Swaziland ~ 19 to 22 February 2009

A team of five (5) left for Swaziland on 19 February and returned to Secunda on 22 February. A short four (4) days full of interesting times!

This time we did not have any broken down vehicles or problems at the Border Post. We did however have a few falls, pains, “lack of voice” and adventure … Petro managed to get acquainted with the floor of the vegetable market at the Manzini Market after the heel of her shoe broke. Luckily there was someone at hand to fix the shoe, and we had a well deserved rest while we waited. Bernard lost his voice in Swaziland somewhere between Saturday and Sunday. Isak and his camera saw the inside of the guard-house at the royal residence … this will make me think twice about where to take photographs! This was also where we met our unofficial tour guide ~ he really took us on a scenic route …  Rut is our local “dust-pan” designer ~ now the local Swazi tradesmen knows what a “dust-pan” should look like!

We spent time with Emmanuelle at the Manzini Market and were able to give them a keyboard to assist with the church services he’s leading there every Monday to Friday. If ever in Manzini during the week, go and attend one of his services at the Open Market ~ you will find him there every Monday to Friday at 08:00 am. We also spend the Sunday morning with Caiaphas and Bonnie Magagula and their congregation at New Covenant Church Manzini.

Just after our arrival in Swaziland God gave us this word:

God wants us to dwell in His peace, and that the peace should run over in all areas of our lives and situations we might meet. We should also allow the peace to drench us.

This was a huge challenge for me! Sometimes we confuse peace with laziness and doing as little as possible. During the four (4) days we’ve discovered that we just need to “be”, and allow God to work through us and not out of our own ideas, plans, emotions or thoughts. We had to surrender to His Will and follow His lead totally. We had to keep our eyes fixed on Him…

God also gave us the following instructions through the team that interceded for us in South Africa:

Now more than ever listen to the voice of the Spirit of God, lay down your own opinions and hearts, renounce the flesh, renounce the flesh! The people are thirsty for the living water of God!
Close your mouths and know that I am here. Forget about your fleshly concerns!
Don’t do anything out of your own, don’t stop or go without Me saying.
As long as you fully rely on me, you will be prepared. Do nothing apart from My leading.

God also brought us back to the “heart-issue”:

Pro 21:2,  “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.”

1Sam. 16:7, “But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.”

I just realized more and more that we ALWAYS have to serve from our hearts, work from our hearts, speak from our hearts ~ we are in Jesus and that is from where everything should originate. Coming from anywhere else the effectiveness will not be timeless.

Like all the previous trips to Swaziland we grew on some many different levels, our hearts were changed, minds were renewed, standards challenged … mere words cannot really describe what happened and is still happening inside of me. I get super excited because I know that each and every time we REACH out, God reaches into our lives and turn it upside down and inside out …

I challenge you to REACH out, be available and allow God to STRETCH you and change you live!

Annalize

PS. Check out our photographs on flickr