Myers Weekly Letter

- World Cup fever has arrived in Swaziland even though the country is not represented in the games!! Everyone is wearing team shirts and supporting the South African team Bafana Bafana. We went into a grocery store in Simunye on Friday and had to wait until intermission (South Africa was playing) for someone to tag our onions!!

**Don’t forget to check this website www.worldsoccerjourneys.com for stories concerning the World Cup games. Also, check this website www.mReport.org, for lots of up-to-date information about ministries going on during the World Cup.

Our week was rather an unusual one. We have had a wonderful week of ministry but also our share of unplanned occurrences and also sadness. Monday Wayne took our two (12 ½ year old) “babies” to the vet because Noel had a protrusion on her hip. The doctor gave us the sad news that she has bone cancer. She is a sweet natured dog and it so heartbreaking to hear this news. Thursday we were away for the day and upon our return found our Bubba (alias Spottie) unable to walk. Since then he is walking but showing signs of what we would call a stroke in humans. We have had these two dogs since September 2009 (after my Wolf died) but love them dearly and are very sad to see them slipping away from us.

Yesterday we attended the Maphungwane Baptist Church as Wayne and Pastor Sigwane baptized 21 people. Many were women between 30-40 years of age, two were grandmothers and several were youth age. It was a wonderful service and a blessing to see the church excited to see these new believers baptized. Pray those that were baptized will understand their commitment to the Lord. Pray the church will continue to reach its community.

-June 12th at the mission house in Mbabane the Swazi Baptist National Women’s Committee met to plan the National Women’s Retreat. All except one of the members were present as planning began. I felt the Lord guiding me to ask the ladies if I could lead this year’s retreat and teach a Bible study I had prepared on prayer. The date is October 14-16. Venue: Manzini Baptist Church. Please pray as fliers are made, schedule is prepared and for me as I spiritually prepare for this awesome task.

Friday we began weekly Bible studies (including children) at the Luwhawheni Baptist Church. Most arrived late (even the children). A youth (translator) and the children’s teacher from the Mafucula Baptist Church were my helpers. (We did not conduct a class but did become friends and plans are being made for a weekly children’s Bible study at the Mafucula Baptist Church. ) Because of the need to return home before dark, our Bible study was cut short but plans are for everyone to arrive at 2:00pm Friday the 18th for the weekly Bible study. Please pray the Bible studies will be able to meet this week with many adults, youth and children and everyone will arrive on time!!!

Thursday I tagged along with Wayne to the Shiselweni region. He needed to take care of business in Nhlangano and collect the portable baptistery from the Mgamudze Baptist Church. I took the opportunity to meet with Annah Thwala who was taking a week’s vacation at her home place in Mgamudze and discuss the 2010 children’s camps. Plans included a date for two camps, one in the Shiselweni region (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) and the other in the North Lubumbo region (date undecided) and the schedule. The theme is “Let’s Talk to God” and theme verse is Psalm 55:17. After the planning Annah joyfully said “I wished the camp was next week.” Pray as plans continue for these camps. Pray for a continued joy for us as we minister to the children in the Shiselweni and Lubumbo regions.

I have shared our sadness and the wonderful blessings from the ministry this week and now is the time for the unexpected.
-First on Thursday when collecting the baptistery at Mgamudze, no one knew who had the church key. One of the ladies sent her grandson running from homestead to homestead asking for the key. After an hour, Wayne finally just took the hinge off the door got the materials, replaced the hinge and we proceeded (1 ½ hours later than planned) home. As we drove down the road, one of the youth coming from school stopped us and said, “Oh Pastor, I am sorry but I have the key.”
-Friday when taking the Mafucula ladies home from the Luwhhawhheni Bible study, the bridge was blocked by an overturn sugar cane truck. This was the only recognized road to their homes. I say recognized because since we could not take that road, we were directed through the sugar cane fields (in the dark) following the foot paths to the ladies’ homes. After trudging in untrudgable places we were finally able to leave the ladies’ at their homes.
-Yesterday upon our return trip from Maphungweni we had a flat tire!! This is not an unusual occurrence but it had been a while since we had a flat. But this time we were only 1 hour later getting home than planned and it was still light!! Please pray for us as we deal with unplanned incidents that our hearts will not be turned from the work of our Lord. Pray in all things the Lord will be glorified. 


-On the Swazi team prayer calendar June 19th is the date set for meeting of pastors/leaders of the churches in the Sishelweni region . This has changed and Wayne is meeting with the newly elected officers of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon he will meet with Nkosingiphile Dlamini (pastor of Thunzini) and discuss plans for training events. Sunday he will be visiting with the Maloma Baptist Church. Pray for Wayne as he leads these times of planning. Pray for his time with the Maloma Baptist Church.

In two weeks (June 28-July 1), June Mason, retired missionary will arrive in Swaziland to lead Bible studies with the Swazi Baptist women of the Lubumbo and Shiselweni regions. We look forward to this time with June and the ladies of these two regions.
Pray this time of Bible study will be an encouragement. Pray for June as the Lord prepares her for this very special ministry.

Continue to remember Wayne’s sister Patsy suffering from COPD and on oxygen. -Pray also Wayne’s brother (Terry) who completed a two week course of chemo to protect the brain from the invasion of cancer. Pray his quarterly tests will continue to show his cancer is in remission. -Pray Barbara’s brother-in-law, Gary Rutledge will soon be able to move around unassisted (herniated disc surgery in November) and for Barbara’s nephew-in-law’s mother diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA
June 11-July 11, 2010
Each week I will be sharing prayer requests for one of the 32 countries participating in the World Cup (Soccer). This week’s Country Focus is NIGERIA:
-Pray for follow-up evangelism and balanced teaching in the midst of massive church growth. Much distortion of the gospel can be seen in Nigeria. Pray also that church leaders would be able to access adequate training to shepherd their flocks.
-Pray against the corruption and greed that runs deep in Nigeria and is felt, in the form of internet scams, hoax emails, crime and drug running, around the world. Pray for God to raise up strong people of integrity who are willing to stand against evil practices.
(Information from The Ultimate Goal (TUG) a project of SASCOL and is the outreach initiative taking place during June and July 2010. TUG is a network of local and international churches, para-church organizations and ministries all working together on one common goal: to bring hope and change to South Africa.)
Check out www.worldsoccerjourneys.com.