Even though it has been a while since our last post, we are good!
Since May, we have had 14 Children’s Hope Chest teams visit Swaziland and four more CHC teams are scheduled to come before the end of the year. Each team is unique and it has been a blessing to meet new people from all over the U.S. Hosting teams is a joint effort involving most departments and many staff members, so it keeps us all busy.
For example, receipts are one of the things that hit an all-time high during team season. Since Michelle collects all the receipts, this time of year keeps her on her toes!
Greg has been engaged with many different medical issues. From broken bones to eye conditions to regular check ups, so many kids are being helped through the medical ministry.
Through the medical department, Swazi Rocks was introduced to Kwazi. (For those of you that don’t know, Swazi Rocks is the ministry that the missionary kids formed to raise money for medical expenses that arise with kids at our care points. They sell rocks, necklaces, cards and stickers to visiting teams). Kwazi is a four-year old little girl born without an anus and has had a colostomy bag since she was very young. Through multiple doctor’s visits and consultations, our staff nurse has potentially secured a plan for surgery. We are hopeful, in the very near future, Kwazi will be able to have the colostomy bag removed. Swazi Rocks has been able to pay for transport and doctor’s visits and will fund the surgery. Thank you to all who supported Swazi Rocks at Sweets for Swazi and team members who gave so generously during your visit to Swaziland. To follow Kwazi’s story and receive updates, go to facebook.com/swazirocks. Kwazi is the little girl to the left in the picture below.
Not only has Swazi Rocks kept Landon and Lane occupied, but they have begun their junior year of high school. Pre-calculus and advanced biology are a few of their subjects this year, and they are doing great! On August 2nd, they celebrated their 16th birthday. We were able to go to Johannesburg for a birthday trip and I think both would say their highlight was the food…Pizza Hut , Starbucks and Krispy Kreme. (Food is a very high priority for teenage boys!) Gold Reef City, an amusement park in Johannesburg, was also a favorite. We had a fantastic time as a family and it was nice to get away for some fun.
Other great news, Linda, Greg’s mom, will be coming for a six-week visit and will spend Christmas with us! It is difficult to be away from friends and family, especially during the holidays, so we are all looking forward to her visit.
Here are a few things we would love for you guys to help us pray about:
- Please pray for rain!!! Swaziland has been in a drought for over a year and the effects are substantially devastating. We are desperate for rain!!!
- Please pray for our family to have unity, wisdom and strength.
- Please pray for all aspects of this ministry.
- Please pray the medical process will go smoothly for Kwazi.
Thank you to all who support us through prayer, financially or encouraging messages! We are so blessed to be part of this team effort to minister to Swaziland.
May God Bless You,
Greg and Michelle
