our words and minds but also with our heart and it must bring about genuine repentence and a change of behavior. That we should put off our old selves and walk with Jesus as our only God. Today we talked about forgiveness because many of the women had admitted to us that one thing they are having trouble with is forgiving people who have hurt them. Some of them were crying very hard as we all prayed that God would help us to forgive.
God has been awsome. Once, after worship the women all started praying very loud in Saswati and it became louder and louder until I felt almost that I was witnessing pentacost, so tangible was the presence of the Spirit moving in them, and I was so overwhelmed I had to sit down.
Please continue praying and praising God for the incredible faithfullness He has shown in answering our prayer, even more than we had expected or asked He would do. "
FROM CASSANDRA:
What an experience!!! We are finished with the 4th day of the Women's Retreat - believe it or not! The ladies have been responsive. We were repeatedly told - at home and here - that they would not; could not, but they have been very responsive. All your prayers were worth it! On Tuesday, I asked those to come forward who had never asked Jesus Christ into their hearts. Ten ladies came forward!!! One of the ladies that I prayed with said she had said the prayer before, but she had "gone way, way far away from God, and I want to come back to Him!" The next day she asked for a couple more booklets because two women could not come because they had to work, and she was going back and telling them what she had learned that day.
We went to a homestead where a wife and husband and six children lived. The father has been walking on crutches for the last 20+ years. It was absolutely amazing to see him walk up the mountain to his house on crutches! He said he never saw God's blessings before his ailment, but since then God has been so good to him!!! I said to his wife, "We have two more days of retreat." She said, "No, I want five more days!"
By the way - it is still Winter here! When we got here, it was in the 30's! We were sooooo cold. We have had no heat in the room we are staying!!! It is colder in the mountains.
Don't stop praying Intercessors - we have one more day to go. Thank you, again, soooooo much for your prayers. I could honestly 'feel' them!!!
FROM STACEY:
The women's retreat has been far more incredible than any of us had ever imagined. All along the way people were telling us, even the pastors, that the women, especially the ones that only spoke Saswati, would be very reluctant to open up and share. That it would take several days of the retreat to get them to respond. However the Lord decided to totally move in all of them...it was as if someone had taken a bottle of water and just poured it out all over the place.
They were talking the very first day, even about things that were personal and difficult to talk about. Every single day I go in there thinking, "ok God, I am so emotionally tired...I hope that today is good too." And He ends up doing something even greater than the day before
The women worship so beautifully and with such power of the Spirit.
They are responding with excitement and joy to everything Cassandra is teaching them, sometimes they just randomly burst into song. One woman gave her testimony and became so moved during it that she began to cry and could not continue. The other women all started to praise Jesus with loud and joyful voices to comfort her so she could finish. On the second day, atleast 10 women either came to accept Jesus as Savior or said they had turned away from God and now wanted to come back.
We have been praying constantly that these women would hear with their hearts, that they would be truly repentant, that there would be no veil over their hearts, that God would bring to us rich soil that would produce real fruit. As far as we can tell these women who are crying out to God are coming to Him with full sincerity of soul. We can all feel the Holy Spirit moving through them. We have reiterated and reiterated that we must accept Jesus not only with our words and minds but also with our heart and it must bring about genuine repentence and a change of behavior. That we should put off our old selves and walk with Jesus as our only God. Today we talked about forgiveness because many of the women had admitted to us that one thing they are having trouble with is forgiving people who have hurt them. Some of them were crying very hard as we all prayed that God would help us to forgive.
God has been awsome. Once, after worship the women all started praying very loud in Saswati and it became louder and louder until I felt almost that I was witnessing pentacost, so tangible was the presence of the Spirit moving in them, and I was so overwhelmed I had to sit down.
Please continue praying and praising God for the incredible faithfullness He has shown in answering our prayer, even more than we had expected or asked He would do. "
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Luke Commission Bush Clinic Day Three and Indy 500 in Swaziland!
We left the compound after our melodious prayer and singing led by the Swazi team members. After 1 ½ hours we arrived at Mbowane School, in southeastern Swaziland. As we drove up we could see a few hundred people there waiting for us. The team quickly set up while Harry welcomed, prayed, and instructed the crowd about the happenings of the day. The people clapped as they were told about Jesus. While we were in prayer a former patient’s mother presented Echo with a chicken and 3 straw basket homes for chickens. The mother wanted to thank them for their kindness and care for her son, Lucky, following his burn injury.
The clinic started with our interpreter telling everyone to line up behind the tall white man who was “number one” in line. Imagine how astonished Niles, our dentist, was when nearly 300 Swazis rushed to line up behind him. The look on his face was priceless! The rest of the clinic went smoothly.
In the middle of the day Echo invited us to tour Lucky’s homestead. Thus began our version of the Indy 500. The “roads” to the homestead were incredibly bumpy- and by this we mean that they would have been challenging for a 4 wheel drive. We were NOT in a 4 wheel drive vehicle; we were 10 people in a van made for 8. Words cannot describe the terrain. The drop-offs on the narrow road were steep and challenging and Echo laughed at our fear.
We arrived at Lucky’s homestead, where we toured separate structures which included: his one-room home, kitchen, mother’s home, sister’s home, maize storage building, and guest home, which is where Lucky was burned and disfigured 3 years ago. There was a cattle kraal (corral). As females, we were told to avoid going near there because only the woman that marries the men of the homestead were allowed to enter. On their wedding night, it is customary that the mother-in-law wake up the new daughter-in-law half way through the night and she is to get up and go to the kraal and cry until sunrise.
Our trip back to the clinic was even more harrowing, as we met a tractor coming down the hill. Echo had to create a new way up. Echo laughed and had fun, zigzagging the car up the road at our expense. Then once on flat road, we figured out the answer to “why did the chicken cross the road?” It was to get out of Echo’s way!! Then we stopped for a herd of cattle as they crossed the road. Once the cattle crossed, we were able to continue. A truck tried to pass us and thus began our (Indy)Swazi 500 race. Of course, Echo came out the winner. We returned to the clinic and began work again.
We presented a 10 year old child with cerebral palsy a crank type wheel chair and a 60 year old stroke victim a crank wheel chair.
The families were delighted. We continued with the clinic once again until everyone was seen. Our count for the day was 403 patients total, with 60 HIV tests, 135 eye glasses distributed, 29 dental patients treated with 36 extractions done and physical therapy for 4 patients.
Thus ended our third clinic. By the way, there was a big mistake in our last blog. The world record for “how many people you can fit into the back of a truck to travel home” is held by the Swazis that piled into the truck…not the CLC medical team.
The clinic started with our interpreter telling everyone to line up behind the tall white man who was “number one” in line. Imagine how astonished Niles, our dentist, was when nearly 300 Swazis rushed to line up behind him. The look on his face was priceless! The rest of the clinic went smoothly.
In the middle of the day Echo invited us to tour Lucky’s homestead. Thus began our version of the Indy 500. The “roads” to the homestead were incredibly bumpy- and by this we mean that they would have been challenging for a 4 wheel drive. We were NOT in a 4 wheel drive vehicle; we were 10 people in a van made for 8. Words cannot describe the terrain. The drop-offs on the narrow road were steep and challenging and Echo laughed at our fear.
We arrived at Lucky’s homestead, where we toured separate structures which included: his one-room home, kitchen, mother’s home, sister’s home, maize storage building, and guest home, which is where Lucky was burned and disfigured 3 years ago. There was a cattle kraal (corral). As females, we were told to avoid going near there because only the woman that marries the men of the homestead were allowed to enter. On their wedding night, it is customary that the mother-in-law wake up the new daughter-in-law half way through the night and she is to get up and go to the kraal and cry until sunrise.
Our trip back to the clinic was even more harrowing, as we met a tractor coming down the hill. Echo had to create a new way up. Echo laughed and had fun, zigzagging the car up the road at our expense. Then once on flat road, we figured out the answer to “why did the chicken cross the road?” It was to get out of Echo’s way!! Then we stopped for a herd of cattle as they crossed the road. Once the cattle crossed, we were able to continue. A truck tried to pass us and thus began our (Indy)Swazi 500 race. Of course, Echo came out the winner. We returned to the clinic and began work again.
We presented a 10 year old child with cerebral palsy a crank type wheel chair and a 60 year old stroke victim a crank wheel chair.
The families were delighted. We continued with the clinic once again until everyone was seen. Our count for the day was 403 patients total, with 60 HIV tests, 135 eye glasses distributed, 29 dental patients treated with 36 extractions done and physical therapy for 4 patients.
Thus ended our third clinic. By the way, there was a big mistake in our last blog. The world record for “how many people you can fit into the back of a truck to travel home” is held by the Swazis that piled into the truck…not the CLC medical team.
Outreach Team Settling In
The Outreach Team arrived safely and on time in Manzini, Swaziland on Friday evening. They were greeted at the airport by Pastor Augustine (the pastor at Hawane CLC) and his wife Elizabeth, who were very happy to see them. Their squeals of joy could be heard in the background! Augustine and Elizabeth live on the CLC property, in a house that one of teams helped renovate last summer. (Kevin R. worked on that project).
P. Augustine and Elizabeth transported the team back to the property and got them settled into their living quarters.
This morning the team got up and toured the Hawane CLC property and unpacked all the supply bags they transported. Kevin and Helen Ward them had them over for lunch at their home. According to Helen, " They seem to be a good mixture of people, and we are looking forward to what the Lord is going to do in this next 10 days!".
After lunch, the team headed for a tour of Hawane Farm/Lighthouse Care Center, which is just down the road from the church property. Hawane Farm has become the prototype for the ICBC model; but is a much larger version with several children's homes, a medical clinic, life-skills training school, a home for teen girls and much more. After touring the facility, the team will have the chance to visit with the children house moms who live at Hawane Farm.
Tomorrow, the team will worship "Swazi-style" at Hawane Christian Life Community Church. The medical team, who were part of a medical clinic at the church earlier in the week, will also attend the service at Hawane CLC. That means we will have 16 CLC'ers from Dayton worshiping with close to 200 CLC'ers in Swaziland.
Like Helen, we are looking foward to what God is going to do over the next 10 days through and to this team. Already He continues to do more than we have imagined...... as of this morning there are now 150 women signed up for the Ladies Retreat next week! That's three times more than we origianlly anticipated. That is cause for joyous celebration and makes us wonder just how many men will show up for the discipleship classes?????
Please continue to keep the Outreach Team in your prayers and pray specifically for these team member requests:
* God's perfect will be done
* The team members will remain flexible and patient
* God will help them make connections with the people they will serve
* They will be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and act obediently
* Peace and comfort for the emotional toll this kind of work can take
* Protection, guidance and comfort for the family members here in Dayton who
have to manage without their loved one at home
May God bless the work of the team and all those who intercede on their behalf in the coming week.
P. Augustine and Elizabeth transported the team back to the property and got them settled into their living quarters.
This morning the team got up and toured the Hawane CLC property and unpacked all the supply bags they transported. Kevin and Helen Ward them had them over for lunch at their home. According to Helen, " They seem to be a good mixture of people, and we are looking forward to what the Lord is going to do in this next 10 days!".
After lunch, the team headed for a tour of Hawane Farm/Lighthouse Care Center, which is just down the road from the church property. Hawane Farm has become the prototype for the ICBC model; but is a much larger version with several children's homes, a medical clinic, life-skills training school, a home for teen girls and much more. After touring the facility, the team will have the chance to visit with the children house moms who live at Hawane Farm.
Tomorrow, the team will worship "Swazi-style" at Hawane Christian Life Community Church. The medical team, who were part of a medical clinic at the church earlier in the week, will also attend the service at Hawane CLC. That means we will have 16 CLC'ers from Dayton worshiping with close to 200 CLC'ers in Swaziland.
Like Helen, we are looking foward to what God is going to do over the next 10 days through and to this team. Already He continues to do more than we have imagined...... as of this morning there are now 150 women signed up for the Ladies Retreat next week! That's three times more than we origianlly anticipated. That is cause for joyous celebration and makes us wonder just how many men will show up for the discipleship classes?????
Please continue to keep the Outreach Team in your prayers and pray specifically for these team member requests:
* God's perfect will be done
* The team members will remain flexible and patient
* God will help them make connections with the people they will serve
* They will be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and act obediently
* Peace and comfort for the emotional toll this kind of work can take
* Protection, guidance and comfort for the family members here in Dayton who
have to manage without their loved one at home
May God bless the work of the team and all those who intercede on their behalf in the coming week.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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.
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.
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