The Swaziland Experience

Hello from the US–

I’m back home again in Indiana. I fully intended to send one more update from Swaziland, but in the excitement of my final days there, I never got around to it. I returned to the US on June 12th, and I have stayed busy seeing many family and friends while staying with my parents in Indiana. I will return to the Milwaukee area within the next few days, and I’ll start back to work on July 7th.

Thanks to the many of you who have faithfully read my emails and prayed. Thank you so much. I don’t know how to say thank you. I don’t want to think about what this time could have looked like without your prayers, letters, phone calls, and support.

I have started this email several times and thought a lot about what to say. This final email is hard for me. I have so many feelings and emotions that I just can’t put into words. I would like to summarize my time in Swaziland succinctly, but I am struggling to do this. I just can’t wrap up the past eight months in a few well-written sentences. So, as always, just read on for some thoughts and stories.

Blessings,
Tim

+++++++++++ For the curious: +++++++++++

1. Online Pictures and Videos
2. Why Did I Want to Go?
3. I Learned to Read
4. Great Friends in Milwaukee
5. Missing Some People
6. Several Updates
7. God’s Glory
8. Do You Want to Read More Updates from Africa?
9. Courageous Leadership Award
10. One Last Thank You
11. Prayer Requests

—————————————-

1. Online Pictures and Videos
I have uploaded two photo albums to the Internet:
   Compilation of Swaziland pictures -
      http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22227&id=591774512&l=9361f&ref=share
   Progression of Johane’s leg healing -
      http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22226&id=591774512&l=4ded7&ref=share
Here are a few newly uploaded YouTube videos:
   Lavumisa Church -
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvksb2EVXuU
   Arnau Washing Feet of a Home-Based Care Leader at Training Celebration -
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbGN_b-0QAw
   A Typical Swazi Homestead -
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXLJAyNpQPQ
   Swazi Children Showing Off -
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2PDwagsP4U
   Swazi Preschool Children -
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDSzXJVs9mE

2. Why Did I Want to Go?
Why did I want to go to Africa? In May 2007 when I began to look for international opportunities, I wrote a one-page statement of my hopes for what this time would be. I am amazed how well my time in Swaziland fit my hopes and expectations. I encourage you to read what I wrote in May 2007. You can read it at: http://swazilandexperience.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/why-i-want-to-go/

3. I Learned to Read
One of my most difficult adjustments when I moved to Swaziland was the slower pace and the reduced number of social settings. As a result, I filled some time while learning to read books. I ended up reading 18 books in my time there. This might not seem like much to most people, but it’s a lot for me.

4. Great Friends in Milwaukee
I’ve often said that you know good friends because they’ll help you move to a new home. I have some great friends in Milwaukee. They didn’t just help me move, they actually moved all my things into my new home for me while I was still in Swaziland. Thanks, friends.

5. Missing Some People
Sometimes I miss people from Swaziland. I woke up yesterday and missed Gogo so badly. I called her, which was comforting, but it reminded me how much I miss her. When I went to Africa, I wanted to go for at least a few months in order to develop relationships, and I was blessed to develop such wonderful relationships. Well, part of the deal is missing people now. It’s hard.

6. Several Updates
   Lwazi – I continued to meet semi-regularly with Lwazi up until my last week in Swaziland. Lwazi’s a good guy, and I think that he’s in a really good position to make great decisions in life.
   Johane’s leg – Johane’s leg was so, so close to being fully healed when I left (see photo album linked above). More importantly, we developed such a close friendship during my visits. Although I was hoping to see his leg fully healed before leaving, I left behind enough bandages to finish off that wound. I sure hope to return sometime to see that leg fully healed.
   Fansile – Fansile looked so good when I saw her for my last time at the end of May. I remember praying and praying for her and dreaming about her skin clearing, and I was fortunate to be able to see it.
   Thobile – I will miss Thobile. I greatly enjoyed seeing her and checking up on her. She was a good friend to me. I was blessed to be part of her life while she was making some important decisions, and by choosing to go on ARV’s she’ll almost certain extend her life for several years. Thobile has a cell phone, and I will really try to keep in touch with her.

7. God’s Glory
In several lives, especially of Johane, Fansile, and Thobile, I was able to see God’s glory revealed through physical healing. This has been such a joy and excitement to me. I was able to pray with these people many times, and I was part of their lives as God did amazing things. God’s glory was revealed to me too, and hopefully to the people reading these updates.

8. Do You Want to Read More Updates from Africa?
Later this year, my friend Lori will be moving to Sudan for two years with SIM. She will be mentoring teachers and working with the only primary school in a huge region. Her conditions will be much more primitive than mine. If you’ve enjoyed reading my updates and would like to read more updates from Africa, then contact me to get on her email list.

9. Courageous Leadership Award
Last year, the ministry in Swaziland received honorable mention for the Courageous Leadership Award from Willow Creek Association with World Vision. Recently Arnau was informed that the Swaziland ministry is in the final three contestants for this year’s competition. This is pretty exciting. I’ll likely be able to see him in August, as he’ll be in Chicago for the awards presentation. If you’re interested, read Arnau’s thoughts at: http://missionissues.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/2008-courageous-leadership-award/

10. One Last Thank You
For those of you who have routinely read this far in my emails, I want to thank you. Thanks especially for the prayers.

11. Prayer Requests
- Praise for everything that came together so beautifully for my time in Swaziland
- Praise for Courageous Leadership Award
- Praise for my good health and good health for family members while I was gone
- Prayer for readjustment, returning to work, and relationships during my first months back in the US
- Continued prayer for Lwazi, Thobile, Fansile, Johane, and Lavumisa Church
- That I could understand how to keep Swaziland in my heart and remain active in the ministry
- That I could understand how to apply the lessons I have learned in Swaziland to the rest of my life
- Praise that God allowed me to work with Arnau, who was a great teacher and has become a great friend