Vacation to the states…I love my family and friends!

University Team

Almost 20 students from Univerisities in NC and MS came together to work in Swaziland for about 10 days. They braved the elements and slept outside in tents on the property of one of the local schools near 4 of our churches. We praise God for all their hard and we are only beginning to see the works of their labor! Thank to our team for all their hard work. We praise God the laborers and are looking to the harvest.

4th of July FUN!

Yes, I am on foreign soil; however, we as Americans still celebrate our independence whether we’re in the US or else where. I had the most fun preparing a meal for our team of volunteers from the US. I made homemade mac and cheese, potatoe salad, pizza dip with chips, baked beans, along with hamburgers and hot dogs as well as dessert by Kimber! After revivals that night we all came back to the house where enjoyed Kimber’s dessert and fireworks. As Kimber and I read about the fireworks on the back on the box it advised us to always buy our fireworks from reliable firework dealers. We both laughed out loud since I had bought them earlier that afternoon in a Chinesse shop, which did we mention is in Africa. 🙂 No matter where the fireworks were purchased from we still had lots of fun. I was especially overjoyed that the weather was so pleasant. Last year it was cold, drizzling rain, and miserable! YAH! for great weather. Thank you, Lord!

National Youth Leader’s Retreat…

Youth Leader’s from all over the country all came together June 27-28 in Manzini at the Baptist church for training in biblical leadership and how they can be leaders in their communities, home, schools, and churches. The Youth Leaders had a great time not just learning, but also finalizing all the plans for the National Youth Camp in August.

Christmas in July with Operation Christmas Child

Back in April while I was in Manzini on my way to the fruit market I noticed some of the children carrying colorfully wrapped packages, which looked like shoe boxes. As I looked closer I realized that they were actually Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. WOW! Pretty cool, huh? I remember writing about the experience in my journal. Every year my home church, Flatwoods First Baptist (FFBC) in Flatwoods, KY, would prepare about 150 boxes to be sent out by Samaritans Purse International. During the last collection I was able to participate in November of 2006 my Sunday school of 4^th and 5^th graders prepared close to 16 boxes. So, for myself and my church family Samaritans Purse and Operation Christmas Child are very close to all our hearts. As one of those who would fill a box for a special little girl or boy I always imagined what it might be like on the other side when the children received their box. So, to actually be able to see a child with their box it was kind of surreal. The boxes were perfectly in tack and not one of them had opened it yet. I know for myself if I were one of the children I would so excited that I couldn’t help, but rip into the box. Not these children, though.

 

Well this past week my experience was taken one step further when I was able to participate in the distribution of the shoeboxes. One of the other mission sending organizations called, Children’s Cup, have care points where they feed and help the children with their education. As a part of their ministry that have also partnered with Samaritans Purse to be a distribution center for their shoeboxes and when I found out about it I jumped at the opportunity to join in. How awesome is our God that He knows our hearts desires and grants our requests without even an utterance.

 

 So, here are some of the pictures from my experience. Hope you enjoy our Christmas in July.