This week we have been working hard at writing a bible study guide the SCOM students can use on the Sermon on the Mount. The students were really excited to do the Sermon on the Mount which they studied at Chapter Focus Week last year.
At the SCOM office we have been mobbed by primary school kids. We played soccer with them, sang songs and took pictures.
I am getting used to driving on the other side of the road and finding my way around town. I don’t think I will ever get use to the volume of pedestrian traffic though. One of the things we are constantly being confronted with is the extreme poverty. We always see warming fires at night and people carrying water from the pump. I feel like we have to be careful not to consider trash what might be their treasure.
Our kids are providing a lot of entertainment for the team. Everyone is getting tired of 20 questions. But several have said it wouldn’t be the same without them along. They are adapting better than I expected.
Thursday
Alli and Joe are feeling under the weather today. We have been experimenting with purifying our own water, and they may be feeling the worst of it. We were at another fellowship meeting today. Nina and Drew shared a faith story and we were in a Bible study with them on faith. We finally got hot water, if I didn’t tell you that before. Actually we had it all the time, we just didn’t know how to get it. They are letting us use the bathroom next door , which is helpful and it has a shower too. No hot water there, but it is better than just one bathroom. Another interesting thing is that every night the power goes out from about 5:30 to 6:15. Duncan said they shut down regions of the city at different times to save money.
Friday
Today we will be traveling to the lake for another fellowship meeting and we will stay the weekend to get to know the students more and help them in their ministry there. Rachel Keung will be sharing the sermon and Kyle with share his faith story. Monday is Malawi’s independence day so we will have the day off. Please pray again for safe travel. It is about 3 hours. Thank you for your prayers!!!!
For His service,
Chris
Friday, July 4, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Wednesday
Thank you for the comments:
Wow, we have been busy here. The team has been preparing Bible studies for student small groups for the college minstry. We went to a Student Christian Orangization of Malawi (SCOM) meeting last night at a technical college in Lillongwe. Jerome gave his first Sermoin. Esther gave her testimony and several led in singing. We had an amazing time in worship to our King.
Drew finally got his bag today. He has been a trooper. It has helped us share as a group.
One other thing in our adventure. I (Chris) have become the main driver for the team. I am learning to drive on the left side and navigate the bikes, pedestrians and crazy drivers. I enjoy the turnabouts.
Isaac wants me to add the "Dad is a really good driver too."
Our schedule for the weekend will be quite full. More Bible study tomorrow and another SCOM meeting at night. Friday through Sunday possiblly Monday we will be at Salema Technical College by lake Malawi to witness and counsel students as well as share from God's word.
More later....
I am sorry this is brief but I must get back to the team.
Please keep praying
Chris Swiney for the team
Wow, we have been busy here. The team has been preparing Bible studies for student small groups for the college minstry. We went to a Student Christian Orangization of Malawi (SCOM) meeting last night at a technical college in Lillongwe. Jerome gave his first Sermoin. Esther gave her testimony and several led in singing. We had an amazing time in worship to our King.
Drew finally got his bag today. He has been a trooper. It has helped us share as a group.
One other thing in our adventure. I (Chris) have become the main driver for the team. I am learning to drive on the left side and navigate the bikes, pedestrians and crazy drivers. I enjoy the turnabouts.
Isaac wants me to add the "Dad is a really good driver too."
Our schedule for the weekend will be quite full. More Bible study tomorrow and another SCOM meeting at night. Friday through Sunday possiblly Monday we will be at Salema Technical College by lake Malawi to witness and counsel students as well as share from God's word.
More later....
I am sorry this is brief but I must get back to the team.
Please keep praying
Chris Swiney for the team
Sunday, June 29, 2008
In Malawi
Saturday
Today we attended a service to honor the Founder of SCOM. We started with a march down a busy highway, then through Mzuzu University and on to a Secondary school Gym, singing praise songs all the way. It was great to hear the history of SCOM and hear testimonies from people they have affected. It went 5 hours in typical African fashion. Many of the school kids asked for our address or email. After that it was another 5 hour trip back to Lilongwe. Not surprisingly we came upon a car accident with injuries so we squeezed even further to accommodate the three injured and took them a couple miles down an even bumpier road (more like a path) to what was called a hospital, although it was hard to imagine any of us would want medical care there.
Friday
Today we enjoyed the sun as we waited for the SCOM staff to come pick us up. It has been hard for them to find transportation for 20 people, but their church has some vans they can use a little. We made a 5 hour trip north to Mzuzu over extremely bumpy roads. The scenery was totally amazing, not necessarily in beauty, but in seeing how everyone lives. Lots of wood shacks or brick houses.
Thursday
We all finally made it to Malawi! (Well, all but Drew’s suitcase. Hopefully it will show up Monday!) The SCOM staff spent many hours finding and equipping a house for us. It is so good to have a home. Thank you to all that prayed for our housing. It is a 3 bedroom house on a churches property that was unused for 5 years. The girls have a room for sleeping and a small room for changing. The Swineys’ have a room, and the boys room had some issues so they are sleeping in the common room and moving out during the day. The tricky thing is 1 bathroom for 20 people. No hot water yet, but they are working on it. They brought a fridge and 2 small electric burners to cook on. We are sleeping on grass mats on the cement floor which can get pretty cold at night. After seeing how the rest of the country lives we are very blessed.
Today we attended a service to honor the Founder of SCOM. We started with a march down a busy highway, then through Mzuzu University and on to a Secondary school Gym, singing praise songs all the way. It was great to hear the history of SCOM and hear testimonies from people they have affected. It went 5 hours in typical African fashion. Many of the school kids asked for our address or email. After that it was another 5 hour trip back to Lilongwe. Not surprisingly we came upon a car accident with injuries so we squeezed even further to accommodate the three injured and took them a couple miles down an even bumpier road (more like a path) to what was called a hospital, although it was hard to imagine any of us would want medical care there.
Friday
Today we enjoyed the sun as we waited for the SCOM staff to come pick us up. It has been hard for them to find transportation for 20 people, but their church has some vans they can use a little. We made a 5 hour trip north to Mzuzu over extremely bumpy roads. The scenery was totally amazing, not necessarily in beauty, but in seeing how everyone lives. Lots of wood shacks or brick houses.
Thursday
We all finally made it to Malawi! (Well, all but Drew’s suitcase. Hopefully it will show up Monday!) The SCOM staff spent many hours finding and equipping a house for us. It is so good to have a home. Thank you to all that prayed for our housing. It is a 3 bedroom house on a churches property that was unused for 5 years. The girls have a room for sleeping and a small room for changing. The Swineys’ have a room, and the boys room had some issues so they are sleeping in the common room and moving out during the day. The tricky thing is 1 bathroom for 20 people. No hot water yet, but they are working on it. They brought a fridge and 2 small electric burners to cook on. We are sleeping on grass mats on the cement floor which can get pretty cold at night. After seeing how the rest of the country lives we are very blessed.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Off to Malawi
We are leaving for the airport in 10 minutes. We will not have internet access as easily for the next few days and maybe longer.
Please keep praying
Chris
Please keep praying
Chris
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
In South Africa
Greetings from Pretoria, South Africa in the name of the Lord Jesus.
After 2 days of travel including over 17 hours in flight (including two overnight flights) we arrived yesterday morning here in Souh Africa. We were exhausted but thankful to be here. Many rested during the morning and in the afternoon we got some exercise at a park a few minutes walk away.
We studied Psalm 23 together in the afternoon. What a beautiful passage showing God's care and blessing in our lives as well as our need to be fully dependant upon Him. We enjoyed a good dinner and then talke about team expectations and goals.
We will be here today ,Wednesday and fly to Malawi tomorrow.
Please pray for our continued recovery from jet lag and for our teams bonding in the next few days. We would also appreciate prayer for our travel and first few days in Malawi.
God bless you
Chris
After 2 days of travel including over 17 hours in flight (including two overnight flights) we arrived yesterday morning here in Souh Africa. We were exhausted but thankful to be here. Many rested during the morning and in the afternoon we got some exercise at a park a few minutes walk away.
We studied Psalm 23 together in the afternoon. What a beautiful passage showing God's care and blessing in our lives as well as our need to be fully dependant upon Him. We enjoyed a good dinner and then talke about team expectations and goals.
We will be here today ,Wednesday and fly to Malawi tomorrow.
Please pray for our continued recovery from jet lag and for our teams bonding in the next few days. We would also appreciate prayer for our travel and first few days in Malawi.
God bless you
Chris
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A phone number in South Africa
In case of emergencies you may call us in South Africa at the Pagani.
The phone number is 012-546-8438. Please only call if it is an emergency.
Pray for our travel. It is two days of travel to South Africa.
We will say hi to the Queen while in London.
Thank you for your prayers.
The phone number is 012-546-8438. Please only call if it is an emergency.
Pray for our travel. It is two days of travel to South Africa.
We will say hi to the Queen while in London.
Thank you for your prayers.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Ready or not! Here we go!
We fly out at 8:25pm on Sunday, June 22.
Our team will gather at O'Hare at 5pm by the British airways counter in the international terminal.
Please pray for
Preparation:
the last minute details
not forgetting anything too important
spiritual strength for all of the team
Travel:
on time planes
sleep on the plane
no motion sickness
lay over in London to be good for team bonding
Orientation in South Africa: (we have 3 days/2 nights in South Africa to prepare as a team)
our study of God's word
our team to develop trust
Our team will gather at O'Hare at 5pm by the British airways counter in the international terminal.
Please pray for
Preparation:
the last minute details
not forgetting anything too important
spiritual strength for all of the team
Travel:
on time planes
sleep on the plane
no motion sickness
lay over in London to be good for team bonding
Orientation in South Africa: (we have 3 days/2 nights in South Africa to prepare as a team)
our study of God's word
our team to develop trust
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