ADJUSTING to the "NEW NORMAL" Part 2

Our Dear Friends & Family,

We hope that you are doing well!  We are so thankful for your continued prayer and financial support as we serve the Lord here!

This post is the continuation of some of the changes we have seen in the past 5 or 6 months! 
As we stated before, there has been a lot of change around here lately...

A Nation Celebrates & Changes it's Name!  

On the 19th & 20th of April Swaziland celebrated 50 years of independence as a nation as well as the 50th birthday of our King, His Majesty King Mswati III.  During the celebrations the King announced that this nation would no longer be known as "Swaziland."  From now on this beautiful country would be called "eSwatini." Swaziland was the name appointed by the English as they colonized this region, and so the King wanted to bring even the name of this land into Independence.  "eSwatini" basically & literally means "the place of the Swati (people)."  Many other African countries had already changed their names soon after they achieved independence. A few of these are: Zambia, Zimbabwe, & Lesotho.  So, being 50 years post colonization it was the right time to make this change!     

New & Deeper Partnerships       

AIM (Adventures In Missions)  

I (Dennis) started my journey here in eSwatini working under AIM back in 2004.  I served with them for 7 years, leaving midway through 2011.  We left on good terms, and have remained friends with them.  In the past few years AIM has grown so much, having nearly 100 employees here.  For the past couple of years I've spent a couple days a week volunteering & working with a group of young people called "Shepherds," as well as the Life Coaches from their Sports Ministry.  The Shepherds are the young Swazi's who do the discipleship teaching @ AIM's 35 Neighborhood Care Points.  The Shepherd's are also part of a larger program AIM runs called "SLA," aka the Swaziland Leadership Academy.  The goal of the SLA program to keep developing these young people as they continue to serve @ the care points.  In March a team of us started a program that focuses and goes deeper with that development goal.  We don't have an illustrious name, we simply call it "SLA Fridays!"         

From Left: Xolani, Dennis, & Sebe 3 of the SLA Friday Leaders

We split the Shepherds into two groups according to the year they joined AIM/SLA.  Every Friday our leadership team (of 6 great people!) meets with one of the two groups to facilitate the Friday program.  We have a time of worship & devotion, small group mentoring, and a time we call "Focus," which is a teaching of a self leadership principle.  The goal is to be a training resource for these young leaders, an advocate, a listening ear, & to encourage them to continue in their service to Jesus & their communities.  Its a lot of work, for every Friday of execution it takes at least 1 or 2 full days of preparation. So for me 3 of my 6 working days a week are spent on this partnership.  But Praise God it has been a great time so far.  There has been a lot of fruit, and this is a much needed program.  I will update some more specifics in later blogs!     


New Catalsyt eSwatini Partner:  Mafutseni EWC                                                                            In March we also started a new partnership with a church called Mafutseni Emmanuel Wesleyan Church.  Mafutseni is simply the region where the church is located, its actually "just next to" Timbutini, about a 10 minute drive from where Zwakele was born and raised.  

Pastor Mngometulu & myself

Above is a picture of the Lead Pastor of Mafutseni EWC, named Sikelela Mngometulu.  He's a great man of God, and we have known him for years.  He's actually the pastor who married Zwakele & I ten years ago!  They have rougly 60+ children they are feeding every Sunday after their worship service.  These children are either orphaned or simply come from vulnerable situations.  The church has a passion to help the people of the community and believe they should be doing this type of ministry.  Initially they had another NGO that was helping to supply some food to make this feeding possible.  Unfortunately that NGO could help no longer.  After meeting with Pastor Mngometulu we decided that we would form an initial partnership.  We are now helping to provide a large share of the food needed to feed these children every Sunday.  This happens simply because of your financial support to us! Again, because of your support we were also able to purchase 100 plates and 100 cups for them to use.  Praise God & thank you for your prayers and financial support!    

Mafutseni EWC Building

Mafutseni EWC Preschool Room & KItchen 

PLEASE PRAY WITH US                                                                                                                      Would you please keep these two partnerships in your prayers?  We desperately need the LORD'S empowerment & presence as we serve Him.  We want to really see the Lord at work in our lives, and His love, power, and service to flow out through what we are doing!  There are many challenges, much attack from the enemy, and some discouragement along the way.  But we are persevering by His Grace.  We are continually asking the Lord for a Holy Tenacity...to be resolute in our commitment to Him and not grow weary in doing good!  Thanks so much for standing with us!  More to come soon! May God bless you abundantly!