June 20, 2017


The Swaziland team has had a difficult beginning to their trip. Storms in Atlanta diverted the first leg of their itinerary, setting in motion a patchwork Plan B that led to split up of the team for part of the journey in flights and lodging. They arrived a day late, with only one bag of 32 arriving with them. ONE!

The prayer guide sent out last week did not anticipate this! Here are additional ways to pray for this team:

Lee and Lisa Smith: As trip leaders, they have shouldered the weight of responsibility. Pray for them to remain sharp, cool-headed, wise and strong. Pray for them as a couple working under this kind of stress.

Discouragement: This team could become discouraged very quickly. So many things are out of their control. Their luggage contains so many familiar and helpful things, for themselves and the Swazi children and staff. They walk onto the Care Pointe grounds in Njojane empty-handed, a bit more vulnerable. Pray they are encouraged in surprising ways.

Homesickness: People will have thoughts of home when things are not going as planned.  They long for someone to make it all right, to be in a place where they can fix the problem or a family member will take care of them. Thankfully, there are many parent-children combos on this team. Pray they all sense a place of home as they are welcomed by their Swazi hosts and happy Swazi children.

The Mind: Everyone on the team is looking at this trip differently now. Their minds will have not only culture overload (many are first-timers to Swaziland), but perhaps some attention deficit as they shift from the long travel to their luggage to physical tiredness, to keeping track of each other and so many other things only they know. Pray their minds have the space to process this surprise turn of events, while still having space and grace to minister to the children and staff at the Care Pointe.

The Swazi Hosts: They will be impacted by this delay. Pray that they receive abundantly from the Lord what He desires to give them this week. Pray that the Connection Pointe team is still the conduit of the Lord’s ministry for our African sisters and brothers in Christ. Pray for the bond to strengthen as only God can do.

Luggage: Pray the other 31 pieces arrive!

Pray this scripture for the team and Swazi people:

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:16-17)

Til next week, Dan


With or without luggage, these faces will be so excited to see our team!