Comfort and Joy!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I know this comes after Christmas but I pray you celebrated the birth of Jesus in special ways. Although unable to be with any of my family, biological or church, I was able to celebrate with my missionary family in Swaziland and had a great day after a hectic season! God continues to reveal His gift of love and sacrifice in new ways every year!

Our theme for the Christmas celebrations this year was comfort and joy. When sharing about God at one of the parties I asked a group of children, “Did you know that God wants to comfort you when you are hurting?” and a girl looked at me with sincere eyes and said “No”. My heart melted as we discussed how much God loves each of them and wants them to pray and let Him know when they hurt so He can bring them comfort.

The children here have such hard and difficult lives. The parties are the only Christmas celebration most of them receive. Thank you for supporting me and letting me be here to share His love.

I pray that 2011 is full of blessings and joy and more awareness of God at work in your lives!!

I know He has been growing my awareness of Him and how blessed I am!!!

Love and hugs to one and all!!!

Khisimusi Lomuhle!

This means Merry Christmas in Siswati and is pronounced "Key-see-moo-see Low-moo-sleigh". The Christmas Celebrations have begun!! Below are pictures from Ngwane Park "En-gwah-nee" Park. The theme is comfort and joy!!! All stations including the waterslide that I oversaw had a message about the comfort or joy of the Lord!! Learning and play combined throughout. The waterslide talked about the comfort of cool water when you are hot and tired and how Jesus is our comfort when we are hurting and uncomfortable. He loves each of us and listens when we pray and brings us comfort and healing! The children got to make a scarf for comfort when it is cold, jump for joy on the jumping castle, have birthday cake to celebrate Jesus' birth, play games to show how difficult the journey was for Mary when she was with child, a play telling the Christmas story, part of the Jesus film in Siswati their native language and a meal including meat, a rare treat for these children and a special gift at the end.

It was so much fun and the Lord blessed us with fantastic weather!!! No thunderstorms which we have had a lot of lately. Enjoy the pictures and a thank you to all who contributed to make these parties possible!!!! You are making a difference in these children's lives. They find it hard to figure out why people who don't know them care so much to love them and treat them special!!!

Thank you!!!!