Shem

Hello to all my dear friends & even to my not-yet friends who are
reading this because Dr. Frost encourages you to :)

Well we were so blessed to have the team from Euto B*ptist here
serving with us. They were so encouraging and helpful to our ministry.
We spent the whole week with them, along with Make Gertrude, Babe
Mavuso, and (of course) Bhekie! They were our translators and are all
key members of our community of believers here. It was so different to
be on the other side of a short(er)-term team. We got to see a
different dynamic being part of the leadership rather than a part of
the actual team. I made some sweet friendships and got to sing a lot
(Thank you, Landon) and I was so sad to see them leave.

While they were here we did all kinds of different things. We did some
hut-to-hut visiting in our rural communities, visited orphans, held a
ladies retreat, a youth retreat, and a children’s day camp! Needless
to say, it was exhausting – but it was SO rewarding. The team of 16
broke up into smaller teams every day to go to different areas. I
mostly took the teams to the Mafucula area (which happens to be my
home). It felt just like taking one of my friends home from college or
something. I was so excited to introduce these people to my family and
my friends here.

After the team left, we decided to visit South Africa and relax! Kim
and I drove to RSA and mostly watched a lot of television because we
don’t have that at our home!
When we came back from South Africa, it was time to get down to
business! I started designing our plan and schedule for the upcoming
three months! We’re excited to continue our work alongside CHIPS, the
HIV Intervention Program, while also “doing our own thing”. We have
decided to do come community needs assessments hut-to-hut and while so
doing we can also share the message of sexual purity or faithfulness
in marriage and (of course) the Good News!! Usually, when you visit
someone’s homestead here in Swaziland, they expect you to bring the
Word. This will be awesome for us to be able to do.

We will still continue to go out with CHIPS and help with their
HIV/AIDS testing and visiting the sick and the poor, but we will also
be doing the community needs assessment on days that we’re not with
Jenn, Ian, Jabulani & Mary or doing whatever other opportunities come
our way.

Something that it has taken times getting used to is the pace of life
in Swaziland. Things happen much slower here than in the US…so getting
one thing done per day is seen as successful! I have to confess that I
have been frustrated at times because I’m so used to going and going
so much that I barely have time to stop – it is so unusual to have all
the time that I have.

This weekend we have been at the national B*ptist youth camp in
Manzini. We came along with a few youth from our association who are
attending the camp. We’re staying in Mbabane with Heather & Sienna,
the other HandsOn girls, until tomorrow afternoon.  We presented the
True Love Waits message at the camp this morning and had a really
great time.

One of our best youth girls, Kate (her SiSwati name is complicated!),
was just elected the associational youth leader! We talked with her
about getting connected with some of the girls at Mafucula and meeting
on a weekly basis.

Monday we will be heading back to the Hhohho region to attend the
Umhlanga (Reed Dance). Umhlanga actually officially started on
Tuesday. Over 80,000 maidens have been registered for the event. This
event pays homage to the queen mother (mother of the king). The girls
are rounded up from all over Swaziland on government vehicles and
taken to the queen mother’s residence. They go out to find reeds and
then, dressed in traditional attire (which I would encourage you to
Google), they will dance with the reeds in the presence of the king
and many other important people. This event is usually where the king
begins to pursue his next wife.  It is also the biggest tourist event
in Swaziland so we will encounter many different kinds of people!

On a tangent, I just wanted to send up some praise because I had a
weird sick spell this week. I was having intense headaches and nearly
passed out twice…I could not even stand for over five minutes. It only
lasted a short while but it was scary so I am thankful that it’s over!
Also I need to let you know that Bhekie has recovered from being
sick! PTL!

Here are some points of concern that you can be taking up to the Father:

•    The supply of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), a treatment for HIV, are
said to be running out this coming month. Please pray that something
extraordinary happens to revive the supply. The clinics have already
begun giving out expired ARVs and now we are afraid that if something
drastic doesn’t happen that many people will die.

•    Umhlanga. Many girls are raped or “fall pregnant” during this
weeklong camp-like atmosphere. Please continue prayer for the girls
that they will be kept safe.

•    Bhekie is facing some problems with his congregation right now.
Please keep him in your heart because he is one of our dearest friends
and one of  the strongest believers we know!