Wednesday, March 30, 2011

March Update from the Allen Family

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Greetings from Swaziland! Life has been busy and keeping us going but wanted to share a few praises and prayer concerns with everyone.

Praises/Prayer Concerns:
- Recent baptism service at Hawane Baptist Church on March 20, we saw 9 people baptized, including our daughter, Lacie. Praise the Lord! Check out my photos and a short video on my home page on Facebook.

- After much prayer, prayer drives and seeking the Lord, God is opening a door for a possible new work outside of Piggs Peak. The contact is through one of the families that attends Hawane Baptist Church. We were scheduled to visit there last week but the family needed to postpone until next week. Pray God opens the door completely if this is HIS plan to start a new outreach group that could move into a new church.

- Lesibovu Baptist Church is now finished with the walls of their new church building. They now will work on the roof and windows. Go God!

- Mphembekati Baptist Church has been relocated to a new piece of property as their church was too close to the community school. Pray for the church to continue to be a light in their community.

- Our family, along with missionaries from all over South Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, will be gathering this week in Johannesburg for our annual mission meeting. First Baptist of Orlando has sent a team to lead us in preaching, worship, encouragement and helping take care of our children with their own VBS type classes. Pray for safety as everyone travels, good health for the whole meeting...we typically seem to catch something at these meetings! :(, God to be with us in everything, great fellowship and refreshment for all.

- We are in the waiting mode to receive a container (approx. 600 buckets) of home care kits with Baptist Global Respones (BGR) into Swaziland. Our governement has approved the container to come in but we are waiting to see how much is the cost or if any. Pray the finance office will make a decision very soon and for them to find favor with seeing how these buckets will greatly assist their country. Pray for our team as we seek to train our churches in passing them out to the right people that needs these buckets.

- Our churches are busy planning our annual Easters services (Thursday - Sunday, April 22-25) as it is a time of them to come together for preaching, worship and fellowship. Many loose ends needs to be finalized and pray for our Convention as they make final decisions at their meeting this Saturday morning.

- Pray for our missionary team as we are looking towards a very busy American summer months with lots of volunteers and teams coming to serve with us, especially from May - August.

Let us hear from you as you are able to write!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

March Update from Hoskins

Hello everyone!
The field trip with the children from church to the radio station downstairs was so wonderful! Todd said that it was the best field trip he’s ever been on. The kids got to be on the radio and did a wonderful job reciting their memory verses and singing the songs they had practiced. I enjoyed beign at their choir practices the two weeks prior to the trip. Everyone had a great time singing together, and I was able to learn the songs myself. Thirty-four children came to the radio station and to our house for hot dogs afterwards. I think everyone enjoyed themselves immensely, with Todd and me being at the front of that list.

Our church was officially given new land by the chief’s council last Saturday. A knot was ceremoniously tied in the tall grass to mark the spot. We should soon be moving to the new land, which is currently full of guava trees. I think the moving process will involve a lot of snacking!

You may remember us mentioning Lucky, the security guard across the street. Todd and Lucky began going through a Bible study together in the mornings when he comes over after his night shift. The study is called the Life of Christ and it looks at Jesus’s life and teachings chronologically.

In other news, a partnership between the largest Baptist Church in Swaziland (Phuzumoya) and a South African Bible School has been formed to bring an extension program to Swaziland. This is a big step in the right direction for leadership and pastoral education, but it also comes with its share of new challenges. With the South African school now involved, Todd will be able to focus more of his time on different regions and those unable to attend.

We will be at a cluster meeting with other IMB missionaries serving in southern Africa from March 30th through April 3rd in Johannesburg. Please pray that this is a good time of encouragement and refreshment for us and our team.

Thank you for your support!

Monday, March 28, 2011

April Prayer Calendar

APRIL 2011 PRAYER CALENDAR
The Swazi Team

Friday April 1:
March 31-April 7, Todd and Deborah Hoskins’ friend, Tia from Georgia and her son Caleb will be in Swaziland for a visit. Please pray for safe travel. Pray they will have an enjoyable and meaningful trip as they see various ministries.

Saturday April 2:
Praise the Lord the Allens’ crate arrived in March and they continue to sort through everything. Pray for the Allens as they go through the house and decide what items to give away that no longer are needed to make room for the new items from their crate.

Sunday April 3:
Pray for the new outreach Bible study in northwest Swaziland in the rural area near Piggs Peak. Individuals from this area contacted missionary Steve Allen through friends at Hawane Baptist Church pleading for a Bible study to be started. This new study group is about 40 kilometers north of any previous work. Pray many people will attend this new outreach and come to faith in the Lord.

Monday April 4:
April 4-6, the Myers are attending the Community Development Training (sponsored by Baptist Global Response-BGR) in Jo’burg, South Africa. Pray this training will be helpful in ministering to the various needs of the Swazis.

Tuesday April 5:
Susanna Yawn’s (Deborah Hoskins’ sister) appointment with her heredity specialist went well. It is fairly certain that she does have retinitis pigmentosa. Susanna and the rest of the family seem to be doing well. Pray for Susanna as she deals with this new development in her life. May the Lord walk beside her each step of the way.

Wednesday April 6:
On March 16th, the Board of Trustees of the International Mission Board (IMB) voted to accept Tom Elliff as the new President of the IMB. 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.

Thursday April 7:
A former pastor of the Velebantfu Baptist Church was told years ago that he was HIV positive. Before his marriage both he and his wife had other sexual partners. This pastor was taking the anti-retro viral drug (prolongs the life of AIDS victims) until a few months ago when he discontinued the use of the drug because he felt the Lord had healed him. Unfortunately, his symptoms have continued and he was recently admitted to the psychiatric ward of the hospital due to irrational speech and behavior. Unless he begins his ARVs, there is nothing that can be done for him. Pray this pastor will be able to hear when the Lord speaks to Him concerning the needed treatment. Pray for this family as they deal with this situation.

Friday April 8:
Pray affordable and beneficial training will be provided for Swazi leaders and pastors to help with their leadership tasks and responsibilities. From this training pray spiritually strong Swazi Baptist churches will develop.

Saturday April 9:
Please continue to pray for Wayne Myers’ brother, Terry with stage 4 cancer in remission, sister Patsy with COPD and her husband Jim and sister Lynda with various health issues. Pray also for Barbara’s great-nephew recovering from pancreatitis.

Sunday April 10:
Five individuals from the Peace Baptist Church will be baptized today. Please pray for these new believers as they take this public step of obedience to Christ. Pray for good weather and autumn temperatures will remain warm.

Monday April 11:
Pray God will give Deborah Hoskins wisdom as she helps with the older children’s Sunday School at the Mphembekati Baptist Church. The children of the Mphembekati Baptist Church recently took a tour of the Voice of the Church (TransWorld Radio) with snacks at the Hoskins’ apartment afterwards. The trip was a huge success! Everyone had a great time and the children recited verses and sung songs on the radio!!

Tuesday April 12:
Recently missionary Wayne Myers received a phone call from a youth of the Big Bend Baptist Church. He told Wayne his grandfather and other family members were telling him to take a wife. Wayne encouraged the youth to consider the need to take a wife that is Christian and of like faith. So many Swazi youth are pressured by family members to take a wife and have children to ensure the continuation of the family name. Pray this young man will seek the Lord first before taking this big step. Pray the Lord will give him peace and comfort as they walk through this together.

Wednesday April 13:
Pray the Bible study in the community of Macethuka (approximately 5 kilometers from the Vuvulane Baptist Church) will soon begin. A group from the area requested a Bible study since it was too far for families with small children to walk to the Vuvulane Baptist Church. Pray a strong work will begin in this area that will reach the many loss Swazis for the Lord.

Thursday April 14:
Todd Hoskins meets with a friend each morning to study a basic Bible study on who is Jesus. Please pray that God will give Todd wisdom in his interactions and study with his friend.

Friday April 15:
Pray the Lord will provide a pastor for the New Hope Baptist Church (without a pastor for over three years). Pray the faithful will continue to be fruitful and the adults will strive to teach the youth and children the ways of God.

Saturday April 16:
Pray God will reveal Himself to the Swazis following the Muslim faith. Pray Swazi Christians will be a light in the darkness sharing the love of Jesus with their people.

Sunday April 17:
Five individuals from the Victory Baptist Church will be baptized today. Please pray for these new believers as they begin their walk with the Lord. Since baptisms are done outside, pray for warm autumn temperatures.

Monday April 18:
Kym Pennington, True Love Waits International consultant returns to Swaziland in May to conduct three three-day TLW trainings. The first training is scheduled for the 15th-17th; the second 19th-21st and the third training 23rd-25th. Pray for Kym as she prepares for this time of training. Pray for the Swazi Team as they encourage possible attendees and prepare for these training events.

Tuesday April 19:
Pray for King Mswati today on his birthday. Pray the strongholds that keep him, his wives and children from accepting Christ will be broken and they will commit their lives to serving Jesus.

Wednesday April 20: Pray for Steve Allen today on his birthday!!
Two men from the Peniel Baptist Church recently came to Steve to tell him they want to assist with preaching at Swazi Baptist churches (Hhohho region) currently without pastors. This is an answer to prayer and the Allens are excited for these new workers to join the ministry. Pray for a wonderful working relationship between these two committed Christian men and the Allens.

Thursday April 21:
April 21-24 the National Good Friday/Easter Services begin in Manzini. “To the Praise of His Glory” is the theme and sessions are provided or adult/youth and children as well as evening worship. Pray the 2011 Good Friday/Easter Services will be a blessing to those attending. Pray for a wonderful time of unity and rejoicing.

Friday April 22: GOOD FRIDAY!!
Swazis do not have a word for Easter. When asked what word is used when talking about Easter, Good Friday is the answer. How sad to not know that hope did not end with the crucifixion. Without celebrating the resurrection they have left Him in the grave. Pray Swazis will see their hope lies in a resurrected Savior who is not in the grave!!

Saturday April 23:
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN UNENGAGED PEOPLES: Day after day the Zengaga people of Senegal live their lives without hearing “the words of prophecy” because there is no one to tell them. There is no known Bible in their language. There are no teachers and no preachers—no one to help them hear the Good News of Jesus. Please pray God will burden one or more of His churches to be missionaries to the Zengaga people of Senegal.

Sunday April 24: EASTER SUNDAY!!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign,
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ arose!
(Robert Lowry)
Pray the Swazis will understand the significance of the resurrection. May they accept the victory found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Monday April 25:
Seven True Love Waits missionaries will minister in Swaziland June and July (2011) sharing the True Love Waits message in churches and schools. Four “Hands On” missionaries will arrive in June and August to also share the True Love Waits message throughout the country. The “Hands On” missionaries will be in Swaziland until May 2012. Pray the Lord will continue preparing these missionaries for their task of sharing the TLW message in Swaziland. May hearts be touched and changed and the AIDS pandemic will lose its grip on the Swazi people.

Tuesday April 26:
With the new True Love Waits missionaries arriving in June, dynamics will change for the Swazi Team. Instead of 3 families (8 team members), the numbers will increase to 14 families (22 members). Pray the Myers, Allens and Hoskins will be able to adjust to working with the Lord’s provision of new workers for the harvest. Pray mighty blessings will occur!

Wednesday April 27:
Due to the shipment of Home Health Care Kits (assist AIDS victims) being denied entry into South Africa, the shipment was given the “OKAY” to enter Swaziland. The Swazi Team is blessed to receive these kits (BGR buckets). Pray for members of the Swazi Team as they begin preparing and training Swazi Baptist churches on the use of the buckets to help AIDS families care for their loved ones. Pray these victims will know they are loved by caring people and especially the Lord.

Thursday April 28:
Pray the Lord will be able to draw strong spiritual leaders from the congregations of the Swazi Baptist churches. Pray many Swazis will truly understand what it means to be a Christian.

Friday April 29:
The last week of May two volunteers, Hunter and Katy will arrive in Swaziland for a time of ministry and for Hunter the reuniting with many Swazi friends. Hunter as well as her sister Brinkley and father Jimmy have made many trips to Swaziland as volunteers. During their first week they will work in the Tshaneni area with the Myers and the month of June will find them ministering with the Allens in Mbabane and Hoskins in Manzini. Pray for Hunter and Katy as they prepare for their ministry in Swaziland. May this be a wonderful experience for Katy’s first trip to Swaziland and for Hunter as she returns to Swaziland.

Saturday April 30:
Pastor Mkhiliphi and his wife have been together for many years with many children. When young they were married in the Swazi traditional way but now wish to be obedient to the Lord and have a Christian wedding. Pray for this couple as they invite their friends, family, church members and community to their Christian wedding today at the Ntuthwakazi Baptist Church. May their wedding be a wonderful witness to their family and the Ntuthwakazi community.

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

The Vuvulane Baptist Church begins a weekend revival (Fri.-Sun.). Saturday (26th of March) morning from 9:00-1:00 the children and youth will meet for Bible studies. The revival will conclude at morning worship on Sunday. Pray this will be a big spiritual boost for those that attend the Vuvulane Baptist Church. Pray children and youth will attend the Bible studies offered and it will be a great weekend for everyone.

--March 30-April 4, the Swazi Team will attend the Two Oceans Cluster Strategy Meeting at the Birchwood Conference Center in Jo’burg. The First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla., will provide volunteers to work with the missionary children and lead in worship services. Missionaries from South Africa and Swaziland will gather for a time of reconnecting with missionary colleagues, praying for missionary needs and information gathering. Pray for spiritual preparedness for the missionaries attending, volunteers ministering and leadership leading.

--April 4-6, Wayne and I will attend the Community Development Training sponsored by the Baptist Global Response (BGR) in Jo’burg, South Africa. Pray this training will be helpful to the Swazi Team as we seek ways to minister to the Swazi people.
***Because we will be in Jo’burg for a week (March 30-April 6), next week’s prayer letter will not be sent.

HIS HANDS
The hands of Christ Seem very frail,
For they were broken By a nail.
But only they Reach heaven at last Whom these frail,
broken Hands hold fast.
--John Richard Moreland

Swazis do not have a word for Easter. When asked what word is used when talking about Easter, Good Friday is the answer. How sad not to know that hope did not end with the crucifixion. Without celebrating the resurrection they have left Him in the grave. Pray Swazis will see their hope lies in a resurrected Savior who is not in the grave!!

April 21-24 is the National Good Friday/Easter Services in Manzini. “To the Praise of His Glory” is the theme and sessions are provided for adult/youth and children as well as evening worship. Pray the 2011 Good Friday/Easter Services will be a blessing to those attending. Pray for a wonderful time of unity and rejoicing!!

AIDS UPDATE:
With the threat of AIDS destroying Swaziland’s youthful generation, there is a great need for a strong True Love Waits program in the country. The Swazi Team is happy to say the Lord is providing laborers for this task. In May, True Love Waits International consultant, Kym Pennington will conduct three three-day True Love Waits training events. In June-July, seven summer missionaries will minister in Swaziland sharing the True Love Waits message in churches and schools. Four “Hands On” missionaries will also arrive in June and August to share the TLW message throughout the country. Pray the Lord will continue preparing these missionaries for their task of sharing the TLW message in Swaziland. May hearts be touches and changed and the AIDS pandemic will loosen its grip on the Swazi people. With the new True Love Waits missionaries arriving in June, dynamics will change for the Swazi Team. Instead of 3 families (8 members), the numbers will increase to 14 families (19members). Pray the Myers, Allens and Hoskins will be able to adjust to working with the Lord’s provision of new workers for the harvest. Pray mighty blessings will occur!!

IMB’S OFFICE OF GLOBAL PRAYER STRATEGY:
-A Mission Expo to which 36 interested missions candidates have been invited is scheduled to occur in Louisville, Ky., on March 24-26. Please intercede for these men and women as they seek God’s will concerning overseas missionary service.

-IMB’s Leadership Forum Retreat will be held at Natural Bridge, Va., on March 28 through April 1. Please pray for IMB’s president, vice-presidents, associate vice-presidents, and directors during this time of spiritual enrichment and professional dialogue. -This busy month will conclude with Indabas, the Sub-Saharan African Mini Summit at South Haven Baptist Church, Springfiled, Mo. For centuries in southern Africa, Zulu chiefs have called together their people to discuss important issues at meetings called “indabas.” That’s an appropriate name for a conference that will focus attention on the lostness of Sub-Saharan Africa. Ask God to deluge this conference with blessings.

Lacie's Baptism Service

As a parent, we pray for our children even before they are born and most importantly, we pray for the day they will come to know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. Our daughter, Lacie, made that decision last year when we were in the USA on our stateside time. What a joy in all our lives! We talked to Lacie about baptism and she said she wanted to wait until we were home in Swaziland to be baptized at one of our churches. She even knew she wanted to do it Hawane Baptist Church. We did not push it or make a big issue out of it as we wanted her to fully understand what she was doing in her young life. She was the one that kept bringing it up and asked to be baptized when she found out we were planning a baptism recently at Hawane Baptist Church.

Lacie, along with eight others, was baptized last Sunday, March 20. She was so excited and only asked her daddy if the water was going to be cold! :) We thank God for such an important and special decision in her life and continue to pray for her walk with Jesus.

The group photo of everyone that was baptized that day with their special gift, the New Testament in siSwati.

Lacie getting ready to be baptized.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!!! Love the expression on Lacie's face! :)

Saturday, March 19, 2011

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.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

Is an era completed? In 2009 we moved to Tshaneni (Lubumbo region) after living and ministering for 15 years in the Shiselweni region. Memories still flood my mind when I think of the little mission house (moved in December 1995) that entertained many Swazis, volunteers, friends and missionaries. Our Wolf and Stormie who comprise most of those memories are buried in the garden. When visiting the Nhlangano mission house, I can see them so vividly running through the back door into the house making a “bee-line” for the bed. I can still see the students of Wayne’s TEE classes, our Bible studies and worship services that met in our home since 1996-2009. What has brought on this memory lane of nostalgia? Wayne is in Nhlangano today to meet with someone who is interested in renting the mission house that has been empty since our departure. If they do rent, we will no longer make trips to check on things or leave/retrieve mission equipment. An era will be completed. End of a reign!! BUT, in my heart there will always be memories mostly good when I think of the little mission house in Nhlangano. I also have hopes that the people who rent will come to appreciate the little house as much as we did. Pray for just the right renters to come and stay in the Nhlangano mission house.

Wayne, Todd and 7 pastors attended the meeting on the 8th of March in Phuzumoya to discuss the Swazi Baptist Rural Training Schools. Guests from the South Coast Bible School (Emphangeni, South Africa) were invited to discuss the possibility of Swazi Rural Training Schools partnering with the South Coast Bible School. This will entail SCBS sending a representative once a year to check on the school, Swazi Rural School will have free access to their soft-copy curriculum, our school will be able to choose own speakers and will be autonomous. There are some challenges to this arrangement that include changing the dates of our schools that are scheduled to meet three times instead of four times a year. The Swaziland committee: Todd Hoskins, Pastor Mandla Sigwane and Pastor Sifiso Dlamini have the huge task of working on all logistical decisions for the school such as who will attend, cost, accommodation, speakers and meals. Pray for this committee as they begin their work in preparation for the first Swazi Baptist Rural Training School. The first school will not be in May as scheduled but will be later in the year. Pray as the committee members work to schedule three schools that will not conflict with other scheduled events. May these schools will provide much needed training that will spiritually strengthen our Swazi Baptist churches.

MARCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
--March 14-17, our Cluster Strategy leader and wife (Wade and DeeAnn Coker) will be in Swaziland visiting the members of the Swazi Team. March 14th they will visit with the Allens, March 15th with the Hoskins and on the 16th with the Myers, leaving on the 17th. Pray the Cokers’ visit with the Swazi Team will be an encouragement to everyone.

--March 19th, the Shiselweni Baptist Association meets at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. The purpose of the meeting is to encourage the Swazi Baptist churches in the Shiselweni region to provide a strong Sunday School program for all ages and to meet faithfully on Sunday for worship. Pray this meeting will be beneficial to all attending.

--The Velebantfu Baptist Church will conduct a licensing service for their pastor, Liswe Nsibandze on the 20th of March. Pastor Nsibandze has led this church for five years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray the members of the Velebantfu Baptist Church will continue to support their pastor as he leads the congregation.

--March 26th the Vuvulane Baptist Church will hosts an outreach youth/children Bible study 9:00-1:00. Pray this event will reach the youth and children in the community that are not attending church as well as encouraging the Vuvulane Baptist youth and children to attend.

--March 30th-April 4th, the members of the Swazi Team will attend the Two Oceans Cluster Strategy Meeting at the Birchwood Conference Center in Johannesburg, South Africa. The First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla. will provide volunteers to work with the missionary children’s program and lead in worship services. Pray for the continued preparations and logistics. Pray for spiritual preparedness for the missionaries attending, volunteers ministering and leadership leading.

--March 15-16, the IMB Board of Trustees and assigned staff will be meeting in Dallas, Texas. A major focus of the March meeting will be the nomination of Dr. Tom Elliff as the new IMB president. We thank the Lord for His leadership during the selection process. Pray for trustees as they consider Dr. Elliff’s nomination and eventually vote. The board meeting will be immediately followed by the appointment of more than 90 new missionaries at the First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Thank the “Lord of harvest” for these new laborers. Pray for them as He prepares them for entry into the harvest fields.

Update on Lisa Warren’s father…I am happy to report that this morning finds my Dad doing much better. God's mercies are amazing, and I am so thankful for each and every prayer lifted! His doctor says that Dad looks like a new man . His blood pressure is back up, and he rested well last night. His cardiac enzymes show he is improving also. Dad is awake and alert, and wants to get up out of bed. It is still too soon to tell the results of Monday's surgery, as they have not introduced food back yet. That will come later this week. Please know just how much each of you mean to me, and how much we appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement ... thank you prayer warriors, all glory and praise to God!!!!

AIDS UPDATE:
Wayne received a message from Mark Hatfield,(BGR-Baptist Global Response) concerning the shipment of In-Home Health Care Kits that are stored in South Africa, waiting for clearance to enter South Africa. This shipment has been sitting in South Africa for quite a while and has cost thousands of American dollars for storage. South Africa refuses to allow the shipment into the country. Mark told Wayne unless the shipment is allowed to enter the country soon, it will have to be sent to Zambia. The Swazi Team was to receive 100 In-Home Health Kits from that shipment. Evidently, there are other items (not the kits) that have hindered its clearance into the country. We are asking our prayer network to please pray the South Africa customs department will have a change of heart and allow the container into the country. Many victims of AIDS and their families will benefit from these kits and ministry. Pray they will not be denied the chance to know that they are loved by caring people and especially the Lord.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

What a blessing we received through the ministry and fellowship with the volunteer team from the South Roanoke and Atlantic Associations in North Carolina. Our hearts are truly blessed and full of joy. As mentioned in last week’s prayer letter the Shiselweni Ladies’ Retreat (23-24 of February) went very well and the ladies were fun and encouraging. The weekend was the Shiselweni Youth Retreat (25-27of February) and again it was great mixing and worshipping together. So many of the youth were children in our children’s Bible studies and have continued in church and are now leaders. Saturday the children of the Mgamudze Baptist Church and community joined us for a time of study and fellowship. We cannot say enough of the contributions this team and other volunteer teams have made in the work with the Swazi people. The Swazis love when the Americans come because through the work and ministry, the Swazis know the Americans love them. What a wonderful testimony. Pray contacts made during the Team’s ministry will reap great rewards for the Kingdom. May each team member’s life be fully blessed by his/her experiences in Swaziland.The volunteer team left for the states on Thursday from Jo’burg. We arrived home around 5:00pm yesterday and were welcomed home by our neighborhood monkeys!! It is good to be home.

--Today (Saturday the 5th of March) Wayne is attending the meeting of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland in Manzini. Planning continues for the 2011 National Good Friday/Easter Services. These services begin the day before Good Friday and ends on Easter Sunday with approximately 200 people attending. There is much planning involved. Pray most of the details and logistics will be finalized this month. Pray this year’s services will have a spiritual foundation and will reflect the true Resurrection story.

MARCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
--Happy birthday to Nathan Allen on the 7th of March!!

--Tuesday (8th of March) the Swazi Baptist pastors will meet with Todd, Steve and Wayne to discuss the Swazi Rural Training Schools. Pray this meeting will go well with consensus in the planning. The first school is scheduled for May 10-13. Pray everything will fall into place as preparations continue.

--March 14-17, our Cluster Strategy Leader and wife (Wade and DeeAnn Coker) will be in Swaziland visiting with the members of the Swazi Team. March 14 they will stay with the Allens in Mbabane, March 15 with the Hoskins and on the March 16 with the Myers, leaving on the 17th. Pray the Cokers’ visit with the Swazi Team will be an encouragement to everyone.

--March 19th, the Shiselweni Baptist Association meets at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. The purpose of the meeting is to encourage the Swazi Baptist churches in the Shiselweni region to provide a strong Sunday school program for all ages and to meet faithfully on Sunday for worship. Pray this meeting will be beneficial to all attending.

--The Velebantfu Baptist Church will conduct a special licensing service for their pastor, Liswe Nsibandze on the 20th of March. Pastor Nsibandze has led this church for five years and is a strong leader and committed Christian. Pray the members of the Velebantfu Baptist Church will continue to support their pastor as he leads the congregation.

--March 30th-April 4th, the members of the Swazi Team will attend the Two Oceans Cluster Strategy Meeting at the Birchwood Conference Center in Johannesburg, South Africa. 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 the continued preparations and logistics. Pray for spiritual preparedness for the missionaries attending, volunteers ministering and leadership leading.

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
--Pray for the Mavuso family (pastor of the Vuvulane Baptist Church). Simphiwe was not feeling well and Douglas took her to the doctor today.

--Wayne received a phone call from the hospital Manzini concerning Johannes Tfwala who was admitted to the psychiatric wing on Friday. Johannes had been acting rather strange the past few days. Wayne plans to visit him today. Pray for this family and situation. Pray Johannes will recover from this problem.

AIDS UPDATE:
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete”. John 16:23-24 For the past couple of years we have asked you to pray the Lord will help the Swazi Team develop a strong True Love Waits program in Swaziland. With the help of the International True Love Waits consultants, we have a beginning. Praises come when we truly began to seek the Lord’s desire in this request and we are happy to say the Lord is providing. In August, the Swazi Team will receive four “Hands On” (short term) missionaries that will work in the True Love Waits ministry. Not only that, but several summer missionaries will arrive in June to also work with sharing the True Love Waits message in schools and churches. We praise the Lord for this answer to prayer. Pray for the Swazi Team as they work out the logistics for these missionaries. Pray the Lord will continue to bless as we learn to be faithful and ask!! I would also like to share this praise (posted from Facebook) from one of our Swazi True Love Waits leaders: This whole week the true love wait team (Lubombo) was presenting at Duze high school. We saw a spirit of commitment as the presenters moved from class to class. We want to thank God for showing up in our presentations. We recorded 316 students who committed to abstinence. We ask for your prayers, advice and mentorship as we allow holiness liberate our country from aids. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

IMB GLOBAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
--Pre-departure field orientation continues for 94 missionary adults and 38 missionary kids through March 23. Please pray for the following concerns: deepened communion with God, visa approvals, health matters, child issues, culture/strategy/method learning and future goodbyes. May God show Himself mighty on their behalf.

--The Affinity of South Asian Peoples will be conducting “Finishing the Task” training at Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC on March 7-9. Participants will discover what God is doing throughout South Asia and how they can join Him in the task. Pray that many churches will be represented and will eventually partner with our South Asian personnel to reach the lost in that part of the world.

--March 7-9 will see pastors and mission leaders gathering at Green Valley Baptist Church, Henderson, Nev., for an “Impact Your World” conference, during which time they will learn practical ways for a church to live out the Acts 1:8 command. Your prayers for both conference leaders and conferees will be greatly appreciated. May the conference truly “impact” the world.

--IMB Board of Trustees and assigned staff will be meeting in Dallas, Texas on March 15-16. A major focus of the March meeting will be the nomination of Dr. Tom Elliff as the new IMB president. First, I encourage you to thank God for His leadership during the selection process. Then, pray for trustees as they consider Dr. Elliff’s nomination and eventually vote.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Update on the Hoskins

Thank you for your prayers for a church for us. We are now attending Mphembekati Baptist Church outside of Manzini. It has been so nice to get to know the people there and worship as a part of the Body of Christ. I’ll describe the church for all who are interested. The pastor is Lloyd Dlamini. He works as a principal of a school in Phuzumoya and is also taking courses at the university. Yesterday we had about 18 people in Bible Study (Sunday School for youth and adults) and probably somewhere around 25 kids in Sunday School. The church is currently meeting in a one-room wooden building with a tin roof and a traditional dung floor. We split up during Sunday School time, and the youth and adults move benches from the church outside under a tree. We’re slowly learning the songs and are getting better at picking out words here and there. The children from church will be coming to the radio station on March 12th for a tour, and we’re going to have them up in our house for a snack afterwards (you may remember that we live above a radio station). We’ve never been the destination of a field trip before, and we feel pretty special. The church will be moving sites sometime in the near future since a teacher’s home is being built on the land that the church is currently using.

We have a motivation for continuing language learning. Although we don’t pick up a whole lot quite yet, we do recognize when someone says, “Hoskins.” Recently our ears have perked up as our name has been used to volunteer our services. Todd was volunteered by Pastor Lloyd to help find a place for the Easter services. Deborah was volunteered by one of the ladies at church to help the children come up with a presentation for their visit to the radio station. Along with some of the pastors, Todd was able to help find a location for the Easter services. It might not be the best location in the world, but it’s a location. Deborah’s volunteer job is not looking so promising. While she can’t exactly teach siSwati songs yet, she does know some useful phrases for managing children like, “Everyone sit down!” and “Don’t drink beer!”

We are making more friends around town. Please pray that we will have wisdom in our relationships and opportunities to share about Jesus. Lucky Dlamini, one of Todd’s friends who works as a night guard at the building next to ours, has come over a couple of times to eat early breakfast with Todd. Bongekile, Nokukhanya, and Sihle, 5th and 6th grade girls from the school down the street, come a few afternoons a week to hang out with Deborah.

The Bible Training School’s first session is still planned for May 10th through May 13th. Please continue to pray for wisdom in figuring out how to make the school effective and self-sustaining.

Thank you for keeping up with our work. We appreciate your prayers!