Good Things Happening!!

I just wanted to take a moment and share about good things that are happening throughout all of Children's Cup!!! We have a new missionary on the field, Beth Young, a teacher with a lot of years in education and full of great ideas for our preschool program!! She has hit the ground running and at her first facilitator meeting (just 3 weeks after arriving), she gave out practical tools to teach the preschoolers in bite size pieces not the whole apple all at once. She gave great practical ideas to make learning lots of fun and easy. She has purchased some simple picture books for teachers to use. They will be able to turn them in and get a different set each month. As Beth told the facilitators, our preschools are going to ROCK this year!!!!

Another good thing that is happening we have several new arrivals of little bundles of joy coming this year to many of our facilitators!!! No one had a baby last year but there are around 6 or so expecting later this year. In Swaziland, you don't really let people know until late in your pregnancy, if at all, that you are expecting. But, in sharing with the facilitators the tradition of "baby showers" we are working on finding out who might need a new infant outfit in the months ahead. :) Our hope is that at May's meeting we would have cake and punch for all the facilitators and little gifts for those expecting. (One is due before then so we will give hers to her early.) Please be in prayer for all of our facilitators and for those that will be adding to their families!!! Below is one of our expectant mothers, teacher Dorah (she said it was okay to share the news)!!! She is at my Mangwaneni CarePoint and we are so excited for her!!!

Mangwaneni's youth lock-in went great. Mvutjini had their's last Friday and Makholweni had one this coming Friday. I'm glad younger people than I are doing them. I lasted until midnight at Mangwaneni's but just stole the picture below from the Mvutjini lock-in.

GLA (Global Leadership Acadamy) has started their new year with a great group of young adults, some coming from our CarePoints, who are seeking God and already sharing God's love at the local high school. Soon they will start serving at Healing Place Church and working at the CarePoints besides all their classes!!! It is exciting!

Our cook's ministry has also started off with a HALLELUJAH!!! They have had two of several prayer meetings where a few of the CarePoints gather in a central location and pray for each other, for their CarePoints and the children and youth who attend!!!!! God is moving!!! (Below are some of the Mangwaneni cooks who attended earlier this month.)

This is just a few of the pieces of a ministry that God is using to change a nation!!!! Watch out as more amazing things to happen throughout the year!!! We have a great team (only a few of which are pictured below) and we each do our part!! But in the end, to God be the glory, great things He has and will continue to do!!! Thanks to all who help support Children's Cup ministry and/or one or more of the missionaries who serve!!!!! You are helping make a difference!!!

A Different World

There are days when I might forget that I live in Africa, but recently there were few of those days!

From cooking popcorn, french fries and hot dogs in a large 3 legged pot over an open fire for the youth all night lock-in (Yes, the blurry picture is me at night, with smoke in my eyes and a crick in my back cooking! LOL!). . . .

To driving to visit CarePoints in the eastern part of the country and not only slowing down for cows in the road but yes,

a giraffe that had stopped in the middle of the road!!!

No matter which side of the world we are there are so many things that are the same; like the love of God, the playfulness of children and enjoying fellowship. But sometimes it is fun to enjoy the differences!!!

P.S. Happy birthday teacher Dorah!!!!

Update on Kholiwe

Just wanted to update you on a Kholiwe "Koe-lee-way". Last Wednesday, (Feb. 8th) she was finally discharged from the hospital. She still has to go and get her bandages changed three times a week but she is doing well. We are working hard to find her a place in school and mom is still not working. I will keep you updated. Here is a picture at the CarePoint they day they were discharged.

Kholiwe's sister (she is in the background in the green skirt) was thrilled to have her mom back! Kholiwe was also thrilled to be out of the hospital.

Other updates:

Eric, the one hurt in the accident, is recovering and is good spirits as he adjusts to life without his left hand.

My co-worker was gifted the school fees for her daughter who is in her last year of high school. She is still trusting God for the exam fees for the graduation exams that are about $300 and are due next month. God has been faithful thus far and we know He will help her find a way.

May we count our blessings when things are going well and when we are struggling!!!

"I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and He heard me. He set me free from all my fears. " Psalm 34:6

God is good and faithful and we can be assured that even when we are going through the storms of life, we can dance and give praise because He is with us . . . . ALWAYS we have nothing to fear!

Saint Francis of Assisi

Just wanted to share an apt prayer that I came back across recently and has given me thoughts to chew on, goals to be used by God to achieve and renewed focus on what is truly important.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

(sometimes that one is tough for me)

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.