Praise the Lord!!!

Quick update (okay, knowing me it probably won't be so quick). I was feeling a little discouraged from the lack of response to my last blog. I had one couple who I admire greatly email me about it immediately but I, in the flesh, was disappointed that they were the only ones. God quickly showed me my prideful attitude. I was feeling Nhlanhla's future was in my hands and not His! I was worried that there was also Siphesihle "See-pay-see-sleigh" who I wanted to try to help with school fees next year. I wanted there to be such an overflow of response that we could help her also. I just wanted to be able to help them. "I", "I", "I". How many times must I be reminded that it is not about me. I can do nothing but with God ALL things are possible. God told me He only wanted one person to hear and obey. They did and I am happy to say that Nhlanhla's school fees are on the way!!!God is just so AWESOME!!! He helps a young man out that needs to know he is worth helping while at the same time He helps me grow in His image a little bit more!!!! God is so good!!!

As a side note, I have not found a new house yet but I am getting more excited about what God has in store. And. . . I got my hair cut real short finally and I like it! Check it out!!

I also want to give a shout out to The Oasis Church as they have installed an new World Missions Fountain to catch people's loose coins. May it overflow with change that will help change the lives of multitudes around the globe, including but not limited to Swaziland!!!

Nhlanhla's "En-slawn-slaw" Shot at a Brighter Future

Early this year I had mentioned 2 young people Sphesihle Bhembe "Sapy-see-sleigh Baim-bay" and Nhlanhla Masina "En-slawn-slaw Mah-see-nah" that I wanted to help. I organized for both of them to take an entrance exam into a nearby top rated high school. They both were in the top 3 of their class last year (position is more important than grades here), contributed to their community (Sphesihle from the Mangwaneni CarePoint and Nhlanhla as part of the HPC Swaziland serve team). I had made a deal with them that they would keep their positions up this year (they did) and I would pay for their entrance exam (I did) and if they were accepted I would work diligently to try to put their story out there and raise funds to attend this school (about twice as much as the government schools). It was a shot. For Sphesihle, she did not pass but we are looking at other options for next year. (Don't count Sphesihle out. She cannot go to this school but we will find her a good school so she can be all God has her to be. She is still very active with the Mangwaneni youth group and the CarePoint so look for her whenever I post pictures. She is a great girl to get to know.) For Nhlanhla he was accepted and now the miracle of finding the funds begin.

Let me tell you about Nhlanhla and why I picked him as one to try and help. He is 19, almost 20. He has such a servant heart.

He has had such a tough life and is still plugging away and not letting it get him discouraged. He has the sweetest, kindest smile. Nhlanhla has given me permission to share his story. These are his words. They are not grammatically correct but remember English is his second language. He has not embellished or toned down his past. He, like most Swazi's are matter of fact. Life is hard here for so many kids. Please listen to Nhlanhla's story and help me get him into a good high school so his future can continue to grow brighter. I will have more details at the end of how you can help. The pronunciations below are my addition. (Side note: Nhlanhla does not mention it in his story but his father is a heavy drinker which is another common issue in most households in Swaizland. This might help you understand his father's actions.)

"From the time I was 7 years old I was no longer staying with my parents because they used to fight most of the time and my mother did not want me to see the fights. She moved me to stay with her friends. But I could not stay for long. She kept on moving me to other places. She then asked one woman if I could stay with her. Every month she would bring money to the woman. That woman died in 2000 and I couldn't get in touch with my mother. I had to move out and stay in the streets. I had to get my food and maybe find shelter. I met a gang in town who forced me to join them to get shelter and food. I had to steal to be part of them. I had no choice. I did it and got caught and got arrested. That is when my mother found me because I was in jail. She then took me to a certain woman around Mbabane "mbah-bah-nay" who helped me get to make my father pay for my school fees. I started school at an old age and when I got in grade 3 I had to drop out because my father couldn't pay. I stayed with that woman but life began to be very rough because she was complaining that my father gave her nothing unlike other times.

Again I went to find my mum. She wasn't working but I stayed with her. I loved school though so I begged my dad to pay. He did and I went to school again doing grade 4. My mum asked the woman if I could stay with her again. This time things got worse and I could not tell nobody my problem because my mum couldn't help and my dad told me I was the one who made the choice to stay there and go to school. I was expected to buy food apart from money my dad gave for school. I tried to find means of getting money but it wasn't enough.

Time went on. Sometimes going to school and sleep with a hungry stomach. Later I went to a church, HPC where they used to give me food for some time. That is where I met Christ. Still I had to go under hardship at home with no help from my father who always chased me away whenever I went to him for help. I then searched for my mum until I found her. By then she was very sick with breast cancer and I had to take care of her because she had a child, my last born sister.

Everyday after school I would go and try to take care of her and my sister. I took her to the hospital but they said we were too late. For a long time up and down hoping and praying for a cure. Well it was too late. I went to my dad just to let him know but his words 'I do not need you and your problems please leave.' Those words built so much hate in me I wished he wasn't my father. That was worse than all the things he had ever said or did to me. I was filled with that hate. I even cried whenever I thought of him. He caused me to have a bitter heart. The only person I could get help from was my mum but she wasn't able to cause she was sick and had lost hope. In 2009, May, my mum died leaving me with a 2 year old baby sister to look after but that made my life miserable because I had to provide for her and at the same time go to school.

Where I lived was like hell on earth because I had to watch my sister hungry and crying. If the church didn't give us food we sleep in hungry stomachs. I would ask food from neighbors but couldn't do it for long. Every day I came back from school the woman would tell me to find a place and to leave with my sister. One day we came back from church and the door was locked. I thought nobody was there. I sat outside with my sister til 7:00 pm then the woman opened the door and told me to go and find a place to sleep. I was so confused because I had no where to go and no one to tell. I stood out trying to ask at least to let my sister sleep for the night but she refused. I took off my shirt and covered my sister. I cried holding her in my arms. I was so cold. I moved around the yard til 9:00 pm, then my friend at church called. I told her what had happened. She called two church leaders who dropped me at Mpolonjeni "Em-poe-lone-jenny" (I'm Not Forgotten Home) where we lived for a short time.

After some few weeks we were moved to a house at Thembelihle "Tame-bay-lee-sleigh". First I had to get rid of my bitterness. I had to face and fix things with my dad whom I hated so much cause he didn't even go to my mum's funeral. But I humbled myself and went to fix things with the help of the church (HPC). I tried to forgive my dad and that is changing him too. He agreed to let my sister stay with him and promised to take care of her. I am staying with my youth pastor in the guys house and trying to develop the relationship between me and my dad."

Unlike many of the schools here, Sifundzani "See-voond-zah-nee"High School requires spots to be paid for next year by the end of Oct. I meant to post this blog several weeks ago when we found he had been excepted and I apologize. The year of school plus a uniform will run about R9200. R3000 has already been donated leaving just under $1000 left to raise in 6 weeks. If you can help in any big or small way without taking any money you have been contributing to missionaries or ministries or tithe; please send it to

Children's Cup

P.O. Box 400

Prairieville, LA 70769

or call (225) 673-4505 and ask for other ways to donate and be able to designate the funds.

Please identify the donation as school fees for Nhlanhla Masina

If we are able to go above and beyond, I will use the funds to help Sphesihle find a school. Thank you my loyal blog readers. I am sure you will share this blog with others who can help us help Nhlanhla. Working together we can make a significant impact on the life of a young person who needs us. Siyabonga! "see-yah-bone-gah" (Thank you!) This was Nhlanhla dressed in his best for church this morning!

Ups and Downs

Sorry for the lack of blogging. Being busy is one of the downs of being a missionary (guess it isn't just a missionary kind of thing) and so is the cold and rainy day that today is. I have been reflecting on my year so far and realized it has had the biggest ups and downs I have had since I arrived almost 3 years ago.

Biggest UP -- This year I had the trip of a lifetime in getting to go to KB's wedding in Botswana, see Vic Falls (Amazing!!!) and got a chance to see the ministry in Zimbabwe. Something I heard about but never had gotten a glimpse of.

Biggest DOWN -- My best Swazi friend, Gugu Dlamini "Goo-goo Zlah-mee-knee" got sick and passed away within a week. She was the best example of showing God's love to all. She made me laugh when I was stressed and gave some of the best hugs. I still miss her deeply.

Up -- Know some great kids that are healthier and doing well in school. Will post a delayed post tomorrow, I promise, on one of these young persons who was able pass a tough exam to get into a really good high school (another one did not pass) and now I am trying to raise funds to send him.

Down -- Might have to say goodbye to one of my CarePoints. Because of political conflict in the area, in trying to protect the rights of the children we have been falsely accused into trying to "tell" the community into how to use their land. We could win the battle but if there is animosity it would not benefit the children in the long run. It is so hard to even think of saying goodbye to kids I love and care for. I pray God is raising up strong leaders within the community to carry on and that the government agencies connected to the CarePoint will also come to their aid if we have to remove Children's Cup from the situation.

Up -- I was able to go away to Xai Xai "Shy Shy" in Mozambique and stay with the new missionaries Mel and Diane, there for a week and soak up the ocean, which is my best place for renewal and restoration. My co-missionary friend Karen Brennan joined me and it was such an awesome blessing that God worked out!!! The transport, the place to stay, the company and even the funds thanks to a lovely person from a recent team. Thank you Patty.

Down -- Need to find a smaller place. Probably not a real down, just a change. But finding a new, safe place to live when you are soooo busy is a down. Pray for provision and wisdom and time to look.

Up -- Our kids (meaning the children at all the CarePoints) are healthier. We have been using the vitamin fortified "Feed My Starving Children" food at the CarePoints and are finding that overall our kids are not as sick this winter as in previous years!!! Schools are feeding more regularly also (pray it is not just temporary) so our kids aren't going as hungry.

Down -- Our kids don't need us as much which is an awesome thing!! But we are losing touch with many because they are not as in much need. We are pouring so much more into them than just food and medical care that it is sad that without the need for food they don't see the need to come. God's love and the desire to learn more has taken hold of some which is an up and we see them coming regularly.

Let me end on a BIG UP!!! Mitch and Char have arrived!!!!! What a blessing!! Only spent a week with them with the team last year but bonded so immediately! And then through the internet and skpye have become such close friends over this past year that it is just wonderful to have them here!!!!!!!!