First Sunday in Swaziland

What a beautiful, sunny spring day! We all were driven up the mountains to St. Thomas, one of several to many churches served by Fr. Charles Kunene. Fr. Charles admits to still dreaming "in Iowa", and what a delight to worship this morning with Fr. Charles and Thulie. Fr. Carl Mann of St. Albans, Spirit Lake was the preacher/presider. Young people from the congregation read the lessons in English and Saswati. We sat next to the Sunday School Superintendent who shared her hymnal to "encourage our singing". They sang the refrain to "O Come All Ye Faithful" within the eucharistic prayer. At announcement time Fr. Charles introduced us, and told all of us that the green frontal was a gift from St. Paul's Cathedral. And in the back of the church is a clock from Shenandoah, affectionately reminding him of Bud Ferrel, his sermon time-keeper. After getting acquanted it was back through the hills to Thokoza Center for the dental team to pack, eat, and head east to move in with host families and to set up the space where they will start screening and treating school children tomorrow. Yesterday a government official spent a long time with Terry and Fr. Andrew to finish the credentialing process which was a lengthy process of sticky government control. But, at the end she became excited to see what actually would be done, and will be sending several of her para-professionals to the eastern dental clinic for training with Terry. This is very positive and excitin! Dave and Mary Jane enjoyed a leisurely lunch with Fr. Andrew and Rosemary with much conversation about the Neighborhood Care Pointes, and our schedule for tomorrow. We will meet with the women working in the HIV/AIDS office and then off to Ekufikeni to begin program assessment, gather input from all I meet, and then do a mini-workshop for those who prepare the food and care for the children there. We feel so supported by your prayers - and we are grateful! Know that you are in our prayers. Sahle Kahle! (Stay well!) MJ+