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Saturday, 21 May 2016

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

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