Aug.24/08 Bentley, a three year old Swazi orphaned boy, has been on my heart these last weeks. He has such a compelling smile, and laughter. You couldn't imagine , he is an orphan as you see him play with the other children at the feeding center in Swaziland. Bentley is there , because his aunt volunteers to do the cooking of the mealy meal( corn meal mush)for up to 200 children each day. We had brought shoes for many orphans and needy children this last time, and plan on getting more shoes for them. So we continue to pray for these little children that they have enough food and clothing and shelter. At this same church that has set this Feeding Center up, is a family of four children with the 10 yr. old girl being the head of household taking care of her three younger brothers & sisters, since her parents had both died. They come for their only food to the Feeding Center here at the Wesleyan Church called Nagalela( The Abundant Harvest). Swaziland has 250,000 orphans now out of a population that is only 900,000. In about 2000 the popluation was 1.5 million, and because of AIDS/HIV so many have died! Children are raising children, but praise the Lord , churches are getting the vision to help their own and the community/villages around them. We along with your help, are a connection to bring what help is possible to them.
The Ambassadors( Audio Bibles ) are for their Spiritual Feeding and for Salvation. We will bring food, Spiritual Food and Physical Food when we return this Oct./Nov. 08. Pray with us that we will get the Ambassadors we need to bring through and that people give so we can purchase them. 1John 3: 17& 18" If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"3:18" Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."
Blessings & Love

Bible College ( EWBC) Swaziland

Hello Family in Christ, We are concerned today, because Patisle has not returned to Bible College ( EWBC) in Swaziland. He was a special student I had had in my class this May. We even gave funds to help him stay in College. The recent email we received said he did not return this semester in July. How our hearts ache for this young man, who has been through so much. He had asked for special prayer times while we were there, and we did this. The students at EWBC are in difficult times with housing and their daily needs being met to live. We had hoped to sponsor this student , and now it looks like we will help as we can the whole of EWBC. Pray with us that , Patisle, will return to EWBC and follow God's plan for his life, even though he is living in some very difficult circumstances. Pray for the Bible College there in Swaziland, to be able to provide all the daily living needs that we all need to survive, let alone do studying to be a Pastor/ leader in your country in Africa. Philippians 1: 6
" And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you( Patisle) , will continue His work until it is finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again."
That is a prayer for us and for him, as well as all the students at EWBC in Swaziland.
Psalm 31:15 " My times are in His hands.........."
Blessings & Love,
Vicky

Pastor Ignateous /Zimbabwe

Sunday Aug.3/08 This has been a wonderful day celebrating with family . It was our son in laws , birthday. We wanted to give you the quote from , Ignateous, the Pastor in Zimbabwe who was given 10 Audio Bibles to bring into Zimbabwe. They made it into the country and he has distributed many of them. He also is using one as you will read in his email I want to quote for you. " The Audio Bibles have played a pivital role in drawing people close to God. My(Many) had problems reading the Bible, but now they have covered many books of the Bible and are growing spiritually. I also am benefiting a lot from the Bibles because at night when there is no electricity, I switch it on and lestin(listen) to God's Word." Wow!!! God is getting through with the use of the Audio Bible, your support and prayers, and our being privileged to bring them . God shows us where He wants them to be given out and then He does the rest!!!!!

Connecting God's Children

We have just received another email from Zimbabwe. We have been praying for this young pastor since he was a student of mine in Swaziland. This is the same student who had said last year, " I'm going back to my people , I do not know if I will live or die."
God did the Connecting again this year. This pastor graduated, and did , in fact, return to Zimbabwe. We did not have his email address yet and had not been communicating with him as we do now. We were scheduled to be in Swaziland this May and in God's Plans, this young pastor was also there. We met because God had planned this to be. He told us about the trip down through Mozambique, and God's provision for him to arrive safely in Swaziland. He didn't know we would be in Swaziland. We asked about his church in Zimbabwe and the congregation. We prayed together and then gave this young pastor, Ingateous, 10 or the Audio Bibles to bring back to Zimbabwe. This was not in our plans , but it was in God's !!!!!! We asked how we could pray for him. With his head in his hands and bent over, he asked us to pray for him to stay humble and to follow Jesus. We have prayed for him and continue to pray for his safety there in a very troubled country, Zimbabwe. We ask you to pray for your brother in Christ , Pastor Ignateous. Since we can now get some emails through to him and he can reply, we have asked about the impact of the Audio Bible. He has told us about 14 converts in his church and that the Audio Bibles are helping to mature them. He is now teaching about Baptism and plans on Baptizing in the near future. How God Connects us next is yet to be known, and it is exciting to be on this journey with such an awesome God!!!!! There is severe attacks from the evil one on , Ignateous, and he asks for prayer to be protected and victorious through it all. At one time recently , there were Witchdoctors out in front of his church chanting curses. He recently had groceries stolen from where he lives, and we think a lamp that he needs. It must be battery operated, because he had been praying for electricity. We ask you to pray with us about Zimbabwe and the Christians there. During this upheaval election time , a church was burned with the congregation still in it. Many were killed. Ignateous , has told us about the killings and violence during this time of government unrest. Romans 8:16 " For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's Children. Verse 17b..........But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering." Our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe are suffering, so pray for them please, for food(spiritual & physical), safety, shelter( Many had their homes and villages burned), and health. Verse 31b"........If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" Ambassadors for Christ Connecting,
Keith & Vicky DeKraker