Monthly Archive

I know some of you all have been asking to see pictures of 40/40 as well as my house, etc. so here you go. Thanks to Hunter one our Summer Student Volunteers I was able to figure out to how to make the files smaller so they could be uploaded quickly.

40/40 Pictures

Swaziland Pictures

National Youth Committee

View from my backyard

I hope to be able to post more pictures soon. Enjoy!

Well, well…here I am back in Swaziland and I’m looking forward to not living out of a suite case for a while. Just in case some of you don’t know about my travels let me update you.

April 24- Mbabane, Swaziland (Assignment Field Arrival)

April 30- Nairobi, Kenya (Regional Women’s Conference)

May 8- Mbabane, Swaziland

May 12- Lusaka, Zambia and surrounding areas (40/40 Safari/Cultural Acquisition)

June 11- Johannesburg, South Africa (Cluster Training)

June 13- Mbabane, Swaziland (Home Sweet Home)

 

Life has been busy and I’ve been learning a lot about Africa as well as myself. I never knew there was so much to know about being a missionary, but with such an important job that goes without question. The International Mission Board as well as our region also desires for us to be more effective in our spreading of the gospel. It’s all about, Revelations 7 “Every tribe, every nation, every tongue worshiping around the throne of God.” The Lord so desires for all to know him and have a personal relationship with him, but more than that he desires for us to truly worship him with all our hearts, all our minds, and with all our souls whether we are missionaries or nationals.

 

Today during my quite time I was reading out Judges 10-12 and studying in my Sunday school quarterly, from KY, about leadership as well as what means to make a vow to the Lord. God wants us to be equipped the best we possibly can in order to speak, live, and teach in accordance with his will and purpose. Good leaders will not only recognize the importance of such training but will make the needed sacrifices and commitments to obtain the necessary skills to do God’s will. WOW! Now that’s a pretty powerful statement. It hit me like a ton of bricks, that’s the whole point of why I have been in training for the past 3 1/2 months. I may only be a journeyman and 24 years old, but my job description read Youth and Children’s leadership. The people in the churches as well as the Youth Leaders here are looking to me and expect more out of me than they expect of themselves. So, how can I do my job if I’m not equipped with the right tools, more over how can I do my job if I am not willing to be equipped.

 

In Judges 10-12 we learn about a leader named, Jepthat, someone most us have never heard or at least don’t remember all that well. See Jepthat was the illegitimate child of Gilead, a great leader of Gideon, but his half brothers rejected him and chased him out of town. Since he was so afraid of his brothers he fled the country with some outlaws and decided to remain in exile, but God had other plans for his life. Jepthat suffered because of no wrong of his own and he was driven out of the land for circumstances beyond his control. As we all sit here and think of people we know who are outcast and down trotted or times in our lives when we’ve been the victim, maybe we should stop and ponder this question. How often do we in our churches, homes, or community reject or drive out people who do not dictate or fit our norms? Ouch, huh? God hit me with the same burning question this morning.

 

I was reminded of how I treated a youth who came to my house on Tuesday. That morning I was awakened by a pecking on my bedroom window and a voice saying “Hello, Julia.” at 7:15. Tacona had found her way into the gate when Maria left the flat and instead knocking on the door or ringing the bell she simply came to my window. Talk about rude awakens. I thought I was still dreaming. Although, I had invited Tacona over that morning since she had phoned earlier on Sunday explaining that she had some problems she needed to discuss; however, I didn’t expect her quite so early  I had planned on her arrival being closer to tea time at 10. None the less I quickly changed clothes and greeted her at the door. As Tacona began to tell me about her father leaving her mother for a prostitute and how he wouldn’t pay for school fees my heart was hard. I had already been told that she was probably going to ask for money or at least see what she could get from the new missionary. Ask, she did and for more than I was expecting. I simply explained that I couldn’t help as she desired, but we would pray together after breakfast and if the Lord saw fit he would provide. Needless to say my house helper, Dorian, arrived and we did have breakfast as well as tea and we read God’s word, but I failed to pray for her needs. I was so wrapped up with what she was trying to get out me in the way of finances and material goods I failed to recognize the spiritual need. Often great potential is wasted due to our prejudices and on Tuesday morning I failed to see that there was a youth standing before me who need discipleship as well as counseling. We all have a place in God’s family as Christians. Thank you God for opening my eyes and I ask that you help me to recognize the spiritual needs of those around me. Please allow me the opportunity over the next 2 years to help Tacona again.

 

As the story of Jepthat continues, once again Israel had left the worship of the one true God and began to worship pagan gods; however, when circumstances changed and all was no longer well they cried out to the Almighty God. How often do we do the same? While everything is going well in life we simply depend on self and then when life begins to take a turn we coming running to God crying out for help. God just as he did for Israel always takes us back, but God’s desire is not to be police service coming to rescue us at the first sign of danger, but God’s ultimate desire is for us to full rely on Him daily for all our comforts and need to be met.

 

Since my arrival back in Swaziland I have begun to learn the fine art of small daily victories. For example last Thursday I went to the grocery and shopped almost completely by myself. Monica did have to help me a couple of times, but I came home with several bags of groceries in hand and now have a refrigerator full of good food. Also, last Friday I went driving all by myself to the mall to pick up a few things I forgotten to bring with me. I made a few wrong turns and only stalled once, but I made it home safe and sound. However, there have been some minor frustrations and not all is always so perfect. These are the times when I have wanted to curse the fire because I can’t get it started or continue to burn, the internet has stopped worked, or I’ve been stuck on hill in the truck and had to call Steve to come help. None the less these have been learning experiences in how trust in God. In the states I was always so independent, but here in Swaziland I am learning the fine art of asking for help. There have been times when I have just tired to keep it all perfectly together then God simply uses the words of someone every special to remind me “I am not an island unto myself.”

 Finally the story ends with Jepthat becoming the new judge and leader of Israel. Although, he was not formally educated, he was a smart leader in the sense that he learned and understood the significance of Israel’s history. We, too, in the same sense should look back to our own pasts and recognize how God has brought us through many tests and trails as well as sweet victories. Transitions and change both sink, but life is never easy especial when we as Christians chose the path less traveled, narrower, and steep.  

INTEREST + PASSION + GIFTS + TRAINING + AVAILABILITY = GOD’S ABILITY

Prayer Requests:

·        Please ask the Lord will continue to provide more sweet times in the word like this morning as well as times of correction and discipline.

·        Pray that I will be an active learner at all times as a leader and willing to make the commitment and sacrifices necessary to do the job God has called me to do.

·        Ask the Lord to bless me with small daily victories and always remember to thank him in return.

·        Please remember Tacona, pray that the Lord will continue to allow me opportunities to pour into her life.

·        Pray for continued peace, wisdom, and discernment as I walk through the many transitions of a new culture, new surroundings, and new life long friends.

 

 S – Salvation: Pray for the salvation of the people in Swaziland.

W – Workers: Please pray that God will raise up workers (Pastors) to lead the churches. Several churches are currently without Pastors.

A – AIDS: Ask the Lord to help the Swazi people understand how to stop the spread of AIDS/HIV. Pray that the hearts of the children will be prepared for the message of True Love Waits.

Z – Zionism: Pray that the Swazis would turn from Zionism (African pagan religion) to Christ.

I – Increase: Please pray that the number of evangelical/Baptist churches in Swaziland would increase. May the Lord increase our boundaries so that we might reach the people with the word of the one true living God.