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.