MISSING THE STARS

I've been asked what we would do if we took our kids to Swaziland and they didn't like it. I jokingly said that I'd take them to get their heads examined.

But seriously, one of the main reasons we took our kids to Africa was because we wanted to introduce them to our new home and, hopefully, give them such a wonderful two weeks worth of experiences that they'd fall in love with it, too.

A conversation I had with my six year old tonight is just one of the many things they've said and done that communicate just how much they did like their future home.

The subject of a hotel we ate supper at while in Pigg's Peak came up after tonight's evening meal. Miss M said to me:

"Mommy, I know why the Orion Hotel is called that. Its because it is named after a constellation. Orion, the Hunter. I read about it in NANCY FANCY, STARGAZER. I want to go back to Swaziland so I can see the stars again."

Yes, the stars do shine brighter in Swaziland. And I love that my little girl is missing doing some African star gazing.

THREE WEEKS AGO TODAY...

...we were worshipping alongside Swazi brothers and sisters in Christ at a joint Zion church service under a big blue and white tent.



What a blessing and honor it was to be there. I'll be sharing more later about this day in other blog posts, but for now, enjoy the joyful praise.

And as much as I enjoyed watching Eli Manning's team win tonight's Super Bowl, I'd take a Swazi church service over a championship football game any day of the week. Hands down --- or in the case of how they worship at most churches there --- hands up!

QUICK NEWS FROM SWAZILAND

We are here in the beautiful mountain kingdom that stole my heart over 20 years ago. We are about to go out for a day of ministering at the Bheveni Carepoint but wanted to give a quick rundown of the news:

*Day of quick sight seeing in Paris offered beautiful views, lots of walking, and no lost children!
*Sunday was spent worshipping at a Zionist Church. We and the Donaldsons were the first white people to ever attend this particular church. It was a true blessing. We were so loved and welcomed. The kids had a great time playing with the Swazi children.
*Yesterday was retrieving a delayed suitcase from the S'land airport and a braai (cookout) with the Donaldsons and many of their Swazi friends. That was a blast!


Today's prayer requests:

*Safety as we drive. It is terribly foggy and super rainy.
*That we'll be able to see a lot of children at the carepoint despite the weather and the fact that today is the last day of school holidays.
*That we'll have wisdom and guidance on how best to use our time at the carepoint today and being sensitive to the most urgent/important needs.
*Emotional energy and times of "vegging" for our family's introverts.
*Clarity from the Lord as we process what we're experiencing and continue to seek His will for our family.
*That we will be a blessing to all we encounter today --- missionaries, kids, Bheveni grannies and mothers, D-Team, etc.

Today and tomorrow will be at the carepoint. On Wednesday night, we will be going over to the McAdams' house. They are missionaries with Adventures in Missions. Thursday morning we will do some things around Manzini before "moving" down to "camp in" at the Moriah Centre in Big Bend.

Thank you all for your continued love, support, and prayers.
Elysa

WILL WE BE DOING IN SWAZILAND?

A lot of people have asked us about our upcoming trip. Folks have asked what is the purpose and what we'll be doing, so I thought I'd share a little more with y'all today.

First of all, the purpose is two-fold. We hope to bring the love, joy, encouragement, and provision of Jesus to many while we're there as well as introduce our five younger kids to their future home. Our oldest girls have both been there before. They will go with us to minister and be a part of our family, but the getting-to-know-Swaziland aspects are primarily for those who will still be living with us when we move there in two years. Moving to another country can be pretty stressful and hard on missionary kids. We want to do all that we can to ease that transition.

While we are there, we are making plans to do some things that will help our kids see what every day life will be like for them such as going to grocery stores, visiting in the homes of families (including missionaries whose lifestyle will be much like ours), going to a couple of different Swazi churches, exploring the town we are praying about moving to, and meeting lots of kids their ages who can tell them about life in Swaziland. I will have the blessing of introducing my family to some of my Swazi friends from when I lived there in the 80's, as well.

We will also do some fun things to introduce them to the traditional Swazi culture and geography of the nation more in depth such as going on a safari, taking a canopy tour (think lots of zip-lines), hiking to caves with ancient bushmen paintings, swimming in waterfall pools, shopping at craft markets, staying in a rondavel (round hut), visiting Swazis living in traditional homesteads, and going to various artisans' shops.

And we're really excited about the ministry activities we have planned so far. We will be attending a traditional Zionist church service the first Sunday we are there where the whole family will sing a couple of songs, one that David will accompany us on the guitar while we sing in English, another as we sing in siSwati and dance to Siya Hamba ("We are Walking"). This will be at a special youth service. We are also hoping to sing and dance at at least one or more hospitals and an orphanage or two. We will spend one or two days at Bheveni carepoint giving gifts to the children, singing songs, perhaps telling stories, playing games, and doing whatever else they want us to do. We pray we'll get to see both of our sponsored girls then. At Big Bend, we'll be staying at the Moriah Centre for several days where we'll also just do whatever else they need us to do. And other than that, we'll just wait and see what ever else God has planned for us.

For truly, whether we are doing an official ministry activity or just doing something "regular" like eating at a restaurant or looking around the crafts market, we want to be a blessing to those God sends our way. We want the folks who come into contact with us to feel the love of Jesus and be drawn closer to Him. And if that happens, then we'll have made the most of this amazing, amazing opportunity. We will have turned all those "regular" things will really be "eternal" things.

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to leave over the next few weeks and thank you so much for all of you who have supported us in various ways as we walk out this path that God has put before us.

WORTHLESS THINGS or THOSE THAT LAST?

Inge and Dudley Donaldson live in Swaziland where they are a part of the Zion Bible College, dedicated to training Zionist pastors and other church leaders as well as doing whatever God brings their way. Sometimes that takes the form of providing food for widows and orphans, sometimes it is giving clothes to those desperately in need.

Inge and Dudley just sent out their Christmas newsletter and Dudley shared something from his heart that I wanted to share with you:

Long, long ago, in a faraway land, I did a foolish thing. Hard to believe, but true. The time long ago was when my son was about five years old (he turned 35 last month). The faraway land was America (it’s now far away from me). And here is the foolish thing.

As I walked through a shopping mall one weekday, I saw two young men demonstrating a new product. It was a glider made of Styrofoam. It was a huge thing—a wingspan of about five feet! These two guys stood fifty feet apart in the center of the mall and threw this huge glider back and forth. It serenely floated on air from one to the other. They did not even have to move. Then they performed loop du loops and other tricks. It was all so smooth and effortless, I was mesmerized.

There was no need for a sales pitch. I thought to myself, I have to get this for Benjamin! He would love this! Isn’t that what a loving father does for his little boy? He gets him a glider bigger than he is. Are you with me, guys? So, I got the glider. Judging from the price, you might think an ounce of Styrofoam rivaled gold in value. But I quickly pushed down the buyer’s remorse and looked forward to the joyful expression on Benjamin’s face when he saw what his dad had brought home.

There was just one little thing I had failed to consider—where was I going to fly this erstwhile Spruce Goose? I tried to fly it in the house, but was strongly encouraged to stop it this minute! I tried to fly it in our back yard, but the smallest wisp of a breeze sent it crashing to earth. I quickly realized there was a reason this glider was being demonstrated in a shopping mall. That is the only place this thing would fly! It required lots of space and no wind. The thing I was so attracted to and had to have—and paid too much for—was a waste. It was absolutely worthless.

Today it is easier than ever to accumulate worthless things. The problem is, we do not realize they are worthless. The world leads us to believe they are essential. But the world is controlled by Satan. And Satan is a liar. And so the world urges us and manipulates us, through promotion and peer influence, to keep acquiring more and more worthless things—and to purchase worthless things to give as gifts to others.

This Christmas alone, billions of dollars are being spent on worthless things. The latest toys, fashions, electronics, sporting goods, appliances, computers… Wait a minute! How can you say these are worthless things? These things enhance our lives. They bring enjoyment and even make us more productive. How can you say they are worthless?

I know, I know. I’m not trying to ruin your Christmas. Really, I’m not. I am only saying this because Jesus Christ repeatedly warned of the foolishness of accumulating things that would rust, rot, fade, break, disappear, or get left behind when you die. In light of eternity, these are worthless things, because they will not last and they have no lasting value. And pursuing such things reveals misplaced affections of the heart (Matthew 6:21). Instead, Jesus urges us to invest in things that are eternal. Like what?

Living in Africa, I cannot help but wonder what would happen if just a portion of all the money Christians spend on worthless things would instead be invested in building the kingdom of God. New missionaries are desperately needed around the world. The number of people willing to go grows smaller every year. But worse yet, literally hundreds of missionary candidates are about to give up on ever getting to their mission field because they are unable to raise the needed financial support. This is a travesty, especially in light of all the things to which we give a higher priority.

This is why I am so thankful for the many people who make up our support team. These are people who understand what Jesus meant when he said, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Through the committed acts of giving financially and praying faithfully, they are investing in eternal things much more valuable than gold. They are helping to win souls for the kingdom.

I want to join with the Donaldsons in saying "thanks". So many of you are giving to support missions and ministry around the world, including the ministries that our family is a part of. God is using your gifts to do amazing things and for this I am forever grateful.

Merry Christmas and may your days be filled with pursuing and giving those things that really matter!

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To read more about the ministry of the Donaldsons and other ZEMA missionaries, visit their website: http://www.zema.org/