Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

VOLUNTEER TEAM UPDATE:
-Imagine a beautiful day with a wonderful breeze that kept everyone cool and able to do the ministry of the day with many children as well as youth. Saturday approximately 45 children (from Vuvulane and Mafucula) and over 30 youth gathered at the Mafucula Primary School for a day of learning and sharing. The volunteer team from First Baptist Washington conducted the teaching sessions. During the youth Bible study many had questions that enabled a good flow of discussion. The children spent their time learning about the Bible that included learning the books of the Bible (in siSwati). At the end the day everyone felt the time had been well spent and much was accomplished. Thank you for praying for this team that arrived Thursday (18th) to minister in the northeast session of the country. Please continue to remember Jimmy Moore, Jimmy Johnson, Roger and Caren Wilcher and Joyce Hodges as they continue their work and ministry with the Swazi people.
--Saturday (27th) the team will leave for the Kruger National Game Reserve. They will return to Jo’burg to catch their returning flight on the Monday the 1st of March.

-Revival services began at the Vuvulane Baptist Church and Mafucula Baptist Church on Friday (19th-26th). Roger, Jimmy J and Jimmy M are leading in the times of worship. Decisions have been made for salvation as well as a deeper commitment to follow the Lord. Please pray for these special services to touch the hearts of many. Pray when the services are over, revival will continue in the communities of Vuvulane and Mafucula.

-Sunday morning baptism services were also conducted at the Vuvulane and Mafucula Baptist Churches. Three were baptized at Vuvulane and eight at Mafucula. Living in a culture that does not promote Christian principles is hard for new Christians. There are few encouragers. Please pray for these who were obedient to the Lord in baptism. Pray they will stay true to the Lord’s teachings no matter the pressures that may come from others to follow Swazi culture and traditions.

This week we have a couple of snake stories to share with you!! As the services were coming to completion at Vuvulane on Friday night, a python just happened to be sauntering by the tent on its way to some unknown destination. Upon seeing the snake everyone prepared to take action!! A couple of the youth killed the offending snake to everyone’s joy and jubilation!!
--Last evening on our way to the revival services at Vuvulane the vehicle in front of us ran over something that was in the road. Upon further investigation it was a snake (Boomslang-very dangerous). The snake was injured but still alive. The vehicle stopped, and all the occupants got out as the driver found a sufficient weapon to “finish off” the snake. When everyone was satisfied that it was dead, it was pushed to the side of the road and covered up with grass and dirt.
I guess if there is a lesson to be learned from these two stories, one could say it is very bad to be a snake in Swaziland!!

--Steve and Monica Allen are scheduled to begin their stateside assignment on the 25th of March. Pray their flight (with two small children) will not be too stressful and the children will be able to tolerate confined spaces and long periods of sitting. Pray while in the states the family will have times of rest and refreshment with family and friends.

--Pray for Alan and Belinda Jordan who will be “filling in” for the Allens during their stateside assignment (March 25th-end of September) as they leave the US March 16th arriving in Johannesburg March 17th and then onto Swaziland on the 19th of March. Pray for their final preparations and travel and their reconnecting with the Swazi people.

--Next month (April 1-4) the National Easter Services will meet in Manzini. This yearly special event begins the day before Good Friday and ends on Easter Sunday with approximately 200 people attending. The past two years incidents have occurred that have threatened the life of our Baptist churches and the Baptist Convention of Swaziland. Pray this year’s services will have a spiritual foundation and will reflect the true Resurrection message. Pray those attending will seek the Lord’s direction and guidance in their thoughts and beliefs.

SPECIAL MEDICAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. Continue to pray for Shirley Carpenter (Barbara’s mother) as she recovers at home from a broken hip.
2. Wayne’s sister Patsy Collins was in the hospital for pneumonia and COPD. She has a follow-up visit in March. Pray she will be able to breathe without difficulty and will have full recovery from her illnesses.
3. -My sister’s husband (Pete Rutledge) is still recovering from his herniated disc surgery. Pray Pete will soon be able to move and walk without difficulty.
4. -Pray for Terry (Wayne’s brother dealing with stage 4 cancer) and his wife Darlene as they go through a time of uncertainty.
5. -Pray for my nephew-in-law’s mother diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
6. -My sister-in-law’s mother had her surgery on the 10th of February. Please pray Verna Bullock will recover sufficiently and will not need to have this type of surgery again.

PRAYER FOR HAITI:
It is getting late, and the hospital hustle and bustle is slowing down. Missionary Delores York is just peeking in the big tent where patients from Haiti’s earthquake lie on cots recovering from the injuries and surgeries. One beautiful young woman motions Deloris to her bedside, where she is removes the sheet to show her arm and shoulder have been completely removed. L says that she is getting well—inside and out. L smiles as she tells Delores that she remembered the prayer that was prayed for her as she was being prepared for surgery. “I remember every word you said. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” There are tears in both woman’s eyes as Delores sings, “It will be worth it all,” and people on cots all around nod their heads and smile with a peace that is unimaginable in such a situation. God is good. God is in control. God is changing lives. Pray, and don’t forget to keep praying.

2010 is the year of football!!!
June 11-July 11, 2010
Pray as the logistics for these games for everything is completed. Pray for the fans, even before they arrive, asking that their hearts will be open to the Good News that will be shared with them.

PRAYER FOR AMERICA:
Afghanistan’s American commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, has made the rapid delivery of governmental services including education, health care and job programs, a central part of his post-containment strategy in Marja. Taliban militants have been seen placing women and children on the roofs of buildings and firing from behind them as they battle against the joint Afghan-NATO offensive, according to an Afghan National Army general. Pray that the surge in Marja, Afghanistan, will come to a rapid and successful conclusion.