Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

It was a beautiful day for Nkosingiphile’s DO last Sunday at the Thunzini Baptist Church.  There was plenty of singing and testifying.  What a wonderful testimony from the church to Nkosingiphile.  He served as pastor of the Thunzini Baptist Church for eleven years and now the church will be led by those he has trained.  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 is helping Nkosingiphile today get all his belongings from Nhlangnano to his new “digs” in Manzini.  School starts Monday!!  Pray for Nkosingiphile as he prepares to begin classes and adjust to living in Manzini.  Pray this will be a good school year for him.
Nkosingiphile Trivia;  Nkosingiphile worked as a gardener for us for many years.  A few years ago he was helping another young pastor paint the inside of our house.  Throughout the day conversation between the two continued until I literally thought I would scream.  Finally, I asked both of them what in the world did they have to talk about all day long?  They both just laughed and said lots.  I almost drew the line though when towards the end of the day, conversation turned to what is the difference between sleep and rest.  Finally, after hearing the debate for an hour I was so relieved when it was time for them to go home!!

This is a big week for us with the arrival of the 16-member volunteer team from the Euto Baptist Church.  The team led by Bert and Lisa Warren arrive in Swaziland on Wednesday the 10th of August.  Thursday, after orientation the team will have lunch with hut-to-hut visitation scheduled for the afternoon. Friday and Sunday are the Ladies and Youth retreats at the Mafucula primary school.  The group will divide and attend worship at Vuvulane, Mafucula or Luwahhwhheni Baptist Churches on Sunday.  Monday the group will concentrate on AIDS orphan ministry opportunities and Tuesday besides continuation of the visitation ministries a group will also lead an all day children’s Bible study for children of  Vuvulane, Mafucula, Luwhhawhheni and MaCethuka.  Pray for Bert, Lisa, Matthew, Zach, Keith, Jen, Nathan, Lisa, Harley, Kimberly, Brooke, Kathy, Kara, Amanda and Jenna as they prepare to work with the Swazi people. May each stay happy and healthy.
Brandi and Kim will also be part of the team with special interest in the AIDS orphan ministries.  Pray new ministry opportunities will be present for Kim and Brandi after the volunteer team returns to the states.

AIDS UPDATE:
One Sunday in April a group from the Vuvulane Baptist Church visited a very sick lady after worship.  Prayer was requested for this one who had just finished her high school education and showed symptoms of AIDS.  I am sorry to say she passed away. She was so young and her life was taken away before she really had a chance to live.  This is becoming the norm for our youth in Swaziland.  Sunday while attending the Thunzini Baptist Church, I couldn’t believe the number of unwed young girls with babies and small children.  Some of these girls had attended the children’s Bible study we conducted before and after Thunzini became a church.  They are regular church goers but also they are part of a culture that does not promote Christian lifestyles and where unwed motherhood is not uncommon.  It looks as though our young people are not even thinking about the dangers of AIDS.  The word seldom is mentioned when speaking of relationships and by the outward look of the group Sunday it is seldom mentioned in the pulpit.  Pray our Swazi Baptist churches will become burdened concerning the spread of AIDS in communities, schools, friends and families.  Pray each pastor will lead in teaching the congregation the importance of remaining spiritually pure and true to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

August 25-28 is the National Youth Camp.  Theme: “Walking Righteously in Christ Through Faith” with camp scripture from Colossians 2:6, 7.  Camp speaker/leader is missionary Steve Flippo.  Pray the youth will come with open hearts, minds and ears to fully understand all God has to share with each of them.

OFFICE OF GLOBAL PRAYER STRATEGY:
--Sixty-seven rising freshmen are attending an annual MK (missionary kids) Re-entry Retreat in Illinois on August 6-8.  This retreat is to help rising college freshmen with the adjustment from life on the field to life in the United States without mom or dad.  Pray for staff to be wise counselors and for students to be blessed by the experience.
--Short-term missionaries--journeyman and International Service Corps workers--will be at ILC on August 10-13 for a debriefing conference.  Lift up the staff as they prepare for this event.  Pray for the returning short-termers not only as they attend this conference, but also as they transition back to life in the U.S.A.

RAMADAN AUGUST 1-29:  For about four weeks, faithful followers of Islam do not eat or drink anything during the daylight hours, only breaking their fast after sundown.  Many people are more attuned spiritually at this time and hope to hear from God.  Pray during this time of fasting and listening for God, many Muslims will hear the voice of the Lord Jesus as He bids them to come and dine with Him.

SPECIAL PRAISE:  It looks as though our computer woes are almost over!!  Thank you for praying for us during this very trying time.