Hey Guys,

At the hotel in South Africa, and I fly out to Kenya in the morning. I think by the time ya'll are having church, I will be touching down on new ground.

Just ate some ostrich, and love the high-speed net in this country, but it cost!

There is a stirring in my spirit....but that may also be what's stirring in my stomach.... there's a obvious reason God gave us crawfish and not flightless birds.... just kidding.

In my prayers,
Aaron

Difficult to believe, tonight is my last night in Swaziland. I fly out to Jo-berg South Africa tomorrow afternoon, and then to Kenya on Sunday morning. I am sad to leave, but can't wait to see what God has waiting for me in yet another time zone! (8 hours away).
There is still a chance I may be fortunate enough to come back to Swaziland after my tour in Kenya.... but we'll have to wait and see what God has in mind.

Keep me in your prayers for safe travels and divine appointments!

Love you guys!

P.S.- I have no idea what my internet situation will be like in Kenya.... so this may be good bye for a while.

Sermon Anyone?




Pastor Jay mentioned once that when he was in Bible college, and knew he was going to preach, he developed that gift by preaching about and too anything. "Driving on the road, I'd see a car, and it had tires, so I'd preach about tires."
Well, I'm in Swaziland, Africa... and I go into a restaurant, and low-and-behold, I have Tabasco Sause at my table. I can't get away from home even when I try.
Then I thought about it.... that could preach. I mean, as Christians, are we called EVERYWHERE? To be ON FIRE! To STAND OUT and BE RECOGNIZED no matter where we are?
That's just a couple thoughts to help you get started.
What do YOU think this sermon should be?
Feel free to comment!

EXECUTION

ROCK!

So the story/legend goes, that if you were caught in treasion to the king, you would be marched up Execution Mountain, and then thrown off. If you survived, against all odds, you would be found innocent. Pictures do no such justice to the landscape. With that in mind, given the rocky height of the mountain, if you ended up found to be innocent, you would wish you were dead anyway.

A picture from the road of my destination.

An "African picture" I've been waiting for. Here, an Impala grazes on the open terrain, next to an Acacia (Umbrella) tree.

These are tombs of those found guilty. Just kidding!
They are actually just stone towers for a pipe line!

Can we say Indiana Jones?

See those bushes? Tree tops my friend!

I couldn't help but think about all the other sermons that could come out of this experience. Much like Pastor Jay and his 26-mile race, this was a test of endurace! It was mind against body on wheither I was going to finish or not, and of coarse, the last kilometer was the hardest of all! I have not had required Physical Education since high school, so I was definatly out of shape.
But what I could only discover when I finally got to the top, was that all the other mountains around me didn't seem so huge anymore. They were just as big as me. In fact, I felt larger.

Isn't that what Christ has done for us? Taken us out of our valley of desperation, only to set us on the mountain top of Grace. And furthermore, allow us to see that all of the mountains in our way are not as big as we made them out to be.
We enjoy the mountain tops, but it's in the valley that everything grows.

COME ON SOMEBODY!

Wouldn't you hope you were guilty?

A bit dramatic? Perhaps!

I finally made it to the top!

This was the menu of the place we ate in the game reserve where the mountain is.

On the way out, we scared poor Phumba who was resting by the fire.

I thought this was just a cool looking church in the town of Manzini.

Modern day pillars in the missionary community: David "Beano" Van Rensburg & Children's Cup founder Dave "Pop" Ohlerking.

(Picture on Left) Truth be told, for every 200 kids I make laugh, there is that one child terrified of the "pale skinned black man." Of coarse, it is my mission to make them like me, and within 10 minutes, we where having fun!

(Picture on Right) Healing Place Church represents! Earl Rentz on the left is the CFO for HPC, and Dan Ohlerking on the right, is also on staff with HPC, and "Pops" son.

This beautiful girls name is Dolly. It can sometimes be difficult to determine gender: mixed cloths and all the same hair cut.

Kids excited about their trees!

Quick Note



The Family Church, Family, & Friends,

I just wanted to say Thank You once again for your support on this mission.
The people of Swaziland thank you, as I have heard from many of them.
Your prayers and comments are greatly appreciated.



REPORT:

We are closing in on completion at the Health Clinic in Makholweni. Painting is almost done (Thank the Lord!) and others are working on cabinets.

Yesterday, I was able to buy Peach, Orange, and Mango Trees and compost for 3 care points that I have never been. It cost me E 285.90 (Emalangeni) which is about $ 38. Since everything is mountain, the soil is very rocky. You have to have a pick-axe with a shovel to dig. It was sooo fun!

Project: Tree of Life



Two things crossed my mind one day at a care point.
First off, the children are being feed well, but I noticed how much they love fruit. It's a treat. Apples here are like "Fun Dip" back home... or whatever kids eat these days. (My dad still thinks Mary Jane's and Almond Joys are the only candy there is.)
Then, for some reason, I thought about Pastor Jay giving the illustration of being rooted, and how he finally planted the "family tree" that Mrs. Tessy's parents gave them, and that little oak finally started to really grow.
I got the idea to plant fruit tree's at each care point, so that the kids would always have fruit around. Plus, it's another way to leave a legacy behind.

Here is a Litchi (local fruit) Tree that was planted at the Makholweni Care Point. This Litchi and an Avacado tree are the first to be planted and a vision coming to past.
Today, I will purchase more trees, and get them to other care points.

Thank you Family Church, for planting yet another seed in hearts of children, and literally in the ground!

Coming Soon: My journey up Execution Mountain!

MOZAMBIQUE
ANOTHER COUNTRY ON THE TOUR!






What a road sign! This very well could be a reason this country is in turmoil. Be careful what you put your trust in!

These are little reed shops in the first town coming into the country. Where Swaziland is made of Stone, "the Bique" is sticks and Straw..... 3 little pig- like.

This is there traffic light! It was funny and scary to see this guy motion traffic like he was Michael Jackson.... he was smooth! Actually, the scarriest thing was coming to a 8-way stop without a traffic guy! A free-for-all!

This is the tallest building in Mozambique. Located in the capital city of Maputo, it stands only 33 stories high!
This is a new well that The Family Church helped establish.

Family Church, this is your hands at work! Your giving in action! Partnering with 2/3 other organizations, and a Childrens Cup first, this is a Care Center with a church connected to it.
Ben felt the need to take a picture of me trying to get a Sala fruit. Taste like a lemony persimon. (I actually think it's the fruit that Rafiki in Lion King carried on his staff, and painted Simba's main with when he realized he wasn't dead. ANYWAY!)

A Beautiful Restaurant in Maputo! Outlooking the Indian Ocean.... My first time seeing something not related to the Atlantic.

Me trying the "famous" calamarie. It's okay.... but bland and rubbery. Why not just get more Prawns! Prawn are like Delcambre shimp that got with Maine Lobsters 3 cousin twice removed.

Another gorgeous sunset on the way back home. This is about 10 kilometers from the border.

And lastly, not not least important, the fair lady of Swaziland, Trinity, who had to get her picture taken when she saw I had the camera!

OK, I'll Make This Quick...
Because I have dinner at a pastors house tonight.


I know you are not supposed to have a favorite child, right? I mean, I've asked my mother countless times who's her favorite son.... and have always been surprised of the answer.
But if there was just one kid I could pack in my carry-on, it would be this one:




Wrndile (Wan-de-lay) caught my eye the first time I went to the Makholweni care point, and we cut up ( I harass him) everytime we meet up. (Notice the frow I'm growing out on what's left.)

I told you we cut up! I looked all over for that kid, only to find him near the food (that's my boy) crashed!
I was kind of sad to see him walk away in the sunset with his grandmother who takes care of him.

Oh yeah, we also painted in the clinic today, and worked on some major drainage issues.

STAY TUNED FOR NEWS FROM MY RECENT TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE!

THIS WEEKEND!
(Sunday & Monday)



This Sunday, I went to Pastor Mike Pratt's chuch, Checkers (the town) Community Church! Pastor Jay has preached and tought here I believe. Pasor Mike is standing with the grey shirt. I actually ran the power point for praise & worship....put to work....felt at home.


I continued to bask in the glory of the Lord at Buhune ("boon-ya") Beach. A group from the Children's Cup Staff went out.... tubing down the freezing river, and.....
Cooking Braai ("bry")- aka- Bar-B-Q. I made my own Tony's to season this meat.
This is a woman at the Gigi Care point, making a broom. Brooms here are often without handles. Made with branches tied tightly together.


Here, (Pastor) Ben is meeting with the leaders of the different Care Points, giving new teaching material and new on upcoming events.

New Bowls for the kids, helps with delivery and sanitation of the food.
Even here, people aren't impressed when you whip out a camera in the middle of feeding time!
I am left handed...which is not good here, to shake hands or give things, or EAT with your left hand. I thought it was interesting that he was using his left, and could fit the whole thing in his mouth!