THE BIG REVEAL

Are you ready for the big reveal?

Drum roll, please....

Finally, after what seems like a super, duper, really long time but has really been only a little over a week, I am able to tell you what our family will be doing when we move to Swaziland at the end of this year.

When Jim sent me, Anna, Betsie, and Rhonda to Swaziland just a couple of weeks ago, it was to go do a lot of looking and listening. We had been asked to consider serving with two particular ministries and we also needed to look into housing options as well as some other details. At the end of our week in Swaziland, all four of us believed that we had accomplished what God wanted us to do during our time there and we all believed that God was telling us "yes" about the two ministries. We also believed He was showing how He would provide for the four areas that Jim was asking provision concerning.

You can read more about this process of seeking His will at a post I wrote a few days ago:

http://elysasmusingsfromgraceland.blogspot.com/2013/06/yebo.html

After we returned, we shared with Jim what we had seen, who we had talked to, what we believed God was saying to us, and Jim also agreed. God really orchestrated it all so beautifully. He made the answer very clear for us and put within all of us a peaceful rightness about the whole thing.

So without further adieu, I joyfully share with you what we will be doing during the first season of our life in Swaziland. We realize that in the years to come, our lives will change and what we are doing in Swailand might look very different but for now, we are looking forward to two main areas of ministry.

Just as with our lives here at We Will Go, we want our lives to be characterized by loving our neighbors. We also want our lives in Swaziland to put to use the gifts that God has given us and be a fulfillment of the dreams He has planted within us. For me, that means loving on a lot of little children, especially orphans, and encouraging Christians in living out the purposes that God has for their lives. Jim is a teacher and has a tremendous heart for the fatherless. He wants to be a spiritual daddy for boys in need of a Godly man in their life and he wants to encourage men to be the fathers that God wants them to be.

For us, this journey of ministry will start in Manzini. For those of you not familiar with Swaziland, Manzini is in the middle of the country. It really is the hub. There are only two cities in Swaziland, the capital city which is Mbabane and then Manzini. Now by American standards, most folks would only call them towns. You can easily walk the length of the downtown areas of both cities in just 10 or 15 minutes. Manzini has a population of 73,000. You will find elements representing the modern side of Africa, such as the Kentucky Fried Chicken and a very nice shopping mall, as well as the more traditional side of Africa, such as the craft market and many people still living in mud huts. We will start out renting a house with hopes of building a place of our own in a couple of years.

As far as our ministry, much of it will be informal. We will build friendships with neighbors, pray for the market vendors, and just as we do in the States, throw many parties and constantly have the kids' pals in and out of the house for sleepovers. We want to take the principles that we've loved here at We Will Go, that of simply loving the neighbors that God brings into our lives, and apply them to Swaziland.

We will also minister through more formal channels as well.

Jim has been asked by Dudley Donaldson to teach Bible classes at the Zion Bible College for this coming year. While we felt that God was closing the door on us becoming official Zion Evangelical Ministries of Africa missionaries, we still really love the vision and work of this organization and we're excited that Jim will get to use his gift of teaching through this avenue. He will be part of a teaching team, comprised of Swazi pastors and other missionaries. This will give him the chance to not only teach the Word to Swazis, but also build friendships with Swazi men and learn the language more quickly. I'll get to build relationships with the women who attend the classes and the pastors' wives.

The second more formal ministry also involves the Donaldsons, bless their hearts. I guess they know what they're getting into considering all nine of us stayed with them for about a week last year, Jim and I stayed with them nearly three years ago, and we girls stayed with them on our recent trip. But can you really be fully cognizant of the awesomeness of this crazy menagerie until you've spent lots of time with us? Regardless, they've gone and asked us and even gave us permission to tell the whole world so they are stuck now. When we move to Manzini, we will be partnering with them plus a beautiful, Christian family that the Donaldsons have been blessed to get to know over the last few years. The relationship goes beyond friendship, they are family to each other. This Swazi family is truly walking out true religion as they care for the orphans and widows of their rural community located just a short drive outside of Manzini. The church that they lead is a strong, Biblically-sound fellowship full of true believers who are passionate about Jesus and passionate about loving each other. We will be there to just help however they need and the Lord leads, holding up their arms as they serve God and His precious "least of these". We have already met many of the people living there and I'm already quite smitten with several of the children. I also stand in awe of the strength and servant hearts of some of the women I've met. They will teach me much about obeying the Lord with joy and gratitude in the face of many trials. 

Many have asked about plans between now and when we move to Swaziland. Jim and I will go for a week, probably in November or the beginning of December, to sign a lease on a rental house. Jim's last day to work for the State of Mississippi is December 1. We will, hopefully, get completely packed up during the month of November so when we return from our lease-signing trip, all we have left to do is spend time with family and friends saying good-bye and celebrating the Christmas holidays. Once Christmas is over, it will be time to load our suitcases up and drive to an airport. Some have asked if Anna and Betsie will be going with us. They are hoping to go over for a week or two when we first move over, but much will depend on their college holidays and when we get to actually leave for Africa. They will not be moving with us but instead will stay here to follow God's will for their lives, pursuing their university degrees. We hope that they will both be able to come visit us our first summer in Swaziland, but all that is just hopeful thinking at this point. Jim will start teaching at the beginning of the new school year which there, starts after the beginning of the calendar year. Their school years run January to December.

So there you have it! The big reveal of God's plan. I am very excited. It isn't what I thought it would be even just a few months ago, but now that it is shaping up, it is even better than I expected. And He answered so many of our prayers even faster than I expected. But isn't that like God? When we delight ourselves in Him, then He delights in giving us so much more than we could ever imagine.

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters

 or father or mother or children or lands

for my name’s sake,

 will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Matthew 19:29

Thank you, Father, for direction, and calling, and goodness, and grace, and love.  Thank you for answering our prayers and giving us even the ability to serve and love you.  You are so good!  We can never deserve Your goodness and faithfulness but I thank You for it.  Use us, Lord.  We are yours!

BIG NEWS ABOUT OUR FUTURE

I wanted to take the time to thank all of you who have supported us in varying ways as we journey toward living in Swaziland. The outpouring of love, demonstrated through prayers, emails, offerings, messages, and just the willingness to listen, has really made such a huge difference in this process.

We still don't have all the answers, but the joy, love, and peace we are experiencing during this season in our life is truly a gift from the Lord.

This past weekend, as most of you know, we traveled up to Zion, Illinois, and met with the folks at the ZEMA headquarters. We had applied to be missionaries with them and for the last year or two, really thought this was how we'd be serving in Swaziland. After long discussions and much prayer, we have all come to the conclusion that we are not a good match for their ministry. We really respect and appreciate what they are doing in Southern Africa. Many are coming to Jesus and being strengthened in their faith and leadership as a result of ZEMA, but it isn't the direction the Lord is taking us.

At this moment, we are still seeking God's will for the direction He does want us to take. We are still very sure of our calling. We know that He does want us serving Him in Swaziland. We know that we have a heart for orphans and my husband especially has a heart for teaching and ministering to fatherless boys and young men. The whole family desires for us to be involved in a ministry that will allow us to all serve together. We have gotten used to this style of ministry living here at We Will Go and look forward to having Jim around us even more once he retires.

We need your prayers even more as we seek God's will for the specific ministry He wants us to be a part of, where we should be living, and other important aspects. We have some very interesting possibilities at this point and know that if they are God's best, then when the time is right, He'll confirm them and make them all work out.

I'll keep you updated on news and prayer requests as we keep traveling this road. Again, thank you all for your support. We hope to see many of you before we move to Swaziland, Lord willing, in 9 to 10 months. If not before we move, you'll just have to come visit us in Africa!

With excitement and overwhelming joy, Elysa

BECOMING ALL TOO OFTEN

Stating on here that a busy schedule has hindered daily posts or the typical more in-depth posts is becoming a refrain I use all too often here at Graceland, but that just seems to be the season I'm in. I don't mean to complain. I love my life here at We Will Go. It is just a reality that living here and ministering is very intense and when you add to that other factors, such as spending time in New Orleans with our first chick to fly the nest and preparations for moving to Swaziland, life is just a bit more crazy than it already was.

Jim and I at Christ Community Church where the ZEMA headquarters are located
 and where ZEMA was founded.

Tonight I am very, very tired and my warm, cozy bed is beckoning, but I wanted to give a quick update. Jim and I flew out of Jackson about 6:30 Friday morning. We got to Chicago at lunch. Did a bit of exploring and then attended the Zion Evangelical Ministries of Africa banquet that night. This is the organization we are applying with to serve in Swaziland.

Saturday morning was more touristy exploring then we met with the ZEMA director and his wife before flying home. We arrived here really late last night, I actually unpacked my suitcase, and I fell asleep past 1:00 this morning.

Then it was up for church at Restoration back in Florence, afternoon worship and service here at We Will Go, the team meeting til nearly nine, and then getting the kiddos to bed.

As I said, I'm really tired but very thankful that tomorrow morning is our family's designated "day of rest". This is one missionary mama that is definitely giving thanks that I'll be able to sleep in and do some reading. I need a recovery from all the good happenings.

Hope you're life is also full of good things and that some of that good includes rest.

God surely knew what He was doing when He created sleep and sabbaths.

LEAVING ON A JET AIRPLANE

Dark and early Friday morning, Jim and I will be leaving for Chicago. The We Will Go missionary family will be taking care of our kids so we can go up north for a Zion Evangelical Ministries of Africa banquet. This is the organization we are applying to go to Swaziland with. This will be our first time to meet the Stateside ZEMA folks.

On the past two trips to Swaziland, we've been blessed to spend time with ZEMA missionaries and on our last trip, we were able to attend a Zionist church.

Please pray for us as we travel, for our kids back home, as we meet the ZEMA folks, and as we continue to listen to the Lord and hear His direction for our future life in Swaziland.

Thanks, and as the Swazis say, sala kahle (stay well)!

LOOKING AT A BRAND NEW YEAR

As is the custom in America, many of us take time on New Year's Day to review the past year and look forward to the new year. We think about where we have been and what we have done and consider ways we want to make changes.

Dudley Donaldson and his wife Inge are missionaries to Swaziland that I've mentioned often here at Graceland. Dudley is also thinking about his past and what his future holds even though he's living far away from the American culture.

TWO BUCKETS by Dudley Donaldson

It is the time of year to think about making changes. New Year’s resolutions. Notice I said, “think” about making changes. Most of us never really succeed at keeping the promises we make for change.


Making bucket lists has become a bit of a fad over the past several years. In response to the theme of a popular film, many people have made a list of all the important things they would like to do before they die. They want to fill their life bucket with meaningful experiences and fulfilling accomplishments. These range anywhere from seeing the Grand Canyon to seeing my granddaughter become president.

I remember doing this once long before bucket lists became popular. Someone on a Chicago radio station was talking about making a list of ten things he would like to do before he died. He encouraged listeners to email their lists to him so he could read them on the air. I sent in a list and he used part of it. It was kind of a fun exercise.

But you know what? Things change. People change. I’ve changed.

Today I cannot tell you one thing I wrote on that list. I have no idea. When I wrote that list, I never imagined I would ever be a missionary in Africa. Not in a million years. But from the moment I said yes to God’s call to go to Swaziland, my bucket list began to shrink. Today, it does not exist. There is absolutely no life experience that I need to make my life more fulfilled than it is right now. I am in the center of God’s will for me. I could die today with a smile on my face, knowing that my life bucket is filled to the top with God’s blessings.

A few weeks ago we traveled to South Africa for another appointment with my ENT physician. We brought Ayanda—the little orphan girl he has been treating at no charge—along with us. Ayanda had written a note to the doctor, thanking him for all he has done for her. As he read the note, I watched as tears welled up in his eyes. After Ayanda left the room, I was alone with the doctor and I also thanked him for what he has done for her. He looked down and in a soft voice he said, “I am happy I could help her. You know, it really wasn’t that much. It really was just a drop in the bucket.” He paused a long while, and then he looked up at me and said, “But at least I hit the bucket.” Wow, isn’t that the truth?

There are two very different kinds of buckets. There is the bucket of exciting life experiences so many of usare wanting to fill. And there is the other bucket filled with lost, hurting people. The first bucket is empty and we are trying to fill it with adventure, excitement, and conquests that will give our life some sort of meaning or purpose. We do not want to die before our bucket is full.

The second bucket is full. It is filled with millions and millions of people in far-flung countries of the world who are hurting and starving and suffering in unimaginable ways. Many people don’t even want to think about this bucket, because it is too big and too full and, frankly, it is just too uncomfortable to consider. This bucket seems overwhelming. Anything one person does to help is just a drop in the bucket, so why even bother?

That is how it is with the orphan situation in Swaziland. And with the HIV situation. And the medical situation. And the poverty, the ancestor worship, the witchdoctors…it is overwhelming. What impact can one person have?

Two buckets. One represents the pursuit of an exciting life in the present. The other represents the opportunity to make a difference for eternity. Which bucket is holding your interest?

My days are now filled with opportunities to care for widows and orphans, to encourage those who are discouraged, and to present the light of salvation to those who are in darkness. I know, it is just a drop in the bucket. But at least I am hitting the bucket.

And God has made my life full.

To read more about the ministry that the Donaldsons are involved in, visit their organization's website: http://www.zema.org/

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!

**********************************

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