Saturday, October 30, 2010

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

The week before the Maphungwane children’s camp, the pastor phoned to say 42 children had paid their camp fee and he was expecting just a few more to attend. To be sure I had plenty of supplies I prepared for 60. When the total was taken approximately 65 children attended the third children’s camp October 22-24. Numbers are nice but unfortunately, the church did not provide enough workers to help with the camp. Even so we did survive!! We praise the Lord for His blessings and continued presence throughout the 2 ½ days of camp. Sunday morning was very special as the children were the worship leaders for the service. They did a great job and were so excited to have such an important part in the worship.
Pray the members of the Maphungwane Baptist Church will support a strong discipleship program for their children.
--Another highlight of the Sunday morning service at Mphungwane was a baptism service. Three adults were obedient to the Lord in baptism. Pray these will understand the importance of following Jesus even though the Christian lifestyle will conflict with the Swazi culture and traditions.

--During our holiday at the Kruger Game Reserve October 26-29, we were able to see all the BIG FIVE (elephant, cape buffalo, white rhino (we also saw the black rhino), lion and leopard)!! Being an avid bird watcher I was also thrilled with the many varieties that we saw and able to identify. Our drive around the park was so relaxing and it was easy to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. We never tire of visiting the park and are never disappointed!!
--One thing I noticed was the dry condition of the park. The rains have not begun and upon our arrival on Tuesday we saw fields of burnt grass from a fire the day before caused by lightening. The grass and food for the animals was brown (or black from the fire) and many of the smaller drinking pools were dry. Pray the rains will start and will replenish the grass and drinking pools. Pray soon everything will be green instead of brown.
---Please continue to pray the rains will be plentiful throughout Swaziland. Pray the Swazi’s field of mealies will receive enough rain to provide food until the next growing season.

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS:
--The Swazi Team meets on the 2nd of November (minus the Hoskins attending 40/40). This is the first team meeting in several months. Pray as the team discusses future ministries and other business.
--The executive committee of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland meets Saturday Nov. 6th. Pray for the committee as they continue to discuss and plan future ministries and events.

NOVEMBER MINISTRY EVENTS:
-November 13th, the Shiselweni Baptist Association will meet at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Pray as this association continues to organize to meet on a regular basis.
--November 14th, the Thunzini Baptist Church will host a licensing service for their pastor, Nkosingiphile Dlamini. Pastor Dlamini has led this church for many years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray for this very special service and the Lord will continue to bless Nkosingiphile and the Thunzini Baptist Church.
--THANKSGIVING DAY November 25th. The Swazi Team will celebrate this special day at the Myers.

SWAZI TEAM PRAYER CONCERNS:
-- Continue to remember Wayne’s sister, Patsy suffering from COPD and on oxygen. His brother Terry recently had his gall bladder removed. Pray his quarterly tests for the return of stage 4 cancer will show his cancer in remission. Pray for Wayne’s oldest brother having health issues related to his diabetes. Pray for Barbara’s brother-in-law as he continues to recover from his herniated disc surgery in 2009.
--Pray for Todd and Deborah Hoskins currently attending 40/40 (October 21-November 19). Please pray this will be a productive time of study and orientation.
--Please pray for the Allen family each Sunday as they worship with their Swazi brothers and sisters in the different Baptist churches. Swazis do not always attend church as a family and Steve and Monica want to be a strong example to those around them. The hard part is Nathan (2-year old) does not like to sit still very long and it can be quite challenging.

***Do You Know?
What country has been served the longest by Southern Baptist missionaries?
Answer: Nigeria, entered in 1850. In fact, Nigeria was Southern Baptists only mission field in Africa for 100 years.

It was a different Lottie Moon—Miss Moon—who sailed for China on November 8, 1877. In contrast to the eager neophyte run by faith alone four years ago, this woman was clothed in skill and confidence. She was a thoroughly professional missionary both in mind and emotion. Among the thirteen other missionaries on board the Tokio Maru, she was the object of respect.
She would settle in her private home, pick up a definite work as a schoolteacher, walk calmly in the face of danger, and speak and mingle comfortably with the Chinese people. With the ship gliding smoothly across troubled waters, Lottie Moon had a delightful trip. (From the book, The New Lottie Moon Story, 1980 Chapter 6)
It is time for your church to start promoting and setting a goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Pray for the faithfulness of Southern Baptist churches to give to the 2010 LMCO so missionaries can be sent to minister to many lost and dying people and nations.

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM IMB OFFICE OF GLOBAL PRAYER STRATEGY:
--Please continue praying for the IMB’s Presidential Search Committee as they seek God’s man to lead our organization.

AIDS UPDATE:
Pray as the trends of pregnancy out of wedlock, several sexual partners, more than one wife and relationships, and a disregard for God’s Word continue to dominate the lives of both Christian and non-Christian Swazis.
--Remember www.inhomecarekits.org or info@gobgr.org are your contact sites for information to help fill kits that help families care for their loved ones with AIDS. You or your church’s help is needed in 2011 to supply enough kits to meet the requests from IMB missionaries ministering to AIDS victims. Please pray about this critical need.

This week’s country focus: CHILE:
- Pray for unity amongst the fragmented evangelical congregations. There are estimated between 1500 and 5000 denominations, with one or two new ones starting each week. There is a need here also for reconciliation and humility.
--There is an attitude of contempt in the church for theological training and message preparation before services, resulting in poor teaching, legalism and a lack of appreciation for the Word. Pray for humility to recognize the need for training, and dependence on God for pastors combined with hard work and preparation.
--Pray for forgiveness in this deeply divided nation. The political problems of the past continue to be painful issues for many people. Christians are also divided on some of the issues; pray for reconciliation and unity.
- (Information from The Ultimate Goal (TUG) a project of SASCOL and is the outreach initiative taking place during June and July 2010.)

O God in heaven, you love us so completely that you even provide a means by which we can be released from pain and discouragement through laughter. How mind-bogglingly creative! Help us to rise up out of the dark corners of our soul and believe you have indeed provided medicine for joyful healing. May we take at least one dose every day. Amen --Marilyn Meberg
For you to revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Malachi 4:2

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

November Prayer Calendar

Monday November 1: Many Swazis are hoping the rains will be plentiful this growing season. After the planting of their corn (mealie), strong and frequent rains are needed. As long as there is mealie, there is food. Pray there will be enough water in the rivers and streams to meet the people’s needs. Pray the rains will be plentiful throughout Swaziland. Pray the Swazi’s field of mealies will receive enough rain to provide food until the next growing season.

Tuesday November 2: The Swazi Team meets today (minus the Hoskins currently attending 40/40). This is the first team meeting in several months. Pray as the team discusses future ministries and other business, the Lord’s presence will be felt.

Wednesday November 3: Pray for Todd and Deborah Hoskins currently attending 40/40 (Oct. 21-Nov. 19). Please pray this will be a productive time of study and the Lord will use the Hoskins to reach those He has prepared.

Thursday November 4: What organization sets the goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering? Answer: The Woman’s Missionary Union
Has your church set the goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering? Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to support your Southern Baptist missionaries as they share the gospel overseas. Pray for the faithfulness of Southern Baptist churches to give to the 2010 LMCO so missionaries can be sent to minister to many lost and dying people and nations.

Friday November 5: Please pray for the Allen family each Sunday as they worship with their Swazi brothers and sisters in the different Baptist churches. Swazis do not always attend church as a family and Steve and Monica want to be a strong example to those around them. The hard part is Nathan (2-year old) does not like to sit still very long and it can be quite challenging.

Saturday November 6: The executive committee of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland meets today. Pray for the committee as they continue to discuss and plan future ministries and events.

Sunday November 7: The Allens report many Swazis are waiting baptism and ask for prayer for the right weather and opportunities for different churches to have their new believers follow Christ in believers baptism. One special person also waiting to be baptized is their daughter, Lacie. Lacie wanted to return to Swaziland to be baptized. Pray Lacie understands the importance of baptism in her life.

Monday November 8: She shared of her life as a young girl/woman before she became a child of the King. The details were chilling to those listening. While discussing the session that dealt with forgiveness she admitted that there was someone she has never been able to forgive until now. She mingled with the other ladies and everyone enjoyed getting to know her. This was her first Women’s Retreat but will probably not be her last. The Lord is working in her life as well as many Swazi Baptist women. Blessings were given during the Swazi Baptist Women’s Retreat October 14-16. Thank you for praying for this event. Pray each lady understood the importance of prayer and the need for a daily time of talking and listening to the Lord. Pray the Lord will continue to bless the lives of those who attended this year’s retreat.

Tuesday November 9: Missionary Wayne Myers has begun a TEE (Theological Education by Extension) class with the Mafucula and Vuvulane Baptist Churches. Approximately 15 individuals have shown an interest in this study. Pray the study will go well and will help those attending become strong committed leaders.

Wednesday November 10: For 2010 BGR (Baptist Global Response) requested help from SBC churches to fill 6,000 Home Health Care kits (5-gallon bucket that contains items that help patients keep clean and dry, items to protect their mat and mattress from soling and vitamins) but only were able to fill 1,500. Since Swaziland has one of the highest AIDS rates in the world, the Swazi Team requested 300 kits to help families care for their loved ones with AIDS but were only guaranteed 25-30 kits. BGR needs your help. If you or your church is interested in helping provide Home Health Care Kits for AIDS victims please contact
www.inhomecarekits.org. Pray the use of these items by loving caregivers will show the love and compassion that Jesus Christ has for the terminally ill.

Thursday November 11: Planning has begun for a new Bible study group at the Swazi Citrus Farm in Tshaneni. Pray for this new area of work and for the Myers as they seek to glorify the Lord in this ministry

Friday November 12: Imagine every Sunday arriving to church to find no one to lead the service or preach the sermon. The faithful few that continue to attend every Sunday try to encourage others to come and support the church. Youth and children programs suffer or are non-existent. Pray for godly, strong and faithful leaders to take a stand for Christ and press on against deep rooted cultural beliefs as well as expectations from the family. Pray for a strong leader for every Swazi Baptist church.

Saturday November 13: Today the Shiselweni Baptist Association meets at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Pray as this association continues to organize to meet on a regular basis.

Sunday November 14: Today the Thunzini Baptist will conduct a special licensing service for their pastor Nkosingiphile Dlamini. Pastor Dlamini has led this church for many years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray for this very special service and pray the Lord will continue to bless Nkosingiphile and the Thunzini Baptist Church.

Monday November 15: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 Pray that the high appreciation of Jesus Christ as a prophet and miracle worker can be used of the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of the Muslims of Swaziland to accept Him as their Savior.

Tuesday November 16: Pray for God’s direction as the Allens seek an area to start a new outreach group in the Hhohho region.

Wednesday November 17: Pray for the person the Hawane Baptist Church paid to clear and grate the plot of land for building of their church structure. This individual has not begun the job he was paid to do.

Thursday November 18: Approximately 80 percent of the Swazi people claim to be Christian but true allegiance is more often to Swazi Traditional religion. Swazis are open to the gospel as long as the approach is culturally sensitive and respectful. Pray many Swazis will truly understand who Jesus is and follow Him completely putting aside traditions that conflict with the Christian way of life. Pray the King of Swaziland, his wives and children will have a chance to hear and understand the gospel message and what it means to be a Christian.

Friday November 19: Continue to remember Wayne Myers’ sister suffering from COPD and on oxygen. His brother, Terry recently had his gall bladder removed. Pray his quarterly tests for the return of stage 4 cancer will show his cancer in remission. Pray for Wayne’s oldest brother having health issues related to his diabetes. Pray for Barbara’s brother-in-law as he continues to recover from his herniated disc surgery in 2009.

Saturday November 20: Today Todd and Deborah Hoskins return to Swaziland after attending the intense missionary training 40/40. Pray for the beginning of new ministries and a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Sunday November 21: Pray for the controversy and conflicts that are happening at Victory Baptist Church due to leadership by one person. It is causing the folks to leave the church. Pray for the Allens as they seek the Lord’s direction in dealing with this sticky situation.

Monday November 22: It is acceptable in the Swazi culture for a man to be intimate with his fiancé before marriage to determine if she is fertile. If she cannot produce children he is not obligated to marry her. Pray the Swazi people will see this kind of cultural practice leads to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Pray the heart of the Swazi people will turn to the Lord.

Tuesday November 23: With the upcoming holidays, pray for missionaries all over the world not able to be with their extended families. Holidays are probably the times most missionaries can be homesick and missing family gatherings. Pray especially for the Hoskins as they face the holidays being overseas for the first time.


Wednesday November 24: Plans have begun for the Swazi Team’s end-of-the-year retreat. In the past, the time has enabled the Team to not only have great fellowship together, but also praise the Lord for His blessings the past year and a time of prayer for future work. We thank the Lord for this special time of celebration. Pray as the Team selects a date, venue and agenda for 2010’s retreat. Pray in all things the Lord will be glorified. (Update: Swazi Team Retreat will be in Nelspruit on 13-15 December.)

Thursday November 25: Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river and through the wood,
To grandfather’s house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow.
We will not be going to grandfather’s house or traveling through drifting snow, but the Swazi Team will meet in Tshaneni to celebrate Thanksgivng Day. Pray for a time of fun, fellowship and giving thanks for the blessings the Lord daily provides us.

Friday November 26: SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN UNENGAGED PEOPLES:
Pray for the Jahanka people of Mali. There are not many of them and they are dying out. They are extremely strict Muslims, believing Muhammad to be their uncle. They are very proud of their strong Muslim heritage. Pray they will come in contact with believers and they will turn to the truth.

Saturday November 27: Too many lives are being lost to the Kingdom: About 25,000 people die every day—one person every three seconds--from hunger or hunger related causes, according to the United Nations. God cares about people in need—so many of them are His lost children. Pray God’s people will meet the challenge of addressing the many hunger needs around the world. Check these websites:
www.gobgr.org and www.worldhungerfund.com.

Sunday November 28: WEEK OF PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS AND THE LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING (Nov. 28-Dec.5)
The sun shining on the sparkling waters of the San Francisco Bay when the Costa Rica steamed out at noon September 1, 1873. A cluster of long-faced missionaries of several denominations, all bound for the Orient, waved good-bye from the rear of the ship. These missionaries never expected to see the shore of America again or to embrace the loved ones left there.Lottie Moon, although on board, did not stand with this group. She had measured the realities of her departure weeks before. She was commissioned to stay in China until total breakdown or death. So she had cut her ties in Virginia and shed her tears along the central railroad route to the Pacific. Now the pain of leaving dimmed behind the future’s bright glow.
--Tuesday December 24, 1912, Harbor of Kobe, Japan Miss Lottie Moon age 72 died.
Both Christians and non-Christians wept at the news of her death. Those in Tengchow felt that injustice had been abused because she had not been allowed to die in the city. They hastened to erect a monument “to bequeath the love of Miss Lottie Moon, an American missionary. The Tengchow church remembers forever. (From the book, The New Lottie Moon Story, 1980)
Remember to lift up your IMB missionaries this week as they minister in various areas with many different people groups. May Lottie Moon’s legacy continue to live through the over 5,000 IMB missionaries throughout the world.

Monday November 29: Please continue praying for the IMB Presidential Search Committee as they seek God’s man to lead our organization.

Tuesday November 30: Pray for the new church, Jikwene Baptist and pastor Musa Mamba. Last month Wayne Myers was introduced to the pastor. The church began about 5 months ago. Pray the Lord will be glorified in this new work.

Update on Allen Family

Sanibonani! (hello in siSwati!) We pray everyone is doing well.

We have had a wild, crazy and fun week but we are looking forward to getting onto some kind of a routine soon. Our newest missionaries, Todd and Deborah Hoskins, arrived in Swaziland last Thursday. It has been wonderful getting to spend time with them and introducing them to life in Swaziland. They just left for Johannesburg to catch a flight tomorrow (Wednesday) to Ethopia and then onwards to Burkina Faso for our company's bush camp training. They will return to Swaziland next month. Pray for safe travels and a great opportunity to learn more about Africa and all God wants to teach them. When I hugged them good-bye this morning, they said it was nice to know these good-byes were not going to be quite so long. Changes and transitions...always happening in our lives.

Our Baptist Swazi women's camp was last Thursday - Saturday and it all went very well. What a joy to worship with these ladies and sisters in Christ! Some shared the challenges of living for Christ in their homes and communites and all of them were challenged in their prayer lives as Barbara Myers taught them several sessions on prayer. The camp was given some bread for their meals and also many clothes and other items to share with the women. They were very grateful for the unexpected blessing from others. It was wonderful to see them receiving clothes, toiletry items and scarves they did not know would be coming their way. God is so good as the body of Christ works together!

While the women's camp was going on, our team leaders and friends, Wayne and Barbara Myers, came to stay with our family for those few days. It was a fun time for our team to be together. We have a team meeting (our first one in a long time!) on November 2 as we have much business to discuss. Pray for team unity as we make decisions for the remainder of 2010 and looking into 2011.

Our family has been contacted by several folks that are interested in coming to serve with us in 2011. Pray for us as we find accommodations for these volunteer teams and individuals and that we would have their itinerary to be exactly in the areas where God wants them to be serving. It is hard to think about 2011 but it will be here soon!If you have not heard by now, Lacie did get into Sifundzani Primary School and will be starting grade 1 in late January. She is now finishing up her grade 0/kindergarten year at Little Brown Hen Preschool and will graduate on 1 December. Pray for Lacie as she is adjusting to be back home, school, church, and friends. She is sad her preschool class will be dividing between different schools for grade 1 and also adjusting to being in siSwati speaking churches on Sunday. We know she is missing her Sunday School classes in the USA.

As always, we are very thankful for your prayers and support. Let us know of ways we can be praying for you, too. Check out our family blog for stories and further prayers updates:www.allensinafrica.blogspot.com

Hello from the Hoskins

Hey everybody! We just wanted to let yall know that we have arrived safely in Swaziland yesterday morning. The country is beautiful! We are currently staying next door to another International Mission Board family - the Allens. They and our supervisors, Wayne and Barbara Myers, have worked on getting us acquainted to the area. Yesterday we tagged along on a grocery store trip. They have a Shop Rite here--it makes me feel like I'm at home. Todd drove the truck home last night in the rain driving on the right side of the car on the left side of the road. This morning I went to a ladies' church meeting, and this afternoon Todd and I went to a Bible study with a small church group. We are enjoying meeting new friends. We will be flying out on Wednesday for about a month of training out of the country. The training is for all new personnel to the Sub-Saharan African region. We will be training in the classroom and on the field with information more specific to our area. We will begin working with our SiSwati language tutor once we get back to Swaziland. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and encouragement.

We miss you!
Love,Deborah and Todd

Friday, October 22, 2010

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

You will find in your “closet of prayer” what you frequently lose when you are out in the world. The more you visit it, the more you will want to return. If you are faithful to your secret place, it will become your closest friend and bring your much comfort. The tears shed there bring cleansing.
--Thomas A. Kempis

With courage and the help of directions and their GPS, Todd and Deborah Hoskins made their way to Jo’burg on Tuesday. Wednesday they flew to Burkina Faso to begin their time of learning to live in Africa as well as developing relationships with the African people. Pray the Lord will continue to prepare them each day during their intensive African training. Pray each day will be full of wonderful blessings. 40/40 concludes on the 19th of November.

My computer is still in the shop. The processor needs to be replaced (again) and the technicians are having difficulty finding a chip that is needed. I am still using Wayne’s old laptop. The technicians hope to have the computer running sometime soon or as the Africans say, “Anytime from now!” L Pray I will soon have my computer back from the shop!!

--Today begins the third children’s camp (October 22-24) at the Mphungwane Baptist Church. The theme is “Let Us Talk To God.” The children will spend time listening to stories on Christ, Daniel and Hannah, worshipping Friday and Saturday evening using the Resurrection Eggs, singing, reading/acting out stories in the Bible, playing, coloring and having a good time. (I will be pitching my tent Friday and Saturday night.)
Through their camp experience, pray each child will be touched by the Lord.

--The Maphungwane Baptist Church will also conduct a baptism service Sunday morning. Pray as the church continues to reach the loss in the community. Pray for these being baptized to be committed to the Christian way of living.

--Wayne and I are looking forward to our four days and three nights at the Kruger National Game Reserve next week (Oct. 26-29). Please pray it will be a relaxing and peaceful experience.

NOVEMBER MINISTRY EVENTS:
--The Swazi Team meets on the 2nd of November (minus the Hoskins attending 40/40). This is the first team meeting in several months. Pray as the team discusses future ministries and other business.

--The executive committee of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland meets Saturday Nov. 4th. Pray for the committee as they continue to discuss and plan future ministries and events.

-November 13th, the Shiselweni Baptist Association will meet at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Pray as this association continues to organize to meet on a regular basis.

--November 14th, the Thunzini Baptist Church will host a licensing service for their pastor, Nkosingiphile Dlamini. Pastor Dlamini has led this church for many years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray for this very special service and the Lord will continue to bless Nkosingiphile and the Thunzini Baptist Church.

SWAZI TEAM PRAYER CONCERNS:
-- Continue to remember Wayne’s sister, Patsy suffering from COPD and on oxygen. His brother Terry recently had his gall bladder removed. Pray his quarterly tests for the return of stage 4 cancer will show his cancer in remission. Pray for Wayne’s oldest brother having health issues related to his diabetes. Pray for Barbara’s brother-in-law as he continues to recover from his herniated disc surgery in 2009.

--Please pray for the Allen family each Sunday as they worship with their Swazi brothers and sisters in the different Baptist churches. Swazis do not always attend church as a family and Steve and Monica want to be a strong example to those around them. The hard part is Nathan (2-year old) does not like to sit still very long and it can be quite challenging.

---Please continue to pray the rains will be plentiful throughout Swaziland. Pray the Swazi’s field of mealies will receive enough rain to provide food until the next growing season.

***Do You Know?
Under which executive secretary of the Foreign Mission Board did both the missionary force and the number of mission fields triple?
Answer: Baker James Cauthen, 1954-1979

The sun was shining on the sparkling waters of the San Francisco Bay when the Costa Rica steamed out at noon September 1, 1873. A cluster of long-faced missionaries of several denominations, all bound for the Orient, waved good-bye from the rear of the ship. These missionaries never expected to see the shore of America again or to embrace the loved ones left there. Lottie Moon although on board, did not stand with this group. She had measured the realities of her departure weeks before. She was commissioned to stay in China until total breakdown or death. So she had cut her ties in Virginia and shed her tears along the central railroad route to the Pacific. Now the pain of leaving dimmed behind the future’s bright glow. (From the book, The New Lottie Moon Story, 1980)
It is time for your church to start promoting and setting a goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Pray for the faithfulness of Southern Baptist churches to give to the 2010 LMCO so missionaries can be sent to minister to many lost and dying people and nations.

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM IMB OFFICE OF GLOBAL PRAYER STRATEGY:
--Please continue praying for the IMB’s Presidential Search Committee as they seek God’s man to lead our organization.

AIDS UPDATE:
“The Lord will heal me. I don’t need to take my ARVs.” ARVs basically prolong the life of one with the AIDS virus. There is no cure for AIDS but with the help of these drugs patients live their lives as though they do not have AIDS. One of our friends told us that he feels the Lord has healed him and he no longer needs to take the ARVs. We pray that is so but the condition of his body tells us a different story. He has also convinced another friend with the AIDS virus that the Lord will heal him, and he too has quit taking the drugs. Pray the Lord will truly speak to these two concerning their future treatment of the AIDS virus. May He continue to lead and guide His children that walk the dark and uncertain path of AIDS.
--Remember www.inhomecarekits.org is your contact site to help fill kits that help families care for their loved ones with AIDS. You or your church’s help is needed to supply enough kits to meet the requests from IMB missionaries ministering to AIDS victims. Please pray about this critical need.

This week’s country focus: PORTUGAL:
- There has been little concern for world evangelization amongst Portuguese churches, even with the unique role they have to play with the Portuguese language being used widely in mission fields throughout the world. Pray for a burden for missions amongst Portuguese Christians.
-Estimated 90% of the population consult spirit mediums and witches. The teachings of Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and New Age philosophies have gained a wide hearing. Pray for many people to be released and for discerning Christian leaders to be able to expose these false doctrines.
-Young people in Portugal are often spiritually neglected. Over 50% of them have experimented with drugs in some way. Pray for those working with drug addicts, and that the eyes of young people would be opened to the dangers inherent with drug dependency.
- (Information from The Ultimate Goal (TUG) a project of SASCOL and is the outreach initiative taking place during June and July 2010.)

Monday, October 18, 2010

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

We are happy to announce that Todd and Deborah Hoskins arrived in Swaziland on Thursday. We had the chance to meet and talk with them on Thursday and Friday and feel blessed the Lord has brought them our way. Please pray for an easy adjustment for Todd and Deborah to life in Swaziland.
Tomorrow, Todd and Deborah leave for Jo’burg. On Wednesday they fly to Burkina Faso to begin their time of intensive training on learning to live in Africa as well as developing relationships with the African people. Pray the Lord will prepare them for this type of training. Pray their life will be blessed. 40/40 concludes on the 19th of November.

--She shared of her life as a young girl/woman before she became a child of the King. The details were chilling to those listening. While discussing the session that dealt with forgiveness she admitted that there was someone she has never been able to forgive until now. She mingled with the other ladies and everyone enjoyed getting to know her. This was her first Women’s Retreat but will probably not be her last. The Lord is working in her life as well as many Swazi Baptist women. Blessings were given to us during the Swazi Baptist Women’s Retreat October 14-16. Thank you for praying for this event. Lives were touched including mine!!
Pray each lady understood the importance of prayer and the need for a daily time of talking and listening to the Lord. Pray the Lord will continue to bless the lives of those who attended this year’s retreat.

--Lacie Allen was accepted to the Sifundzani Primary School. She will begin first grade in January 2011.

My computer is still in the shop. The processor needs to be replaced (again) and the technicians are having difficulty finding a chip that is needed. I am still using Wayne’s old laptop. The technicians hope to have the computer running within a week. Pray I will soon have my computer back from the shop!!

--The third children’s camp is scheduled for this weekend, October 22-24 at the Mphungwane Baptist Church. The theme is “Let Us Talk To God.” The children will study stories on Christ, Daniel and Hannah who were great prayer warriors.
Pray the children will be able to take home the stories and their significance. Pray each will go home touched by the Lord.

--The Maphungwane Baptist Church will also conduct a baptism service Sunday morning. Pray as the church continues to reach the loss in the community. Pray for these being baptized to be committed to the Christian way of living.

Wayne began a TEE (Theological Education by Extension) class two weeks ago with the Mafucula and Vuvulane Baptist Churches. There are approximately 15 interested Swazis. Pray the study will go well and will help those attending become strong committed leaders.

NOVEMBER MINISTRY EVENTS:
--The Swazi Team meets on the 2nd of November (minus the Hoskins attending 40/40). This is the first team meeting in several months. Pray as the team discusses future ministries and other business.

-November 13, the Shiselweni Baptist Association will meet at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Pray as this association continues to organize to meet on a regular basis.

--November 14, the Thunzini Baptist Church will host a licensing service for their pastor, Nkosingiphile Dlamini. Pastor Dlamini has led this church for many years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray for this very special service and the Lord will continue to bless Nkosingiphile and the Thunzini Baptist Church.

SWAZI TEAM PRAYER CONCERNS:
--The Myers are taking a little holiday to Kruger National Game Reserve October 26-29. Pray we will have a fun and relaxing time.

-- 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.

--The Allens report that many are waiting baptism and ask for prayer for the right weather and opportunities for different churches to have new believers follow Christ in believer’s baptism. One special person waiting to be baptized is their daughter, Lacie. Lacie wanted to return to Swaziland to be baptized. Pray Lacie understands the importance of baptism in her life.

***Do You Know?
What are the two central objectives of missionary labors?
**Answer:
Evangelism and church development.

It is time for your church to start promoting and setting a goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to support your Southern Baptist missionaries as they share the Gospel overseas. The offering represents 54 percent of the International Mission Board’s total income. Pray for the faithfulness of Southern Baptist churches to give to the 2010 LMCO so missionaries can be sent to minister to many lost and dying people and nations.

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM IMB OFFICE OF GLOBAL PRAYER STRATEGY:
-Pray for the October 18-20 Impact Your World Conference being held at the International Learning Center in Rockville, Va. This conference helps churches to find answers to their questions about living out Acts 1:8. Guests will be able to dialog with missionaries, as well as with pastors who are effectively engaging in international missions, and receive tools that will help them in their missions journey.
--Please continue praying for the IMB’s Presidential Search Committee as they seek God’s man to lead our organization.

AIDS UPDATE:
With statistics showing that Swaziland continues to lose many Swazis to the AIDS pandemic, reports show that 60 to70 percent of the adult population are involved in multiple sexual relationships. There is a high prevalence of multiple concurrent partners. Studies show that concurrent multiple partners definitely influence the HIV infection rate. It seems that the people in Swaziland do not care about HIV or AIDS. Pray there will be an awakening among the Swazis concerning the dangers of their lifestyles that cause AIDS. (Information taken from the Swazi News).
--Remember www.inhomecarekits.org is your contact site to help fill kits that help families care for their loved ones with AIDS. You or your church’s help is needed to supply enough kits to meet the requests from IMB missionaries ministering to AIDS victims. Please pray concerning this critical need.

This week’s country focus: ALGERIA:
- Pray for political, religious and spiritual freedom for the Algerian people. The Berber people are increasingly seeking to reaffirm their identity and return to their cultural roots. Their forebears were once Christian, and many thousands of people have turned to Christ amongst the Kabyle-some through supernatural revelations of the Lord Jesus and others through personal evangelism.
--Pray also that the Berbers, who have the potential to sweep across the North of Africa with the gospel, would have the resources to realize their growing vision.
--Pray for Christian music, which is being composed and written in local languages and styles; it needs to be sent out across Algeria.
- (Information from The Ultimate Goal (TUG) a project of SASCOL and is the outreach initiative taking place during June and July 2010.)

My dearest Lord,
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path beneath me,
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today—tonight—and forever.
-Saint Columba

Monday, October 11, 2010

Meet the Hoskins

Thanks for all your prayers for Lacie's entrance exam last week. All went very well and she did fantastic. We are now waiting to hear from the school if she has been accepted or not. At this point, it is a matter of space as the school only takes 60 students for two 1st grade classes. Praying for God's will to be shown to our family.This week, our mission family will be receiving new personnel...yeah!!!

They are Todd and Deborah Hoskins and will be serving a two-year assignment with our company. They will live next door to our family for a short time and then the plan is for them to move down to Manzini to be more centrally located. They will be doing church planting/developing in the Manzini area as well developing rural "schools" for leadership training, discipleship classes, etc. We look forward to all God has planned for their time in Swaziland.

Pray for Todd and Deborah as they are saying good-bye to family and friends for a couple years. They will fly out of the USA on Tuesday, arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday, spend night at our Baptist guest house and arrive in Swaziland on Thursday morning on the 7:40am flight, our time. Whew, they will need a few days of rest to get over all those travels! :) They will only be in Swaziland for several days before they head to Burkina Faso and Ghana for our company's 40/40 bush camp training.We look forward to sharing more about Todd and Deborah in future updates! As always, thank you for your prayers!!!!

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

With hearts full of sadness we had to say goodbye to our Noel (our female dog) this week due to the progression of her bone cancer. We buried her under one of the big trees in the corner of our yard. She will be missed by all of us including Bubba (our male dog).

--On Sunday October 3, the Mafucula Baptist Church baptized 5 new Christians. Pray these will understand their commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and live lives pleasing to Him.

Thank you for praying for the rain to fall throughout Swaziland. The Lord sent refreshing rain this week. Please continue to pray the rains will be plentiful during the growing season (October-April).

TWO BIG EVENTS THIS WEEK!!
-Todd and Deborah Hoskins leave for Swaziland on the 12th of October. The Hoskins are 2-year missionaries serving as church planters and developing rural church training schools for pastors and lay leaders. Pray Todd and Deborah’s flight will be uneventful. Pray they will have an easy adjustment to life in Swaziland.

-“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud. And He shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:17) October 14-16, 2010 is the National Swazi Baptist Women’s Retreat at the Manzini Baptist Church. The theme is “I Will Cry Unto the Lord” and the scripture verse is Psalm 55:17. So many Swazis do not know the importance of a personal prayer life or that they can even pray outside the church. Pray those attending will understand the true meaning of prayer and the need of a daily time of talking and listening to the Lord. Pray each attendee will learn to cry unto the Lord anytime and anywhere.

OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER MINISTRY EVENTS:
--October 21-November 19, Todd and Deborah Hoskins will attend the on-field orientation 40/40 in Burkino Faso (West Africa). 40/40 is an intensive time of learning to live in Africa as well as developing relationships with the African people. Begin praying for Todd and Deborah’s preparation for this type of training and wonderful blessings will occur.

The third children’s camp is scheduled for October 22-24 at the Mphungwane Baptist Church. The theme is “Let Us Talk To God.” The children will study stories on Christ, Daniel and Hannah who were great prayer warriors.
Pray the children will be able to take home the stories and their significance. Pray each will go home touched by the Lord.

-November 13, the Shiselweni Baptist Association will meet at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Pray as this association continues to organize to meet on a regular basis.
--November 14, the Thunzini Baptist Church will host a licensing service for their pastor, Nkosingiphile Dlamini. Pastor Dlamini has led this church for many years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray for this very special service and the Lord will continue to bless Nkosingiphile and the Thunzini Baptist Church.

SWAZI TEAM PRAYER CONCERNS:
--Lacie Allen’s school entrance exam was on Thursday the 7th. She breezed through it as we knew she would!! Pray Lacie will not encounter any problems gaining entrance to the Sifundzane Primary School in January 2011 (1st grade).
--The Myers are taking a little holiday to Kruger National Game Reserve October 26-29. Pray we will have a fun and relaxing time.
-- 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.

**WORLD HUNGER SUNDAY IS TOMORROW, OCTOBER 10TH, but your church can have a World Hunger emphasis any time of the year!!
October 10th is World Hunger Sunday, when many churches collect funds to support hunger needs around the world. Other congregations address needs at other times in other ways. Whenever and however you focus on hunger issues, are you ready? BGR, (Baptist Global Response) in partnership with worldhunger.com provides lots of information and resources to help you battle the world hunger giant.
Resources are available under the “Get Involved” tab at www.gobgr.org: awareness and fund-raising event ideas, those wonderful bread banks, a downloadable prayer guide and more. Also a number of excellent resources can be found at www.worldhungerfund.com.
Too many lives are being lost to the Kingdom: About 25,000 people die every day—one person every three seconds—from hunger or hunger-related causes, according to the United Nations. God cares about people in need—so many of them are his lost children.

***Do You Know?
What organization sets the goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering?
**Answer:
The Woman’s Missionary Union.

It is time for your church to start promoting and setting a goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to support your Southern Baptist missionaries as they share the Gospel overseas. The offering represents 54 percent of the International Mission Board’s total income. Pray for the faithfulness of Southern Baptist churches to give to the 2010 LMCO so missionaries can be sent to minister to many lost and dying people and nations.

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM IMB OFFICE OF GLOBAL PRAYER STRATEGY:
-Pray for the October 18-20 Impact Your World Conference being held at the International Learning Center in Rockville, Va. This conference helps churches to find answers to their questions about living out Acts 1:8. Guests will be able to dialog with missionaries, as well as with pastors who are effectively engaging in international missions, and receive tools that will help them in their missions journey.
--Please continue praying for the IMB’s Presidential Search Committee as they seek God’s man to lead our organization.

AIDS UPDATE:
For 2010 BGR requested help from SBC churches to fill 6,000 kits but only were able to fill 1500 kit. Since Swaziland has one of the highest AIDS rates in the world, The Swazi Team requested 300 kits to help families care for their loved ones but were only guaranteed 25-50 kits. BGR (as well as the Swazi Team) needs your help. If you or your church is interested in helping to provide In-Home Care Kits to families with love ones dying of AIDS please contact www.inhomecarekits.org
--Pray that the use of these items by loving caregivers will show the love and compassion that Jesus Christ has for the terminally ill.

--COWBOY RODEO CHURCH (Spencer Co, Ky) has moved!! Due to additional events that hindered worship, the Rodeo Church moved from the Red Barn to the Spencer County High School. Contacts have been made. Pray these contacts will encourage more people to attend on Sunday evenings.

This week’s country focus: GREECE:
- Pray for the breaking down of prejudice, blindness and fear surrounding evangelical Christianity. Discrimination, harassment and persecution of minorities still happen, especially against those who proselytize: Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. Pray for cultural and legal equality amongst the different groups, and the constitution to be changed to guarantee full religious freedom.
--Pray for Christians to have the courage to witness about Jesus, even when they are despised and persecuted. Pray that believers would remain steadfast in their faith, and would have opportunities to grow in their faith though fellowship with other believers.
--Pray for people living on the 200 or so inhabited Greek Islands. The majority of these communities are without an Evangelical witness, and many people have never even heard a clear presentation of the Gospel.- (Information from The Ultimate Goal (TUG) a project of SASCOL and is the outreach initiative taking place during June and July 2010.)

Lacie's Schooling

We have been so blessed to have Lacie in a small, preschool since she was three years old. It is literally five minutes away from our house with great teachers. They have Christian principles, even though it is not technically a Christian school. She has great friends there and we have loved the environment for her. Kindergarten or Grade 0 is the oldest class at the preschools here in Swaziland. Lacie is now preparing to start Grade 1 in late January, when our new school year opens. The school year for us is all-year round, January - December, with three term breaks.

Right now, Lacie is on the list to get into Sifunduzani Primary School and we hear great reports from others that it is an excellent, private school. Primary schools are grade 1 - 7 so our little Lacie will be quite the little fish in a big pond next year.She will be taking her entrance exam on Thursday morning at 10:00am, our time. It is more of a time to see how Lacie does with listening skills, see where she is at with her basic learning skills, interacting with adults and so forth. We know she will do fine but she is a bit nervous. She is afraid she will be asked to repeat kindergarten, which is so not true. We should find out fairly soon if Lacie has been accepted into the school and finalize the plans for her to start in January. Pray that if this is where Lacie is to be in school that everything will work out. If it is not, God would close the doors tightly. If she is not to attend there, give us direction on other options. We have homeschooling as an option but not sure if that is the right one for us right now, either. Education is so important and we know we are at crossroads to an important decision concerning Lacie. We appreciate all your prayers and any advice of others as well.

We sent this out to our Facebook group last week and Lacie has now taken her entrance exam. She did fantastic and we are now waiting to hear from the school if she has been accepted. Thank you for all your prayers!

Allen Family Back in Swaziland

It is still hard to believe that this time last week, we were still in West Palm Beach, Florida finishing up packing and saying our final good-byes to family and friends. We wanted to say thank you for all your prayers for our family as we traveled back to Swaziland on Sunday/Monday on the plane and then driving in our mission truck on Tuesday to Swaziland. The kids did AMAZING on all the flights and Nathan even took two long sleeps on the international 15+ hour flight to South Africa. Praise the Lord!

Lacie returned to school on Wednesday after our family arrived back in Swaziland on Tuesday. She was warmly greeted by her classmates and enjoyed being back into her routine. We have been slowly unpacking more and more each day and getting the house back in order. Nathan is just happy to be playing with his cars.

Steve has jumped back into some of his Bible studies, mostly just re-connecting with the Swazis and hearing how God has worked in their lives. Our family plans to attend Hawane Baptist Church in the morning at their invitation and we are looking forward to being with them for worship. The youth leaders in our area were at the mission property this morning for a meeting in preparations for our annual youth retreat for our area in December.

As we get back into ministry, pray for
- our family as we adjust back to our lives here in Swaziland- God's clear direction to know new work areas
- upcoming National Women's Retreat on October 14-16 with Barbara Myers, our friend and co-worker on our Swazi mission family, leading the sessions on prayer.
- our Swazi mission family is getting new missionaries, Todd and Deborah Hoskins, arriving in Swaziland on October 14. Pray for their final days in the USA and special times with family and friends. We are excited to see our mission family growing once again.
- Lacie is taking her entrance exam to start grade 1 at Sifundzani Primary School in January. She will do great but she is a bit nervous.Lacie is finishing up her kindergarten (grade 0) school year right now.

We are blessed and thankful for Al and Belinda Jordan that covered our ministry work and stayed in our house for the past six months. We were able to be with them briefly before they departed back to the USA. We cannot put into words how much we appreciated their willingness to serve our Lord in Swaziland the past several months.

Check out our family blog at: www.allensinafrica.blogspot.com for more stories and sign up to be a follower to keep us accountable in writing stories more often.