Thursday, July 31, 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

airports and layovers and sleep? oh my!




We got back to the States safely. Right now we're still in the ATL airport with our last layover and final flight home. I for one still have a surreal feeling and have not yet processed through everything we accomplished while in Swaziland. If it was up to me I probably would not have left, but I did with plans of going back a third time. Yes we did a lot for just a small part in God's great plan, but every little bit counts and there is always more to do. The walk of faith is never ending. What blows my mind the most is not how faithful people are to God, but how much more faithful He is to us despite what we do. I know our hearts are forever changed and this trip has caused us to grow spiritually.
-Kassie


Sunday, July 27, 2008

What day is today???

Hello,

We've done so much since we blogged last that I have really lost all track of day and time. I think being beneath the equator definitely has something to do with it, but the action-packed, ministry-filled days are really flying by. I thought that as my body became adjusted, my mind would too...not so! I keep needing people to re-orient me! I'm going to try and list all of the things we have had the opportunity to do since we blogged a couple of days ago (in VERY random order):
-Served at the HPC Swazi Block Party/3 on 3 B-ball Tournament
(more than 500 people signed in, even more were there-awesome outreach!!)
-Spent time at the party with dozens of the kids we met at the local schools
-Prepped HPC after the party for today's service
-Ate some KFC...it's just as good here as it is in the U.S.
-Served in the Children's Church during adult service (right in our comfort zone, it was so smooth, 50 kids, God really blessed, the language barrier had not effect...we had a great time)
-Did some souvenir shopping
-Visited an orphanage, met some great "mothers" and children
-Had dinner at Ben and Susan Rodgers home
-Greg Evans got here from the U.S.!!!!
-Finally had some Chicken Curry that I'd heard so much about...it was great!
-Got to meet, learn from, and talk with several people who serve with HPC Swazi, Children's Cup, and Care Point Pastors.
-Most importantly, HPC had an o'mazin' service where several youth made a FRESH START!!!

We visit Care Points tomorrow, there are 16 in Mbabane alone! We'll divide up and go to a couple. We leave here Tuesday night and will return to Memphis late Wednesday night. We can't wait to see you all!

Love and Blessings!
Kassie, Mary, and Sherrie

Friday, July 25, 2008

"Wow, where do I begin? I guess I could start with I'm in Africa! :] This is truly an amazing experience! It's so grand, man, and I love being here! The people are amazing, the climate is awesome, and God is doing incredible things over here! Just to start off, we've done basketball clinics the past two days at two schools, and we've basically been teaching the kids over here basketball skills because basketball is very recent sport to be added in Swaziland. They have been going wonderful! The kids have been responding well, and we've all, I believe the team as a whole has had many opportunities to show the love of Christ to these kids. It's amazing, because these kids over here just don't get some good ole' TLC on a daily basis, and it's amazing what one smile from you to them will do! They are so desparate for our attention when we get there, and they don't want us to leave! The things they say like "will you come back?" or "I'll miss you when you go" or "Can you pack me in your suitcase?" Man, things like that just tear me up, and I can hear it in their voices that they want to be loved and to have hope! And hope's name is Jesus! I'm seeing that more and more everyday that's it's not about backgrounds or groups of people or circumstances. It's about being the hands and feet of Jesus and showing the love and hope that's found in Christ to a broken and dying world! I love the fact that I've been allowed to come on this trip because God has been showing me so many things these last few days. Well, it's really late, but I'll try to post again tomorrow! Much love guys!

JamieJ

Today Was A Great Day!

Hello again!
Today our teams divided up and returned to schools in the city of Mbabane. We held basketball clinics, talked more with the kids about God's plan and purpose for their lives, prayed with them, and Coach Rico was even able to step in and coach a boys and girls team in a game when their coach was unavailable! All in all, the clinics were amazing; definitely planned and carried out with excellence!

Tomorrow HPC Swaziland is hosting an awesome outreach; a 3 on3 Basketball tournament/Block Party. It's going to be phenomenal...free food, contests, give-aways, etc! The community is fired up about it! We'll post photos of that tomorrow night.

Thanks for your continued prayers for the whole team. Blessings to you!

Sherrie, Mary, and Kassie

Fun in Swaziland

We are having so much fun here. We did our 2nd day of camps and had a great turn out. The kids just love us and had us sign there shirts and wristbands, then they signed our shirts.

Swaziland reminds me of Ohio, the landscape and the weather.

More Later.

Dean turner

Thursday, July 24, 2008

They're Playin' Bask-et-ball !!





Hello,

Today was spent out and about the town of Mbabane. As Nancy and Elizabeth mentioned below, we divided up and went out to schools. The team I was with went to a Primary and High School. The young men and women were all very excited to speak with us, share their dreams for the future, and most of all...learn more about playing basketball! The sports most common here are soccer, racket ball, and a game called netball.

As I listened to the children's laughter combined with the thump, thump, thump of the basketball, it really felt like the heartbeat of Swaziland...the hope of Swaziland lies in teaching the children how much God loves them, as well as relevant, productive ways to equip them for the future. Ben Rodgers (Children's Cup and Pastor of HPC Swaziland) told us that unless something changes dramatically in these children's future, statistically, 1 out of every 2 of them will die of AIDS.

We're believing that this outreach today, along with all that God is already doing in this country, will produce long-lasting, positive effects. As we continue to plant and water the seeds of God's Word in these fertile hearts, God will bring increase to the Kingdom of Swaziland!!

God bless each of you, we love you, and you are in our thoughts and prayers!
Sherrie, Mary, and Kassie

Basketball and Bracelets

TOday was our first visit to the schools here in Swaizland. 2 teams went out and worked with the kids playing ball and cheering and learning about GOd's purpose for their lives. Our team went to a wonderful International School. The children were amazing. They loved us more than we could have possibly loved them. Along with teaching them basketball skills we had a devotional station. They learned that God loves them and has a purpose for their lives then we had them write their names on cloth bracelets that we will bring back home with us. They were so excited to know that we will be praying for them when we return home. They were bright and curious and so thnakful for our time and encouragement. The teachers and staff were so grateful also. We learned that God is here, yet the struggle with ancestrial worship is still present. Some of the children wanted us to stay forever. It is truly a blessing to be able to touch these children's lives and share with them. The country here is beautiful and the people are also. The culture is amazing, We have all learned a cool new handshake.

We are here at HPC Swaziland Campus and are getting ready for a great night of worship and Rolfe teaching the word. Please contiue praying for everyone on the team. We can feel the covering over us all and everyone is doing great!!!

That's all for now from Elizabeth and Nancy!!!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

We're Here



Hello Friends and Family,

We have had a great trip thus far! We left Memphis on Monday morning and
met up with the rest of the team from Baton Rouge's Healing Place Church (HPC) www.healingplacechurch.com Monday evening in Houston. We flew to Johannesburg
via Paris and then drove by bus 4 hours to Swaziland. We are all doing well and all our luggage is here...no small feat considering there were 30 of us traveling and
approximately 100 bags! Praise God!!

With every step of the trip, our anticipation has grown! We are so thrilled to
be a part of what God, HPC Swaziland hpcswazi.com, and Children's Cup
http://www.childrenscup.org/v2/ are doing here in Swaziland.
Thanks so much to everyone for your prayers, support, love, encouragement,
generosity, etc. Words really can't tell you how appreciative we are for you
helping us to GO!

A HUGE shout out to the GoGlobal team for all you do, everyday,
to take teams from there to here! You all are amazing!

Blessings and Love,
Sherrie, Mary, and Kassie
The Life Church of Memphis


Monday, July 21, 2008

Coca Cola Stuff for the Care Points

We are off to Africa in a couple hours. This is a picture of the stuff Coca Cola donated for me to take to the Orphans at the Care Points. Coke pencils are the best! Have you ever used a Coke Pencil? They ruin you for all other pencils! Coke donated a couple hundred of them and also these really cool lunch bag/cooler things that are Olympic themed and even have the Ethiopia Coke can on them (our son "A", that we are in the process of adopting, is in Ethiopia so this is really special to us) and also three new Coke T-shirts that are really cool.

Dan told us that to people in Swaziland like Coke hats, shirts, stuff like that, even used ones, so I am bringing a few of my old hats. I figured I could give them away or use them to barter with.

I think it's so cool that Coca Cola donated all that stuff.

This is a hat just like the one we sent to "A" last month. I got one to wear on this trip to Africa. I know he is in Ethiopia and we are going to Swaziland but it's still closer to where he is so it's like Carole said on her blog, It's like a connection, a hat tied to our son in an Orphanage in Ethiopia Africa - tied to a dad on a missions trip in Swaziland Africa.

Dean Turner

Thursday, July 17, 2008

They call it justice..

Man, oh man! Four more days! I can hardly believe it! This has been one incredible journey just looking back to the first time I talked to Jason about Africa back in January, and I can honestly say that God has stretched my faith a great deal! Wow! I'm so pumped about this trip because I know God's got His hand and anointing on us, and as we be His hands and feet to the lost and the broken and the hurting and oppressed, we will see God's faithfulness and His heart! I'm expecting so much; I want to come back from this trip completely wrecked.. The other day in Saturate, I wrote this following piece in my journal, and this is what I think it's all about..

"Justice.. it's not a one time mission. It's a lifestyle that reflects the heart of God. People, no matter what their circumstance or situations or geography, are still valuable to God! Therefore they need to be valuable to us. We can't fix every problem, but that's not an excuse to do nothing. Justice is the heartbeat of God, and we've got to run this race for those who can't. Amen."

JamieJ

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Be Empowered

Prayer this morning was great! I love that we are gathering as a time of preparation for our trip and I know that God is going to show up. My prayer for each of us is that Jesus will empower us to grow, stretch and learn in ways that we cannot even imagine right now. God showed me this morning how important is for us to allow our roots to grow strong in Him, to be FIRMLY PLANTED IN ORDER TO BE EMPOWERED!!

I pray Ephesians 3:14-19 over this Africa team.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I know that there are people who are going on this trip that don't even know the degree that God is going to use them.There will be gifts imparted and people used in massive ways Hold on to your hats!!!!!

As I read a quote from Mother Theresa this morning, I knew it was for our team,

"What we say does not matter, only what God says to souls through us."

In His Love, Nancy Clary

Monday, July 14, 2008

giving

got this note from rolfe after last night's meeting. cool thought:

"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."

May I suggest some books to read on your trip?



Since you all will be traveling for over 24 hours, and may want to consume some of that time reading, I thought I'd give you a couple book ideas that go right along with what your trip is all about.

The first two books, Fields of the Fatherless and Red Letters are written by Tom Davis. He has personal experience of doing ministry in Swaziland. His books will rock your world. I challenge you to stay the same after reading them.

The third book There is no Me Without You is very dear to my heart because it's about Ethiopia BUT it's equally about HIV/AIDS, the pandemic of the 21st century. This book really educates the reader on this disease,what it is doing to Africa, and the world. Since Swaziland has the highest concentration of AIDS Orphans per-capita, this would be a great book to teach you both about the plight of the AIDS Orphan and AIDS itself. Again, be ready to be changed.

God be with you all. May He mess you up forever!!

Carole
The Wardrobe and the White Tree Book Club Life Group

a great reminder before we go


Staying in the Moment

Yesterday was an amazing day! Having the team all together in Church for Prayer was overwhelming for me. The reality that we will be leaving so soon is beginning to sink and the feelings of joy and humility are flooding me right now. I know that none of the team will ever be the same again after our opportunity to serve and pour out His love in a country that is parched and dry. I am so humbled to among the team memebers that have never had the opportunity to serve on a mission team before and I know that for us our excitement is totally over the top. My prayers is that for all of us we can stay in the moment this week and allow God to speak to us as He prepares us for this journey. That we can become soft and pliable in His Hands. He wants us to be so close that we are clinging to Him. I am praying for each of you that you will Hear him call your name like never before.......

In His Love, Nancy Clary

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Swazi Thoughts from the Doctor



Sitting here at our final Swazi mtg and I'm getting fired up just thinking about what God is going to do in us and through us!!!! This morning at the 12 o'clock service when our team was prayed for I really felt like God put His anointing on us for what we are going to do there. It felt as if someone put a blanket on my shoulders and as crazy as it sounds, I felt His spirit rest on us....it was awesome. Luke 4 Jesus talks about the spirit of God being ON him and God's anointing being ON him for the task he came from heaven to earth to accomplish....what was ON him was not to enable him to preach better or pray better but what was on him was to serve the people. WOW!!!! As a team whether it be in Africa or in Prairieville we have to remember that what is on us is not for us but for them....its never about us but about bringing healing to a hurting world. Amen

Tweez

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Really excited about this trip. The anticipation is growing each day. I know that God has some incredible things in store. Thank you all those who have supported us financially and with your prayers. I pray that God will continue to bless you all as you sew into the work of his kingdom!

In Christ, Nathan Robert

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Official Swaziland Go Global Team Blog Is Ready To Go

A huge thank you to Carole Turner (thewardrobeandthewhitetree.com) for setting up our team blog. Team members will be posting here, and Carole will be helping us keep updates posted as much as possible between now and when our team returns.

Thank you to all of you who have helped financially to send this team as well as those who have committed to pray for us.

Our ministry itinerary continues to be refined and adjusted to milk the most out of the days we are on the ground. Generally speaking thought, our plans include hosting basketball clinics at four schools, which will also include devotionals and bible teaching. We also plan to host a one-day three-on-three basketball tournament at the HPC Swaziland campus parking lot (thanks for the help, Kevin and Tracy), concluding with a message from none other than Jason Laird.

We'll get to be a part of sunday services at HPC Swaziland, and do some outreaches at some of the Children's cup carepoints as well.

Please be in prayer for us - we'll keep you updated as much as possible.

Thanks!

Dan Ohlerking