Dear Prayer Warriors,

          “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 I want to thank each one of you for joining in this battle with me.  It seems that Satan is working overtime, BUT we can take comfort in the fact that our God is ALWAYS the Victor!  We’ve read the last chapter, and HE wins!  I was talking to a fellow missionary this past week about how we both feel like everything is piling up at once right now.  There is so much going on, and if we allow it to, it could cause us to lose our focus.  God constantly reminds me that in every situation in life, there is a choice to be made.  I can choose to give in to the Enemy and sit around saying, “Woe is me”, or I can choose to spend that time on my knees seeking the Father’s face.  I hope and pray you’ve all realized in the past year just how powerful prayer is, and that it changes YOU!  Sometimes I forget what a privilege it is to lift up my brothers and sisters to the Lord.  I want to thank you all for being willing to not only lift me up, but to also lift up those I tell you about.  Thank you specifically for praying for the Goliath family and Chris, the journeyman in Zambia.  Estelle’s brother’s funeral was on Saturday, and from what I hear it was a challenging time for Estelle and Clifford.  Please continue to pray for her as she stays in Johannesburg until Wednesday.  She is the only Christian in her family, and they all seem to be looking to her for strength and comfort.  Pray that they will turn their focus to the True Comforter.  The last I heard about Chris was the doctors in Jo’burg were still discussing about whether to do the surgery in South Africa or fly him back to the states.  Hopefully I’ll get an update soon, and I’ll pass it along when I do.

          My trip to Swaziland was just what I needed!  The Lord is so faithful to provide breaks for me at just the right time!  I had a wonderful time with Steve and Monica Allen, and it was also a huge blessing to spend a night with the Myers, another missionary couple in Swaziland.  God teaches me so much through career missionaries who have been on the field several years.  I love to hear their perspective on things and find out all the different ways God has used them in the years they’ve been overseas.  The Swazi Christian wedding was an experience I’ll never forget!  I am so thankful God provided a way for me to go and join in their celebration.  It was supposed to start at 10:00 am, so we intentionally got there at 11:00.  When we arrived, everyone was still standing outside the tents (the church was way too small to hold everyone).  By 12:00, the ceremony started.  The wedding began with the "Grand March" where all the bridesmaids and groomsmen danced down the aisle into their spots.  Then the groom danced from the front, halfway down the aisle and met the bride and her father as they walked up from the back.  The bride looked absolutely miserable!  I asked Monica why and she said she’s supposed to b/c she’s leaving her family--if she looked happy it would upset her family.  Douglas then took Simphiwe from her father and they walked the rest of the way up the aisle.  Then there was the exchanging of vows, exchanging of rings, signing of the marriage certificate, the Word of God preached, lots of singing, and an explanation of the two becoming one.  This was done by Maria Shandu, and even though I’d never met the bride or groom, I was asked to be a part of this!  I got to hold the unity candle while they lit it.  We ended up leaving the ceremony at 3:00, and it was still going strong!  I’m not sure what time everything ended, but to Africans, a wedding is an all-day event!  I will never complain about the length of an American wedding ceremony again! J  It was very encouraging to see how bold Douglas and Simphiwe were about their faith.  Praise the Lord with me that they stood up for their beliefs and showed their family and friends Who they worship and why.  Please continue to pray for them as they start their new life together.  May their relationship bring glory and honor to God!

          This past Tuesday, Jo Carol gave the children in her group the opportunity to respond to the plan of salvation.  She has been explaining it to them for several weeks now, and she knew there were some who were ready to pray.  At the end of Bible study, she asked whoever wanted to pray, to pray out loud with her.  Seventeen of her children asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior!!!!!!  The angels in Heaven were singing on Tuesday!  Please pray for these precious ones.  Pray that they will grow in their walk with the Lord, and that He will protect them as they grow up into Godly men and women.  Pray also for Jo Carol as she disciples them.  We are very excited they’re saved, but we don’t want to drop them now—they must be taught the ways of the Lord!  “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

          I hope and pray everyone had a happy Valentine’s Day!  I spent mine with the children and youth from the Nelsville Bible study at a picnic/pool party.  We had so much fun playing games, fellowshipping, eating, and swimming.  It was very important to me that on the day where the world celebrates love, they understand just how much God loves each one of them!  I pray that these children grow up knowing what true love is…”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

 

Praise & Prayer:

          Praises:

*God kept me safe as I drove to and from Swaziland.  He also renewed my strength while I was there, and brought me back to Nelspruit excited about what He’s doing here.

*17 children accepted Christ this past Tuesday!

*God loves each one of us—that is something we should praise Him for every minute of every day!!!

*God’s plan is perfect, and He will NEVER leave His children alone!

*CIA and the Hostel Bible study are continuing to grow in numbers and in knowledge of Who God is.

Prayer:

*I traveled out to Dwaleni yesterday to speak with the youth about Bible study, and they want me to come on Sundays after church instead of Saturday afternoons.  Pray that they will be faithful in attending, and that God will show me exactly what He wants me to teach them.  I will begin next Sunday, Feb. 22^nd

*Today I will begin going through a children’s coloring book called “How to become a Christian” with the children in my neighborhood.  Pray that each child will understand what it means to be a Christian, and how badly they need salvation.

*Please continue to pray for Estelle and her family as they mourn the death of her brother.  Pray especially for his widow as she’s left with no family (she grew up in foster homes)—may she allow the Lord to comfort and guide her during this time.

*Please also continue to pray for Chris as he waits to hear what the doctors think is best.

 

I’m sorry this update was a bit lengthy!  I feel like I could write several more pages, because God is doing SO much here!  I am so thankful that He continues to work in spite of me.  I truly believe that what is happening in Nelspruit is a direct result of your prayers!  THANK YOU!!!!!  Keep on keeping on, and remember, “His strength is perfect, when our strength is gone!” 

 

“Now to the King eternal immortal invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17

 

Amazed by Him,

Laura