What the Wind Blew in...

The Boehrigs! They have arrived safe and sound in Swaziland and fter several days of rain they have set up the tent in the rental yard where they'll be "living" til property legalities are settled. Property problems have been the greatest hurdle for Brian to contend with over the year that he has been searching for land, clearing land, property lines, property ownership.  Seems like once something appears to "be it" satan finds someone willing to step forward to upset the apple cart.  This coming weekend another tribal meeting is scheduled to finalize the decision of Manna being the rightful owner of the latest property where a dwelling has already been built. It's comforting to know that the community is supportive of us and are our spokespeople. We appreciate your prayers.

The anticipation of living amongst our neighbors grows greater as more time is desired to spend with the children at the feeding program.  Thank you for those of you who have given towards this work and continue to give.  The feeding program is one of those efforts that go on and on and we are always in need of help.

A positive note is that with the rains came moisture that has improved Brian's breathing.  The dry season seems to give him a lot of problem with his lungs.  Thank you for your prayers!!  

David Knew

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.

Psalm 23

Feeding the Little Ones

World Vision's donation has run dry and the feeding program hasn't had any food for 2 weeks.  Brian has purchased 4 large bags of mealy meal, 1 large bag of beans, 8 large bottles of oil, sugar and salt.  He was not able to get all that was needed on the list of things for his $250, but hopes that this amount will last for 2 weeks. Thank you for all that you are doing to be Jesus' hands here on earth and specifically to this need of the children in our community.  Pray for the "loaves and fishes" to be multiplied.
Maria has been spending more and more time with the kids and we continue to plant the seed of Jesus' love for them and all of his creation.
Please keep Brian in your prayers as he is not feeling well.  Something that feels like flu and is hoping it doesn't move into his lungs as he struggles with bronchitis.

To Help Towards the Swaziland Work

To make a donation towards the work being done in Swaziland, you can send a check to Manna Global Ministries, memo-ed "Swaziland" to: Manna Global Ministries P.O. Box 2993 Clarksville, IN 47131  OR via Paypal at the following link Swaziland, Africa

Thank you for partnering with us in the efforts being done here.  Your prayers and donations are a blessing.

Help Us to Help Them

This past Wednesday we arrived at the “feeding center” at 9am where several ladies were already

cooking the children's lunch on an open fire under a tree. The children range from toddlers to 5 and 6
years old with a few older ones who can't afford to go to school. They are fed a breakfast of porridge
and a lunch of beans and “pop” (something similar to grits) six times a week as long as the staples
supplied by World Vision last through the month.

They let us know a list of their needs in better being able to tend to the feeding of these little ones:

First and most importantly are pots. They are borrowing neighbors' pots and if a funeral or need of the community requires the use of the pots else where they aren't able to feed the children.

2. Sometimes the donated food doesn't last for the month and may be delayed in coming for a month and the children “go to sleep with water only”.

3. A shelter out of the rain to cook and feed the children would allow them to not have cancelations due to weather.

4. And to have someone help prepare the pre-school children with some basic education and English (which is taught in the schools) so they'll have a better understanding when or if able to attend school.

To see these people doing all within their abilities to care for these children is such an encouragement
to us and our desire is to bless them in however we can, but we need financial help. Please pray and
contribute whatever you are able to help these children have a chance of what so many take for granted.

Building Continues

The boys are back working on the house again! Plastering the walls is about all done. Got the

plumbing in for a shower and sink. The roof should be finished this weekend. And hopefully next
week the plumbing for a toilet and a kitchen sink will be completed and the floor can be put in.

We truly feel welcomed by the people in the district we will be settling. One neighbor says she wants

to give us a laying hen as a welcome gift once we move in!

Spending long hours back in our neighborhood we discovered some of the local ladies have a feeding

center for almost 50 “orphaned” children, (some have lost either a mother or father or both, most from AIDS, and are staying with grandparents who don't even have enough to live on themselves), and this has given us the opportunity to see how we can be of service to the needs of our neighbors. We have a meeting set up next week to talk with the “grannies” in charge.

Limbo

Limbo.  Sometimes that's how it feels.  Suppose that's better than falling back.
Brian and Maria went and met with the advisor of education to see what would be needed in order to even go amongst the children in the community to do some playtime, preschool activities.  Apparently the country has been "burned" by people coming in and the country wants to protect their children.  Totally understandable. We just want to be LIGHT and we can do that as we go through the process of "the laws of the land".
Continue to pray for God's timing in all our pursuits.  Keep Arlyn in your prayers as he is several days into aches, fevers and chills.  Antibiotics to help with possible tickbite fever aren't having affect, so Brian is taking him to be tested for malaria.

Delayed Easter Eggs

Went out to the property again today and took the Easter eggs with us just in case some of the kids were

around during the vacation from school. All the school age kids were away but we had a slew of
preschoolers come out to meet us as we pulled along side the road with our box of Easter eggs. So cute and gracious with receiving their treat.

We have a meeting lined up to discuss with the community leaders about being able to have a gathering of the little ones and teaching them some preschool activities.

This will allow us to have more involvement in the community and help us to learn the
language, as well as showing our respect by following their tradition and culture of doing things.
Things move slowly here. You've heard “Africa has it's own rhythm”? It does and it's hard not to just
jump into doing things how we've done them in other places, but what may work somewhere else
doesn't mean it'll work here. We make our feeble attempt to be “all things to all people” in the imprint
of Jesus' footsteps.

Road Trip

After being in Swaziland a month, I needed to leave the country to renew my visa and Easter weekend shuts most things down here in Swaziland. People take time off and go away, mainly to the coast; so with no official business progressing with the property during this time, the Koopmans, Dan and we went across the northern border into South Africa to travel a well known scenic route. It was beautiful!!

A picture tells a thousand word yet still doesn't do it justice.

Found a spot to set up the tent and enjoyed the fellowship around the campfire, thanking God for such a gift of placing man in charge of this earth. We were further blessed by seeing the creativeness of the

animals and diversity of God's creatures on this continent when we made our way back home via
Kruger National Park. It was a great road trip and put things back into perspective of how great and
powerful our God is and what He wants to happen will happen even with our little requests that seem
so important to us.

Step Forward

Thanks be to God Brian received his two year residency visa yesterday. It took some time and going back and forth for meetings, interviews and additional information needed, but he finally got it!

Please continue to pray for the land dispute and as we wait on the Lord to touch the heart of the one causing the problems. The community is behind us and are giving their support of wanting us there.

Brian, Arlyn and Dan are headed out to play a game of soccer with the locals this evening as Maria and I cheer for all willing to play in this heat!

Fun Time

Great opportunity for meeting more people from the community at last weekend's soccer match. We'd

taken Easter eggs thinking younger kids would be there, but it was mainly teens and young men, so
we'll hand them out next time we head out there. We're so looking forward to the land problem being
solved so we can spend more time amongst our neighbors, getting to know them better and showing
them how much Jesus loves them.

It was dark once we reached the rental where fellow romm-mates, Arlyn and Maria Koopmans, and their friend Dan, from Canada greeted us. I seetld in and sent right to sleep. Waking the next day, I looked out over an expansive valley of sugar cane that sloped up to a circle of mountains...gorgeous! We drove over to the property where the construction of our home is and discovered a beautiful view from there as well. This is a lovely country. During the time Brian came to get me trouble arose concerning this property. Some disgruntled relation of the person we bought it from is wanting to lay claim to it, so things have stopped for the moment until it can be resolved. Satan is doing his best to get us to throw our hands us. We ash for your continued prayers as we face more frustrations.

Psalms 37:7-9 7
Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Tammie Arrived

I arrived at the Jo'burg airport being told by customs that my intended stay was too lng. After I assured them that I was traveling through SA to Swaziland and then returning to SA for my departure, they stamped my passport. I proceeded to get my bag and look for Brian out in the main terminal. I noticed his long hair and goatee right away as well a couple other familiar faces. Donnie and Naida Harrington from VA, who had just arrived in a plane prior to mine and Brian had spotted them in the crowd. As big as this earth is, "it's a small world"! We were able to spend the weekend with Brian's mom and dad and had a "braai" (cookout) with a couple of his sisters and their family. Traveling through South Africa was beautiful, but as we approached the mountainous region of Swaziland it was even more so. Thank you Lord, for safe travels!

Going Up

God's timing is perfect. The problem is remembering that when time schedules aren't met according to "our" plans. We had hoped to have the first dwelling completed before the new year, but due to the complications of the initial property and relocating to our current property the building got started later and then we found ourselves facing weeks of rain that slowed the process even further. Thankfully with the labor of a small crew of Swazis, team members: Sean and Nicole, Arlyn and Maria, visitors: Drew, Tate and Wesley we have a good bit of clearing done, fencing, and are at the roofing stage.

Our goals for the future remain in tact regarding building, fish ponds and agricultural projects, but as always our priority is the people. Building deeper relationships with those who have been put before us and growing in faith of a God who sent His son to be our Savior.

Your prayers, donations and encouragement are a blessing to the work and to us. Thank you!

Welcome Koopmans

Arlyn and Maria arrived in Swaziland yesterday. We are so happy that they're there. Brian was stalled with proceeding with construction due to a week of rain and is ready to de done with the "busy work" and ready to focus on the relationships with the people.

Keep the Koopmans in your prayers as they recoup from the long travels to get to Swaziland and as they adjust to a new place, language and life. Welcome aboard, Guys!

Visitors Update

"The trip was awesome! Loved every minute of it. The work was hard, the company was great, and I truly believe that Brian is going to do a great ministry. Africa is an interesting place;  I had never been to the continent and it was awesome to be able to experience it with people that are familiar with the environment. I look forward to going again!" ~Drew Cleveland~

Drew, Tate, Wesley

Fencing the Property

Taking a Break

Campsite

Happy New Year

Praying that you all had a wonderful celebration at Christmas and, as we begin a New Year, that Christ be our focus for all we do and say.

The year ended in Swaziland with work on the house getting up 9 rows of block high.

A connection has been made with workers, neighbors, kids passing the property on their way to school,  and fellow believers; and friendships are being formed.  We thank God for the opportunities placed before us and that we are being welcomed by the neighborhood.

Brian was back in the USA for all the family gatherings over the holidays and is now gearing up to head back into Swaziland for the long haul.  Tammie will be joining him there for a season after her trip to Gautemala to accompany Keely Williams, a new team member for the MannaDR work, at language school.

Thank you for your prayers.  Please continue to pray for this new work as we are aware that Satan is always roaming, looking to destroy.