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.