Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I'm still processing this holiday weekend and what God has been showing me and growing me! My life, in general, is not how I would have ever imagined it even 10 years ago! What seemed like disasters have blossomed into opportunities! What seemed like sacrifices have turned into blessings!

My devotion the other day spoke of the verse Luke 2:7 "She brought forth her firstborn Son . . . . and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Billy Graham said "No room for Jesus? No room for the King of kings? No, but room for others and for other things. There was no room for Jesus in the world that He had made----imagine! Things have not really changed since that Bethlehem night over 2000 years ago. God is still on the fringes of most of our lives. We fit Him in when it is convenient for us, but we become irritated when He makes demands on us. If God would only stay in His little box and come out when we pull the string! Our lives are so full. There is so much to be done. But in our busy activities are we in danger of excluding from our hearts and lives the one who made us?"

Then my friend, Mike Pier, a missionary in Zimbabwe wrote on his blog "When Jesus made His appearance in our world, it wasn't with a lot of fanfare and with extravagant celebration. He CHOSE to be born in Bethlehem, a city that surely wasn't a vacation hotspot of the day, in a barn that was full of animals, hay, a few rats and poop and in a manger . . . . a feeding trough. If this is where the Creator of the universe chose to be born, if this is where God showed up on Earth . . . what is He saying to us? I think Jesus is saying 'I'm a real person and I'm here to relate with real people, to meet them right where they are, in the dirty places, where there's animals, rats and poop. Even if it smells bad. I don't need a red carpet rolled out for me, cuz You can be real when you come to me . . . just as you are.' So many times we think I need to get myself straightened out, then I'll go to church. I'm here to tell you . . . NOT SO!!! It's just the opposite, Jesus loves a mess . . . and He loves cleaning up a mess. He already knows that we smell bad, that we are in a rough place and maybe have made a mess of our life."

Then on Christmas Eve, Pastor Roger challenged us to seek God for just one thing in 2012. As David did in Psalm 27:4 "The one thing I ask of the Lord . . . the thing I seek most . . ."

So as the Christmas holiday and 2011 come to a close . . . Have I made room in my life for Christ? Not on the fringe but an abiding resident in the center of all I do!

Am I as real a person as Jesus? Am I seeking the fanfare or am I willing to roll up my sleeves and work with Jesus to clean up the stinky, rotten recesses of my life. Then, am I willing to help Him do that with others? It's one thing to work in your own filth but it's another to step into someone else's.

And what will I ask from the Lord in 2012? What is the thing I will seek most? To be in His presence more? My heart says that in 2012 I should seek to have more of Christ's heartbeat . . . to see others as He sees them, love others as He loves them, work patiently with others as He works without ceasing with each of us. I am so short of being able to do that in my own strength, I am quick to see other's faults, quick to snap and judge and impatient for others it "get it" but for 2012 I will seek that I will be more of a vessel He can use!!! More of Him and less of me!

May your Christmas have been blessed and may the New Year bring us all closer to God!

Before 2011 draws to a close, it is a great time for that year end tax deduction AND to partner with me through http://www.childrenscup.org/give-now/ to give hope, inspire dreams and change lives in Swaziland! Thank you for your love, friendship, prayers and support!!!

Application

Application

Position: Missionary in Swaziland for another year

Strengths: Gift of administration and passion for children

Weaknesses: Unable to do any of this in my own strength and can be self centered and strong willed.

Job Description: Office administrator for Children’s Cup office in Swaziland including payroll for 40+ local staff. Director of Swaziland’s partnership with Mission of Mercy child sponsorship program for the 18 CarePoints and 1,500+ children across the nation. Love on, encourage, counsel and build relationships with 20+ office/church staff as we;; as the teachers and cooks at Mangwaneni CarePoint. Occasionally get to go play with kids, give high five twirls and work with teams from the states.

Salary: None from Children’s Cup. Donations to the ministries of Children’s Cup goes to the ministry and none of it is funneled to missionaries for support, vehicle expenses or living expenses.

I recently found out I cannot pay my way to stay in Swaziland next year. As of January my funding will be cut by more than half and will be below what I need to live here.

My faith is in Christ and in His calling me to Swaziland over 4 years ago. I do not feel He has asked me to leave Swaziland at this time. There is still so much more to be done and so much He is doing!

But it is not by my faith that I will be able to stay here . . . . it is by yours!

· Faith that I am being God’s hands and feet here.

· Faith that the funds I receive I will use with integrity.

· Faith that God has called you to be part of His channel of provision to me.

· Faith that God will honor and bless you and provide for your household as you help provide for me.

Please pray about this with me. God may be calling you to be a prayer warrior and stand in the gap for me and for Children’s Cup. Great things continue to unfold in the Cup ministries and this is just one obstacle that the enemy has laid out there that needs spiritual intervention. God may be calling you to financially assist me monthly or in a one-time gift to cover the next 6 months until I can go back to the states and try to raise support face to face and in churches. I need $5,000 during that time to make sure I can pay rent, utilities, groceries & gasoline to visit CarePoints. I have not been back to the states for over 2 years so I know, unless you have been to Swaziland you feel a little disconnected from me personally. If there is any way I can meet with you when I am in Oklahoma, Connecticut and hopefully Georgia or visit your church, during June and July, just let me know. I love my blog and FaceBook family and treasure your prayers and support. Thank you for praying about it and letting me know what God lays on your heart.

Please accept my application.

Sincerely,

Sandra Chesterman

Missionary

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There is no such thing as a "White Christmas" in Swaziland!

On the contrary, the weather fluctuates between HOT and thunderstorms!! But it is one of the most exciting times in Children's Cup ministries. . . . the Christmas parties!!!!It is not just a chance for kids to get to get treats and jumping castles, it is a learning experience!!!

Every station teaches about Jesus and centers around the theme that GOD IS WITH ME!!!

From dancing after they learn about the wise men following the star, to learning about Jesus' baptism before they water slide, to learning about fishing for men as they fish for treats,

to hear about the feeding of the 5000 before they eat fish

and bread (and rice),

to playing with a GIANT ball after learning about the stone rolling away from the grave, to hearing of Christ's ascension and then jumping on the jumping castle and then finally getting to color their own special button to remind them that "GOD IS WITH ME" always!!!!

The celebration ends with birthday cake and FIREWORKS!!! So many of these kids deal with situations that even adults should not have to be exposed too! Death, abuse, abandonment, severe hunger and life threatening illnesses!!! Hope comes in the form of Jesus!!!

It reawakens the knowledge of what is really important! I still don't know about how my financial situation will look next year. I have had to wrestle recently with "what if it doesn't come in" scenario and have decided that although I don't feel called back to the states, if God allows that to happen, He will still be with me!!! The Bible says not to worry about anything but to present it before God in prayer, always giving thanks!!!! (paraphrase of Philippians 4:6) So that is what I choose today. Celebrate the season with sharing God's love and the truth of His Son!!! I will rejoice in being able to serve Him here or wherever I end up!!! And I am going to have a blast next week getting lots of kids wet on the water slide!!!!!

The Future Looks Brighter!

"A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might." Proverbs 24:5

I am so excited about these fourteen 5 year olds from Mangwaneni CarePoint showing family and friends all that they learned this year and enhancing their might to change their world!

Teachers Dorah and Njabu "En-jah-boo" work hard but their caring heart for these children is what shows through at graduation. These graduates now know their alphabet, can count to 20, know their shapes and colors, and the days of the week! They know the pledges to the Bible, the Christian flag and to Swaziland. They can recite Psalms 100 and sing a variety of Siswati and English songs.

Impressively these children have learned to speak boldly and with confidence as displayed when they shared who they were and what they wanted to be when they grow

up! (Nurses, doctors, teachers, police, soldiers and even a pilot!)

You would have no indication from the celebration the tough backgrounds many of these children have and what a difference being able to come to the CarePoint

has made in their young lives.

Let me share part of Thubelihle Matsebula's "Two-bay-lea-sleigh Maht-say-boo-lah's" story. She is the 5 year old little girl standing with me in the picture above holding her graduation certificate. She is also the one in the group picture at the top of this blog, on the front row, two in from the left with her hand playfully on her hip.

Thube as she is called, would often be locked out of the house early in the morning when her mother went to try to sell bags of chips at the bus rank and the other children would go to school. Alcohol is another ingredient in her home life. Thube was a very lonely and neglected child. When she was almost 4 the teacher spoke with Thube’s mother about getting her on medication and letting her come to the free preschool. She was able to attend the preschool class after that but teacher Dorah says that often she would hide in the cemetery and not come to class. The other kids did not like Thube because she was dirty and sickly and angry. After a couple of months, with the patient, consistent work of the teachers, Thubelihle started attending class regularly. She started playing with other children and going to medical clinic monthly and taking medication consistently.

By looking at Thubelihle at the Mangwaneni CarePoint preschool graduation, confident and happy, you would not be able to tell that when she started coming to the CarePoint, 3 years ago, that she was often found sleeping out by the road, hungry, sickly and alone. When she was almost 3 years old she started showing up at the CarePoint with her young aunts (school age) when they would attend, mainly during school break. Back then she would come mainly to eat.

If she stayed longer, you would find her just sitting on her own while other children were playing and having fun. She, along with most of her family, chronically suffer from not having a strong immune system, currently effecting at least a third of Swaziland. During this period she was not taking any consistent medication and was sick a lot of the time.

Thubelihle is like a butterfly that has come out of her cocoon. She has emerged as a strong and healthy girl. She is smart and loves to write (or copy) words. She has dreams to become a police woman. She has learned many Bible verses and knows that God loves her. She has confidence, joy and an eagerness to learn. She has hope. She has a brighter future!

Thank all of you who support Children's Cup!

The preschool is just one area of our ministries but it is making such a huge impact on not only Thubelihle, not only the children at Mangwaneni CarePoint but hundreds of children that graduated from our numerous CarePoints across Swaziland!

Giving Hope! Inspiring Dreams! Changing Worlds!

God Might Call Me to Africa!

Isn't it everyone's fear? . . . if I am open and fully submitted to God then He might send me to Africa!!!!

It is funny that I never thought that. I never thought I was missionary

material. I'm not an evangelist per say. I am not a nurse or a teacher. I don't have a discipleship gifting to lead bible studies for adults or children. I am compassionate but in no way am a "bleeding heart" or have the gift of mercy. My gifting is administrative. So it was never on my radar that at 47 being a divorced mom of two adult young men, that God could or would even thing of calling this geographically challenged woman to a place she had never heard of. . . Swaziland Africa.

It all started when my pastor came back from an orphanage in India. God started stirring in me the thought that maybe I could minister to kids outside the US. I guess you would say, God gave me a more global view of my life! I started thinking He might want to us me outside my little world. Then my pastor came back from Swaziland, Africa and shared about the ministry going on through Children's Cup. It sounded like they were doing a great thing.

And then . . . the still small voice came:

"I want you to go to Africa!"

I replied "Great Lord, I would love to go on another mission trip!" (years before I had gone with another church to Honduras, the only other country I have ever flown to)

"No, I want you to go and be a missionary in Africa!"

"Okay Lord, I will go on a mission trip and then we can talk about it."

Now mind you this conversation was over a period of days, not just a 5 minute talk. It was a conversation that repeated itself many times in my quiet times with God.

God finally said "No! If I say it is okay to go, then it is okay!!! You do not need to visit first. I will be with you!"

And at that point I said "Okay. I don't know how or why but okay."

This is the most out of character thing I could do. Complete surrender. I cannot tell you the peace I felt. I had no clue about what I would be doing there (turns out they needed administration on the African side of the world) or how I would be able to afford it. (I was raised Southern Baptist where they have a mission agency that covers everything). I did not know anything about the culture. I was a blank slate. (I did find it on the map and also found out that South Africa was an actual country, not the southern part of Africa!)

Was I called to Africa because I was so yielded and open to God? I don't think so. I think I was stubborn and comfortable in my regular pattern of life. I think He called me to Africa and I chose to be obedient. I had a lot (and still do) of growing to do. But when I was called to Africa, for the first time I listened to Him and not to the other voices:

"You don't know what you are getting into!"; "Who are you to be doing that!"; "You can't make it!" "You aren't capable of that!" "How can you do that?" "You are just one person!" "You are not anyone special!" "You aren't spiritual enough!"

All I remember is God saying that if He said it was okay to go, then it was okay! And it has been!

I have never regretted coming to Swaziland. In fact I considered myself so blessed to be able to serve here. Over the last couple of months, God has confirmed that He has called me to Swaziland, His grace and peace for me is here; not Zimbabwe, not Mozambique and not even in the United States anymore. At least for now. God might call me to go somewhere else down the road and hopefully I will continue to be obedient but' He hasn't yet.

Even in the light of my financial situation being cut to half of what I need to live and serve here come January, I am convinced I am supposed to be here. If I have learned anything in the 4 years I have been here, it is that God is faithful. If He says it will be okay, it WILL be okay. You don't have to fear God's plan for you! If you ignore His voice you just miss out on the many blessings beyond what you could imagine. Don't say "What? No way!" Just say YES!!! (or in Swaziland it is YEBO!)

If God is laying on your heart to help support me in 2012, please email me sandra@childrenscup.org or go to the childrenscup.org website and click on donate. If you are a member of the Oasis church, please continue to support me through designated offerings to the church. My prayer though, is that everyone who reads my blog will be open and yielded to God to say YES to whatever He is calling you to do. You won't regret it! Whether it is raking the neighbors leaves or visiting a nursing home or taking in someone who is in need, don't be afraid! The enemy makes it look bigger and more overwhelming than it really is. Work with the homeless, widows, refugees, single moms or where ever God calls you. (Don.t worry, it probably won't be Africa!) May you richly enjoy the blessings God has bestowed on you!! May you jump for joy for every new blessing you discover as you walk in obedience! I know I am!

Being Obedient

I don't know how to begin this. It is not what or how I wanted to present myself. I wanted to share with you my conversations with God that brought me to the mission field four years ago. I wanted to paint the picture of how God uses me here in Swaziland . I wanted to be creative and poetic and inspiring.

Did you notice the theme . . . I wanted.

God and I had a wrestling match of wills tonight and of course He won!!! It's not that I lost, it is that He showed me the root of my will was ultimately "my wants". What I really want is to serve Him in whatever manner He chooses. But He showed me "my wants" (mentioned in the beginning of this blog) were arrogant. I wanted to prove "I" was worthy. That "I" could do this blog in such a way that "I" would be thought of as clever and special. Although I am not anxious about the future (a major growth in my faith) I am still trying to do His work in my own strength. So far, this blog makes little sense to you so let me try and clarify.

As of January 2012 my funding will be cut to half of what I need to live in Swaziland. (I need $2000/month and I will only have about $1000/month starting in Jan ) I had not planned to go back to the US for a visit until June and I definitely had not planned to be raising funding.

Can God provide?Absolutely!

Can He do it without my asking for help? Of course!

But will He? I don't think so.

Because in asking, I have to say that I need help. I don't like that. I want to make it flowery. I want to disguise my need and show my worth. I don't feel comfortable in straight out asking for help. And down deep I don't want to have to be that vulnerable, that open to rejection.

That's where my wrestling match started tonight. I was still making it all about me.

But it's not about me. It is about Him. It is about me getting out of the way and letting Him use me or you or whomever to bring Him glory. I don't think I will be leaving Swaziland because I know I have not been called elsewhere. God will lay it on certain people's heart to help support me and I will be grateful and they will be blessed for their obedience even when they don't understand the why or how. I've learned a lot in serving Him in Swaziland and the most significant one is to be obedient. When I hear His voice . . . obey. To never do anything out of guilt, pressure, pleasure or any other reason but only when I know it is what God wants me to do, even if I don't understand why. God does not need me to do His work here. I am blessed that He chooses to use me. God is doing amazing things in the lives of children, youth and even the co-workers I work with here in Swaziland. I pray I have and will continue to be a vessel for Him to use; to be His hands and feet to love on, encourage and build up others. Tonight though God has made it clear to me that I have to say I need your help to stay here. It might not be how I wanted to say it. I'm sure it is not the way others will say I should say it. But I work for Emmanuel -God is with us. God is with you. God is with me. So in obedience to Him may I in true humility say . . .

"I need your help."

Thank you as always for reading my blog, loving me, praying for me and putting up with me as I work out my faith. I pray my journey helps you in yours. I know you help me in mine. I love you all and I know I am loved and blessed beyond measure!!!!

If God is calling you specifically to help me, please email me at sandra@childrenscup.org or go to chidrenscup.org and click on donate and then my name or if you belong to The Oasis Church, please send your designated donation through them as they will send it on to me. If your contribution will be on a consistent basis will you please let me know show I can include it in my budget. And regardless of if God uses you in supporting me financially; THANK YOU for supporting me with your thoughts, your prayers and your time in keeping up with the ministry God is doing in Swaziland!

"Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope." Ephesians 3:20

A glimpse inside

The following story was not written by me but by one of my staff that has shared so beautifully a glimpse inside the Swazi culture and inside the life of Andile, a child that attends one of our CarePoints. The wording has not been altered, remember that English is the second language for Swazis. The pictures throughout this blog (taken by a recent team) are not of Andile but of a variety of children that Children Cup touches through various CarePoints.

HOW THE PROJECT CHANGED ANDILE's LIFE

God bless you as you read on how your prayers and support has helped Childrens Cup touch and change the hopeless lives of many kids with one Andile Gamedze being today's example.

Andile is an eight year old boy who was abandoned by his father while he was still young. After having four kids with Andile's mother he then ran away from responsibility without trace. He is said to have moved on with other ladies,impregnanting them and leaving them stranded and not taking responsibility of his deeds as is common practice in this culture. As a result Andile's mother who is not working didnot know what to do with her lovely kids who needed three meals a day, quality medical care,quality education,to mention but a few.

But God had a plan through the partnership of Childrens Cup and Mission of Mercy to take care of such kids. His mother left him with others to go and look for a job which is very scarce to get in this country.Since then she has only been visiting her kids once in a while. Now the kids had to live without both parents something that has contributed much to the increase of crime in the country as statistics has proved that more than 80% of the country's parents or not even one of them involved. His grandmother had to assume responsibility something common in this culture since many give birth prematurely to kids that they can't take care of leaving the grandparents with no option but to come to their rescue.

Recently, Andile injured his toes and was admitted into a nearby hospital where the doctor said he needs to have his toe removed (amputated).

Constant prayers were made by facilitators and cooks for this young boy who was lying helplessly in the hospital not even aware of what was about to take place. God intervened, miraculously the doctor said there was no longer a need to remove his toe and was later discharged. His granny did not even have an idea on how to settle all the hospital bills but God knew. Childrens Cup medical wing took care of all the costs which was a great relief to the granny who was then confused.

Making matters worse is the fact that Andile's grandmother is not taking care of only the four kids but is also taking care of his nieces, cousins, uncles and aunts who are depending on this one old lady who is not working. How does she manage to shoulder such a huge responsibility, only God knows? Have it not been for what God is doing through Children's Cup, Andile would be one of those many kids in the country who have never been to school in their entire lives. That means not able to read and write and also means a bleak future.

His granny can't afford paying school fees for kids that are close to ten that are under her care at least one meal a day something she had always struggled with. The CarePoint relieved her by providing for her grandchildren at considering that education is expensive in this country. Andile attended the CarePoint pre-school,did his first and second grades here before transferring to neighboring primary school where he is doing his third grade now.

He is now happy and healthy like any other child.

Thank-you for your prayers,support and contributions which enable this noble ministry to this huge impact in the lives of many others with Andile being a sample. Thank-you for reading this article may God bless you.

Written by Njabulo Ndlovukazi

You Never Let Go!

Just wanted to share part of a song that has been churning and singing in my soul for over a month now. Love it and love Him because, no matter what, He never let's go!!

"And I will fear no evil,

For my God is with me.

And if my God is with me,

Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go, in every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me. "

Thank You Lord!!! You are so faithful!!!

Inspired

Teams come through Children's Cup all the time. I don't often get to host one but enjoy the change of pace when I do. It is fun to get to show others about the ministry in Swaziland and see it through fresh eyes. This team was "the same . . . just different". This team inspired me to serve better; to love deeper; to relinquish self for the greater purpose and to just not flinch, whine or grumble about being God's hands and feet. This team was awesome!! They never sought out anything special for themselves (20 of the same lunch, every day and even if it was a repeat of a prior meal no complaints), they left every place they went cleaner than they found it (I was afraid Janelle would get out and pick up after the lions!) and they loved on children and bonded faster than I have ever seen (they forgot about taking pictures and just gave up their hearts openly).I'm not sure how God was working in each of them, but I know He was and I know He changed me through them. Just want to share a few of the pictures of this inspiring team and challenge you to be open to let the same thing be different in your life today. Let God use the familiar to grow you deeper into the unfamiliar. Step out in faith with unabandonment to trust and love and give of yourself even when you don't see or understand the significance of what you are doing. God will bless you for it and bless others in the process. As the team's shirt says "Be. Go. Love." Thank you team!!

You can go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/131585933581222/ to see more pictures of this servant hearted, full of laughter, quirky, loving and beautiful team!!