First Clinic - 2007

We are back in Swaziland and getting back in the swing of things. We held a clinic at the Children’s Wellness Center today for some sick kids at the Makholweni Care Point. I was able to see most of the boys that go to Baylor clinic from this Care Point. They are all doing well, except one, who is running fever and complaining of sore throat and cough. He is looking very thin. I treated him for an infection in his throat, and upper respiratory tract.

I was also able to see an 11 year old girl that we have been sending to Baylor for HIV treatment. When I saw her right before we left to go to the States, she looked really bad, and was feeling really sick. She couldn’t even play at the Christmas party because she felt so bad. Today, her eyes were bright, and her smile beautiful. The improvement in her was outstanding. Her father said that he thinks that she is finally feeling well enough to try and attend school, but he has no money for school fees. This little girt has never attended school in her life, because she has been so sick. We are going to try to get her into our CarePoint school, which is free. This little 11 year old girl looks like she is 7 or 8, but she has one of the sweetest spirits I think that I have ever seen in a child.

It is such a blessing to be able to work with these children and the teachers/health care workers. They are a wonderful group of people. I was able to use one of the teen-age girls from the CarePoint as my interpreter, and she did a great job. She will start her last year of high school next week. I asked her what her plans were for the future, and she said that she didn’t know. I asked her if she had thought about going into nursing, and she said that she had thought of it. I encouraged her to pursue this idea. I would like to use her to help me again in the future.

There was a 13 year old girl who came into the clinic with complaints of pain in her lower abdomen. It wasn’t swollen, and didn’t look abnormal. I asked her if she had started her menstrual cycle, and she said that she had not. I told her that it was possible that it may start soon, with the pain that she is having. I spoke with her about keeping herself pure. She put her head down and didn’t want to look at me, but she was listening. I prayed with her that she would remain pure before the Lord and save herself for marriage. That is my prayer for all of the young ladies of Swaziland. May God give them the strength and courage to stand up for what is right and keep them pure. Then we will see the HIV rate decrease, and God’s kingdom increase.

A praise report on the little 9 year old girl who was hospitalized and treated for TB, Abraham visited her and her father this week, and she is doing very well. Her father says that he would like to try to get her in school, since she is feeling so much better. Praise the Lord! We are going to try to get her into our second year program of our CarePoint school as soon as we get it started. God is Good!

One more thing, I had mentioned to a couple of the churches that we visited to help us pray for one of our teachers that was sick, while we were in the States. She is recovering, and doing well! Praise God again!

Back HOME!

Home, Sweet Home. Our last travel post. We arrived back last Thursday in Swaziland and have spent the past few days adjusting to the time change and getting everything straight at home and ready for school. Today was our first day back at the office. Jumping back in with both feet!
A special thanks to everyone that was so good to us back in the States:

• Divinity Lutheran; Towson, MD; Pastor Chris Chantelau
• Theater Church; Washington, DC; Joel Schmidgall
• New Life Ministries; Birmingham, AL; Joe & Sharon Mayeaux
• Oasis Church; Loganville, GA; Pastor Troy Shaw
• Healing Place Church; Baton Rouge, LA; Pastor Dino Rizzo
• New Beginnings Church; Baton Rouge, LA; Pastor Jay Coleman
• Shoreline Church; Destin, FL; Pastor Eric Partin
• C3 Church; Clayton, NC; Pastor Matt Fry
• Metropolitan Church of God; Birmingham, AL; Ken Lindsay
• Shane Comeaux of the McClean Bible Church; Fairfax, VA
• Messiah Lutheran; Downingtown, PA; Pastor Gulotta
• Church of the Redeemer; Rockville, MD; Steve Homcy

We enjoyed being with family & friends during the trip. Thanks for your hospitality and kindness. But it's good to be home.
Prayer Requests:

• favor from the Ministry of Health for the Children's Wellness Centre
• our Swazi teachers/Bible Club teachers/health care workers (all the same)
• our kids in Sifundzani (Danielle & Joelle) and Waterford (Gabby & Nathanael)
  
• Teresa & I to follow His direction and not to wander from the course
• the rest of the missionaries here with Children's Cup (Ben & Susie, Charles & Kristen, Patrick, Dave & Jean)
  

Travel

We are traveling back towards Baltimore. We fly out on the 16th! We have met some awesome pastors in the past few weeks. Several more to meet between now & next Tuesday.