Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

This has been a very difficult week for us since we were given notice (from Swazican) last Monday that the house in which we were living was needed for personnel and the lease was not being renewed. The thought of having to repack and then unpack after just finishing the tiresome job was anything but inviting. Swazican did offer us a slightly smaller house so we were not without options but I we still were saddened and even a little fearful of what the future held. Last week was spent visiting Sumunye, Siteki, Mhlume and Big Bend in search of possible housing. The task was quite emotionally draining and indeed an eye opener. Looking for housing in Swaziland is like going through a haunted house, you don’t know what is around the corner or what will jump out at you!!
We spent the weekend in a time of prayer and searching for God’s will for our lives and ministry. Yesterday, we felt the Lord showing us the next step and we hope to be able to share with you in the next few days where our new home will be. Please pray everything will be finalized this week for our subsequent move. Pray for us as we begin the job of again packing our belongings!!

O Lord God, who called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown: Give us faith to go out with a good courage, not knowing where we are going, but only that your hand is leading us, and your love supporting us; to the glory of your name. Eric Milner White & G.W. Griggs

--Our family (Steve, Monica, Lacie and Nathan Allen) is sorting through our house and belongings as we will be leaving for the USA on March 26 for our stateside (furlough) time. We will leave Swaziland on March 25 to be in Jo'burg for one night before flying out on March 26. Pray for the packing process and long travels for our family, esp for Nathan. We will be on a plane for 18 hours with an active two-year old! :) Our biggest prayer concern is that we STILL need a place to stay when our family is in West Palm Beach from July 1 - September 25 or so. Pray a place opens soon for our family to rent or house sit.

--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.

--Planning continues for the National Easter Services April 1-4. The venue is the Mbekelweni Lutheran High School in the Hhohho region. 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.
--Annah Thwala (Nhlangano Baptist Church) and I have again been asked to plan the children’s program during these special services and we are scheduled to meet on Saturday (in Nhlangano) to finalize plans and complete the schedule for the children’s program. Pray this planning meeting for the children’s time of learning and worship will go well and details will be finalized. May each child come to know the importance of the Good Friday/Easter season.

VOLUNTEER TEAM UPDATES:
-The volunteer team from the South Roanoke Association scheduled to arrive in April to work with the Luwhawheni community has cancelled. The team may plan to come later in the year.
-A two member volunteer team from the Integrity Baptist Church (South Roanoke Baptist Association, NC) is scheduled to work in the Lubumbo and Shiselweni regions May 19-31. Pray for Ben and Matt as they prepare to come and minister in Swaziland. Pray for their spiritual preparation to reach the lost and encourage believers.

SPECIAL MEDICAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
I telephoned my mother (Shirley Carpenter) on Tuesday and she is recovering very well from her broken hip. She has her last appointment on the 10th of March. Pray her appointment will go well and she will be able to soon get around without a walker or cane.
1. Wayne’s sister Patsy Collins’ follow-up visit to her pulmonary doctor is the 16th of March. Pray she will be able to breathe without difficulty and will have full recovery from her COPD and pneumonia.
2. -My sister’s husband (Pete Rutledge) is showing some improvement from his herniated disc surgery. Please continue to pray Pete will soon be able to move and walk without difficulty.
3. -Pray for Terry (Wayne’s brother dealing with stage 4 cancer) and his wife Darlene as they go through a time of uncertainty.
4. -Pray for my nephew-in-law’s mother diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

AIDS UPDATE:
Today on the Swazi Team prayer calendar you were asked to pray for the lady whose homestead was the meeting place of the Lawhawheni Baptist Church before a small building was provided. She was suffering from TB. Saturday Wayne received word she had been admitted to the Manzini Hospital and after the meeting of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland, he stopped to visit with her. There he was told she had died. Please pray for this lady’s children and family as they deal with her death.
For many in Swaziland, TB is a symptom of the HIV virus that will eventually become full-blown AIDS. Pray for the many in Swaziland suffering from AIDS. Pray the unsaved will have a chance to accept Jesus as their Savior before death comes.

PRAYER FOR CHILE:
Please continue praying for thousands of people in Chile whose lives have been upturned by the massive earthquake that struck in the early morning hours of Feb. 27. “We want to ask Christians everywhere to lift up people in need after this huge disaster,” said Terry Lassiter, strategist for the American Peoples affinity group. “We thank the Lord that all of our missionaries are well but there has been a very significant loss of life that is going to affect both our church community and the non-Christian community in Chile.” (Today’s Prayer)

SPECIAL IMB PRAYER REQUEST:
From Jimmy Pritchard, Chairman of the Presidential Search Committee: “We have come to the most crucial aspect in our search for the next leader of the IMB. As God continues to narrow our focus, we remain dependent upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of God’s people in this process. Our committee requests that Southern Baptists set aside March 13 as a day of prayer and fasting to ask God to direct our path to the man He has chosen as our next president. Thank you for your partnership as we embrace these great days of opportunity with the confidence of God’s approval and leadership.”