Catalyst eSwatini 2018: Growing (Pains & Gains) Part 1

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14

Our Dear Friends & Family, 

Firstly, our family would love to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Recently I (Dennis) had a bit of the holiday blues.  I was super busy & very stressed.  A friend lovingly reminded me: "This is the season of Immanuel! God With Us!" God Himself, the King of Kings & Lord of Lord's, humbled himself and walked this earth as one of us!  Because of His great love for us, Jesus died on the cross, so that all who receive Him might live eternally, forgiven, & free from sin!  Amen! We truly have so much to be thankful for & so much to celebrate!    

Taken 23 DEC 2018

We often pray for you all, our dear support team!  Our prayer (for all of us in this season) is that the Lord would continue to refresh us in this awesome truth of Immanuel!  May He encourage us all that HE IS WITH US, & active in our lives.  And, may He continue to renew us in His amazing LOVE!  

We really hope that you have a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our Saviour!  After we post this online, we will take a few days off.  We don't have any big plans, except to spend Christmas Day in Timbutini with Zwakele's mom, and then to rest a little.    

We are really looking forward to a break this week.  We have been incredibly busy up until this point.  And to be honest, 2018 has been a tough year. As we have continued to build Catalyst eSwatini,   there have been many challenges (some pretty painful).  But there has also been some great things happening as well!  It's been a year of growing for us, learning lessons both painful and encouraging.  That's why we have entitled this post "Growing (Pains & Gains)."     

Let me start with something that has been both awesome & challenging! One of our favorite aspects of 2018 has been the Hospital Visitation Ministry. Our labor @ the Mbabane Govt. Hospital is purely to show the Love and Mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ!  We go nearly every Thursday afternoon and spend a couple hours visiting the children's ward.  We have been working in the hospital for years, but have been consistent (nearly every Thursday) for the past 4 years! The highlight of 2018 has been in developing a great group working as a team in this ministry.  One of Catalyst's Core Values is "Creative Collaboration."  Our heart is to foster unity, and work with others in the Body of Christ.  We just believe that through partnership, by serving one another & serving alongside one another, we can do so much more for Christ's Kingdom!  

Part of the Hospital Team around September.
Powerful Partnership! #BetterTogether 

At the beginning of 2018 we were individuals from 5 different organizations ministering at the hospital.  Praise God we have seen huge fruit in this ministry! Again, the goal is to be a conduit of God's love and mercy to those whom are suffering.  To use a famously spoken term, we want to be "Jesus with skin on."  Unfortunately, challenges did come as well.  About halfway through the year one of the 5 organizations decided to part ways with the rest of us.  I can't really say much specifically, other than it was like an "organization politics" kind of issue.  It was an unfortunate & painful split, and we tried not to let it happen, but the other party could see no other direction.  Thankfully, those of us from the 4 other organizations continued on in this ministry until now. 

Entrance to the Children's Ward @ Mbabane Govt. Hospital

Zwakele & I's personal conviction is that we do not really take pictures in the Hospital Ministry.  We really want to preserve people's dignity.  The pic below shows the newborn cubicle but you can't really see anyone specifically.  We do have a picture w/ a mother and her child (who wanted us to take her picture).  But even with her consent, I don't personally feel comfortable posting it online.  We will share it in a private email to our supporters @ a later time.   

Cubicle #1 The Section for the Newborns

We really want to say a huge "THANK YOU!!!" to those of you who have supported us financially and prayerfully this year.  It is because of your prayers and giving that we were able to consistently reach out in the hospital!  We don't go empty handed on Thursday's.  We always take practical items, as well as fun things and sweets as gifts for the mothers & children.  We could not have done this weekly expense if it wasn't for your support to us!  Thank you so much!  Again, our only agenda is to display JESUS.  And we have seen much fruit! People have responded because we have been consistently present.  Whether its being a listening ear, giving a hug, praying for/with them, giving out those small gifts, or just sitting & spending time with someone who is suffering.  It has been a real privilege to serve Christ in this place!  

Part of the growth we have seen this year in this ministry:  1) Having a Bigger Consistent Team.  This has been awesome to have people from the 4 different organizations serving together.  We are usually not less than 5/6 people and sometimes as large as 10!  This is a hard ministry at times, & there are 5 rooms of patients to visit.  Having a bigger group really helps in so many ways!           
2) Follow Up.  While we may not be able to visit any other day than Thursday, we have been able to do more follow up on other days.  Meaning we are able to call or text with the child's caregiver - check in, see how they are doing, pray with them, encourage them etc.  We especially try to do this with situations where the child & caregiver have been admitted for a long period of time.  

Will you please pray with us regarding this ministry?  

1) Please pray for continued spiritual unity on our team!  

2) Please also pray that we can maintain our great team and even expand it!  We want to be used by the Lord to encourage His Body to be involved in compassion ministry like this that exalts Jesus!   

3) We also want to see growth in doing more follow up in 2019!  

4) Please also pray for the hearts of those on the team.  We want to be so full of Jesus as we minister.  There are so many tough and dire situations that these precious children face as patients.  Unless God does a miracle many do not make it.  Of course we do first plead with God for supernatural healing!  And Praise God, we have seen kids healed and go home!  Sadly, we have also seen many children we knew pass away this year!  Please pray that no matter the situation we face,that we would walk with the Holy Spirit, speak His words, do what he wants us to do.  As God pours into us we want to pour out to others!  

5) Please also pray if you would be able to contribute to this specific ministry.  Simply put, if we have more resources we can do more. 

I think we will close Part 1 here.  I have already written a lot!  Thank you so much for your LOVE to our family as we serve Jesus here in eSwatini!  We would not be here without YOU!  

May The LORD Bless you & your families greatly this Holiday Season! Merry Christmas! 

Dennis, Zwakele, Thandeka & Busani Brock