Joshua 22:8 ... Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.

"My family, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:1-4

            I was sincerely overjoyed to hear through my sister, Laura, of the great fruit that has been taking form on your end of things. It is so encouraging to be reminded that God's Spirit transcends all borders, allowing wondrous work to be accomplished among the nations. I am much more eager for my return, now in less than a month, knowing that I will be stepping into a place of spiritual cultivation as well as amazing opportunity. Throughout my time here, the Lord has ignited in me a passion for Calgary and the people already in my life as well as the people I have yet to meet. This fire is continually being fueled as the time fast approaches for me to come home.

The excitement for ministry in Calgary has in no way dampened my heart for Swaziland. Just this morning I was reading on Christ's power as the "Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the End." He most certainly has time in His hands and I am aware that my dedication to Africa is not limited to just a few weeks. This last stretch has given me the chance to see how I will continue my labour here in Swaziland from Canada through prayer of course as well as other creative means.  I've also been blessed to see God orchestrate His people perfectly so that the physical ministry here will not cease with the team's departure.

This past week the Lord validated this at our Youth Center ministry. As mentioned in previous e-mails, two other girls and I have been meeting with women from the Life Skills or "Youth" Center every Tuesday since January. The center works to train Swazis in basic business so that they will be equipped enough to open independent companies. The eight ladies we visit with are part of a textile business, so much of our Tuesdays are spent attempting to lend a hand in preparing the orders. All three of us took a crack at the sewing machines on one of our first days of ministry and to no surprise the women have not asked us to assist in that way since. However, we've become pros at removing poor stitching and ironing uniforms. The remainder of our days are spent diving into the Word. As a large group, we teach and discuss on God's purpose for our lives. This topic has touched on things such as conformity to Christ, heaven, and unity. The studies have reached beyond the sewing ladies. Some of the women mentioned that their husbands are going through the handouts at home and we often have visitors from other departments dropping in on our meetings. SiSwati bibles were also passed out to all of the women which soon caught the ears of all the workers on site. Luckily our team has a stash of bibles in our home, so we've been blessed to give away over ten and counting. The growth we as a ministry team have seen at the Youth Center is very encouraging and as I mentioned before, the Lord has already begun planting people who will continue the ministry when we leave. Nonhlanhla, one of the quieter ladies, volunteered to lead next week's lesson, so we are eager to see how God uses her. With only two Tuesday's left at the Center, this could not be better timing for the teaching swap. The reality of two Tuesdays is saddening for our hearts, but it also forces us to be intentional.

This reality is true for all of my ministries: the market, gas station, and Hope House. To your benefit, I will not go into detail with all of them, but I will give praises to the Spirit and the incredible love He has given me for each and every one, especially in these last moments. I am looking forward to sharing testimonies of this work face to face with anyone who is willing to listen upon my return.

There is a lot more that has gone down over the past month and I am sure that many of you have heard things through the grapevine. Just to bring anyone who may be missing out up to speed before I conclude I'll point out a few highlights, or, lowlights that were quick to turn around for the good of God's people. Since spring break and the unexpected events which I wrote about in my latest e-mail, there has been a mass amount of suffering experienced not only by the Swaziland team, but the entire AIM group in Africa. We've had two of our teammates, Matt and Tyler, have to leave for home early for physical emergencies. Both boys were troubled with going so unexpectedly, however, the Lord has already proved to be the Father of redemption and we have seen His glory immensely in their departures. Another, very unexpected tragedy was that of a car accident in Port Elizabeth. The accident left two injured and to everyone's shock, took the life of Sarah Buller. Many of you know that Sarah was my ministry partner at Love A Child last semester. The state of brokenness this situation brought not only myself, but everyone involved with the Africa Awakening 08' and of course Sarah's family allowed for such comfort and restoration from God. It's been nearly two weeks since the incident and our Swazi team in particular has experienced the joy of suffering in such an intense way. Needless to say, we still need the body's continued praise and prayers concerning the matter. Please keep the PE team especially on your heart as they are struggling with the means to press on and where exactly they will be pressing onwards to.

            As I keep relaying, our God is the perfect orchestrator, and all of the latest events, those of tragedy and triumph, most certainly proclaim glory to His name. Personally, I am overwhelmed by His goodness and have been contrasting that with my sinful nature more than ever over the past few weeks. What a blessing it is to receive such love and grace from the King of Kings. With that said I wish all of you a most Happy Easter, better late than never for He is risen every day in our lives and send the Lord's love and my prayers.

"I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them." 3 John 1:13-15

-          Gail

 

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

My partners in Christ,

I write to you with exceeding joy, knowing that the Day of our Lord is fast approaching. The hour of His return has been my focus over the months and I pray that it remains that way. I also pray that through hearing of His amazing works in Swaziland, you will be encouraged to stand strong in the battle that's already been won.

            My heart is most thrilled with the events of this past week. Today marks the last of our nine day long spring break. Many of my teammates traveled back to South Africa to visit old friends and ministries which left the house to just seven of us. I am so grateful for the hungry atmosphere that came with the much needed space. The group frequently met with God individually and together, resulting in extensive growth. Every night was spent reading from the book of Hebrews along with a sometimes lengthy discussion and meditation period. Last night the study was concluded, but I trust that the changes in my heart throughout it will be lasting.         

            Aside from the Hebrews study, our "mini family" did many other things together. Just yesterday five of us girls went back to one of our family ministry sites in the nearby township to paint a school. The school is run by Gugu, a vibrant woman who has volunteered the past 10 years to giving free education to children. Gugu's desire for the school is to have it as something the kids don't have to be ashamed of. When compared to the city schools, theirs is often referred to as a shack. A few weeks back, the entire team went to the property for some hard labour. After the team day there and our completed painting, I'm certain the children and Gugu will have better eyes for the area. We still have a few more coats with some decorating to follow and one of our team teaches at the school twice a week so the project is ongoing.

            The spiritual growth the seven of us have gone through entails much more than what was mentioned. Because of such a pressing into the Spirit, the devil was at work. We've dealt with a lot of spiritual warfare concerning safety. A strange young man, now thought to be under some sort of witchcraft, came to our house on more than one occasion even after being confronted by the guy staying with us. After a restless night for all of us he hasn't been back. Another incident occurred just following the painting party at the school. We girls had decided to walk back instead of calling for a ride because our leader had been up the previous night dealing with the stranger at our home. After being followed by a man for quite a ways, we were suddenly attacked. He was quite forceful and defended himself by thrashing a screw driver until he was able to run away with my bag. Praise God all of us are okay! My bag had virtually all of my values (i.e. Camera, iPod, phone, and wallet) which was very disconcerting at first, but the Lord was quick to reveal my heart's treasures to me and I am completely at peace about it now (note Hebrews 11:25-26). All of us do request, however, that you cover our team in extensive prayer. We've been very in tune with God throughout this, recognizing his source of ultimate safety and power and we would be so thankful if you continued to pray this realization over us.

            So, those events marked the last days of our spring break, which means this week will involve getting back into the swing of our usual ministries and discipleship times. I am looking forward to meeting with my friends from the market, Hope House, the Youth Center, and the gas station. You'll be pleased to know that those relationships are ever flourishing. Every Tuesday at the Youth Center, myself and two of my teammates are doing a bible study for the sewing ladies. They always take an hour or so for lunch where we discuss topics centered on "God's purpose". I am thrilled at the response we've been receiving from a few of the women. The study is tying into their families, marriage, and especially into their work. With only six Tuesdays left with them, please pray that there would be a great spirit of healing and revival with the group. The Lord has also been moving just as much with Sizwe from the gas station. Our first meetings with him were more "question and answer" periods, but now he is sharing alongside us by being a translator for our interactions with locals who come into the station. He is also focusing on pouring his new found insights into some of his closest friends. Please keep Sizwe's spiritual and mental strength in your prayers, as he is facing tempting job offers that he agreed would only "cater to his old lifestyle." Glory to God, though, for the immense progress we've seen in Sizwe, the Youth Center women, and others not mentioned in detail.

            I don't want to overwhelm you with lengthy descriptions of my life in Swaziland, so if you are eager to hear more I encourage you to read the blogs of my teammates and I. The links that are in bold are the people who I am in ministry with. I also urge you to take a look at the guy's blogs as they have been doing intense leadership classes at one of the local high schools on a day to day basis.

The URLS are as follows:

Alenebrunkhurts.myadventures.org

Lorettawang.myadventures.org

Jilliangray.myadventures.org

Laynecarson.myadventures.org

Jessicagourley.myadventures.org

Sarahtaylor.myadventures.org

Maryhollis.myadventures.org

Sarahkeppinger.myadventures.org

Allysabolles.myadventures.org

Davieingram.myadventures.org

Ryancharmichael.myadventures.org

Blairnightingale.myadventures.org

Tylerbussanich.myadventures.org

As always, I appreciate your special interest in God's work through me and around me here in Africa. I am constantly encouraged by thoughts of home and the love and opportunities that await me there. I leave you with selected pictures from ministry and our spring break hike. As you get a peek into my world here keep in mind that these are only glimpses of our eternity.

My prayers and blessings,

 

Psalm 51:12

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

 

            After remaining in South Africa this Christmas season, I've developed a new found appreciation for the holiday and all of the things that come with it. With the absence of a winter wonder land, the need for excessive layers, and my amazing family this Christmas was also lacking in a spirit of true celebration. I dragged myself through winter break thinking of everything good that I was missing out on.

            Break came and went and the thoughts of Christmas still occupied my mind in the months following. As me and my teammates frequently talked about all of the splendour that was awaiting us next winter, I was pleased with my latest love for the season. Next Christmas will be unlike any other. I made plans to be truly "merry", seizing every opportunity to go ice skating, bake cookies, play Bing Crosby, and read by the fireplace. Sounds magical, right? The plan to do these things still stands, but should that really be the source of my pleasure, and what would I do during the summer months that await me?

Isaiah 55 - The Compassion of the Lord

Come everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear that your soul may live; and I will make an everlasting convenant, my steadfast sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

This letter is from Gail, Jesus Christ's daughter, chosen by God to be a messenger to the kingdom of Swaziland. This message has been promised by the Lord through his word; the word that tells of his Son, Jesus, who took on the burden of many through his death and resurrection. His resurrection is the very reason we have the privilege of spreading God's hope everywhere.

As my brothers and sisters in Christ, I know you are equally as passionate about sharing this message; one that has proven so much victory in your own lives. I am familiar, however, with the distractions of this world that so fervently steal this passion. With the sudden crashing of the economy, all eyes are on our comforts. Cars, homes, jobs, and food are just a few of the things that occupy our daily thoughts. Yes, you claim to trust the Lord, but why not put a little money here and there, just in case he doesn't follow through? And you are aware that your life should be dedicated to building up his kingdom, but how can you meet the needs of others if your own needs are not met?

These examples are harsh truths, ones that I fully own up to also. Only until I began to live among the people here were my eyes opened to the hardness of my heart. I fought long and hard with God throwing nonsense at him like, "Lord, I've already tithed a huge chunk of my income to come on this trip" or "If I give this last dollar I won't have money to call my family." Of course anyone who knows God, he was quick to put me in my place. Most of the Swazi people live off of less than $30.00 a month. They are depending on the Lord to provide their one meal a day. I have no room to complain. Everything we see belongs to the Lord, our bank accounts included. If he asks us to give, we must do it cheerfully and without hesitation.

So here I am with a wide open opportunity to give to the building of His kingdom. God has Swaziland in His hands – this means it is also resting in our hands. During the past two months I have been a witness to the Father's incredible power. Through willing hearts, a nation has begun running to Christ and his calling. I have a remainder of 75 days here and the labor is nowhere near being done. My heart is so excited to see what the Lord accomplishes during my last two months here.

As the body of Christ, you have a huge part to play in this! My support account is short just over $2000.00 U.S. and that debt has to be paid by mid April. I pray that you would soften your heart to giving. It is my hope that the amount raised would go beyond the requirements. Delight yourselves in rich food, a supply that will last for eternity.

I appreciate any form of giving, be in through prayer, finances or both. My never-ending thanks go to all who read and consider this.

In Him,

Adventures In Missions

P.O. Box 534470

Atlanta, Georgia

30353 - 4470

Jeremiah 17:7-8

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried about long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they go right on producing delicious fruit.

Since the moment I crossed the border into Swaziland, my eyes were captivated by the display of creation. The streets are bordered with collection of colorful flowers, only appearing as frosting to the olive mountains that stand tall in the background. That's what the body of Christ should resemble. The Swazi heat is unbearable to most of us, but the trees here aren't bothered by it, for they know the rain will soon refresh their roots, allowing them to continually flourish, that they may bear many flora and fruits. I very much desire to trust the Lord in this way, taking heart at the most difficult moments. It is so easy to proclaim your hope in God, but to live each day as if it is true is another story. The battle stretches and challenges me to the core. It is a race very much worth the fruit that proceeds. As I run towards the finish line I'm faced with the devil's hurdles, persuading me to turn back. Rather than turning around with the plan of quitting, I look back to see the amount of succulent fruit that has already been harvested. Christ has proven His victory, and I am endlessly reminded of that as I run the reel of my life. So here'some fruit to taste.

 

 Another ministry site that has taken a piece of my heart is the local gas station. This place seriously has been anointed by God. The team had discussed forming below the surface relations with the nearby stores before we arrived we came to Swaziland and it's been awesome to see that vision fulfilled. It began at my first visit to the station where I met Thandie. She is the sweetest woman and has such a pure heart. We quickly adopted her as our Swazi Gogo. Most of our time with her is hearing stories of her hardships and her relentless trust in the Lord through them. She is such a hard-working woman, desiring to support her family in any means possible. She works 6 days a week, the mornings at the nearby gas station and the afternoon at ours. In her spare time she also knits everything from slippers to sweater vests. This hobby is also another way of earning money. Wool is pretty expensive here so one of my teammates is having her grandmother's closet stash sent here for Thandie. This woman has touched my heart so much since being here. The Holy Spirit has also pulled us to several other employees at the gas station. One of them is a 24 year old man named Sizwe. His passion and hunger for God has been so evident since the first time we met him. Our conversations have centered on how to be a light in a country such as Swaziland, the exact thing these people need to be discipled for. So encouraging and being encouraged by him is so amazing. The boys on our team are hoping to meet him also so that a stronger connection with him can be made. Since the gas station is on the way to most of our ministry sites, I often visit and get caught in an hour of spirit-driven discussion.

            It would be most convenient for everyone if I just ran through a typical "Spirit driven" day, although typical isn't very appropriate seeing as the Spirit is full of surprises. That being said, I'll just dive right into it and try to organize the latest events. I'll begin with team discipleship. The eighteen of us come together on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to discuss the book of Romans. We've been reading one or two chapters individually throughout the week so that we can be prepared for the two hour long conversation we'll have as a team. The hours entail a rereading of the chapter along with the exchange of thoughts, insights, and questions; pretty standard stuff. To be perfectly honest, although we had good intentions, rarely was the spirit ever a part of our meetings. I don't doubt that He brought clarity to many of the things we read, but fear tended to run our discussions. It was only until the fourth meeting that the spirit was let run wild and our hearts along with Him. We didn't lose our intellectual stance on the scripture, but it was made into a product of truth rather than a product of fear. We even admitted as a team that a lot of us would only voice up when we were sure that our words would impress others. What good is it to say something profound and not have it change your life? This realization made room for honesty, tears, and more questions. I love questions. It means more seeking is required as the Lord is the only one who can give a clear answer. I ended up getting the most out of our time together that day, and I don't even think we finished reading the chapter. Since then, we've only had two other team discipleships, but they've been fruitful. I can see our tense hearts and minds being "unhinged" so that we may be moved to settle into the Spirit through our readings. There's part A of our days. Moving onto part B:

            As I've mentioned before, my main ministry here in Swaziland is at the Hope House. I've been visiting with the patients and their families there on a pretty consistent basis. My two teammates, Layne and Sarah, and I have been amidst laughter, suffering, death, healing and of course awkwardness during our time at Hope. In fact, we had the privilege of experiencing all of the mentioned in one day alone. It was extremely overwhelming, but extremely Spirit-filled. We begun this visit embracing the awkward by heading towards the house of Jabulile, a primary school teacher her sacrificed many of her days caring for her sick father, who we've come to know as Makhulu, meaning "grandpa" in SiSwati. We arrived to find that Jabu was teaching for the day so that left her non-English speaking sister and mother taking care of Makhulu. We definitely contemplated leaving after 10 or so minutes of silence, but anyone who does house visits knows that silence is embraced. Allowing the Spirit to lead rather than following our human tendencies made for one sweet hour. It was filled with a lot of fanning, a tasty lunch, and many laughable moments. After having created some good memories the three of us went to see a couple and their three year old daughter whom we gave a puzzle to the previous day. We walked in to find that the 1000 piece puzzle might not have done the trick as it had been packed away. Choosing to take no offense to this, the three of us took our seats and observed the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter. We may not have been able to give anything outside of our presence, but we most certainly were blessed by them and the love that filled their relationship. The encouragement that came through this visit pushed me to suggest something that would be more difficult. We ventured towards a home that was burdened with intense suffering. A KhoKho (grandma) was dealing with the affliction of her HIV+ son. On my last visit I had learned that she already lost her firstborn of 9 children to AIDS. Praise God that she had the help and support of her third son, a high school teacher, during their time at Hope House. So knowing all this, we three girls were eager to lend our support through love and prayer as we made our way to this destination. We were taken aback to find the house being cleaned out by the nurses. Apparently he had passed away over the weekend. My heart was shattered. It's hard to describe what really went on during the next fifteen minutes. I certainly didn't expect to step out of the darkness so soon, but the Spirit proved it to be possible. Desiring some consistency, we girls went to visit with our friend Sihle, whom we see on a regular basis. She's been recovering nicely since the first time we met with her, so it wasn't a surprise to find that she'd been detached from Hope House and now living back in the swing of things. Praise God! She had really grown with the Lord during her time at Hope and we are so pleased to see the immense blessings He has showered on her. Her birthday is on the 22^nd of this month, so we plan on seeing her next week to celebrate with lunch at KFC, her favourite. The Holy Spirit allowed this discovery to lift our spirits once again, so we decided to take a risk and go to a home we had never been to. The patient, a young lady named Nomsa, was in a dreadful state. She was extremely weak and barely talked. The few words that were said were making reference to her death, and the contentment she felt. Her trust in God was inspiring, but all of us felt the Spirit pulling us toward a greater sense of hope. As we listened to her speak of her children the feeling was solidified. It took courage, a definite abiding in the Spirit, but we finally confirmed her belief that she could be healed and prayed for it. Once again, it's difficult to describe what really went on during those moments, but the movement of the Spirit was incredible. I'm so happy to say that she is getting stronger each day and has many visitors who fellowship in a joyful atmosphere. What a day! As Sarah stated to me afterwards, "We saw all sides to servant hood and the blessing that comes with it; from laughter, to fellowship, to death, to victory, and finally to life.

            With all that said, I have to reiterate my previous statement and admit my inability to record all of the blessings the Lord has revealed since my "spiritual settlement". Even today, I must have encountered ten possible blog stories! I look forward to writing more as I'm led. In the mean time I leave you with some wise words from my most recent reading, "Rees Howells: Intercessor"

John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you." As this "abiding" was to take such a central place in his future life of intercession, it is important to see what the Holy Spirit taught Mr. Howells about it. This key text, John 15:7, makes it plain that the promise is unlimited, but its fulfillment depends on the abiding. That is why in all cases of intercession; Mr. Howells constantly spoke of guarding the "place of abiding."

            The scriptural key to abiding is in 1 John 2:6, "He that says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked." In other words, it meant being willing for the Holy Spirit to live through him the life the Saviour would have lived had He been in his place.

            The way Mr. Howells maintained this abiding was by spending a set time of waiting upon God every day during the period in which the intercession lasted. The Holy Spirit would then speak to him through the Word, revealing any standard that he was to come up to, particularly in the "laws of the Kingdom" – the Sermon on the Mount. Any commandment the Spirit gave him, he must fulfill because the way of abiding is the keeping of His commandments (John 15:10). The Spirit would also search his heart and throw light on his daily life, revealing any motives or actions that needed confession and cleansing in the Blood.

            ... During the first week of abiding, the Lord spoke to him nightly on many things. "He began to deal with my nature," he said, "and show me things I never dreamed were there,getting deep down to my motives. It was a daily dying.

            The past two weeks have been spent settling into my new home in the country of Swaziland. That's right; God has placed me in a new location, with a new team, and many new opportunities. I will get to that shortly, but before I dive into describing my new found joy here I will bring you some closure with last semester.

            Jeffreys Bay, South Africa was the scene of my extensive training. For four months my entire root system was challenged. Through hard and necessary discipleship, both group and one on one, I was encouraged to get back to the basics of my faith and search for what I knew and separate that from what I'd been told. I'm now in a place where I can call on Christ for my truth, and not from my own prideful knowledge. It's been a rude awakening, but a completely refreshing one. These insights have been the result of much more than just the conversation and reading that has taken place. Thanks to my ministry at Love A Child, the team of 50some Christ's I walked alongside, and the amazing support system I have in my family back home I am finally realizing the truth of love. I journey through this love daily and find it impossible to describe through words, much less typed words. I pray that my actions will assist in this seemingly difficult task.

            Unfortunately, none of you will be able to witness these actions first hand yet, but it is my hope that the people of Swaziland will see love, or rather Christ, in me and that will be relayed into eternity for all to experience.

"For I have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture and to people in other cultures, to the educated and uneducated alike." Romans 1:14

Paul's words perfectly express my heart coming into this semester. Our team of 18 arrived on Swazi soil January 7. Most of us had just a fragment of familiarity with the country, knowing only some of its history and present day circumstances. Even now, after half a month, I am still taking in the wealth of information that comes with understanding the culture. I encourage all of you to research the Kingdom of Swaziland (you read it right, it's still a monarchy) in your spare time to give you a glimpse of the desperation here. One thing that you won't find in textbooks and on websites is the spiritual condition of the people here. If we're just scratching the surface, the entire country is found to be saved. They all know the love of Christ and believe in his saving grace, but end up pouring it into their cultural tradition. Knowing the truth that no one can serve God and another, we have a goal of separating people from their idols to they may experience the Lord full force as he desires. Our team of disciples are working towards building close relationships so that we may disciple the "Christians" and speak to them about what saved really means and the life that it entails.

            The Lord has been so gracious in providing opportunities for this goal to become a reality. There have been around 10 ministries presented in the area and we hope to discover more. Some of the main sites include the hospital, youth center, men's prison, disability/rehabilitation center, and several care points. We've been testing the waters at each of the ministries both as a team and individually so that we will be sure where the Lord wants us to be. I myself have found a special interest in volunteering at the Hope House, a care center for the terminally ill. It is a collection of houses where the patient and a care person, generally a family member, will stay until desired. There are 4 nurses overseeing the 20some patients, as well as the main nurse and "head honcho" of the show, Sister Elsa from India. The need for the Lord and his hope in the place is evident with the severity of the illnesses. After only visiting 3 days I am astounded with the ways God is already moving there and I'm very excited to be a part of the continued process. My role has mostly consisted of visiting with the patients themselves and sometimes with their families if they are blessed enough to have someone staying with them. The language barrier has made things move a little slower, but I have already formed fruitful relationships with several of the patients. If you are keeping me in your prayers please remember to mention boldness for me as most days are spent with the usual "knocking on the door inviting myself into people's lives" drill. Of course things will get easier as relationships are formed, but as most of you can understand it is quite awkward at the beginning. Also pray for Sister Elsa, the Indian Mother Theresa, and her strength day to day.

            We are required to do at least 40 hours of ministry each week so I still have plenty of opportunities to explore. I'm drawn to the youth center ministry as well as the care points. I'll be sure to give a more extensive description of all my ministries as soon as the ball gets rolling, or as soon as the internet decides to allow me.

            I'm pretty sure that marks the end of the time you took reading this lengthy update. Thanks for taking an interest in the bigger picture. I continually pray for you and the country of Canada.

- Your fellow Disciple.

Here is my new address if anyone wants to send me some love through means of the mail:

Julie Anderson

Care of Gail Antosh

PO Box 5526

Mbabane, Swaziland

AFRICA

• Make sure AFRICA is bold or else it will be sent to Switzerland.