HOME, HOPE, & HAPPINESS

Dear Friends & Family,
Happy Easter!!!

“This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen.”  - Luke 24:5&6
 
We hope you have had a weekend full of reflecting on the costly sacrifice of our King.  And Praise God for this Sunday morning!!  May you have a wonderful Sunday celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!! 

  

Our family is so thankful to be a part of what the LORD is doing here in Swaziland!  In the past few months the theme of what the LORD is doing in and through us has been: Home, Hope, & Happiness. 

 

HOME
The Lord has given us a new ministry home in YWAM Swaziland.  This has brought us much joy and happiness.  We are part of a great ministry team!  Below is a picture of our staff.                 

The YWAM Swaziland staff is composed of 3 families from Brazil, a family from Holland, a man from Nigeria, a young Swazi guy, and a Swazi Couple who run a home for orphaned children.  The YWAM Swazi base is located in the capital of Mbabane, up on a mountain that overlooks the city.  Below is a picture of the beautiful view from our headquarters. 

   

The property of the base is nestled between an older township community known as "Zone 4," and a new property development called "Lomkiri."  In both communities there are a lot of opportunities for ministry, in some cases literally right next door. 

   
Zwakele & I are now involved in a bunch of different ministries.  All of the YWAM staff have to put in some hours every week helping the base.  Monday mornings I usually work about 4 hours with our director handling communications for YWAM Swazi.  We currently are working on our new website, building it up, and adding content as we can.  You can check out our new website @ www.ywamswaziland.org .  We really have a severe challenge with communication at the moment.  In January we lost our internet ability at both the base and at all of our residences.  It is a long & complicated story, but we have been trying for months to get another internet service provider.  We are now dependent on internet cafe's again which can be extremely slow and impossible to download or upload any pictures/content.      
     
Part of our Partnering with God along the theme of HOME has been helping those in need of proper shelter.  In February Jon Schuerholz the pastor of our home church, Kenmore Alliance visited us.  It was an awesome trip with a lot of encouragement for us and much work for the Kingdom of God.

One day we did home visits in the rural area surrounding Pigg's Peak (North West Mountainous part of the country).  We visited a widowed mother who currently had 3 children staying with her.  The four of them lived in a 2 room stick & mud house.  The inside part of the walls are decaying and water is surfacing from somewhere underground.  This makes the floor of the inside constantly wet and even muddy at times.  So Pastor Jon decided that we would construct a new concrete house for her.  Below is the picture of the house they are currently staying in. 

 

Below is the "toilet" they use everyday.   

 

 

For the past month and a half we have been coordinating construction of their new house.  Zwakele & I typically spend one day a week up in this rural community checking on details of the construction and doing home visits in the community.  Unfortunately, due to heavy rains throughout most of March, the hardware store could not get a truck up the road to deliver building materials to the family.  However, two weeks ago we were very happy to find that the blocks & cement had finally been delivered and that the foundation was already laid!!   

 

Below a picture of the new foundation.

 

The rainy season has now ended and we are hoping that construction will be finished by the end of the month of May.  We will post more pictures in our next blog.  We would appreciate your prayers for our continued ministry in this community. 

HOPE – The Resurrection of Christ Jesus displays the only true HOPE for mankind.  Some of the ministries we now are involved in are all about declaring the love & hope that are found only in Christ.  Will you please stand with us in prayer for these ministries we are involved in.   

Hospital Outreach - Zwakele & I are taking time every week to do hospital visitation and outreach @ the Mbabane Government Hospital.  This is a great opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus and show his love and compassion to people who are often in desperate need of it.         

Outreach in Zone 4 - In the community around the YWAM base known as Zone 4 there are quite a number of widows & orphaned children.  Our staff has a continual presence in this community ministering to them.  So far we have had open doors to visit and share the gospel of Christ with people in this community.  Last week we broke into several teams and prayer walked the area and met with people at their house, at small roadside shops, or just walking along the street.  It was a great time.  We also have open doors at the primary school in Zone 4, where once a week we lead the students in morning devotionals before the start of school.  Below is a picture of some of us as we went out into the community.   

 

Lomkiri University students - There is a newly constructed medical university in the community of Lomkiri.  This has seen our area have a massive influx of college students.  In fact we have 17 students living right next door to us in a group of apartments.  A fellow staff member and I are leading a weekly time of outreach for them on Thursday nights @ the YWAM base.  Please pray that students would make decisions for Christ, and that God would empower us to have the right words & His wisdom to reach them.           

Seminars / Preaching @ Church / Teaching @ the Bible College - Being at YWAM has also opened up much more time for me (Dennis) to be involved in teaching and preaching.  Soon we will be conducting one day and weekend seminars for churches to instill in them a passion to reach the lost and equip them to carry out the mission.  I will provide more details as the seminars draw closer.      

HAPINESS 
Being in Christ's will for your life brings joy!  We are so thankful to be in this new season of ministry.  Our families desire is that wherever we go we want to move with Jesus' purposes, love, and compassion.  We want to be conduits of His joy to those around us, carrying His light into dark places.  Whether its the government hospital, the township of Zone 4, or the rural areas, we want to minister Jesus' love and bring joy to people.  When people meet us we want them to encounter Christ.  Thandeka Grace is now 3 years old.  She is growing and speaking both Siswati and English.  It has been such a joy to take her with us as we go out to minister.  Below she is holding the hand of one of the children for whom we are building the new house.        

Again, we are so happy to be in this new chapter of our lives!  We feel incredibly blessed and humbled.  Thank you so much for standing with us prayerfully and financially as we serve the Lord Jesus in Swaziland.  Today is a great day!  He has risen, just as He said he would!  I pray that His resurrection power would be so very evident in our lives, and that we would choose to walk with him daily.  Lord Jesus thank you for your grace and please make us more and more like you!  May the Lord bless you all abundantly!       

 

 

 

Storms & The Light of The SON

Our Dear Friends & Family,

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have HOPE:  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:21-23  

In the past 2&1/2 months we have seen our fair share of storms, both physical and otherwise.  No one wants to go through a stormy period in their lives, and sometimes the storms of life feel like they are too much to handle.  Our family has really been trying to focus on the truth of the above verse that the LORD’S LOVE NEVER CEASES, and He is so faithful to us.  He never said we won’t have storms, but He did promised to be with us through them.  Because of that, we have great hope!  

We have had weeks of stormy weather here in Swaziland that caused much damage around the country and left things upside down…no phones, power, water, internet, ect.  Here are some pics:  

But we also faced some other kinds of storms as well:  Family members being sick, a couple of friends suddenly passing away, stressful situations, a family member struggling with suicide & some spiritual attacks to name a few. 

          

However, in the midst of the storms we are thankful for the Light and Hope of our Lord Jesus!  Without Jesus' love & active work in our life how would we ever be able to weather the storms?  No matter what happens, no matter what darkness we face, we are so thankful for the light of the Son of God.  We have the hope of Christ; that Jesus will never leave nor forsake us, and that really means so much!

       

Throughout this stormy season there were some victories as well!  One such was the opportunity to baptize just over 20 people at the end of September.   Some of those baptized had simply never made the decision to go for it, while others were new believers who recently gave their lives to Christ.  It was an honor and a blessing to be part of such a great service!    

A Big Announcement:  Forward! 

  

October 15^th marked 2 years of serving at the Sandra Lee Centre.  Before we began serving @ the SLC we made an initial 2 year commitment.  Through much prayer over the past year, as well as much counsel with KAC leadership, we have decided that we not be making another 2 year commitment to serve there.  In fact, we will be leaving the SLC roughly 2 weeks from now.  We gave our decision to the director’s mid-September so they would have 2 & ½ months of notice.  While in some ways we are sad to be leaving the SLC, we are also excited for what lies ahead!  Starting in January 2014 we will begin serving on staff with YWAM Swaziland.  YWAM stands for “Youth With A Mission.”  The focus of their ministry is discipleship & outreach.  

               

Why the transition?  Well it really goes to our gifting and calling.  The position at The Sandra Lee Centre required us to be there 24/7.  The demands of the position did not really leave any time to pursue other ministry opportunities.  While being on staff with YWAM we will have much more freedom to be active in other ministries we know the Lord has called us to.  This includes hospital visitation outreach, teaching again at a local bible college, doing outreach in rural areas, and being more active in church ministry.  We have been friends with the staff of YWAM Swaziland for more than 5 years now.  We feel the team and ministry there will really be a good fit for our family an will allow us to better walk out the gifts and calling the Lord has placed on our lives.  We are excited for what lies ahead!                

   
We also are not saying goodbye to the children or caregivers of the SLC!  This is very important for us!  We will still lead the House mothers & Aunty’s in a weekly time of worship, bible study, & prayer.  We have assured them that we are still committed to them & their well-being, and are there for them if they need anything.  We also will be spending 2 afternoons a week at the SLC working with and spending time with the children.  We are so glad that we will continue to be in their lives!          
As we move over to YWAM in January nothing will change in terms of how we raise and process our financial support.  People can continue to support us by donating directly into the offering at Kenmore Alliance Church, or by giving online at KAC's website: http://kenmorealliance.com.  In both cases the support must be indicated that it is for the "Brock's in Swaziland."  We also will continue to use this blog to communicate our updates.  Also, look for both Zwakele & myself on Facebook as we often upload pictures on there or share prayer requests.  
  

Prayer Requests

Please stand with us in prayer in the following areas:

1.  For Our transition – As we continue with all the details of moving out of the SLC and into our new home.  YWAM’s headquarters are in the same city of Mbabane, and we have already rented a house near the YWAM base.  Please keep us in prayer as we deal with all the work of packing and moving.  One great thing is that Thandeka has made a friend who lives right next door to our new home.  She is a 3 year old girl named Dimpho.  Here is a picture of them: 

         

2.  Peaceful & restful sleep – Part of the spiritual attack that we have faced has been in troubling nightmares that have affected all 3 of us.  Please ask the Lord bring an end to these attacks, and that we would sleep peacefully.       

3.  Our health in general – All 3 of us have continued to fight various sicknesses for some months now.  Please ask the Lord to bring healing to us and to sustain us physically. 

4.  Our relationship with the children at the SLC – We have tried very hard to reinforce the fact that we are not saying goodbye to the children.   We have constantly been telling them that we love them and will still be around and in their lives.  However, we obviously will not be around as much as we were before.  Please keep us all in prayer as we adjust to this change.  

In closing thank you so much for standing with us as we serve in Swaziland!  Because of your financial and prayer support we are able to fulfill the calling the Lord has placed on our lives.  We really appreciate your love!  May God bless you and your families abundantly!         

For the King,   
Dennis (for Zwakele & Thandeka)

Some Great Reasons To Be Thankful!

Friends & Family,

Some Great News!

We first want to thank you for your prayers regarding our internet situation!  We have had a breakthrough and I am updating this blog post from our own house in Swaziland!  After months, & months, & months, the telephone company finally came and installed our internet a few days ago.  Right away I got to updating this blog.  What a blessing it is to be able to communicate right from where we live!  Thank you for praying for this, and we look forward to being in contact much more often in the future. :)    

The Highlight of our last few months...

We were so blessed to have a visiting missions team from our home church, Kenmore Alliance Church.  The KAC team was here from the 7th to the 19th of July, and they were a huge encouragement to our family!  We know the Lord really sent them at just the right time for us!  Their love and all the work they did were a huge blessing everywhere they went!  It was also fantastic to have some old friends return on the team as well as to make some new friends from KAC.  The team spent four days ministering here at the Sandra Lee Centre, and four days working with an awesome medical ministry called The Luke Commission.  They also ministered at a government hospital, and at Ludlati Care Point in the rural community of Ngculwini.    

KAC Team @ The Sandra Lee Centre

The KAC Team worked hard to install these water tank stands at SLC!

Dennis with some of the great men from the KAC team.

The stands today complete with the water tanks. 

One of my personal highlights working alongside the KAC team was ministering at the government hospital.  Before coming to the Sandra Lee Centre, I was very involved in hospital visitation and outreach ministry.  Being back in the hospital alongside the team made me realize how I still need to be involved regularly in this ministry.   No one ever wants to be in a hospital anywhere, and for sure you wouldn't want to be in the government hospitals of Swaziland.  The level of care is very poor.   People are suffering often needlessly because of lack of proper equipment and medicine, and many times people are suffering in their last days alone.  It seems like such a dark place, but we as Christians have the chance to bring the light of Christ to this darkness.  It is a tough ministry for sure, but it is a very needed ministry and such an awesome opportunity to offer the hope & love of Jesus Christ.  I have been back to the hospital a couple of times this past August.  I know this is a ministry that our family needs to be more and more involved in in the future.   

It was also great to be with the team ministering in the rural areas of Swaziland.  Whether it was with The Luke Commission, or spending time at Ludlati Care Point, to be in the rural areas again was refreshing!  Ludlati was a care point that we used to minister at while we were with AIM.  That community and the care point has a special place in my heart!  

The KAC Team observing The Luke Commission staff perform a surgical procedure.

 

   

The team helping to restock medicine that will be offered free to people in the rural area. 

John & Musa putting together a wheelchair with some help from Thandeka.

Bheki & John teaching @ Ludlati Care Point

Katie & Phendulile teaching the younger kids outside @ Ludlati Care Point

The KAC team also purchased 30 chairs for the preschool class at Ludlati Care Point!

A Personal Dream Come True! 

When Zwakele & I were first married we were able to build my mother-in-law a 2 room house made of concrete blocks.  Zwakele, her mother, and my sister-in-law had been living in one room stick and mud house until then.  It was a huge blessing to get them into a safe & secure concrete structure.  After the 2 room structure was finished, my mother-in-law still had one of her children living at home along with 3 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild!  2 rooms were not enough!  So about a year and a half ago we started extending her house to 4 rooms.  The project was carried out bit by bit as we had means to do proceed.  The extra space was finished just before we came home to the States in December 2012.       

When the KAC team was about to depart they made a special financial gift to our family.  Because of that gift we were able to make a personal dream of ours come true!  First, we were able to install wires, outlets, lights and everything else needed for the 4 room house to have electricity.  Secondly, we were able to pay the large fee for the electric company to come and install the electricity.  Well we are very happy to announce that the company just came this past week to install the electric poles and connect the house!  What a huge blessing this is for our family!  Without the love and generosity from the KAC team I can honestly say this would not have happened anytime soon.  We are so thankful to Lord for this amazing blessing!  I (Dennis) grew up in the great privilege of the middle class suburbs of Buffalo, NY.  Thankfully, we always had lights, heat, a refrigerator, and other appliances that made our lives much easier.  It's so easy to take that for granted.  My mother-in-law is in her 60's and she never had electricity up until this past week.  She is so very happy and thankful for this blessing.  A huge "Thank You" to KAC & it's mission team for helping to make this dream come true!  And of course a huge "Thank You" to JESUS!               

Zwakele's mom's house, showing the pole of the newly installed electricity!

 

 

 

 

 

Zwakele & Thandeka inside the house showing the fuse box and the refrigerator! 

Meet Celucolo

Just last week we received the 30^th child to the Sandra Lee Centre.  He is a 6 year old boy named Celucolo.  His name is a bit hard to pronounce for the native english speaker, because in the Siswati language each letter “C” means one makes a click sound.  Celcolo originally came from a rural area in the northern part of the Swaziland.  He was placed @ the Sandra Lee Centre by government social workers after he was discovered in a very dire situation.  He is now living with 4 sisters and 3 brothers in the Blue House at the Sandra Lee Centre.  Will you please pray for him as he adjusts to life @ the SLC?  Please pray that he will really be impacted by the love of Jesus and feel very welcomed to his new home.  Thank You!   

Celucolo (in front) with his brother Sibusiso from the Blue House

     

Would you please keep us in prayer: 

1.  This Saturday (7th September) I have the awesome privilege of speaking at a men's & single father’s fellowship outreach.  Will you please pray that the Lord will use me to communicate His truth to the 30+ men that will be in attendance?  Also, in the next couple of months I will be preaching a lot on Sunday mornings both at the church we regularly attend, and at some other church's that have invited me.  

2.  Thank you for your prayers for our ministry to the staff at the SLC.  Things have been going well in this.  Will you please pray for Zwakele & myself as we continue to minister to the care givers of the 30 children here.  We meet every Friday morning for worship, bible study and prayer.  Please keep those times lifted up and also the many opportunities throughout the week we have to listen, give counsel, and pray with these ladies.  Please also pray the love of Christ would be so evident amongst all the staff at the Sandra Lee Centre. 

3.  Please pray for our health.  This past couple of months all 3 of us have had various repeated sicknesses going on.  Nothing major, but regular cold, flu, & stomach bugs that have sidelined us at times.  Would you please pray that the Lord would bless us in this area so that we could stay effective in ministry.            

We are so thankful for your continued love & support to us!  Thank you for standing with us in prayer, we need it!  We also pray for you our family and friends of our support team regularly.  May the Lord bless you all!  

For the King,   

Dennis (for Zwakele & Thandeka)