Weekly Prayer Update from Swaziland

OTHER PRAYER REQUESTS:

-May 21-30, a 23-member university team from Wilkesboro, North Carolina and Mississippi arrive to minister in the Hhohho region (Mbabane), staying in the rural area with the help of ACTS (African Christian Tours and Safaris).  Ministries include speaking in schools/teaching True Love Waits, children and youth ministries, homestead visitation, prayer walking and revival services.  Pray for safe travels, good health and many opportunities to share with the Swazi people the love of Jesus. 

-Saturday May 24^th is the scheduled training/workshop for the teachers of the Swazi Baptist churches’ preschools at the Phuzumoya Baptist Church.  Pray all the teachers will plan to attend this time of training and working together.  Pray the training will be very beneficial to the work of the preschools.

-Saturday the 31^st of May, the Shiselweni Baptist Association is scheduled to meet at the Velebantfu Baptist Church.  It has been a while since the Association has met and there is much to discuss.    Pray for a good representation.  Pray there will be unity in fellowship and much will be accomplished!!

-Plans continue for the volunteer team from the Smith Association in Texas scheduled to be in the Shiselwleni region June 18-28.  The team will conduct medical clinics as well as lead a pastor/leader training event.  Pray for the team members as they prepare spiritually for ministry with the Swazi people.

 

AIDS UPDATE:

N grew up in the Thunzini community and attended the Thunzini Baptist Church.  Her mother was not married to her father and after many years did marry an older man and move to Piet Retief, South Africa without N and her three brothers.  Three years later, when N was 10 she moved to Piet Retief to help her mother with a new baby brother.   Like most Africans, N’s mother and step-father rented extra rooms in their house .  One of the renters was a young man.  During the 2007 school break (December/January) N was left with other children at home while her mother went to town.  During that time the young man returned and tricked N into taking something to his room.  While in the room he attacked N and raped her.  He told her not to tell anyone or he would kill her.  5 months later, N is 13 years old and pregnant.  The young man has been arrested but it is uncertain whether he will be prosecuted.  A study of the UN Children’s Fund confirms that one out of three Swazi women has suffered some form of sexual abuse as a child.  Now N is one of those statistics that may include AIDS.  One wonders when the nightmare of continual abuse and AIDS will end.  Unfortunately for some it is just beginning.  Pray for N’s health as she deals with a pregnancy and pray she will not have contacted the HIV virus through this encounter.  Pray for the many female children/youth/adults in Swaziland that deal with the fear of abuse on a regular basis.

PM

26 Days To Go

With less than a month to go, please pray for the team as we make the final preparations for the trip.  Everything has come together so far and I know that God will continue to bless as we follow his lead.  

Also,  Chuck Barrett IMB missionary in South Africa asked for prayer concerning the economic situation in Johannesburg.  Here is the email:

This morning I learned of an urgent situation that is occurring in South Africa.  Because of frustration concerning the economic situation of South Africa, youth in South Africa have began a crusade to rid Johannesburg of “foreigners” they feel are taking their jobs and they want them to go home.  Here is an update from Chuck Barrett IMB missionary in South Africa concerning the situation:

 

Just for prayer and update, the violence here keeps creeping along as those with an evil agenda find targets on which to take out their personal frustrations.  Others are always to blame for our personal problems. 

 

As I traveled this weekend, one of our churches which would normally be full was very empty as people were practicing stay at home/stay safe preservation tactics.  I then traveled to a place where we have just started a Bible study and found most of the doors closed and many people away.

 

Please pray for this situation to improve and for the violence to stop.  I understand townships are being attacked and approximately 22 people have been killed.  Pray for the safety of our missionaries living and working in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area of South Africa.

We will be flying into Johannesburg on our way to Swaziland.  Please pray for our journey through S. Africa and into Swaziland.

PM

The First Blog

Thank you for visiting this blog site.  I look forward to sharing my experiences and observances in the future.  Please check back often to read new content.  PM