Shwapah!
some prayer walks last week. we prayed for the downfall of the idolatry
of the catholic church and the muslim mosque. it was pretty sweet.
people walking past us were giving us some dirty looks…but it didn’t
really matter all that much. yesterday we were in south africa…and it
was different going back there again. we landed there when we first
arrived in africa, but after spending a month in swazi, you really
notice the wealth of the rest of the world…the roads are
nice…buildings are air conditioned…people don’t notice that we are
white (kinda nice)…it seems like most of the white people are the
ones that do the shopping and spending and the black people are the
ones working…which is a scenario that i was not used to. it was
relaxing being there…we went to a mall…ate some ribs…saw a movie
(don’t go watch “Babylon A.D.” …. it isn’t great)…and then came
back. this next week we are going to a place called Nsoko (pronounce
the “N” really quickly, and the “K” almost sounds like a “G”) which is
one of the poorest places in swazi and the hardest hit by AIDS. i went
there once with matt and jesse already, but we will be there a week…i
am excited. we get to sleep in tents and will actually be living next a
lion named lucky…and if we are lucky…we will get to see it’s
feeding the day we arrive. i think i will bring my hammock and sleep
outside if i can…but i do not think that i will necessarily be
allowed to. anyways, there are 8 or so care points that we will be
going to in order to do some vbs and play with the orphans, deliver
food and the like. i am excited. oh ya, it is way hotter there than in
manzini. it is the kind of hot that makes driving with the windows up
cooler than with them down because the air is just cookin’. it was a
little above 40 last time we were there…thank goodness for the
preparation that framing was this last summer. i didn’t feel the heat
so much…but african sun somehow feels hotter…probably because of
all the dust, dirt and grime. everything there is brown…and there are
very few bodies of water. the ground is all cracked and dead. and lions
live there…(i hope we see some wild ones…) and black mambas…(they
chase people…and move 15 feet per second…and are really
poisonous)…umm…yes. i believe that update will suffice. the team is
doing well. some of us had some crazy dreams this past week, but all
are well. other than that…take care all…
as for prayer requests:
1. passion
2. that we would not forget the gospel in all our so called “loving”
upon the people people here…for to care without mention of the gospel
is not love.
3. that we would be broken…completely, and leave the entirety of our
hearts with the people here. to not be afraid to hurt when we leave.
4. that the orphans in nsoko would see and hear about the love of
Christ…and more importantly, that the Holy Spirit would move visibly
and powerfully and effectively in and through us while we are there.
that lives would be changed. eternities changed. walls broken down and
hearts transformed.
5. (selfish) that i would be able to sleep by lucky the lion at least
once to be able to be shaken by his roar early in the morning (because
that is his ritual)…that would be sweet
thanks everyone for your prayers and support.
much love from here in swaziland.
take care all.
in Christ,
Mark
Hey Mark!
I miss you and I love you.
It sounds like you’re having a good time.
I’m glad that you are getting the oppurtunity to be such an inspiration.
I’ll see you in 28 days!
Luv ur little sister
Aly