A Drought in the Land

A drought In the Land. Swaziland like many other African countries are experiencing severe drought. Thousands of cattle have died, and the people are weary. Some Dams (lakes ) and rivers have dried up. Not only is there a drought from lack of rain, we also see a spiritual drought from lack of solid evangelism and biblical discipleship. Pray with us for rain and also for a spiritual awakening. 2 Chronicles 7:14New International Version (NIV) 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Diane and I “hit” the ground running after returning back home in Swaziland. The temperatures have been in the mid 90’s to 100’s. The time back in the states was truly a blessing, being able to spend time with family and enjoying our newest grandson Lincoln Elliott Hall. Even though he surprised everyone by arriving 6 weeks early he is growing and doing fine. He is now more than double his birth weight. As always, it was a bittersweet time as we prepared to return to ministry in Swaziland. I must say it was a bit harder this time. Although, the conversations were a little confused it was a blessing being able to hear my mom identify the birds by their singing and enjoyed sitting outside in the beauty of God’s creation. The other reason, of course, was we would miss so much of Lincoln growing up. Brett was 2 ½ years old when we began ministry several years ago and have missed a lot of things concerning him. But, as you all know those babies change and grow so quickly. Once again we were reminded and comforted that we are doing God’s work and know he will bless the time we are away. There are so many things happening it would be hard to write in one newsletter so for now I will tell of just a few. The children’s Bible Clubs are growing as Diane had 85 kids the first day back. This club averages 45. Adult attendance was also up. We are planning to start another Kids Bible Club and Adult study, we will return to our Hospital ministry again in a week or so. Food delivery to the 500 children in an area will be next week. As many of you know, the Baptist International mission Board (IMB) is re-structuring due to a financial crisis. They are asking for approximately 800 field missionaries to take an early retirement. What that means for Diane and I is we will be losing one of our ministry partners here in Swaziland. Wayne and Barbara Myers have been IMB missionaries in Swaziland for 22 ½ years. Second Mile will continue to work with the areas we were already working and will be helping in some areas that the Myers were working. Please pray with us that God will send laborers into the field for the fields are white unto harvest. With this ministry we also need a large ministry base. The IMB property in Mbabane will be up for sale and this property would be of the greatest of help in ministry resources. We would have more space for ministry supplies and also be able to house visiting mission teams but most importantly continue to provide housing for one of our translators Make (pronounced Mah-gay) Shandu. She has been volunteering with the IMB for 26 years and living on this property all these years. We stand a big chance on loosing her most valuable help if we cannot provide housing for her. Make Shandu is a vital part of Second Mile and Hawane Baptist Church ministry. It would be very hard to impossible to continue a lot of our ministry without her. Please pray with us about this and for Make Shandu. Again, thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are very thankful for our church and our outside supporters..

Giving

"Giving" The bible says in (2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 9,15 NIV) 6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever". 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Christian giving is an expression of Gods grace and I believe inspired by the cross. God's grace was giving Himself through Jesus on the cross to us all. Not because we deserved it , but because His grace warranted it. This has been brought to my mind because some of you have given generously, not because you felt pressured to give, and not giving reluctantly. Giving because maybe because you felt God was asking you to give, however that may be true I think it goes a little bit further than that. Giving because you know that there is a harvest, that people need to hear the gospel (The Good News of Christ). As we all see and know what is going on in America and around the world, this should remind us all that the Bible is as current as the daily news. This should encourage us in the fact that Jesus is surely coming soon, burden us to the fact that time is short and people are still without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As most of you know Diane and I made a request for funding for the ministry to be able to buy a bakkie (small pick up truck). God had opened doors of ministry opportunities that for us to be able to minister fully we (Second Mile) needed a truck. To God be the glory, and you know who you are within three days of you knowing of this need, the ministry had received the funds needed to purchase the truck and also a little extra to repair a few minor issues with the truck. Because of you, this truck has been transporting more people that was desiring to attend bible study and we were also able to pick up donated boxes of food and deliver to a rural area where a ministry was providing food had left them unexpectedly resulting in almost 500 vulnerable children without food. To God be the glory Great things He is doing! God is opening many doors of ministry opportunities, more than we can financially handle at this time however we know if He wants Diane and I (Second Mile) to be involved He will provide. The kids bible clubs are going great, Diane has 35 + that attend regularly , and 50 - 125 depending on the class age for that day. The adult bible studies are going well and the numbers increasing now that the maize (corn) has been harvested. We will be starting another bible club and bible study soon. It was our plan to work / minister together however God had another plan as Diane is conducting the kids bible clubs and I am teaching adult bible studies. Please pray for three Baptist mission church plants as they are without a pastor, Peace Baptist, Hawane Baptist and the third I'm not sure of the name all I have ever heard it referred to is " the church that meets at the school". Diane and I have been trying to help in areas that we have time; Diane is training teachers to teach Sunday school and I in spiritual leadership. We will be conducting services at Hawane Baptist this Sunday (July 26 th.) Pray that God will call and raise up leaders in these churches. Pray for us as Diane and I, along with the Baptist mission (Wayne &Barbara) will be conducting a “ survey" of all four regions of Swaziland to truly determine the spiritual relationship the people have. Swaziland says it is a Christian nation however most, 80% of the people still consult the "witch doctor" traditional healers or believe in ancestral worship. Thanks to our home church Piney Grove Chapel that God has used over the years to be truly a personal and most of all a spiritual blessing. To Trinity Baptist Church for your faithful partnership and to each of you that give above and beyond the tithe to help us do what we do. Please know we are thankful to ALL our donors/supports without you Diane and I would not be able to minister to the children and people of Swaziland. It is truly a blessing to be able to do what we do for the glory of God!

Boy how time flies when you are busy...

We missed the writing of our of May newsletter, boy how time flies when you are busy, but busy is good. Our weekly ministry in the pediatric ward at the hospital is going good and is a blessing to the children, caregivers and for us. Diane has established two children's bible clubs in two different rural areas that we also have a weekly adult bible study. The first one was started in Nwsangwini , Diane is having a consistent number of 35 to 37 kids, and I am averaging 14 adults ( mostly women) occasionally a man will attended. The second children's bible club and adult bible study is in Nginamadvolo, the first week Diane had over 65 children to participate. With the number of children wanting to learn about Jesus we knew we had to find a way to accommodate all of them. We arranged a meeting with the principal of the local school, we explained who we were and what we were doing and was given permission to use the school for the kids bible club. The first week kids bible club had over 150 children! The adult study in this area is averaging 16 adults. This weeks bible club had 96 children, these are only the 1st and 2nd graders. Next Kids club Bible study will be 4th and 5th graders. We have been printing coloring pages for the children, this helps them to remember what we are teaching and so far it seems to be working, before each class we review the last lesson and they have been able to tell us even in small details. We have had people who have asked about helping to provide coloring crayons, seems like the crayons are the first to go… haha.. With the leading of God, and our previous experience living here in Swaziland, we, "Second Mile Ministries” feel compelled to minister to the more rural areas of Swaziland. These rural areas are all mostly unpaved, the condition of the roads and number of people that want to attend bible club and bible study has burdened our heart and now the ministry is in desperate need of a bakki ( a small pick up truck) . Since public transport is expensive and hard to come by we are providing transport for those that have no way to and from the Bible studies so, we are having to leave people behind due to not having enough room in our personal vehicle. Our vehicle only holds 5, Diane, myself, 2 translators and room for only one more. We have not done this in the past however due to the importance of these: kids bible clubs and adult bible studies on behalf of the ministry we are making a plea for donations for Second Mile to be able to purchase a bakki ( small truck) so we can transport these kids and adults that are desperately seeking to know more about Jesus.

It is our prayer that because of this they will be led to have a personal saving relationship with Jesus. We are in the beginning stages of trying to help a partner ministry that operates nine CarePoints that feed 2,500 orphans and vulnerable children daily to obtain food. The feeding partner has withdrawn their support due to focusing on other areas , however these children are still dependent upon this ministry to provide this life saving daily food most of which this is their only meal for the day. We know God has a plan. If you feel led to donate for a Bakki ( truck ) please send tax deductable donations marked "Swaziland Truck" to Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church 4440-A Piney Grove Road, Angier, NC 27501...Thank you in advance !!!

Happy New Year/ New Information / New Start

Even though 2014 was a year of challenges, personally and in ministry. God is good and he was with us every step of the way. Feeling very blessed as we enter a new year. We are so excited to enter a New Year and new journey. Diane and I will be moving back to Swaziland February 16, 2015! When God called us to Swaziland in 2007 and allowed us to live and minister there until November of 2011 we were home, settled. God was doing amazing things in and through us. The relationships we were building were such a blessing to us. Everything was going great, we were privileged and honored to be living and ministering in Swaziland. When Diane and I felt God was closing " the door" in Africa and moving us back to the states to be involved in ministry with the Native American people , although really not happy about moving from " our home" in Swaziland we wanted to be obedient we left Africa. Since leaving Africa (Swaziland) God opened and closed doors of ministry opportunities for us. Although there were times we did not understand why God was sending us on a journey to the US mid - west, Central America, and East Africa, each new place of ministry we experienced God at work in us, through us and we were gaining valuable ministry experience. While in Ethiopia Diane and I had an opportunity to go back to Swaziland for a visit. As we crossed the border from South Africa into Swaziland Diane and I both had a feeling of comfort and being back home. To make a long story short, we knew we were back to the place and people God called us to in 2007. With excitement Diane and I will be moving back to Swaziland February 16, 2015!! We will be starting a new ministry in Swaziland with a new ministry partner our home church, Piney Grove Chapel Baptist!! So obviously we will be busy, meetings with the Swazi government, and other ministries to investigate possibilities of partnership to help with the vision. Our primary focus will be Children's ministry however we are also looking forward to beginning a hospital ministry and an outreach to Emergency Services-Police, Fire, EMS. As you probably know starting a new ministry will have its challenges and we feel the relationships we already have established and the new ones we will form along with having a good understanding of the culture and many needs of Swaziland and most of all with God's help we will be successful. Starting a new ministry will also be challenging in the fact we will have to start from “scratch" please pray with us for provisions, resources, ministry vehicle and favor with the Swazi government. Our goal is to be up and running by late summer - early Fall. We pray we will be ready to host our first short term mission team late 2015 early 2016. We will be able to host groups of 2 to 32. We will provide information how you can book your Short term missions experience soon. If anyone desires to help us fulfill God's call and the Great Commission you can support the ministry with a one-time donation, a monthly donation or sponsor a ministry outreach. Donations / Support can be sent to Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church / Swaziland missions. 4440 A Piney Grove Rd. Angier, N.C. 27501. We ask for your prayers as we begin our move / transition back to Swaziland, for wisdom , resources and finances needed. God bless, The journey continues. Don and Diane Page