When the Lord moves, He often creates a win-win
situation. See how the gogos, a visiting
team from the states, a business man and the community as a whole were all
blessed by something that could have been a disaster.
Brandon is one of the missionaries serving with AIM in
Swaziland.This year, AIM hosted the
Christmas party for the children about a week before the actual holiday.We also had a World Race team there to help
him out.Here's how he described the event:
So we had the Christmas party today
at the center and it went phenomenally! I
had all hands on deck and it was truly a great afternoon.
First they had a lunch rice and
chicken topped with a gravy stew, along with a side of fresh veggies.All the kids got to drink orange juice with
plenty of refills.
Then there were four rotations of activities: decorating cookies, decorating then hanging ornaments on the tree, dancing, and tossing water balloons.
Afterwards, there was a nativity skit:
...[Our] ministry partners
orchestrated the best skit of the story of the birth of Christ; they got the
kids involved and acted the whole thing out.
It was so good. The World Race
team was great at jumping in the kitchen with the gogos to help cook and wash
dishes. They are also good with crafts
which made the whole event festive. I
had a great day, a great, great day.
After the skit, there was a raffle; ten kids got to pick out
special gifts, while rest of the children received gifts from the grab
bags.All the kids were ecstatic about
their gifts.
One of the older kids came up to me
after the whole thing was over and grabbed my hand to shake it and said, "Thank
you so much for today." He had a
huge smile on his face and I could tell that he had a great time...
Thank you [to those/the one who
donated]... It was a great day filled with a lot of fun for kids who really deserve
it!
Tidings of Comfort
and Joy | Jen Peterson
A couple of weeks ago, we
introduced you to gogo Eliya... A few of you were so moved by her situation and
generously gave of your resources to help this beautiful saint!
Since then, we have been able to
pay off Eliya's back medical bills and get her some much needed medical
attention for her shoulder.She is still
in a sling, but seems to be gaining more mobility and is in significantly less
pain.We also have been able to provide
food/groceries for Eliya and her grandchildren.
A few of our ministry partners
spent last Saturday clearing a small garden on her property.It had actually been fenced in, just needed
some serious weeding!Thanks to Brandon Jones,
another missionary living here in Nsoko for the next several months, for taking
the lead on the garden clean-up project!
We purchased some gardening tools,
seeds, a wheel-barrow and watering jugs so Eliya and her grandchildren can
maintain the garden properly. Before too
long, they should be harvesting their own fresh produce and (perhaps) be able
to sell some to neighbors!...
...After visiting her last week, we
discovered that Eliya was sleeping on a straw mat on the hard dirt floor of her
hut...We decided that Eliya deserved and needed a more comfortable place to sleep...
As we reflect on 2010, we are thankful for each of you and
the role you have played in supporting our ministry in Swaziland.If God prompts you to make a special year-end
gift to help us feed orphans, mentor gogos, disciple young people and bring
hope to this nation, please click here.
Prayer Requests
As we leave 2010 behind and look forward to 2011, we praise God for the new supporters of our ministry and the glory brought to the Lord through it. Please join your faith with ours as we request the following in prayer:
We pray
for safety for teams
We pray
that our orphans and gogos grow in faith
We hope you enjoyed a merry Christmas and wish you a happy
start to 2011!
The Peterson family has been sharing Christ's love in Swaziland, a nation where children will soon outnumber the adults (if they haven't already). At the beginning of this month, Jen and Eric visited the Joyela carepoint, where the go-gos (the grandmas) are firm but gentle and the children are just as the name suggests - full of joy. There was one child, a young boy - two or three years old - who stood out.
The head go-go... pointed out one of the younger boys... He sat quietly on a mat, away from the other children. He did not stand up to participate in the singing and dancing that they all enjoy so much. He did not line up to recite his alphabet or numbers along with his classmates.
His face was full of sadness; his dark eyes held deep pain. This is a terribly troublesome feature for someone so innocent and so young.
"He used to run to greet me each morning," Nellie (the go-go) sighs. "Now his mother tells me he doesn't even want to come to school." After shaking her head slowly, she continues: "His father died, about six months ago. I think it has changed him. He is not the same."
Continue reading Jen's post to see how their heart connected with God's for this boy.
They Need Your Help to Survive | Scott Borg
I ...received an email from our staff member on the ground in Swaziland with a new proposed budget to accommodate all the ministry we are involved in there - especially in the Nsoko area.
The problem is not unusual - we don't have enough money to cover the needs. In fact we are around $1000 a month short of where we need to be to keep things running and reasonably respond to needs there. We are feeding hundreds of children, training national staff, supporting a clinic, a church, and ministering to extreme needs in the community among a largely suffering population. . .
We need your help. . . .
If you're able, please give towards our work in by clicking on this link, and selecting "The Nsoko Project" in the drop down menu.
Manna for Eliya | Jen Peterson
Just over a week ago, Eric was introduced to a go-go named Eliya, who lives in the same neighborhood as Celmpilo, a ministry partner. Jen tells of Eric's introduction to Eliya, whose story was interpreted by Celmpilo:
When Celmpilo and Eric arrived on the homestead, the go-go [Eliya] was sitting in the dirt outside, peeling the green leaves off of some kind of weed that grows wild around here. It is basically only good for animals to graze on. This woman was preparing grass for the family meal. Celmpilo introduced Eric to... Eliya...
Eliya lives on this homestead with her two granddaughters, ages twelve and seven. The seven year old is HIV postitive. The girls' parents have both passed away due to HIV/AIDS. Eliya is in her seventies. She has been a widow for several years.
Her arm appears crippled and bent, held up in a homemade sling. Eliya explains that approximately four months ago, she fell and broke her shoulder. She was taken to a hospital by a neighbor and was treated.
Follow up treatment was required to properly set the shoulder bone in the socket. Eliya had no money to pay for the initial consultation or any follow up visits. Therefore, the shoulder has not healed properly and Eliya is in constant pain, with very limited mobility.
Eliya also explains that she is, in fact, preparing the weeds/grass to cook for her and the children to eat. She says there is rarely any money for food. . .
Read on to see how they responded to Eliya's needs (and for a way you can help!)
Christmas (Party) Time Is Here | Matt "Jumbo" Gerber
Jumbo reports that last week was the start of hosting Christmas parties at the various carepoints, the missionaries there will have about 13 of these parties at each carepoint!
Please pray for:
• all the logistics that need to happen
• safety
• the vehicles
• the weather - it has been pouring almost everyday and there have been heavy thunderstorms; we are very thankful for the rain, but it will be impossible to do the parties in the rain.
Please also rejoice with Jumbo and Kriek, proud new parents of Clara, who was born about a week ago!
'Tis the Season for Timbali Crafts
This year, give these beautiful bags and purses as gifts; they're handcrafted by the women who keep the carepoints running. These women - many of them go-gos and widows - use the money earned from making and selling these crafts to care for their families so that they can continue serving at these carepoints.
We're grateful for your partnership, without which we could not continue ministering and serving this nation. In Psalm 2, God invites us to ask of Him; He says He will make the nations our inheritance. We have asked for Swaziland and we're thankful that you share our heart for this nation that God desperately loves.
Morgan recently returned to Swaziland with Adventures In Missions. Since serving there on a regular basis, Morgan has encountered many of the harsh realities that come with living in a nation ravaged by HIV/AIDS,
"One thing that's set this trip apart from others is that I have been coming here long enough to see the holes people who have passed away from HIV/AIDS have left. During my last two trips I spent time visiting with and talking to Dudu and now she has died. Last year we all fell in love with Maswane's courage as she faced dying of AIDS at 19 years old because she was raped as a young girl. It's odd to drive by her hut and know that she is no longer there, but it's good to know that she is out of pain and with Jesus."
But that doesn't mean there isn't hope in this resilient nation. It's like Morgan says, "Bit by bit we sense more of God's plan for Nsoko and understand a small part of His redemption in this community."
You can read the rest of Morgan's reflections on her work in Swaziland here.
Timbali Crafts | AIM Staff
The women of Timbali Crafts serve at 14 different Carepoints in Swaziland, feeding approximately 2,600 children a day. These women live incredible lives. Many of the women have been widowed or abandoned, yet pour out all that they have every day to orphans.
Timbali Crafts enables these saints to meet their day-to-day needs. Through every item that is sold through Timbali, these women receive a profit. It covers the cost of their family's basic needs, such as school fees, food, medical care, and housing. In the meantime, they're able to continue serving thousands of orphans at various Carepoints.
For a limited time in the month of November, Timbali Crafts will be selling their reusable shopping bags for $10.00, plus $3.00 for shipping. These would make perfect Christmas gifts!
Remember, every purchase you make benefits these women, their lives, and the children of Swaziland!
Mobile Blessings | AIM Staff
We want to extend a giant THANK YOU to a faithful donor who made it possible to purchase another vehicle for our ministry in Swaziland! This vehicle will make it possible for us to get to various ministry sites in a timely manner, transport mission teams, and make effective airport runs.
If you would like to contribute towards our vehicle fund, you can do so by giving here and designating "vehicle" in the space for notes.
Want to get involved in the Swaziland
ministry?Going isn't the only option...
Mindy Harrington is a prime example of carrying on
the ministry she was first introduced to during her trip to Swaziland in
2009.In an interview with Mindy she
shared her heart for Swaziland and some of the experiences that impacted her
enough to carry on the ministry even a year after her trip.
God began preparing Mindy for Swaziland a whole year
in advance, the year before her 50th birthday!Fifty is a big number, and Mindy expressed
the negative feelings and dread she had towards the big five-oh and how God
wanted to redeem that for her.She felt
called to designate her 49th year a Year of Jubilee in preparation
for her next big hurtle.During this
year of jubilee in Mindy's life, she began feeling called to go to Africa!During her search for mission trips, she
found an adult trip that landed right over her 50th birthday and she
took the big leap!
"I didn't
know anybody!"Mindy recounts, she had never travelled by herself,
but she said, "Okay Lord, it's you and me...let's go!"And so she waved goodbye to her husband at
the airport and flew to Africa.Once in
the Johannesburg airport she began searching for her teammates. She spotted a few people wearing the same AIM
shirts clumped together and headed in their direction and they all bonded very
quickly.
When asked what sort of experiences stuck out in Mindy's memory, she recalled
some of their ministry opportunities.One of the ministry opportunities was VBS, the program of which Mindy
put together herself.She explained how
she felt like God really helped her come up with what they should do and how
wonderful it was to see everyone else enabled to put it into practice."It was really neat to see how everyone would
come together and work together in the different culture."
The memories kept coming to mind as Mindy related
them.She spoke about how the poverty
was very striking. "To see those little 2 and 3 year-olds walking all by
themselves along that long, dirt road to the care point, because that's where
they knew help was, was really moving to me.Working with the AIDs support group, the women would get all dressed up
in their best clothes with their high heels and they would walk all the way to
the support group and then would have to walk all the way back.And to meet pastor Gift and see how he was
giving his life to this ministry..."
Another memory spoke loud and clear, "I learned so
much about 'being' and to see the listening prayer put into practice."In one instance, she was sitting by a Gogo
(an African term for Grandma) and they didn't speak the same language at all
and they were just sitting there and she said, "'Boy I wish I could do
something!' and her leader said, 'You are doing something.'And just to be sitting their validating
somebody by being with them was very eye opening."Mindy went on and on recounting the memories
that made her experience in Swaziland so life changing.
But then, she came home and found herself asking,
"Well, now what?"She shared how she
would frequently pray, "I don't know what to do, God, but I'm available."She and her teammates reconnected after a
while and began bouncing ideas around of what they could do to carry on the
ministry they were a part of in Swaziland while being stateside.The idea of a bake sale was thrown out and it
stuck with Mindy so she ran with it!
She and her son made tons of food!Her friend and her 4 year old daughter
brought in tons of pink cup cakes.Mindy
began crying over the phone as she related the story. "Each time we sold something
we would tell what the bake sale was for and how we were raising funds for
Swaziland, and soon the kids would come in with their whole piggy banks and I
would ask, 'Well how much do you want to give?' and they would respond, 'All of
it.'"It was so touching to hear how one
woman's experience on a mission trip in Swaziland, stuck with her so deeply
that when she shared her stories others were moved to give all they had; their
whole piggy banks.
Swazi Vehicle Fund Update!
The
Lord provides!A World Race alumni
recently raised $7,000 for the
Swaziland vehicle fund!This is very
close to what is required for us to be able purchase a sturdy 4WheelDrive
Pajero that can handle the rough roads of Swaziland.In the past month, we went from needing to
raise $11,950 to $4,950!This vehicle will make a
difference in the lives of the people and children AIM ministers to causing
us to quickly and efficiently bring food and supplies to their aid. Our Swazi staff will be blessed by this
vehicle; it will make airport trips to pick up mission teams cheaper and
easier.
Another
AIM alumni recently raised $5,000
through a junior high youth group fundraiser to provide food supplies for the
people of Swaziland!Nothing is
impossible; we praise the Lord and thank you for the difference you are making
in our ministry and the people of Swaziland.
A
Tragic Loss...
We
were recently informed that Jumbo's mother passed away June 13th.With Jumbo and Kriek having a baby on the
way, it is very hard for them as Jumbo's mother was so looking forward to being
a part of her grandchild's life.Her
passing is a mystery as the doctors reported that her heart simply stopped beating;
she was 62 years old.Please be praying
for the Gerber's as they walk through this sad loss.Their faith is strong and sure as they take
confidence in the One who is by her side now.Jumbo's mom was a tireless servant who could cook for hundreds.Hers was a life well lived with her family
and community.For those of you who know
Jumbo and Kriek, a word of encouragement can go a long way at this time.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GOING TO SWAZILAND?
We have opportunities for you! This year we are hosting a Vision Trip to Swaziland. A Vision Trip is a hands-on experience for you to see the effect you as donors and prayer warriors have on our ministry. The trip scheduled for this year is October 2, 2010 through October 11, 2010. The cost for this trip is $1,200.00 plus airfare. This Vision Trip is classified as a Three Star trip, this means that lodging is more comfortable and the meals are more like restaurant style meals. Also, for an additional $200.00 and a later return date to the states of October 13, 2010 there is an optional day trip available to Kruger National Park. If you are interested in this Vision Trip please email DonorRelations@adventures.org
THE REALITY OF HEARTBREAKING CIRCUMSTANCES
Scott Borg shares a sad but real story from his trip to Nsoko:
When I got to Nsoko this morning, there was a man there waiting to talk with Pastor Gift; apparently this man's wife was sick. Since Gift was busy, he sent a Novas participant, Brian, to get the nurse at the clinic to take Gift's car and go to the homestead to see the woman. When they got back, Brian reported that the nurse said the lady needs to go to the hospital, and that he gave her an injection for pain but there was nothing else he could do.
After Brian reported this, Gift gave me the sad background. The husband is HIV positive. Gift was with him just after he learned his status two years ago and helped him through counseling and to get ARV medicine. The wife always said she was sure she was not positive but would never get checked. At the same time, she came down with cervical cancer. So here is this poor woman dying of cancer and AIDS and her poor husband watching it all happen and looking for a nurse to help. The situation was very, very sad.
Here is what I thought was cool:
1. Gift's ministry to the man and his wife (Thanks to all who help keep Gift there).
2. The Novas participant bringing real help to the ministry by being able to drive and report (Thanks to AIM and the donors for supporting this team).
3. The clinic having a community level benefit (Thanks to Dave for funding the clinic and to those who negotiated the use of the clinic).
4. The car donated for Gift being used for ministry (Thanks to Monika for her donation).
5. The continued support that keeps everything happening down there (thanks to donors!).
6. All the base staff who work to keep everything going - Marius who supports the Novas team, Jumbo who takes care of the base stuff, and all the rest of them.
7. Seth and the development department who brought the funding together and continue to advocate.
Swazi Vehicle Fund Update!
We have raised $3,050 for a vehicle in Swazi! Our goal is to raise $15,000 leaving, $11,950 still needed! Thanks to many of you, we are reaching that goal one step at a time. This vehicle will make a difference in the lives of the people and children AIM ministers to causing us to quickly and efficiently bring food and supplies to their aid. Our Swazi staff will be blessed by this vehicle; it will make airport trips to pick up mission teams cheaper and easier.
Please partner with us and help benefit our ministry in Swaziland! You can make a donation online by going here - designate gifts to the "Swazi Vehicle Fund" in the memo line.
Prayer Requests
Staff member Dennis Brock was in a car accident a few weeks ago. Please pray that the damage can be remedied and that this would not discourage him and the other staff.
Also, AIM affiliate Gabe Landes has campaigned a powerful ministry opportunity for orphans in Swaziland. After a visit to one of our carepoints, Gabe had a vision to create a new school for orphans for $14,000 by appealing to 700 of his fellow insurance agents for $25 each. Gabe understands that there are physical orphans in Swazi and many spiritual orphans here in the states; the vision for this school is an extraordinary opportunity for spiritual orphans to give and physical orphans to receive. For more information click here.
We have raised $3,050 for a vehicle in Swazi! Our goal that began in January was to raise $15,000 leaving, $11,950 still needed! Thanks to many of you, we are reaching that goal one step at a time. This vehicle will make a difference in the lives of the people and children AIM ministers to causing us to quickly and efficiently bring food and supplies to their aid. Our Swazi staff will be blessed by this vehicle; it will make airport trips to pick up mission teams, cheaper and easier.
Please partner with us and help benefit our ministry in Swaziland! You can make a donation by going to www.swaziland.myadventures.org and click the 'Give to our needs in Swaziland' link on the left hand side of the page - designate gifts to the "Swazi Vehicle Fund" in the memo line.
April and Princesses
"Saturday we are privileged to be doing a princess party for 200 of the little girls from a bunch of our carepoints! Right at this moment, as I am writing this, our house is full of gift bags and gifts being sorted for Saturday by the 'Beyond The Game' ladies who arrived today." - Kreik Gerber, Swaziland base staff "I cannot wait for Saturday!!!! The girls will be getting new dresses, shoes, gifts, candy and a yummy meal! And pink cupcakes! We have never done such a big party for just girls! ....." To read more and see pictures from this Saturday's Princess Party for the girls in Swazi check out Kriek's blog.
My God is more than enough
"I look up to find my eyes fixed on a shirtless little boy with his belly pushing outward in hunger. His green pants are torn and dusty, barley able to stay up. He has scars and scratches all over his body along with oozing sores on his head. The flies are surrounding him and there is fear in his eyes. I ask him his name in siSwati and he replies, "Celemephilo"." Debbie Feuerstein tells of a little boy's story that touched her heart. "Neighbors have reported cases of Celemephilo stealing food, most likely due to hunger and his grandfather wanted to send him back to his father. His 'make' beats him to what seems no end, resulting in him sleeping in the bush. In turn, her father beats her from her lack of disciplining Celemephilo..... So I think, what can I possibly do?..... God says, "Love". That's it. That's all I will do. Who am I? I am the hands of Christ. I will feed him, he's hungry. I will clothe him, he's naked." To read to full story of Celemephilo click here.
Prayer Requests
Currently, staff members; Toya Mac, Scott and Marcia Borg are leading a custom Vision Trip in Swaziland. Your prayers are needed for their safety and for their hearts to be lead by God to bring His Kingdom in Swazi.
Are you interested in going to Swaziland?
We have opportunities for you! This year we are hosting four Vision Trips to Swaziland. A Vision Trip is a hands on experience for you to see the effect you as donors and prayer warriors have on our ministry. Trips are scheduled for August and October. If you are interested in participating in this heartbreaking, but life changing experience you can visit www.visiontrips.myadventures.org or e-mail donorrelations@adventures.org for more information.
When the Lord moves, He often creates a win-win
situation. See how the gogos, a visiting
team from the states, a business man and the community as a whole were all
blessed by something that could have been a disaster.
Just over a week ago, Eric was introduced to a go-go named Eliya, who lives in the same neighborhood as Celmpilo, a ministry partner. Jen tells of Eric's introduction to Eliya, whose story was interpreted by Celmpilo:
This month's newsletter features stories from:
The women of 
Timbali Special:
