Lot of Exciting News

Psalms 100:4 "Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving , and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and bless His name." We all have so much to be Thankful for. As we enter this Thanksgiving season I am reminded of how blessed we are. Some may remember this hymn; "Count your many blessings name them one by one, and it may surprise you what the Lord has done." If we all really took the time to do that , I think we may be surprised what the Lord has done, and how truly blessed we all are. I believe if we were to start counting our many blessings we as the Psalmist we too would enter into his gates with thanksgiving and unto his courts with praise and surely would Bless His name. Second Mile has been so very blessed this year. God has opened so many doors of ministry for us , Diane and I are humbled that He is using us in so many ways. As many of you know Swaziland is experiencing the worst drought in their history. Thank you to all that have prayed and are praying for rains. God hears your prayers. Praise be to God the rains have started, there is a very long way to go before the drought problem is over but we praise God for every drop of rain. We returned to Swaziland on September 12 after escorting Brett back home. We literally hit the ground running. Everyone especially the children were ready to get things back up and running full force. Kids Bible clubs and adult Bible study continues to grow. Diane is averaging 60 kids in each club, I am continuing to average 15. Now that it is planting season some weeks the adult attendance is off, but all in all the "faithful few" continue. So thankful for their faithfulness and hunger for God's word. The "Kids Bible Club" is as energized as always, Diane is teaching them new songs and even tough some of the younger ones are not able to read they are picking up the words very fast and joining in. We continue to minister to and with Hawane Baptist Church. This is a Baptist mission church plant that has never had a pastor. We are praying God calls / sends someone to pastor them. As for now we are doing what we can in leading and encouraging them. We will be planning a Baptism service in the very near future. We have had some of the children in kids club and some kids and adults at church make a profession of faith, to God be the glory! We have partnered with a Baptist mission that provides 20 liter (5 gallon) buckets filled with items focused on helping terminal ill patients be more comfortable at the end of life and also helps their caregivers provide better care. Some of the items include , facial soap, body lotion, wash clothes, towels, socks , linens and toiletries. The ministry is called Baptist Global Response , BGR for short. We average taking 5 buckets out per month. The idea is not only to help the terminally ill be more comfortable but also provides an evangelistic opportunity as well. During these "bucket " deliveries we have had some accepted Christ but all have heard about the love of God and the gospel message . We have received a 20 foot shipping container filled with 800 BGR buckets that we will have to give as we identify the need. Thankful for this partner- ship. In addition to the BGR buckets we also have opportunity to give out blankets , not so much needed now but come July (our winter) they will be needed. On some follow up visits we have been encouraged to see people that received Christ during some of the bucket distributions continue to read the bible we gave them and continue to be excited about their salvation. Praise to God we will be opening a community outreach center in Nsangwini. We meet with the Chiefs Inner Council and spoke to them about the vision we had to help further in the community and they approved our vision and offered to partner with us in ways they could. Though The Outreach Center ,will be able to provide orphans and vulnerable children with a safe place that they will feel love, be valued, taught the basics in pre-school, proper hygiene, fundamental early childhood development, fun and games a daily meal but most of all taught the word of God. The caregivers of the children and cooks will be volunteers from the community. We will be meeting with them and begin the necessary training soon. We are so very excited about this new ministry opportunity and anxious as well. This is a big undertaking but one we feel God has lead us to. On a personal note, as Diane and I continue to be blessed with birthdays we notice that these "getting older " bodies are having issues. One in which for Diane is a worn out left wrist. It has been very painful and at times very limited in use ongoing for a few months now. The orthopedic surgeon in South Africa says since other treatments have failed surgery is the only solution. As for me it is my right thumb, I have chronic " trigger thumb" and is requiring surgery. This is really not a good time for this however we know without the surgeries the pain will continue to increase and eventually the loss of use . These surgeries are much cheaper in South Africa than the states however still expensive for us. Together we are looking at a cost of $7,000 dollars. We are trusting God that He will provide the money needed . Love in Christ, Don & Diane Page If God leads you to donate, please send donations to Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church, 4440-A Piney Grove Road, Angier, NC 27501 If donating for the medical need, please put Medical / Page in your memo line. Thank you and God Bless.

TRUST The Bible says, " Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths". Proverbs. 3:5-6 Much of February was spent not only doing ministry but moving from the little small cottage into a bigger house that had room to move Make Shandu our volunteer partner and translator. Not only did we have to move from the cottage we also had to move Make Shandu and the things that we had purchased from the Baptist mission that had left Swaziland. We had moved Make Shandu in on Friday March 4th. , We all had supper together and continued to work into the night when we received a message from family back in the states, the doctors had given my Mom just hours or at most a few days to live, the cancer had took it's toll. Diane immediately began to search for the first flight back to North Carolina. The only flight was Sunday night March 6th. We began our journey back with a four hour drive to Johannesburg South Africa early on Sunday . With several issues including a cancelled flight, different port of entry in the states we made it back several hours later than scheduled on March 7. We were meet at the airport by our daughter and family. After a very brief meal they took us directly to the care facility to be with my Mom. Although she was unable to speak it was very clear she was aware that we were there. Short seven-teen hours later my Mom left this world to go to heaven to live with Jesus the one she had put her trust in many years ago. My prayer was that I make it back to see my Mom alive and tell her that I love her, and God was so gracious to allow that. Also on the day our family was being given the news of my Moms short time to live my sister was being told by her doctor's that she had stage four breast and lymph node cancer. Diane and I also have close friends that have been given similar diagnosis. This newsletter began with a bible verse found in the book of Proverbs that tells us to trust God with all our hearts and not trying to understand things within our own, rather lean on God and know He is directing our paths. Surely this is a time Diane and I need this verse in our live. Second Mile Ministries (Swaziland) Page 2 The ministry God has given us in Swaziland, some nine - thousand miles away from our family is growing many doors of ministry opportunities are opening seemingly every month. So it would be easy for us to ask the question "Why"? Why is this entire going on with family and friends? Why has God called us so far away to do ministry? But this is when the scriptures speak and reminds us that God is in control and He asks us to trust and lean on Him and He will direct our paths. We are so humbled at what God is doing through Second Mile Ministries (Swaziland). It is such a blessing. Though at times it is hard to be away from family and friends especially when things are not going so well for them, but once again we are reminded that God has sent us to Swaziland and He is in control. Since we have been back in the states God has given us opportunity to meet with churches and some pastors. Through this we have been able to help a church to plan a short-term team visit to Swaziland, and one church considering supporting Second Mile Ministries. We are also speaking and praying with some folks of the possibility of them joining Second Mile fulltime. It is very exciting that God is growing us to the point of needing other fulltime missionaries and that He is calling them to work with the Swazi people and SMM (Swaziland). The next few months will be even busier for us, hosting teams, meeting and discussing with some of the possibility of joining us. Our Grandson Brett will be joining us June through July to help minister; he is already preparing lessons and activities for the children. Diane and I are of course very excited that he is able to spend his summer break with us but even more excited what God is going to do in and through him. As the ministry grows obviously the need for support and resources grow and for that reason we find ourselves anxious, but at those times God reminds us that this ministry is His and He is taking it where He wants it to be, and He will supply our needs. As the bible tells us God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. I know one way God supplies our needs many times is through others, we have been blessed with great supporters over the years, and are so Thankful to each and every one of you for your faithfulness. Diane and I have what we need to live and survive day to day in Swaziland however with the ministry growing so is the day-to-day experiences. We currently have two local Swazi women that are working with us, they both feel God is calling them to be part of Second Mile and so do we. As these ladies are volunteers they also are trusting God to help supply their needs. Diane and I help them with airtime on their phones since they use a lot of it calling on the ministries behave . We also help with supplying food from time to time but we really would like to help them in many more ways. Bonsile works with Diane in the children's ministry she has eleven children of her own. The family live in a small crude blockhouse, with no running water or electricity. Bonsile does the very best she can to provide for her family, and is very active in her church and community. Second Mile Ministries (Swaziland) page 3 She has been inspired through helping Diane with the "Kids bible clubs" to start one of her own at her local church Hawane Baptist. This is a mission church plant that does not have a pastor as for now I am doing all I can to help. Our other volunteer is Make Shandu, she is 72 years young, she has so much energy and passion for the ministry. She worked with the Baptist mission in Swaziland for twenty-six years until they left this past January. Make Shandu told us that God was not finished with her yet and wanted to continue to work with us. She is also one of the lay leaders for Hawane church. Make Shandu lives with us in two small rooms including a bathroom that we prepared for her, she had lived the last twenty-six years on the property of the Baptist mission. Our prayer and request is to raise support for these ladies that are so faithful to God and Second Mile Ministries. If anyone feels lead to help one or both of these faithful Swazi ladies please let us know and we will work with you as to how. Time is approaching fast for us to once again leave family here and return home to "family" and ministry in Swaziland. It is always bittersweet, leaving family in the states but knowing we are going back to where God has called us, to do His work. Please pray for traveling mercies, for strength these next few really busy months. For our loved ones that are facing difficult times due to health and that God will provide the finances and resources needed to share the love of God and the hope that is only found in Jesus with the Swazi people. Prayer Request: Rain for Swaziland / Continued Ministry support Children and Adults of Swaziland / Pray for Us and the ministry Many thanks to All of our partners, and churches who support the ministry. Please write us via snail mail or email.. We would love to hear from you! donpage236@gmail, diane.rambeaut.page@gmail.com Second Mile Ministries (Swaziland) PO Box 2611 Mbabane, Swaziland AFRICA H100 Please send tax deductible Donations to : Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church 4440-a Piney Grove Road, Angier, NC 27501 ** all donations are 100% to the ministry, no admin fees

Glancing behind..... Looking ahead..

Happy New Year! As I sit here enjoying the sounds and sights of wildlife in our yard I am reminded of how blessed we are. Still wondering where 2015 went and even now it is already late January 2016. 2015 was a good year in ministry and personally. God gave us the ministry we have wanted for some time, allowing us to partner with our home church (Piney Grove Chapel) move back to Swaziland and begin Second Mile Ministries (Swaziland). We began ministry almost immediately visiting /ministering at the Pediatric ward at Mbabane Government hospital. Since the IMB ( International Mission Board) Baptist missionaries were back in the states and were not planning on returning to Swaziland, Diane and I picked up two communities that ministry had been started by the IMB, we (Diane) also began a new children's ministry in the same communities. We call these ministries " Children's Bible Clubs". We also was able to partner with another ministry here to help with a small orphan home that is made up of mostly "street" orphans, also the help secure a food partner in providing food for a feeding site in one of the more rural areas of Swaziland. This site feeds up to 450 orphans and vulnerable children every day. With the Bakkie ( small truck) we are able to deliver the food to this rural site. We are helping Wayne and Barbara Myers IMB missionaries , working in the rural areas near South Africa and Mozambique. We continue to have requests to partner with many ministry groups. In August of 2015 we welcomed our second Grandson (Lincoln). We were able to be in the states shortly after his early arrival and spend time with family. It was a blessed time of newness and renewal. I was also able to spend some time with my Mom , as many of you know she is a resident of a Memory Care Center. This time was great as she was more alert and still able to identify birds by their songs. In September 2015 while still stateside we got word from Wayne and Barbara that they had received paperwork asking for missionaries 50 and older to take an early retirement. At the time it was on a voluntary basis, however, ultimately in the near future it would become a request. The Myers felt they had no other choice but to retire and return back to the states. They are trusting that this is God's will. So, long story short, Diane and I took the Myers to Johannesburg last Monday, January 18th. They arrived back in Kentucky on Tuesday and have begun their transition back to living in America and I must say a much different America than they left almost 23 years ago when they moved to Swaziland. Pray for them. And pray for us as we try and continue some of the work they were doing. The year (2016) started out with not so good news. Along with the Myers leaving Swaziland we received word from family in North Carolina that my( Don) Mom had been diagnosed with lung cancer and at this point there is no treatment advised due to her weakened state and advanced Dementia. We are trusting God for comfort and blessings until He calls her home. Diane and I are planning a very early furlough to be able to spend some time with my Mom, and of course seeing the new and not so new Grandsons. At this point the plan is to be back in North Carolina the first of April until June, of course things could change. None of us know what this new year has in store, matter of fact we do not know what tomorrow holds however, we know that God holds tomorrow as well as this year and trust Him to help us through. Since the IMB has no missionaries in Swaziland and no plans of sending new ones, Diane and I (Second Mile) will be continuing some of the Baptist work as well as providing logistical and spiritual support as God provides extra funding. There are 17 church plants that remain after the IMB missionaries left. We continue to have other ministry requesting our partnership but, at this point in time we do not have the resources financially or manpower to begin or help with other ministries . Please pray that God will provide as He sees fit to help continue the ministries that The Myers had to leave and also new ministries that we feel God leading us to. As the IMB presence is no longer here they will be selling the property ( two houses) they have had in Mbabane for many years. Diane and I have been praying if it is God's will that Second Mile would be able to purchase this valuable and much needed bigger property, however, at this time this does not seem to be possible. During the IMB's presence they had provided housing for a long time volunteer, a local Swazi lady by the name of Make (Ma-ka) Maria Shandu. Make Shandu has also been working with Second Mile as our partner and much needed translator. I am not sure what we could do without Make Shandu. To continue be able to keep Make Shandu as our translator, we have to move to a bigger place that has room for us and also Make. We believe this is God's will , and that being said, we, (Diane, I and Make Shandu) will be moving to a bigger place in Mbabane in the next month or so. Diane and I would like to thank our ministry supporters and of course God that without you we could not have been able to do what we did in 2015. And for those prayer and financial supporters that continue to support us this year thank you for your continued trust, encouragement and prayers. God has given us all these ministry opportunities and we are trusting Him in providing the resources both financially and in manpower to help us continue this year 2016 to proclaim the gospel (Good news) and to give hope for the people and children of Swaziland, that for the most part are existing in a very hard and hopeless life. But we know there is hope and His name is Jesus! Prayer Request: Rain for Swaziland Continued Ministry support Children and Adults of Swaziland Pray for Us and the ministry Prayer for Donald's mother Many thanks to All of our partners, and churches who support the ministry. Please write us via snail mail or email.. We would love to hear from you! donpage236@gmail, diane.rambeaut.page@gmail.com Second Mile Ministries (Swaziland) PO Box 2611 Mbabane, Swaziland AFRICA H100 Please send tax deductable Donations to : Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church 4440-a Piney Grove Road Angier, NC 27501 ** all donations are 100% to the ministry, no admin fees.