Monday, March 19, 2012

Myers Weekly Prayer Letter

The Swazi Team will say “Thank You” to the four “Hands On” missionaries with a trip to the Swazi Candle Factory today.  Sienna, Kim, Heather and Brandi arrived in June for six months of True Love Waits and other AIDS related ministries.  Pray for this special time of fellowshipping and saying thanks to these missionaries for coming to Swaziland to minister to the Swazi people through AIDS ministries.  Pray these four missionaries will have a feeling of accomplishment as they prepare to return to the States.    The group leaves Swaziland on the 10thof December for Jo’burg and a time of debriefing.  December 15th they leave for the states.

Sunday (December 4th) the Vuvulane and Mountain Baptist Churches gather together to say “Thank You” and “Farewell” to Phila Masuku  (Brandi Harris) and Nomsa Masuku (Kim Hultgren) at the Mafucula Primary School.  Saying goodbye and having closure is very important to the Swazi people.  After spending a month on the Masuku homestead in July, Brandi and Kim became part of the Masuku family and were given the Masuku name.  Now the Masuku family will lead this time of Farewell for Brandi and Kim. 

The program begins with Sunday School at 10:00am.
·         After choirs and testimonies, Pastor Mavuso of the Vuvulane Baptist Church will preach the Word of God.
·         After the preaching of God’s Word,  a special recognition time for Nomsa and Phila.
o    Testimonies and thanks to Nomsa and Phila
o    Presentation of Gifts: Mountain & Vuvulane
o    Special Word of Thanks: Bheki Mtsetwa (language and culture tutor)
o    Words by Babe (Mr.) and Make (Mrs.) Masuku: Host Parents
·         Mountain and Vuvulane Baptist Church committees or church leaders will come and pray for Nomsa and Phila.
·         Close with singing and dancing!! J  (Lunch will follow)
Pray for this special service.  Pray for the Mountain  and Vuvulane Baptist Churches as their gratitude is expressed to Brandi and Kim.  Pray for the Masuku family as they send “part of their family” back to the states.  Pray for Brandi and Kim as they too say goodbye to their “second” family and friends they have made in the past few months. 

--Sunday November 27th, 7 were baptized at Luhhwahhweni Baptist Church.  We thank the Lord for each one who made the commitment to follow the Lord and be obedient through baptism.   Pray for these who made the very important decision to become a child of the King.  May their witness touch the Luhhwahhweni community.  Pray for continued growth for this church as members try to reach their community.

Thursday December 1st was World AIDS Day!!
How does one help others understand the lifestyle they have chosen to live may lead to an early death?  How does one explain the teachings of the (Swazi) homes may help a whole generation die young?  How can it be explained that God’s way is for one man and one woman in marriage each faithful to the other before and after marriage when the Swazi way is for a man to have many wives and girlfriends throughout adolescent and adult life?  To have sex is a man!!  What can be done to help alleviate rape and abuse of Swazi children that also lead to early deaths?  What will lead Swazis to understand the devastation of AIDS and an impure lifestyle?  Pray the Swazis will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and will have eternal life.  Pray for true revival to take place in their hearts enabling them to experience life not death.     Check this website: www.africa.stories.org

NEXT WEEK’S MINISTRY EVENTS:
--Saturday December 3rd  the scheduled executive committee of the Baptist Convention of Swaziland has been postponed until the 10th.   In recent months there has been increasing tension between the leaders of the convention and missionaries. There will be a special prayer emphasis for this meeting.  A “Season of Prayer” requests will be included in next week’s prayer letter.  Please begin praying for this meeting.  Wayne will not be able to attend because he will be taking the four “Hands On” missionaries to Jo’burg.
--December 7th is the scheduled  one-day training of the new Biblical Education Program for believers at the Peace Baptist Church. (The date is incorrect on the Swazi Team Prayer Calendar L)  BEP is designed to be an additional discipleship tool for Swazi Baptist church members.  Pray for a great interest among Swazi Baptist members.  Pray BEP will be a very useful tool.
--The Shiselweni Baptist Association meets on the 9th of December at the Velebantfu Baptist Church. Besides the normal conducting of business, the planning of the ordination service for Pastor Nkosingiphile Dlamini will continue.  Pray a sense of fellowship and unity will continue as business is discussed.  Pray also for the planning of Pastor Dlamini’s ordination service in January.

v  DECEMBER 12-15 THE SWAZI TEAM’S END-OF-YEAR REATREAT at the Buckleigh Guesthouse in Durban, South Africa.  Pray for the Team as we begin to prepare for this special event.  Pray it will be a time of renewal and encouragement.

December 4-11: INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS AND LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING
A handyman working at the Baptist mission office in the Philippines noticed a sheet of paper tacked to a bulletin board.  The paper announced the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  Asking a missionary if Lottie Moon would accept “just a little,” the handyman stopped at the International Baptist Church of Makati a few days later.  “Miss Moon was not there, but I left it with the church secretary,” he said.  “It” was an envelope addressed to “Miss Lotties (Handyman’s spelling of Miss Moon’s first name) Moon.”  Inside was 400 pesos—about 15 U.S. dollars.  The gift represented almost one-tenth of the handyman’s net monthly salary.
There are approximately 5,000 “Lotties” today who depend on your prayers and financial support.  People following the Lord’s call to go and share Christ’s witness.  Doing the best they can to proclaim joy to the world.  This Christmas, what will you do for them?  Give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  Goal: $175 million

No comments:

Post a Comment