Recent visit to the prisons
I went with a team of people from my home church in Swaziland, Potter's Wheel Church, to visit 3 prisons. We planned to visit the women's prison, the men's prison and the juvenile facility. We got to visit both the men's and the juvenile's facilities but the women's prison was not accepting visitors that day. (We plan to go back within the next 30 days to try again. I love ministering to the women so I'm looking forward to this:)

We got to share the gospel with all of the residents in the juvenile and adult male's facilities. About 65 people gave their hearts to God, accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They chose to trust God with their lives, begin a relationship with Him, and pursue His purposes for their lives. It's a joy for me to see people experiencing the hope that only God can bring.

The team (2 Swazis, a Zambian, a Finn & me, an American :)

My dear friend Joy, the Zambian, preaching
the message to the youth

The youth raising their hands to begin a personal
relationship with Jesus

The youth praying

The team at the youth facility
(The inmates do receive schooling here, though
they are sentenced & must remain here 24 hrs/day)

Pictures could not be taken in the adult male's facility. We had a great time there with the group of men gathered underneath the trees outside on a hot, sunny day. They listened to the message attentively and many responded by coming forward for prayer. We passed out Gideon Bibles at both prisons.


" '...I was in prison and you came to visit me.' ... The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. ' " (Mathew 25: 36,40)

For the past month I had the privilege of having a dear friend, Heidi, from my home church in the USA come to serve here in Swaziland. It was a blessing to have her here and to see God using her as she interacted with the kids at the orphan care center, worked on important projects at the church, and formed relationships with the Swazi people wherever she went. She was a personal encouragement to me. It was nice to have a familiar friend around during what's ended up being a season of transition for me.

Heidi & I her last day in Swaziland

Teenage Girls & volunteers at the orphans care center
praying for Heidi as she prepared to fly back to the USA

At the orphan care center the teenage girls were invited to a special beauty night where they had the opportunity to get their nails painted, enjoy a foot spa, get a face mask, and make creative thank you cards to God for making them beautiful. The theme of the night was that we are each beautiful to God and Ephesians 2:10 was the focal Scripture "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared in advance for us to walk in." Many of them come from abused backgrounds so it was awesome to see the healing that has taken place in their lives, how their self-image is changing for the better and their love for God.

Another long-term missionary friend & I encouraging the girls
as they made cards to God

Time for face masks!

Nails getting painted.
Each one is so beautiful, created in the image
of God!

God is amazing in the way He loves and cares about each one of His children. It's a privilege to remind people of God's love every day as He opens doors for me to do so. As we receive God's love and abide in His love, we bear much fruit for Him. We truly can do nothing without Him.

Did you know that no matter what you may have done, when you put your hope in Jesus Christ, God sees YOU as beautiful?