Saturday night we celebrated with the Masukus (pastor of Mafucula Baptist), Brandi, Kim, Corine, Jimmy and Karen Moore on Kim and Brandi’s completed stay on the homestead. The Masukus were such wonderful host and hostess to Kim and Brandi and we wanted to say “thank you” in a very special way. They were dedicated to their task and were quite impressed with the girls playing with the children, leading Bible studies, sharing the True Love Waits message and even taking care of the little shop that is income for the Masukus. During this special dinner they remarked, “We will miss our children.”
It is a custom in Swaziland for non-Swazis to take the name of the first homestead in which they stay or were fed. Our first homestead meal was hosted by our language teacher and she gave us Swazi names and surnames. Unfortunately, I don’t remember my first name but our surname is Nyawo. Brandi’s Swazi name is Phili (p-lee) Masuku and Kim’s is Nomsa Masuku.
Pray for Kim (Nomsa) and Brandi (Phili) as they continue with the ministry of sharing the True Love Waits message in schools and churches. Pray for a change of attitudes and lifestyles among our Swazi youth.
---July 27-28 the Swazi team will meet with the six summer missionaries for a time of debriefing on their two months of True Love Waits ministry in Swaziland. This group has shared the True Love Waits presentation many times, visited homesteads, scheduled Bible studies with all age groups and have been used of the Lord. Pray Tiffany, Jonathon, Elizabeth, Adam, Tori and REH will remember their time in Swaziland as one full of wonderful blessings, new relationships and a sense of accomplishing the task the Lord set before them. Pray the message of True Love Waits and God’s plan for students’ lives will continue to spread even after these missionaries have left.
---July 31st is the scheduled date for the “SPECIAL DO” for Nkosingiphile Dlamini at the Thunzini Baptist Church. Swazi Baptist churches h
ave been invited to join in saying thank you and best wishes to Pastor Dlamini who has been accepted to study at a teacher’s college in Manzini. Pray for this very special event in the life of the Thunzini Baptist Church as well as Nkosingiphile Dlamini. Pray for the Thunzini Baptist Church during this time of change and transition. Pray leaders within the church will be able to lead the church in the pastor’s absence. Wayne and I will spend the night at the Phumula Guesthouse in Nhlangano on Saturday (30th) and attend this special service for Nkosingiphile. We will return to Tshaneni Sunday afternoon.
Nkosingiphile Trivia: (I debated on whether to share this story but decided I would. J) When helping with a revival service at the Mgamudze Baptist Church led by a volunteer team, Nkosingiphile and a few other youth helpers were staying at the church. There are no indoor toilets in Swazi churches and in some cases no outdoor toilets. During the night Nkosingiphile needed to relieve himself so he went outside (in the dark). He wasn’t gone very long and upon return to the church told one of the guys rather excitedly that he thought he had met the Lord when he almost sat down on a Puff Adder (very poisonous) snake!! (Ouch!!) We are so glad he didn’t and was able to continue serving the Lord for many years throughout Swaziland!!
---Please pray for Steve Allen as he has his gallbladder removed today. Pray the surgery will not be too painful and Steve will 
have a very speedy recovery. The Allens are scheduled to return to Mbabane tomorrow (Tuesday).
---Deborah Hoskins will have minor foot surgery in Johannesburg Wednesday (20th). The Hoskins will leave tomorrow for Jo’burg. Please pray for safe travel and the operation will go well.
---Continue to pray for Simphiwe Mavuso, recovering from a C-section and the birth of her daughter.
--August 10-18 a 16-member volunteer team from the Euto Baptist Church (Marshville, NC) lead by Bert and Lisa Warren will minister in the northeast section of Swaziland. The Warrens were part of the Swazi Team in 2008-2009. Ministries include prayer walking, hut-to-hut visitation, ladies and youth retreats, children’s Bible study, AIDS orphan ministry and other spirit-led ministries. Pray for Bert, Lisa, Matthew, Zach, Landon, Keith, Jen, Nathan, Lisa, Harley, Kimberly, Brooke, Kathy, Kara, Amanda and Jenna as they prepare to work with the Swazi people.
AUGUST 1-29 IS RAMADAN a time when Muslims all over the world fast and pray for themselves. Christians do not join in celebrating Ramadan, but lift up their voices in prayer during this time when Muslim hearts are especially tender to spiritual things. Pray during Ramadan Muslims in Swaziland will sense the presence of the true Savior of the World.
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