When they see me, do they see You?

...Is there evidence that I've been changed?//When they see me do they see you?//I want to live like that//And give it all I have//So that everything I say and do points to You//Your love is who I am//And this is where I stand//Recklessly abandoned never holding back//I want to live like that//I want to show the world the love You gave for me//Longing for the world to know the glory of the King...

June 3, 2012- Kuma khata kakhulu! It is very cold! As I write this, I have long sleeves, long pajama pants, coffee and am by the fire. In reality it's only in the low 40s outside, but the house I am staying in has no central heat and tile floors throughout. So, it's cold. :) This has been a busy but wonderful 5 days. Tuesday afternoon, Steve, Gogo Shandu, my friend Kuseni, and I went to the new work area for a Bible Study. There were around 40 adults at the Nsangwini Bible Study which was amazing. Many of the women brought their babies so our number was probably closer to 60. The building where they are meeting is quickly becoming too small, but what a wonderful problem to have! I spoke to this group on John 10, focusing on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. I have included a few pictures from the afternoon, including one where they are walking around the table giving their offerings, like Hawane and Ngowane do. I was so blessed to have the opportunity to speak at Nsangwini this week, and look forward to returning when the team is here. They are very excited to meet everyone.

Wednesday, Steve dropped Gogo and me off at another rural area, and we interviewed some more women for my research project. Again, I was amazed by the stories that were being shared by these women. After we spoke to 3 different women, we took public transport back to Mbabane to spend the afternoon at a local orphanage where Gogo Shandu leads a weekly Bible Study. We had some extra time in town before catching our next kombi (15 passenger van used in Swaziland as a taxi/bus). Gogo and I decided to treat ourselves to an ice cream cone at the KFC in the middle of town. KFC? In Swaziland? Yes; you heard correctly. It still fascinates me, but it's here. Anyways, we then headed to the orphanage, and we found a surprise when we arrived. When I walked in the door, I saw two non-Swazi women, in their construction orange matching t-shirts, long skirts, and clunky tennis shoes with cameras around their necks. Missionaries. :) I expected them to be from the states, but they were actually from Bermuda. I discovered that the orphanage is managed by the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Zion or something like that. These two older women were working in Mozambique but had come to Swaziland for the week to help improve the orphanage. They gave each child a new coat and toy. They showed the Jesus film in siSwati, and Gogo helped translate a question and answer session afterwards. The things these women were financially able to do for the orphanage was truly a blessing and exciting to see. However, they also made me realize how blessed we are to be working with the Baptist Mission. They had clearly never received any Swazi cultural training, and I saw firsthand the importance of that. Each time a team comes with the IMB, the missionaries here do an orientation. For the first time, I truly saw how much those short hours impact ministry. Saying that, thank you to our IMB missionaries and organization for taking the time to do this. I have included a photo of some of the orphanage kids along with Gogo and the 2 Bermuda missionaries and also a photo of me with the orphanage director (front middle) and two of the older girls.

Jabula Update: Another very exciting thing happened on Wednesday that I haven't mentioned yet...I was able to deliver the first two soccer balls and pump while in the rural community!! The Jabula soccer ball ministry is active in Swaziland!! :) I was unable to take photos due to the relationship of the kids and community with the women I was interviewing that day, but I promise I will take some soon. I still have another 13 soccer balls to deliver, and Dad's team is bringing 15 more! I was hoping to leave some at the orphanage, but with everything going on, it was better to wait until a different week. Very excited to be apart of this and help bring joy to the nations. :)

I decided to take Thursday off and stayed home to prepare for the Youth Leaders' Retreat. I was on the schedule to teach 4 times and lead at least 1 discussion. Staying home was definitely the best decision for me, and I felt rested and prepared heading into the weekend.

Friday morning, Steve and I headed to Manzini (where the Hoskins live) to help with the orientation for the 4 summer missionaries who arrived this week. I think I have mentioned these girls in an earlier post, but they are 4 university students from the states who are staying in Hawane teaching True Love Waits. Not sure if the spelling is correct, but their names are Joy, Jenna, Miriam, and Mary. I believe 2 are from South Carolina, 1 is from Utah, and 1 is from West Virginia. I really enjoyed spending some time with them on Friday. Please be praying for them as they spend the next 2 months on a Swazi homestead doing ministry in the community and nearby schools. I will see them again at church today and will get a photo so you can have faces with the names as you are praying for them.

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." -1 Corinthians 11:1
Can  you say these words? That was the main challenge at this year's national Baptist Youth Leaders' Retreat. We began on Friday night and had an incredible time of worship and services. Nkosingiphile Dlamini and I both spoke, the summer missionaries were able to introduce themselves to the youth leaders, and we all had dinner together (not exactly in that order but you get the idea). It was so exciting to see some familiar faces and to meet up with some of my Swazi friends that I had not seen yet. We had between 30 and 40 youth leaders present. I also saw Mr. Wayne Myers and am looking forward to my time with the the Myers next week. Being at the retreat this year reminded me of how faithful the Lord is. It was during the retreat last year (mid-June) that I found out I had gotten into medical school. Such a blessing and exciting to be back here with one year behind me. I spent Friday night in Manzini with the Hoskins and was back at the church early Saturday morning. The youth slept there and nearly froze. However, spirits were high and they weren't complaining. It's amazing.

We spent most of Saturday in teaching sessions and small group discussions. The youth leaders learned more about the characteristics a youth leader should possess, the importance of spiritual growth, the importance of living your life as an example, and the different leadership styles and techniques that are required of a Godly leader. They had time to discuss the True Love Waits movement in Swaziland. They were asked: what is working well, what are the obstacles youth are facing in keeping their commitments, and how can we, as youth leaders, help people overcome these obstacles? Another discussion later in the morning was about their own personal growth as leaders and what they need to spend time improving.

The retreat was shorter this year, and we finished by 3:00 on Saturday. I stayed at the church with several of the youth until Steve, Gogo Shandu, and Thokozani arrived. They had been at Lesibovu teaching the weekly Bible Study. We loaded up the supplies we had taken to the church on Friday and headed back to Mbabane. We picked up my friend, Ntombi, and she joined Steve, Gogo, and me for dinner. Afterwards, Ntombi and I spent some time at my house catching up and just visiting. It was so good to see her.

Today is Sunday, and we are headed to Hawane for church in a few hours. I think today will be a special service since the 4 summer missionaries will be introduced. Todd and Deborah transported them and all of their belongings to Hawane yesterday. I think Deborah and the girls took public transport so they could learn how to find, ride, and pay for their kombis. Thokozani Ngidi will be their main translator this year, which works well since they are staying at his homestead.

I have included a few pictures below of the YLR. You will notice some are taken in a church and some in a revival tent. The pastors and leaders of the Baptist churches also had a big meeting in Manzini on Saturday, so they were using the building during the morning. Please excuse any typos. I am having some trouble with the internet, so editing is not really working out for me right now. Other fun news- I finally got the internet to work on my phone that I brought from the states. If you have What's App, you can message me for free at 7692-9112. Enjoy the photos! I will update again soon.

Serving Him with you,
Hunter

PS- Thank you for praying for my grandfather. He is doing much better and is out of the hospital. Also, Monica and the kids will be flying into South Africa on Monday, along with Steve's brother and nephew. Pray for safety as they travel.

Friday night dinner - Chicken, rice, cabbage salad and potatoes

Me with two of my friends from Thunzini- Mpumelelo and Tebani

Umfundisi Nkosingiphile Dlamini and the National Youth Committee Chairman- Sandile

Small group discussion time

Some of the youth leaders