July 31
Monday

Today’s Tentative Plan: 5:30 game drive all day@ Kruger

Please Read Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Take in the beauty of God’s creation. Praise Him all day long. You are about to see things that few in America ever see. Allow God to show you rich lessons and truths all along the way.

Focal Passage for Today
Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Theme: Admonishing One Another
Encourage each other today. Share a verse or a song that is special to you. As you go on the game drive keep your eyes open to God’s own chorus of praise in the beauty around you. Enjoy!

Thank you all for praying. We are not all 100% yet, but many are feeling some better. A week of being with runny nose children with sore throats will do this for you. We would not trade the experience with our children even if the end result is stuffy heads and somewhat sore throats.

As I right this evening I am sitting out in the cool night air at a poolside next to Kruger National Park in South Africa. We got here early enough to watch the sunset over the mountains as we watched elephants come to bath and large antelope type dear graze. Even now I can hear birds, animals and crickets make their night time sounds. People who don’t believe in God must have never been to a place like this. The verse that we read today in worship was “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Indeed!

Today we worshiped with the people of the Bhalakane Community. Pastor Walter was the preacher today. Crystal Baltimore and Squeaky, I sent him your greeting and he returned the love. Pastor Walter was one of the men who started care points in Swaziland as a way to feed and care for the many orphaned children. He started 8 of these feeding centers which has now grown to over 38 sites and 7400 children. His message today was powerful as he preached about suffering from the life of Job. He talked about how righteous and faithful people WILL go through hard times. He said God says to satan, see my faithful servant and He fills in your name. Then He talks about how we too would be faithful. It was especially powerful when he talked about how men are concerned when their material possessions are removed, but women even more so when their children die. He talked about how Job’s wife told him to just curse God. I wonder how many Swazi women he has heard voice the same sentiment. How many Swazi and American families have fallen apart when the hard times come. He reminded us that all followers of Christ are going to go through hard times. It is what we do in those hard times that truly reveals the realness of our faith. He said when Job came to this point he responded “I brought nothing into this world and I will leave with nothing. Yet I will still praise God.” Could we say that? Suffering is not about one culture. It is kingdom wide. We suffer to bring God glory. As he would say here, “Hallelujah!”

What a strong message it was! Then he prayed over all that wanted or needed to be prayed for. Oh how we need revival among us and to be found faithful even in the most discouraging times!

As we leave our friends in Swazi and head to the next steps God has for each of us we leave a piece of our hearts. We also receive and sew into our hearts a piece of the hearts of those in Swaziland. It is so hard to put into words how you can become so close in such a short amount of time. Maybe that is why we value it more because we know it is limited. Maybe it is also because God purposes our heart to meld to remind us of many things. We are all one family. We serve in different parts of the world, but one God. We will spend eternity together and the choice of heaven is given to all of us today. Our part is to tell others. The other part of this equation is that from both sides of the world we are lifting up prayers for each other. As I told a sweet group of smiling faces this week, when it is dark here it is light where I live and when it is light here it is dark where I live. Day and night prayers are being offered in thanksgiving to our God. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!

As I close tonight the half moon is shining above me with a scattered cloud to hide it, the night sounds are all around with trilling and howls far away. Most of all there is a still sense of God’s presence right here. I hope you have sensed it too. Thank you for journeying with us. Please continue to pray for good health and rest. We will wake when you go to bed ready to witness the wonder of God’s creation on a Safari. I will try to paint you a word picture tomorrow if the internet allows. Until then, rest well my friends and good night from Africa.

July 30
Sunday

Today’s Tentative Plan:
Church at Bhalekane,
Depart for Kruger,
Lodging at RioVista

Please Read Psalm 149:
1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations
and punishments on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings with chains
and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To execute on them the judgment written!
This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!

As I read this Psalm my mind went back to the times we have worshiped with our Swazi friends. We have literally danced down to take our offering. We have sung without instruments and the voices sounded like a heavenly choir. There have been times that as the pastor preached he would speak another language, but the message was clear even before the interpretation. There is just something about worship that transcends the spoken word.
Today as you prepare your heart for worship ask the Father to help you to hear from Him.
As you sing, sing for an audience of One.
Take in all of the sights and sounds around you.
What you will experience is a touch of heaven here on earth. “One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
We have the rich opportunity to get the party started early.

Focal Passage for Today
1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Theme: Fellowship with One Another
Enjoy this day of fellowship with other believers. Capture in your heart all that you experience. Enjoy the time of fellowship with your team members as we travel. You are probably worn out by now and yet we have a couple more days to go. Take in the beauty of the people God places in your path.
Pray for those we will leave behind in Swaziland.
Pray for spiritual growth and development.
Pray for God’s richest blessing on staff, children, and those who minister to the children daily.
Thank God for each person He has put in your path this week.
During our debrief time be ready to share about someone who stood out to you this week and why.

What do a giant jump castle, plastic eggs, cotton balls, and 500 pieces of meat have in common? If you said Big Fun Day you would be correct. Today we had so much fun singing, watching the children dance, decorating cupcakes and playing games with all of the children. They LOVED the jump castle. The eggs, cotton balls, gum, blasters, and crackers were all used for relays. These children love to have fun and today was all about the bounty of God’s goodness. Two of my favorite mental pictures were of a little boy about 4 years old laying down with his knees under him sound asleep while about 350 children jumped, sang and cheered all around him. I knew how he felt in being tired, but I am sure it would have been very awkward for an old woman to join him. lol The second mental picture was of a little boy about 3 years old. He had a runny nose and was sucking on his fingers as he walked into the performance hall as the children did their program. As he passed by me I saw a huge smudge of frosting from the cupcakes on the side of his jaw. He must have loved his cupcake! That makes me smile again because so many had never iced or eaten a cupcake. If you cook over an open fire you don’t often have baked goods. Oh my what I take for granted.

The children had worked every afternoon here preparing a program for us today. They did traditional tribal dances. They sang with the most beautiful voices. They have no musical instruments, so the human voice is the only musical instrument. The children learn from a very young age to sing harmony. I can’t help but believe heaven will be much like what we heard today as they sang Hallelujah! You will all want to hear the recording I have of the all care point choir singing Jingle Bells. They sing it “Jingly bells jingly bells”. It is precious. So precious I bought 3 CDs. lol My Christmas will be so precious with them singing Christmas Carols!!!!

Our final goodbyes were mixed once again with lingering hugs and tears. One of our team members said it so well when she said “We never know if they will be here when we return, but we know we have given everything we had to them.” Most will be here as we return next time. If you have ever wanted to come on mission please know you have an open invitation. You don’t have to be a member of a specific church. You just need to love the Lord and want to serve Him on mission. Both Highview and Westwood will probably be coming again next year and they would love to have you join them.

We will worship with our Swazi family tomorrow then depart to South Africa for a safari on Monday then travel home on Tuesday evening. Not sure that internet will be available, but we sure cherish your prayers. As my daughter would say, thank you for joining us as we have traveled “To the Ends of the Earth.” Until all know Him we will continue to tell. Praying you will join us next time and until we get home remember us in your prayers.

July 29
Saturday

Today’s Tentative Plan: Fun day at Bhalekane

Please Read Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!

What a great Psalm to read our last day of ministry at the care point. No, we can’t fix all problems. We can’t even identify all of the problems, but we have shown the love of the One who is their constant help in times of trouble. He is worthy of all praise! As you pray and prepare your heart for the end of the day, choose to focus on the good things God has done this week. Focus on the children’s love for the Father and for us His children. Use your words today to speak life into as many children as you can. Tell them what you see good in them and affirm any great traits they might have. Always lead them back to the Lord and how He is there for them to lead and guide them. They only need to look around at creation to know His goodness. Love them well!

Focal Passage for Today
1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Theme: Encourage and Build Up One Another.
Know that as we prepare for our time today that there are many who are lifting us up in prayer. Allow God to use you to help the children have fun and be encouraged. Look for those who show leadership and affirm that in them. Remind them that God has put that gift in them to use for His glory. Watch for those who have genuine joy and speak words of encouragement to them. Let them know that their joy is contagious and to never let the enemy steal it. Love with your whole heart today and don’t be afraid.

Today our team ministered on two fronts. One group went and worked on the home of a family that the head of home is a 16 year old girl. She is raising 5 siblings. Their home had no locks on windows and doors and the thieves had been breaking in and stealing their food while the children were at school. They draw water from a nearby river to wash their clothes, bathe and get drinking water. Livestock also share the same water, so there are many challenges for this family. Today they were blessed though with a team that came to install a new door and new windows with locks. They did not complete the project, but soon at least this part will have a better outcome. Some of the ladies also planted a garden with the 16 year old. She was very grateful as they prayed over the garden and walked to and from the river with buckets of water to hopefully keep the plants alive. Please pray for this family of children. Pray that their garden will produce many vegetables so they can eat. Pray that the locks hold out anyone trying to harm or steal from them. Most of all pray that they know the love of the heavenly Father and His provision for them.

The rest of our team went to Bhalakane care point to teach bible stories, sing songs, and do craft projects. The children ran to meet us once again as we exited the bus. They have loved having someone to hold their hands, pick them up, run and play with them. One of their favorite things today was pressing our skin and seeing the blood leave the surface and turn white. They could not get over how it would immediately become colored again. Isn’t it amazing how God made us all different and yet all the same in need of salvation. One of our team members have really been very focused on teaching how to become a believer. We have all tried to reinforce the verses and truths of how sin separates us from God. Jesus made it where we can be one again in Him. It is up to us to choose Him. That my friend is a universal message. If all we did this week was come and play with children, meet physical needs and speak words of encouragement but did not tell them about how to have eternal life, we would have missed God’s purpose. God’s plan was for us to plant the seeds of salvation, and the school supplies, puzzles, games, and time spent playing were just the things God used to open the door to what really important.

Please continue to pray for us as tomorrow is the last day at the care point. We will have one more Big Fun day. We are expecting about 500 people. SO PLEASE PRAY!!!!! We are tired but filled with joy!

July 28
Friday

Today’s Tentative Plan:
Bhalekane Carepoint by 10:15,
Westwood to Thulwane around 12:00

Please Read Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.Praise the Lord!

Glory!!! I hope you have worshiped as you read the Psalm as I have.
I am so grateful to the Father for His every provision.
Offer the Lord a sacrifice of praise. (That means just praise Him!)
Rest in Him just a minute and just listen.
Record what you sense Him saying to you.

Go back to the Psalm and record a verse that stands out to you.

What do you think God is communicating to you through this verse?
Be prepared to share your answer at our debrief time tonight.

Focal Passage for Today
Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Theme: Be Kind and Forgive One Another
As we live out this verse today choose to forgive any minor or major disagreement you might have had this week. The other person may not even know they have offended you, but Satan can use this to drive a wedge in your heart.
You may find that there are some at the care point that seem angry or
even bitter. Pray for them. Know that there are many things we will never understand about this culture or things that might happened behind closed doors. Show that person kindness. Use your words, but use your actions as well. Choose to hang out with children who may be older. They may not engage in much conversation, but just showing them attention is valuable.

End your quiet time today by humming or singing your favorite hymn. The Lord inhabits the praise of His people!

Have you ever had someone hug you and they just lingered in the embrace? Their hug was saying so much more than “Hi”, or “Goodbye”. It was as if they were communicating their great love for you and desire not to let you go. That is exactly what it has felt like numerous times this week as we have arrived at the care points. The ladies who cook greet us each morning with a hug, but those we really have a deep relationship with linger in their hug. It is how some of the staff has greeted us as we see those who have become good friends. There is no hug though like the hug the children give when they know it is their last time to see you until you come another year. Today was our last day at Thulwane care point. We have had the sweetest time with the children, shepherds and ladies that cook. We have laughed, held children, played games, smiled, eaten, encouraged, shared bible stories, and so much more. We have visited homesteads where families have had almost nothing. We delivered rice and meal to these families. Each came out the front door hands held high with thanksgiving to God for His provision. NOTHING stands out though like the lingering hugs of children who have bonded with you over the years. I am weeping even as I write because my heart hurts to know we may not see these special children again for a year or more, and some we never will.

As I held two special girls today in an embrace that said so much more than I will miss you, they were saying by their hug, “Thank you for coming.” “Thank you for loving me.” “Thank you for caring that I am alive and for praying for me.” “Thank you for keeping pictures of me from when I was a child when you came and bringing them so I can see what I looked like as a baby.” “Thank you!” You could tell neither child wanted to let go and return to their homestead. They just laid their head on me and held tight. As I held them I prayed for their health. I prayed for their safety. One of these girls has disappeared once from her home and was brought back 2 years later. So I prayed for her healing from what seems to be a very sad past. There are so many that want to be held. There just aren’t enough arms to hold.

We know we must let them go, but just as I told them, I have come back many times now and if God wills I will come again. It is what makes raising $3400, traveling 18 hours in the air, driving another 5 hours across yet another border worth every minute of it.

We will be at Bhalekane care point 2 more days loving on the children there. Tomorrow a part of the team will work on a home where no adult lives (Child led homestead). There are 3 children living in the home and there is a great need for locking doors and windows. Our team members along with some of the Swazi staff will make that happen. The rest of the team will be teaching bible stories and sharing the gospel again with the children. We will sing, dance, play and share many hugs again. Please continue to pray that God will move in a mighty way.

July 27
Thursday

Today’s Tentative Plan:
Bhalekane Carepoint by 10:15,
Westwood to Thulwane around 12:00
Medical clinic at Bhalekane

Please Read Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion,
to all generations. Praise the Lord!

It is so easy to get overwhelmed with what you see this week. Many times we are tempted to want to “fix it”. Verse 7 reminds us that God takes care of the oppressed and those who are hungry. God really does love these little ones more than we do. He knows exactly where they are. He has brought wonderful helpers to work with them daily and disciple them. As they study God’s Word they will learn more and more about how God is their help. He is the Creator of all things and He knows exactly what they need.

He is their provider.
Pray for the leadership at the care points that they will communicate the message of the gospel clearly.
Pray that they will not burn out with so many demands.
Pray for fresh vision for what they can do and for renewed strength to carry out what God shows them.
Pray for the leaders in their personal walk with the Lord that they will stay close and clean.

Focal Passage for Today
James 5:16: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Theme: Pray for One Another
Of all of the things we can do this week, nothing will be more powerful than the gift of prayer. Take time today to pray for yourself. Confess any known sin and have a clean heart before the Father. Pray that your Spirit will be renewed. Pray right now for our missionary friends who have helped us this week. Pray for renewal for them. Pray for their strength and for tender hearts toward the Lord. Pray against any evil that might be trying to seep in. Pray for God’s abundant blessing on us and our work as well as for them and what they are doing daily at the care points.

Take time to just sit a few minutes and express your thanksgiving to God.

We are totally given out tonight! We played hard and LOVED being with the children of Thulwane care point. Our morning started with playing with the preschool children. There were 40 of them, so you know we got lots of hugs and everyone wanted to hold our hands! I think some of our team members have become attached at the heart with the children! The wind was very strong today and when we blew up the jump castle it started to blow away, but it wasn’t long before it was filled with so many children it would have taken a tornado to lift it! They laughed, giggled, and smiled from ear to ear.

Thank you to those of you who helped make this possible. The older kids began to arrive around noon and the fun was kicked into full gear. We had bubble gum bubble blowing contests. They ran relays eating crackers and trying to whistle. Plastic eggs were passed from child to child as they ran as quickly as possible. The children each got to put frosting on a cupcake along with sprinkles and then they got to eat them! Our team was blown away because they had to teach them how to peel the paper away and eat them. They had never had a cupcake before! Lunch was the highlight of the day as each child got a steak, pap (a heavy grits) and beens. No matter how big or small the child was they got the same amount of food. They LOVED the meat and some even tried to eat the bones. We fed about 250 children.

As I walked around watching the children eat their meal I was struck by the bounty of God! He provided the money for the day. He gave the missionaries a good deal on the meat and it was cheaper than chicken or sausage. The Swaziland missionaries worked all morning cooking over grills to prepare the steaks and the gogos prepared the pap and beans. God was so good! The children were so excited to get to eat the giant pieces of meat. I did see a few of them sneaking what they did not eat into their backpacks. My eyes began to fill with tears of gratitude for God providing so abundantly. Oh how I take being able to eat what I want for granted. My heart breaks to think of these children having one meal a day. Today was a day of abundance though and today we feasted! The children sang and danced at the end of the day expressing thanksgiving to God. They also did a play thanking God for providing the finances for them to go to school when their families cannot pay. My heart broke as the child was told, clean out your stuff, you must leave school. The child playing the role was so convincing. I wondered if he had heard the story played out over and over. The child went home to a sick mother in the play only to tell the parent they were sent home for good. The parent expressed sorrow at not being able to provide. The child then goes to the care point in the drama and at the care point they received food, loved and acceptance and in the end they were told they could apply for school fees to be paid by the care point. The play ended with the sick mother expressing thanksgiving to God for providing for their child.

The children thanked us over and over. They had a special day. As they left each child got a piece of fruit, cookies, and a birthday card made by children or on of our friends in America. Thank you again to all of those who were praying. It went great. Thank you to those who gave so this day could happen. You invested well. I sure wish you could have been here to see how God used your gift to bless so many. Tomorrow we head back to the care points to love on the children and teach them about Jesus. Please keep praying.