Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

Creator of joy, help me this very day to look around and find something to laugh about. Doesn’t have to be big. Doesn’t have to be unusual. Just some little thing to remind me you are a God of jubilation. Keep me from being a stick in the mud! Help me to have fun today, and not put it off until tomorrow. Amen
(Luci Swindoll)

Today the executive committee of the Swaziland Baptist Convention met in Manzini. New officers were elected a few months ago and training was conducted in June. Pray each new officer will learn his or her job description and commit to furthering Baptist work in Swaziland.

--Wayne’s time in the Shiselweni region last week was enlightening and encouraging. The Shiselweni Baptist Association met to regroup and begin meeting on a regular basis. Please pray for Nkosingiphile Dlamini as he leads the Shiselweni Baptist Association. Pray for a sense of unity among all the Baptist churches in the Shiselweni region.

--The pastors of the Nhlangano Baptist Church and Thunzini Baptist Church are working together to provide pastoral support and leadership for the Zikotheni Baptist Church, currently without a leader. This is definitely encouraging news. Pray for Pastor Dlamini and Pastor Gamadze as they commit to leading the Zikotheni Baptist Church. Pray the Lord will provide a committed Christian man for this church.

--The congregation of the Nhlangano Baptist Church is involved in various outreach ministries that include prayer walking and prison ministry. Pray many lives will be touched by these ministries.

***Did you know???
Who was the first director of the Foreign Mission Board (International Mission Board)?

SWAZI TEAM PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Pray that all the members of the Allen family will get their final medical clearance. They are down to their last few documents needed. Pray nothing will “pop” up in any test result that will delay their return to Swaziland. They plan to return to Swaziland on the 26th of September.

--Pray for Todd and Deborah Hoskins currently attending orientation at the International Learning Center. Pray this will be a very beneficial time. Pray also for Todd and Deborah as they prepare to arrive in Swaziland on the 7th of October.

-- Continue to remember Wayne’s sister, Patsy suffering from COPD and on oxygen. -Pray also Wayne’s brother (Terry). Pray his quarterly tests will continue to show his cancer is in remission. -Pray Barbara’s brother-in-law, Gary Rutledge will continue to recover from his herniated disc surgery and for Barbara’s nephew-in-law’s mother diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

UPCOMING MINISTRY EVENTS:
--August 16-18 is the first Swazi Baptist children’s camp in the northeast section of Swaziland. Venue is the Mafucula Primary School. Pray churches will send only those children that are between the ages of 6-11. Pray adult chaperones will also understand the importance of their presence and ministry in making sure all children are kept safe and have a wonderful camp experience.

--The Shiselweni Children’s Camp will take place August 30-September 1 at the New Hope Baptist Church. Please pray for a good attendance of children that will experience a new awakening of Christ’s love in his/her life.

--The 2010 National Youth Camp is scheduled for August 26-29. A volunteer team from Belton, Texas (First Baptist) will lead. Pray those who attend will leave feeling the presence of the Savior and will daily strive to seek His face. Pray for Grant and Jenna, Brett, Courney and Daphne as they prepare for this awesome ministry. Pray for Al and Belinda Jordan as they host the team and get them to the camp venue each day.

--Pray for Kym Pennington, the new True Love Waits International consultant as she prepares to make her first trip to Swaziland in August during the National Youth Camp. Pray this will be the beginning of a wonderful working relationship between Kym, the Swazis and the Swazi Team.

--The National Swazi Baptist Ladies’ Retreat is drawing closer, October 14-16. The venue is the Manzini Baptist Church. Theme: “I Will Cry Unto The Lord” and scripture verse Psalm 55:7.
Please pray for me as I prepare the schedule and pray I will be spiritually prepared to lead four sessions on prayer. So many Swazis do not know the importance of a personal prayer life or they can even pray outside the church. Pray those attending will understand the true meaning of prayer and the need for a personal prayer life.

AIDS UPDATE:
A new gel to prevent HIV infection has been discovered. Two doctors presented a large scale study at the AIDS conference in Vienna last month. Use of the vaginal gel containing the antiretroviral drug tenofovir reduced a woman’s chance of becoming infected with HIV during sex by 39 percent. Currently the gel is not available for sale but if study results are supported by further studies, widespread use of the gel in the future could prevent over half a million new HIV infections in South Africa alone over the next decade. (Information taken from the Swazi Times newspaper).

***Answer to the Do You Know question:
James B. Taylor, a former Baptist minister in Richmond, Va. who served 1846-1871.
Thank you for giving to the 2009 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Pray for the faithfulness of Southern Baptist churches to give to the 2010 LMCO so missionaries can be sent to many lost and dying people and nations.

--June 30th, Avery Willis passed away. Avery was a missionary in Indonesia and had greatly influenced world missions in ways that few people ever will. Please pray for the family as they mourn the loss of their loved one. In lieu of flowers, Avery wanted donations to be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering or the International Orality Network.
--Also the 30th of July was the last working day for Jerry Rankin as President of the International Mission Board. Pray for Jerry and Bobbye Rankin as they move into another phase of their lives.
--Please continue to pray for the IMB’s Presidential Search Committee as the seek God’s man to lead our organization.

This week’s country focus: ARGENTINA
-Pray that this year, as Argentines celebrate their freedom, they would e reminded to seek true spiritual freedom as well.
--Pray for native Amerindians of Argentina, who have been marginalized throughout history. There has been progress in evangelizing remote tribal groups, but great sensitivity is required by missionaries. Pray also for ongoing Bible translation work.
--Pray for the estimated half-million Jews living in Argentina. This is the world’s sixth largest Jewish community. They are very secularized and prosperous. Pray that they would seek the truth about salvation.
- (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.)