Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!
”Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”
--Charles Wesley, 1739

It is difficult to speak of the works of Charles Wesley without coupling his efforts with those of his brothers, John and Samuel. Four thousand hymns were published in the lifetime of the Wesleys and about twenty-five hundred were left in manuscript form.Although Charles Wesley was considered the greatest hymn-writer ever produced by the Church of England, only one of his hymns---“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”---was admitted to their Book of Common Prayer for many years.More than a century passed before the poem became associated with any fixed tune. Dr. Cummings, principal of the Guild Hall School of Music discovered this tune in Mendelssohn’s “Festgesang.”(Christ and the Fine Arts, by Cynthia Pearl Maus, 1938, 1959, Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York)May the peace of Christmas fill each of our hearts with joy.

--It is understood by everyone that Swazi weddings never start on time!! Usually I pass on the pleasure of attending an event that starts at least two hours late and lasts all day!! But, since Chris Msibi was getting married I felt my presence was necessary and so I prepared myself for a day of misery. Annah Thwala (Chris’ mother) told Wayne that the wedding was to start at 9:30 but we didn’t need to be there until 10:30(she knows my feelings concerning Swazi weddings L). We left Tshaneni at 7:30am and felt we had enough time to make the trip as well as a side stop by Ntuthwakazi (it wasn’t on our way) to collect Nkosingiphile Dlamini and few other guys that were helping with the Ntuthwakazi revival. This stop put us in the position of being terribly late for a Swazi wedding, which is not easy to do. Finally almost nearing our destination, Chris phoned and asked “Where are you?” I assured him we were within 10 minutes of our destination. We arrived at 11:30!! After we were seated we had to wait another 30-45 minutes before the wedding officially started. Since Wayne was the preacher, I think Chris was waiting until we arrived (oops!!) before his wedding party left Mgamudze for the Florence Academy (20 minute drive). When the wedding did finally start everything moved rather quickly and by 3:30pm the food was brought out for everyone to enjoy. We were able to see many of our Shiselweni friends and I must admit I rather enjoyed myself!! Pray for Chris and S’phesihle as they start their lives together. Pray they will be witnesses to others desiring Christian weddings and lifestyles.

--The Swazi Team end-of-the-year retreat in White River, South Africa (December 13-15) was also enjoyable. We stayed at a lovely location (Mercy Air Guesthouse) and were within minutes of Nelspriut where we could shop and eat when our business was completed!! I personally felt this was one of our better retreats and much was accomplished. Thank you for praying for this special event.

---One of the items of business discussed was the Rural Training School that has been a prayer concern for the Swazi Team for the last few years. So many of our pastors and church leaders desire to be trained in the work in which the Lord has called them and have asked the missionaries to help provide this training. It is a big undertaking that will help strengthen our Swazi Baptist pastors/leaders and churches. We are excited to say the first Rural Training School will be in May 2011 and the second school in September 2011. Todd (Hoskins) will work on the logistics of the school and Wayne and Steve (Allen) will outline the curriculum. Please pray for the organization of the Swazi Rural Training Schools that hopefully will meet three times a year. Pray the Lord will direct all the planning and logistical work that needs to be done and pray the participants will come with a heart to learn and be trained. Pray wonderful blessings will touch the heart of each participant.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WAYNE ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER!!
The Swazi Team is celebrating Wayne’s birthday Monday here at Tshaneni!! Pray for a great time of fun and fellowship. Pray Wayne’s special day will indeed be special. (You can send your birthday wishes to Wayne at wmyers@shelbywireless.net or swaziwayne@gmail.com). We will also celebrate our wedding anniversary on the 21st of December. Pray we will have many more anniversaries to celebrate!!

AIDS UPDATE:Thank you for praying for the prayer request sent last week concerning the young lady of the Mafucula Baptist Church (see below). Pastor Masuku phoned on Tuesday to say she was much better and had gone back to work. He did not tell us what the doctor said was her diagnosis or any other particulars. Pray she will continue to stay well and able to work. Pray she will also know what the Lord expects of her as His child and may she be comforted to know He is walking beside her.

--Sunday we were invited to attend the Mafacula Baptist Church’s children’s Christmas party. The children were in charge of the worship and food was provided following the service. After we had eaten we were asked to go to a home and pray for a young lady of the church who was very sick. We were told she had TB or possibly pneumonia. When we hear this we always think of HIV/AIDS since TB is one of the main symptoms of the disease. When we arrived we found this young lady had been my interpreter for Luwhhawhhaweni when I was leading a weekly children’s Bible study. She had lost weight and was clearly struggling to breath. The group prayed for her. The mother reported her daughter had started coughing up blood and they were returning to Siteki on Monday to get he reports from previous x-rays and to see the doctor. Pray for this one to receive medical help that is needed. If she is HIV/AIDS pray she will be able to soon begin taking the ARVs that will prolong her life.

When was the first Southern Baptist career missionary appointed specifically to work with the deaf? December 1988. Appointed to Colombia, the missionary had to learn not only Spanish but also Colombian sign language.

LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING: Goal $175 millionThe Christmas season is a time of giving!! Throughout her career, Lottie Moon wrote numerous letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of these letters triggered Southern Baptists’ first Christmas offering for international missions—enough to send three new missionaries to China. Please give to the 2010 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering so many lost people will have a chance to hear the salvation story and believe.

During this holiday season, please pray the Swazis of Swaziland will truly understand who Jesus is and follow Him completely putting aside traditions that conflict with the Christian way of life.
Christmas is more than a day at the end of the year,
More than a season of joy and good cheer,
Christmas is really God’s pattern for living
To be followed all year by unselfish giving.
-Helen Steiner Rice