Come over and help us

"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging
   him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."      -Acts 16:9

 

God is calling us again.  As this passage of Scripture tells of a man urging the apostle Paul to come to where he was to help him and his people....so Mark and I are being called to return to Swaziland, Africa - as leaders of a group of 34 fellow missionaries from throughout Michigan.  Returning to continue the ongoing legacy that has been built over the years....of bringing love, hope and help to those most vunerable, the widows and orphans there. 

The trip is planned for June/July of 2013....but preparation is already under way.  We've held our first of several 'Team Meetings' and we're excited to see what God has planned and how He will work through the teenagers, the twenty, thirty, forty, fifty and sixty something's that make up the team
(...don't ask as to which group we belong :).

We'll be updating this blog along the way so please feel free to drop by from time to time & check it out.  We also welcome your prayers and support as we prepare for this most important work.  God bless. 

Do Everything In Love

"Do everything in love." -1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV)

This verse was the focus for our team and our trip. Wherever we went people saw it on the back of our t-shirts and sweatshirts. But more importantly, our hope is that the truth of this verse was seen wherever we went and in all that we did. Here are some pictures taken during our precious time spent working at El Shaddai Children's Home and School.

Comfort The Suffering

"Comfort, comfort my people', says your God." -Isaiah 40:1 (NIV)

Many of us had a difficult day today. We spent the morning at the Swazi Government Hospital praying with and for the many sick, broken and dying here. We brought much needed medicine, personal hygiene supplies and bags filled with coloring books & crayons for the children. We loved on those we visited...some to the very end of their life here on earth. We expressed our feeling of helplessness but also confidence in God's sovereignty and love. We may not have completely changed their situation but for those few hours we brought them hope. We praise God for that.

Midway Point

"His mercies are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:22

We've been here for 1 wk now. Much has been done. Painting teacher houses at El Shaddai Children's home. Plantings, trenches dug, food distributions to some very poor. Loving on and worshipping along side the Swazi people. Today we learned more about the Swazi culture and enjoyed God's creation on safari. Tomorrow more work to be done. So very thankful for the opportunity and privilege of serving here. Will load some pictures next week. God bless.

Sound His Praise

"Bless our God, O peoples, And sound His praise abroad" Psalm 6:8 (NASB)

We leave tomorrow for our mission work in Swaziland. We're packed, excited and ready for the journey to begin. Many opportunities lie ahead. Work projects are planned. But what we're really looking forward to is seeing people that we've come to know and love. The orphaned children. The village ladies. Our sponsored child. People who have enriched our lives beyond measure. It's truly a privilege to be able to go. Yes we are ready....ready to sound our God's praise abroad!

Learn To Do Good

"Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the

orphan, Plead for the widow." -Isaiah 1:17

We had our final team meeting yesterday in preparation to our upcoming trip to Swaziland, Africa. During the meeting the team of 32 poured over a stack of final details so we all know what to expect in the coming days. We even had a chance to experience lunch 'Swazi style' (thanks Elaine & Lynn :). But these pictures really capture it all. The reason why we're going. At the end of the meeting each team member collected arm loads of supplies that we'll be taking over with us. Supplies that will bring smiles to the faces of orphans. Supplies that will bring hope to the many sick and poor there. But what we can carry with us on the plane is just a 'drop in the bucket'. Once we get there we'll be buying even more. Supplies & medicines for a local hospital and clinic. Concrete & building supplies for work projects. Immune boosting vegetable plants for a local school garden area. Loads of food for distributing to rural needy families. Buckets for water filtering systems that we'll be teaching the Swazis to assemble and use that will enable some families and communities to have clean, safe drinking water for the very first time! Awesome! The ChronoSpan app on my iphone gives me the running time before we'll leave for Swaziland. 19 days & counting. Can hardly wait to get there.

Make A Difference

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" Ephesians 2:10

"We were made to make a difference". I heard that phrase a couple of days ago and it's still ringing in my head (and heart). Makes me wonder....what kind of difference have I made today? Does it have to be something BIG......or could it be: A kind word to a family member. A helping hand to an elderly person in the grocery store checkout line. A voicemail thanking a co-worker for their friendship and support. A prayer lifted up on another's behalf that is worried or needing comfort. Humm...'We were made to make a difference'. What difference will you make today?