A New Thing

It’s so wonderful to have most of our ‘Cup team back in Swaziland.

The Rehmeyers got home a few weeks ago; Charles and Kristen Young got back a few days ago.

Our newest members, Isaac and Carol Williams have been here for a couple of weeks.

Needless to say, things are getting back into full swing.

A bunch of the ‘Cup gang went to Ncobe, Mozambique this week for a few days to hold a medical clinic and to paint the new church building. It’s cream colored on the top half of the exterior walls, and a cheery orange on the bottom. Very Africa. Since it’s on the highest point in the area, it can be seen from afar.

Neighbors are getting excited about the new facility. They even named the dusty road in front of the site “Church Road.”

Pastors Isaac and Carol walked across Church Road to call on the local witch doctor and her husband. They simply introduced themselves and chatted a bit. Just showing them a bit of Jesus’ love. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if this couple were among the first to be won to Jesus in our new church?

Ben and Susan’s interdenominational Saturday Night Bible Study / Food & Fellowship is growing by leaps and bounds (50+ there last time).

Today we began our own little ‘Cup Sunday Morning Fellowship at the Rodgers house with lots of praise and prayer followed by a sermon from Pastor Dino by way of video. The presence of God was so heavy I went through half a box of Kleenex. We sang as Isaac played the guitar, prayed for one another including Ben and Susan’s children—who also prayed for us—and shared communion at the close. There may have been only twelve of us there, but I'm convinced the room was full of angels joining us in our praise to God!

We really feel like God is taking us to a higher place of ministry. In our day-to-day work we need to be spiritually sound. Just as sports teams come together all week long and get in shape for the next game, the ‘Cup team comes together to worship the Lord and to get themselves in shape for the week's work. We cheer each other on, encourage, rejoice and laugh and cry. Just like a tight knit family…

Can’t wait for Patrick Conti to get back (he’s such a strength to us all—and a huge encouragement to the Swazis) and for Christy Merrill to get here in June. (If you want to make a donation to their individual ministries, visit our website www.childrenscup.org, and indicate your designation.)

While you are at the website, check out the blogs of the ‘Cup team members to get a more thorough picture of what’s happening in Swaziland and Mozambique.

"Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road (Church road?) through the desert (Ncobe?), rivers in the badlands ." Isaiah 43:18, 19 TMB