Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

As I prepare to type this prayer letter, we are without electricity (again!!). Wayne has left for Nhlangano to attend the Shiselweni Association meeting tomorrow and on Sunday the licensing of Velebantfu Baptist pastor, Liswe Nsbandze. Before he departed he hooked up the electrics of the house to the generator. Since a nice thunder storm (we really needed the rain) on Wednesday our electricity has come and gone. We also had a little problem with the water on Tuesday night. When the toilet was flushed it looked like a swamp (and smelled like it too!). This problem stemmed from a broken water pipe somewhere on the farm. By the time the problem was corrected, the whole house smelt like a swamp and all the facets had to be “flushed out.” Since then, our water has been cleaner than it was before the problem!! Now, if only our electricity problem can be solved then life on the farm can once again be peaceful and tranquil.

Pray for the meeting of the Shiselweni Baptist Association today (19th of March) at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Pray for a time of encouragement for the 9 Shiselweni Swazi Baptist churches. Pray also for the licensing service on Sunday (20th of March) at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Pastor Nsibandze has led this church for five years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray the members of the Veleblantfu Baptist Church will continue to support their pastor as he leads the congregation.

IT IS OFFICIAL!! -- The Nhlangano mission house is rented!! A construction company employee has rented the little house and has already moved in!! Thank you for praying.

-- The International Mission Board has a new president, Tom Elliff! Please pray for the Elliffs as they begin a new chapter in their lives. Ask the Lord to provide wisdom for Tom as he leads the IMB.

--Wade and DeeAnn Coker (Cluster Strategy Leader) were able to visit with all members of the Swazi Team (March 14-16). They returned to Jo’burg yesterday and next week will be in the midst of preparing for the Two Oceans Cluster Strategy Meeting at the Birchwood Conference Center in Johannesburg, South Africa March 30-April 4. Pray for Wade and DeeAnn as they prepare for this very important meeting. The members of the Swazi Team will also attend. The First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla., will provide volunteers to work with the missionary children’s program and lead in the worship services. Pray for spiritual preparedness for the missionaries attending, volunteers ministering and leadership leading.

HO YUM, I still do not have my computer!! We received the new graphics card from the states in February, took it to the one that is repairing the computer and we are still waiting to hear that the computer is ready to be returned to us. I must admit, it is rather frustrating!! Pray my computer will soon be returned to us in good form and ready to resume helping me with all my computer activities!

APRIL MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
--April 4-6, we (Myers) will attend the Community Development Training (sponsored by BGR) in Jo’burg. Pray this training will be helpful in ministering to those around us.

--April 21-24, the National Good Friday/Easter Services will be conducted in Manzini. This yearly special event begins the day before Good Friday and ends on Easter Sunday with approximately 200 people attending. Theme: “To the Praise of His Glory.” Pray this year’s services will have a spiritual foundation and will reflect the true Resurrection story. Pray those attending will seek the Lord’s direction and guidance in their thoughts and beliefs. Pray for unity in all our Swazi Baptist churches during this special time of worshipping together for four days.

AIDS UPDATE:We have so much to share with you concerning our prayer request last week for the shipment of Home Health Care Kits (buckets) that was stuck in South Africa and not being allowed to enter the country (due to vitamins in the shipment). We asked you to pray that the South Africa customs office would reconsider and allow the container to enter the country. Well, that didn’t happen but something more miraculous did, the container has been cleared to enter SWAZILAND!!!! With paper work in hand Steve visited the appropriate offices to receive the clearance. Yesterday Wayne took more paperwork and both he and Steve made visits to offices that would help the shipment enter the country tax free. The tax free issue is still undecided but we should hear something by Tuesday of this week when the committee meets to decide if the shipment can enter tax free. WOW!! There are over 600 Home Health Kits in the shipment. We had asked for 300 last year but could only be promised 25. This year we were promised 100. Now we have over 600!! THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!! Our Lord has again provided over and above our expectation. Pray for the Swazi Team as we begin preparing and training our churches on the use of these buckets to help AIDS families care for their loved ones. Pray the shipment will soon move from Durban, South Africa to Mbabane, Swaziland!! We praise the Lord that many victims of AIDS will know they are loved by caring people and especially by the Lord.
***If your church is interested in helping with filling home health care kits/buckets, contact Baptist Global Response (BGR) bgrbuckets@gobgr.org or visit their website www.baptistglobalresponse.com/main/

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST:
Pray fervently for the Japanese people as they come to grips with the death and destruction caused by the horrific9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami of last week. Ask that Christians will turn to God for refuge and that nonbelievers will seek to know Him. Ask for His hand of protection and provision to be upon missionaries, rescue and relief workers, and the 450,000 Japanese who are in temporary shelters. Pray for godly wisdom and protection for those who are seeking to stem the nuclear meltdown and radiation leaks. (March 17-Today’s Prayer)
As you pray consider a possible donation to the disaster relief effort in Japan. Donations can be made through the International Mission Board either by sending a check or by going on line.