While with the Thrive Africa team, my wife Natalie and I visited the Harrismith hospital and had the life-impacting privilege of praying with and for some of the patients.  This experience enabled me to see the Lord with greater clarity.  One patient, in particular, made an impression.  Her name was Palice.  When our Thrive group approached her bed, we asked whether we could pray for her.  She consented.  Next, we asked her condition and how we could pray for her.  She murmured that we could pray for her piles, or hemorrhoids, which we said we would.  After receiving her permission to lay hands on her, each of us proceeded to pray in the Spirit for Palice’s healing and relief from her hemorrhoids.  The Thrive leader, Charlene, then proceeded to share Jesus with Palice.  Charlene then asked if Palice wanted us to pray for anything else.  Tears welled in Palice’s eyes.  I swallowed, intuiting from Palice’s non-verbal response that there was more.  Palice mustered her strength and reached for the drawer in the metal stand by her hospital bed.  She opened it slowly and fumbled toward the back, producing a small, folded piece of rectangular paper, which she handed to Charlene.  Charlene unfolded the paper, read it and sighed, handing it to me.  The paper read: “HIV Reactive.”

I have read the stats and figures surrounding HIV-AIDS in South Africa, but, in meeting Palice, the stats faded away into one tearful face.  Her courage was phenomenal, for, as I understand it, admitting to having HIV-AIDS is exceptionally rare in South African culture.  Charlene’s courage also was inspirational because, by sharing Jesus at Palice’s bedside, she demonstrated to me (and, from what I could tell, Palice) the power of Jesus.  I have a feeling that the Harrismith hospital may not be the last one in which Natalie and I pray for the sick.

- Dave Thompson

Dave and Natalie Thompson served with us for two weeks as volunteers.  They reside in London, UK.

Our Leadership Summit students have been learning how popular culture impacts their daily lives. Many students are realizing for the first time that the media promotes ways of thinking and behaving that are often contrary to the lifestyle example we see in Jesus.

Anna (LS coach) describes one of her class’ reactions, “The learners enjoyed the lesson very much because they didn’t realize before how much media has an influence on their life and they said they want to change that, they want to start having a relationship with God instead of always watching T.V.”

Our students have realized that by limiting their exposure to negative media sources, they can create more opportunities for God to lead and influence them instead. Our Leadership Summit coaches have expressed excitement about watching the students embrace the truth in these lessons. Busisiwe (LS coach) said, “I thank God because they [students] realized the truth about media and what God’s Word says about the media.  They now agree with me and know that everything they do must glorify God.”

As our time here in Swaziland is winding down we are tired, sore, and happy. We have spent hours and days transforming properties, with the bulk of our work going into houses that will be, or are already being used as homes for local orphans. What an amazing time we’ve had painting, digging, raking, machete yielding, and so much more! We’ve all walked away with not only a sense of what has been accomplished but also knowing that so much more will be done in the hearts of those who live in the places we’ve renovated. It’s so encouraging to know that the children we see walking around Bulembu will soon have a home and a nicer place to play after school. As we return home at the end of this week, we will remember that the homes we’ve painted, gardens we’ve built, and overgrown fields we’ve seen transform into lawns are all just outward symbols of lives that will be strengthened, empowered and touched with the love of Jesus in each of those locations.

During our time in Swaziland our interns have experienced first hand what it means to serve one another and to put others before yourself. The sunburns will fade, the blisters will heal, but hopefully the lessons learned will last a lifetime.

~ Kelly Corder, Internship Director

As our 24/7 interns teach LaunchPad, we continue to hear encouraging stories about how God is impacting and changing lives through this outreach. Here is a testimony from Mahoa Sipho, one of our students at the Club View class:

Launch Pad has really taught me about how much Jesus really loves me and cares about me. The reason I come to LaunchPad is because there’s always something new to learn about Christ and I have found my purpose through this class- it turns lives around. ~Mahoa Sipho

And here is what 24/7 intern, Sam Behrman has to say about her LaunchPad class:

From the beginning of LaunchPad classes at Mampoi High School, god has been raising up leaders within our group. During the first week, each of the students expressed a desire to become small group leaders. One of the learners, Tefo, has been translating for each of our lessons. Even though the topics of love, sex, and relationships are taboo in Basotho culture, the students have been very interested and involved by participating in discussions and asking questions. They are not afraid to approach these issues with honesty and without timidity.