Pray for Youth Camp!

The Swaziland Baptist Youth Camp is starting today and will run through this Sunday, August 29, 2010. This year's theme is" Running Towards the Super Race" and a volunteer team from First Baptist Church, Belton, Texas is with the youth to assist them with teaching/preaching, games, discussion groups and building relationships. Youth camp is a highlight for all of our Swazi youth as it is an annual event for all our Baptist churches to come together for four days of fun, fellowship and hearing the word of God. The youth pay a small camp fee to attend to assist the costs of food and school rental fee. They also have to pay their own transportation to get to camp so it is something the youth save up for together with their churches for many months.

Youth camp is quite special to my own heart as I helped to re-start the national youth camp back in 2000 during my two-year journeyman/ISC term. Youth camp had happened a few times in the past with other missionaries and national leadership but it was not consistent. During my first two years in Swaziland, God gave me the vision and direction to establish a National Youth Committee that was going to lead and plan for the youth camp each year. Yes, I have been on the committee, too, for most of the past ten years but it is really planned and led by our own Swazi youth. Each year, they take on more and more responsibility and I am very proud of all of them. At youth camp, the new NYC members are chosen and prayed for by their pastors, leaders and other youth peers. Through the years, the NYC has grown to plan other regional youth events as well as national youth leader's retreat. God has grown several of these youth into awesome leaders in many of our churches today.

This year's camp marks ten years of consistently having a youth camp each year. We always plan for August because it is a school break for our students. The schools have three breaks throughout the year. The Easter services are in April and too much is going on with the Christmas holidays during the December break so the August break is the best time for youth camp. Through the years, we have had fellow missionaries from Zambia help lead/teach at youth camp, volunteer teams from churches come lead at youth camp, fellow missionary colleagues in Swaziland teach/preach at youth camp as well as other Swazi pastors giving of their time to share at youth camp. It has been a learning process to prepare for camp through the years but a great time for our youth to grow both individually and together as a group.

I am asking if you would join me in praying for youth camp over the next few days that God would move in a mighty way among the hearts and lives of our Swazi youth? HE has great plans for ALL of them!!!

-Pray for the services, sessions, game times, fellowship, meals, etc. that every conversation would glorify God!

-Pray for our volunteer team to have strength and stamina each day as they serve the youth at camp.

-Pray the translation is clearly understood as the word is being shared from English to siSwati.

-Pray for the chairman of the NYC, Musa Dlamini, and the rest of the NYC committee to serve at camp with servant leadership.

Even now, I give God ALL the praise for the great things HE is going to do at camp this year. I look forward to hearing the stories and seeing the photos. My heart waits expectantly to hear of HIS good news from everyone!

Lacie has been going to youth camp since she was a little baby. Youth camp 2005 was her second youth camp.

Playing games at youth camp - not all about sitting all day!

Youth camp shirts - 2006

National Youth Committee 2006

Break out sessions - youth camp 2005 -


volunteer team from FBC Washington helped to lead the youth camp

Youth camp shirts - 2005

Hanging with friends - youth camp 2009

Youth camp 2006 meeting at a school for the first time because we outgrew our churches!

May Prayer Update

Over the past six weeks, we have been in and out of 10 different states between sharing with churches about Swaziland and able to spend time with family and friends. We are thankful for the opportunities to continue the story of all God is doing in Swaziland and for times of rest and fun times with family as well. Right now, we are in eastern North Carolina, where Steven lived about 13 years, connecting with churches and precious friends. It has been loads of fun showing the kids where Daddy used to live or work or attend church.

Over this weekend in Swaziland, the National Youth Committee met in Mbabane for their annual planning retreat concerning the upcoming national youth camp in August. We are thrilled to know that a volunteer team from First Baptist Church, Belton, Texas (where Al and Belinda Jordan are members in the USA) will be coming to assist with youth camp this year. The camp theme has been chosen to be a sports theme with the World Cup emphasis so much throughout Southern Africa in June and July. Please be praying for all the logistics and schedule planning that will be finalized in the coming weeks. Pray even now for the many youth that will be attending youth camp in August that their hearts will be open to learning all God has planned for them. Youth camp is also celebrating their ten-year anniversary...how exciting!

Continue praying for Al and Belinda Jordan as they are staying in our house and covering much of our ministry area while we are in the USA. There have been ups and downs with their time in Swaziland, which is all part of life in Africa! :) Pray for strength as well as times of renewal for their lives as they faithfully serve the Lord each day in Swaziland. A huge inconvenience has been the issue with internet. Pray the internet line can be corrected soon and they would have a consistent and reliable internet connection during their stay in Mbabane.

On June 13-14, Monica has been asked to represent the International Mission Board at the National Women's Missionary Union meeting in Orlando, Florida. Monica is excited to represent the IMB, her home state of Florida, the ministry of Swaziland but most importantly, Jesus Christ, as the daughter of the king! Pray for these speaking times of being able to convey how God is working in and through the kingdom of Swaziland!

On June 17, Lacie will be celebrating her 6th birthday. She is looking forward to a Little Mermaid birthday celebration with lots of her daddy's family.

We recently heard a startling statistic that Swaziland is well on its way to being the first nation to wipe out their existing population due to the devastating AIDS crises. This news breaks our hearts but yet pushes us with the urgency to get the gospel of Jesus Christ out more than ever. Pray for the AIDS crises in Swaziland and for people to make lifestyle changes.

Our family will be moving from North Carolina to West Palm Beach at the end of June/beginning of July. If you are in the West Palm Beach/South Florida area and would like for us to share at your church, Bible study group, youth group, women's group, school, etc, please let us know soon so we can finalize our schedule. We plan to be in West Palm Beach until around September 26, when we will be returning to Swaziland.

Thank you for your faithful prayer support!
Steven, Monica, Lacie and Nathan Allen
IMB missionaries serving in Swaziland

Attached is an updated photo of Lacie and Nathan taken by Pastor Jimmy Moore of First Baptist Church, Washington, North Carolina.

Precious photo of Lacie and Nathan...wow, they are growing up fast!

USA update...FINALLY!

Greetings from the good 'ol USA! :) Our family arrived in the USA on March 27 after a very long plane ride and now trying to get our feet underneath us. We have had lots of problems with our email server but we are praying the kinks are all worked out now. Keep praying we can stay in the land of the internet and communication! :)

We enjoyed one week of being at Steve's parent's area in northwestern North Carolina and Easter weekend with family before we started off for our first round of travels. Last week, we were at our company's stateside conference for debriefing and further training. It was nice to be with other colleagues that are literally serving all over the world. The kids enjoyed being in classes for their different age groups. Right now, we are up in Havre de Grace, Maryland, where Steve was born and raised, hanging with his brother and family for the week. It has been great spending time with family and catching up with one another's lives. We have also started sharing with Bible study groups, churches and schools about our lives and ministry in Swaziland. We praise God for these contacts and opportunities to share how God is moving in the kingdom of Swaziland. We will be heading to one of Steve's sister's house in western Maryland this Saturday to spend several days with her family. Then, we will return to North Carolina later next week. Our family will then head to Pineville, Kentucky on April 26-28 to share with Clear Creek Bible College and a church. Steve met folks from this college while he was in Israel last year on his archeological dig.

Ministry is continuing in Swaziland with Al and Belinda Jordan holding down the fort for us and we are so grateful for them being there to serve with the Swazi people. We heard amazing reports that our annual Swazi Baptist Easter services (Thursday - Sunday) went very well with no major problems. This was great encouragement to us as the past two years have had huge issues that caused conflict among our leaders and churches. Both Hawane and Lesibovu Baptist churches are pressing on with their building projects and have slowly begun building/dedicating their plots of land to start building their own church buildings. Praise the Lord! Continue to pray for the ministries in Swaziland and for the Jordans as they press on with the daily days in and out of life in Swaziland. Our team leaders, Wayne and Barbara Myers, have moved into their new house, just 2km down the road from where they were living. Pray for them as they are sorting through the final boxes and getting house set up for the final time, we pray.

A huge praise for our family is that we have found a place to stay while we are in West Palm Beach in July - September. One of my Monica's closest friend's growing up, Jennifer Story Peavey, has a family member that has recently moved to assisted living. Her condo is available for us to use and it fits our budget, too. Thank you, Lord!!!

We should be getting a permanent cell phone to use while we are in the USA until September sometime this week. We will send out the number when we receive it. Until then, feel free to email us through this address or we have set up a temporary gmail account to use as well - allensinafrica@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from many of you and we appreciate your ongoing prayers. Our family is adjusting to life back in the USA - crazy traffic, busyness of life, parks around every corner for the kids to play, too many choices, huge portions of food at restaurants, church services in English, great family times/memories, free internet, missing friends/school for Lacie back in Swaziland (she has had the hardest adjustment of us all!), times of naps and rest, etc.

Attached are photos Al and Belinda Jordan, Maria Shandu and Steve with the kids as well as our family on the day we left Swaziland for the big trip to the USA. Enjoy!

Blessings and prayers,
Steve, Monica, Lacie and Nathan Allen
IMB missionaries serving in Swaziland

Our family saying "see you later" to Swaziland for several months!

Passing the baton of our house and ministry to Al and Belinda Jordan, along with Maria Shandu (the kid's Swazi Gogo) as well!

Leaving "home" to go visit "home"

The bags are pretty much packed and the house has been sorted through over the past few weeks in preparation of heading to the USA for six months. You would think by now that the transition of leaving our home to go visit our home would get easier but that is not always true. As a missionary living in a foreign country, I have embraced Swaziland as my home. Our family is in our seventh year of living in Swaziland and for our children, Africa is more home to them than the USA, where I grew up. Do not get me wrong, I long to see my family and visit with friends but I also do not necessarily want to leave my home in Africa at the same time. I wish Africa was closer to America! :) The Atlantic Ocean is tooooo big!!!!

Through all these mixed emotions, God has been faithful to give me a peace that He is still in control and He understands what I am going through, even on days when I do not! On Sunday, we were saying farewell to a church, Hawane Baptist, that is dear to our hearts as it is the first church we planted and started in our last mission term. The church asked us to greet them and say a few words before Steve began preaching. God impressed upon me to share with my brothers and sisters in Christ that the same God that is here with them in Swaziland is the same God that will be with our family in America. Praise the Lord! It was a great reminder for me, too, that God is not leaving me just because I was leaving Swaziland. He IS going with me and will stay with me!!!

In sorting through several closets and stuff in our house over the past few weeks, I ran across an older issue of Today's Christian Woman. In it, there was an article about a wife that kept struggling with moving all the time due to her husband's job. No, I am not moving all the time but the few key principles that were shared impacted my mind and heart greatly.

1. Dwell in the Land based on Jeremiah 29 - stop wasting time and energy fussing over the loss of leaving and carry on the business of living. Enjoy living in the present and not the past!

2. Learn to be Content based on Philippians 4:11 - be happy and content whatever the circumstances. Focus on the here and now and be thankful for all God has given me...whew!

3. Set My Mind on Things Above based on Colossians 3:2 - Look ahead to the eternal home Jesus is preparing for me in heaven and that is definitely something to look forward to!

4. Be a Living Sacrifice based on Romans 12:1 - I choose to be a living sacrifice - to please God. I desire to place all my different longings on an altar sacrificing them to the Lord.

I am beginning to look forward to our furlough time in the USA for six months. It will be amazing times with our family and re-connecting them with our children. I look forward to worship services in English (rare for us as we are in siSwati language services each week!) and also opportunities for my children to be with kids their ages at church. All in all, it is going to be precious times of rest for my family and truly resting in God's arms as He revives our bodies, minds and souls to continue the ministry He has called us to do for His glory.

I hope to see many of you on my journey as I visit my "other home" and a chance to catch up on all God is doing in our lives.

Thank you for praying for our family

Thank you for the many emails we received concerning Lacie's unplanned surgery this past Friday morning. Your prayers and support mean the world to our family.
Lacie did great with her surgery, although she did come out with some minimal pain in her left ear. Praise the Lord for good pain meds! :) Lacie was such a trooper through it all! Lacie and I were able to come home Friday around lunch time and it was great to be reunited with our guys. Nathan was sooo excited to see his sissy. Aunt Jane Lawson, missionary friend from Jo'burg, has come to spend the weekend with our family and we always love having friends with us. Today is Nathan's 2nd birthday and we are so blessed by his precious life in our family. He is our active, little man and adds so much life to our household! :) We praise God for such a blessing to us.

Our family is sorting through our house and belongings as we will be leaving for the USA on March 26 for our stateside (furlough) time. We will leave Swaziland on March 25 to be in Jo'burg for one night before flying out on March 26. Pray for the packing process and long travels for our family, esp for Nathan. We will be on a plane for 18 hours with an active two-year old! :) We will be landing in Charlotte on the morning of March 27 and staying with Steven's parent's in the northwestern area of NC. We will be going to our company's stateside conference April 5-10 and then onto Maryland to visit with family and connecting churches for a couple weeks. We will send out a more detailed schedule at a later time. Our biggest prayer concern is that we STILL need a place to stay when our family is in West Palm Beach from July 1 - September 25 or so. Pray a place opens soon for our family to rent or house sit.

Pray also for Al and Belinda Jordan as they will be coming to live in our house and cover some of our ministry areas while we are on our stateside time until the end of September. They will be leaving the USA on March 16, landing in Jo'burg on March 17 and driving onto Swaziland on March 19. We are very thankful for their willingness to come at their own expense to assist our family, mission team and Swazi people during these next six months. Pray for their last minute preparations and for safe travels in a couple weeks.

This past week, our team leaders, Wayne and Barbara Myers, received word that the rental house they are staying in is no longer available to them. They have been given two months to find a new house, pack and move to a new place. Pray for the RIGHT house for them and clarity through this tough time. They have just returned from their stateside time back in January and had just gotten settled into their current house in the Tshaneni area. We are trusting God to provide the right place for them.

Happy 2nd Birthday Nathan!!!

Nathan doing the maize mill at one of the homestead

Nathan loves playing in the water anytime!

Nathan at his first birthday party....loves any kind of cars! :)

Nathan at birth...what a cutie!

Nathan saying..."Hi world, I have arrived!"

It is hard to believe that our little man is already two years old. Wow, where does the time go? It seem like yesterday that Nathan was born and we were becoming a family of four. Nathan has added tons of energy to our family and he is such a precious gift from the Lord. We are learning that it is way different to raise a little boy vs. a little girl! :) We often say that if we could figure out a way to bottle up a kid's energy level, we would make millions! Nathan loves cars, balls, blocks and books. He loves being outdoors and playing with his sissy, Lacie. We look forward to watching Nathan grow up each day and all the wonderful plans God has for his precious life.

Climb Every Mountain

One of my all-time favorite movies is "The Sound of Music" and hoping my kids will enjoy the movie one day as well. This past Sunday on our way to church a song from the movie came to mind several times. It is "Climb Every Mountian" because we literally climbed a Swazi mountain to attend church services with one of our churches. Ntsintsa Baptist Church has been a church since the mid-1990's but has always met in the Red Cross Building in the community "center". Until just recently, the church now has their own building for church and the people are so excited. The church was full and the worship was sweet with these precious believers in Christ. The weather was hot, kids were crying (including my own little Nathan!) but it did not dampen the spirit of the Lord filling this place for worshipping Him. We look forward to visiting with this church again soon! Enjoy the photos that tell the story better than words can this time.

Small, twisting road we had drive to in our truck to get to the bottom of the mountain path near the church. I must admit I was glad Steve was driving to church! :)

Steve, Lacie and Nathan almost making it to the top of the mountain path

Just a small part of the mountain path we had to climb up and down to get to church. NO way the truck was going on this path!

The new building for Ntintsa Baptist Church!!!!

Nathan hanging with some of his Swazi friends. Notice that Nathan loves to sit and squat just like a Swazi! :)

Steve preaching for the first time in the new church building, althought the church does have a pastor. It is typically tradition to have a visiting "mfundisi" pastor preach for services.

Beautiful scenery of a nearby homestead from the top of the mountain outside the church doors.

Steve was asked to pray for the newly elected church committee along with Pastor Maseko.

Church is over and making our way back down the mountain path

Ntsintsa Baptist Church literally up near the top of the mountain

Steve, Lacie and Nathan with Pastor Saiko (pronounced "psycho") Maseko

Nathan walking between the two pastors. Mmm...could be a third pastor one day?!?!?!

Praises and Prayer Updates - February

Dear Prayer Partners,

Greetings from Swaziland!
We have much to be praising the Lord for and we want to share with our faithful prayer partners. The month of January literally flew by us and we are busy trying to catch everyone up on things with our family and ministry.

Praises:
- Hawane Baptist Church FINALLY received their plot of land for their own church structure this past Sunday. Praise the Lord!
- Wayne and Barbara Myers, our team leaders, returned from their stateside time at the beginning of January and are getting settled into their new home in Tshaneni. It is great to have them back with us, although we do not see them too often as they are still about two hours away from us.
- Al and Belinda Jordan will be coming to stay in our house and cover some of our ministry while we are in the USA for our stateside time from March - September. The Jordan's have served in both Swaziland and South Africa previously. We are thrilled they are willing to return to Swaziland to assist us, our team and ministry!
They will be arriving March 17 in Johannesburg and then coming onto Swaziland on March 19. Pray for all the logistics they need to finalize on their side before coming to Swaziland for six months.
- The National Youth Committee had a great meeting last month and began plans for the National Youth Leader's Retreat in late May as well as discussing ways to keep encouraging our youth in our churches. Continue to pray for the NYC as they faithfully lead throughout Swaziland.
- Lesibovu is being faithful each week, despite the many rainy days we have had the last few weeks. Their numbers are growing every week and we are excited to see what God has planned for this new church.
- We have had LOTS of rain!!! We keep saying this is the most rain we have ever seen in a rainy season.
- January 10-14, the Helgren family, who serve in Zambia with our company, came for a holiday to visit Swaziland and be with our family. We had a blast and enjoyed being with these precious friends very much!!! The kids loved playing together for four days straight! :)
- On January 12, Steve and I celebrated eight years of marriage and had the opportunity to get away to another part of Swaziland for about 24-hours without the kids a couple weeks after our actual anniversary. Thanks to Jacci and Janet and Gogo Shandu for all their help in watching the kids during that time!
- Our family had a wonderful visit with Don and Pam Lynch, our new associate strategy cluster leader. We have known Don and Pam for several years but our paths do not cross often with them. However, with the many recent changes of our company, Don is the ASCL for town/rural/country areas. They had never been to Swaziland so it was our pleasure to show them our beautiful country and the ministry God has for our family here. Pray for Don and Pam as they are moving from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town this coming week.
- Thank you to all those that generously gave to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering!!! We are hearing great reports of many churches that reached or exceeded their offering goals. God desires to accomplish much through the gifts given for others all around the world to hear about Him!
- Today, 11 years ago, Steve and I met here in Mbabane when he was on a volunteer mission team and I was just starting to serve my two-year missionary term. Steve had developed a kidney stone and I was asked to drive him to Nelspurit, South Africa, for more medical assistance. Little did we know all God had planned for our lives!
- Lacie started Grade 0/kindergarten and is loving being in school! I will be homeschooling Lacie while we are in the USA for our stateside this year and then she will re-join her class in Swaziland when we return in late September.
- I managed to catch tick bite fever this past month but praise the Lord, I did not experience the high fevers that usually occurs. I was able to rest for a few days and then get back into the normal routine of life again quickly.

Prayer Requests:

- Lesibovu has their first official work day to begin clearing their new plot of land on Saturday, February 13. Pray much is accomplished and the weather will be nice as the church starts their journey to building their own church structure.
- Pray for the Baptist Convention of Swaziland as they meet on Saturday, February 6, to make plans for the Easter services coming up the beginning of April. The Easter services is the biggest event for our all our Baptist churches and there is much to be discussed and planned. Pray for unity with decisions and God's leading on the venue, schedule, speakers, food plans, etc.
- Pray for First Baptist Church Belton, Texas, as they are considering coming to lead our National Youth Camp in August. This is the church where Al and Belinda Jordan are coming from and they are praying to finalize plans before they leave the USA in mid-March.
- Continue to pray for our churches to be faithful in serving the Lord in their lives daily among their families, churches, schools and communities. Many of our churches are without pastoral leadership and we are believing the God is going to raise up spiritual leaders for these churches.
- We are praying about where to start the next new work when we return towards the end of the year. Pray for God's direction on where He wants us to begin a new ministry for His glory.
- Our family will be leaving Swaziland on March 25, flying to the USA on March 26 and landing in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 27. We will be spending the first three months in northwestern North Carolina with Steve's family and then July - September in West Palm Beach, Florida. Pray for us as we are finalizing our speaking schedule with partnering churches as well as visiting with family. Our biggest prayer need is a place to stay while we are in West Palm Beach. The missionary housing we used last time is no longer available and there is not another option. If anyone knows of somewhere in the WPB area we can house sit or rent not too high for three months, please contact us ASAP. We know God is in control of everything! Plus, churches in the WPB/South Florida area, please contact us soon if you want us to speak at your church, Bible study group or other groups as our schedule is starting to fill quickly.
- Pray for Barbara Myers' mother, Shirley, as she recently fell and broke her hip. Surgery went well and she is in rehab now. Pray she is able to heal well and has no further complications from the fall.

Lacie starting grade 0/kindergarten and Nathan wanting to go with her!

Lacie and Nathan with the Helgren kids (Lily, Easton and Lauren) on one of the big rocks in our backyard on their recent visit.

Crossing the river to reach Lesibovu for weekly Bible study. (shows how much rain we have had - usually a dry piece of land)

Community elders marking the plot of land for Hawane Baptist Church

Updated family photo from this past Sunday

You have WHAT?!?!?!

Our five-year old daughter, Lacie, just started Grade O in school. It is like kindergarten and she loves being in school. She attends The Little Brown Hen Preschool, where she has been since she was in the 3-year old class so she with many of her friends each day. She attends school 8am - 12:30pm each day.

Last week, we had missionary colleagues visiting us as they had never been to Swaziland and wanted to touch base with our family before we left for our USA furlough time. We were busy with showing them ministry areas as well as local tourist areas, too, as well as keeping the family and home going each day.

Lacie came home from school on Wednesday and announced that she had "HOMEWORK"! I was like, what??? You are in kindergarten! :) Sure enough, she had homework and we had fun doing it together, along with Aunt Pam. Lacie had to cut out items in a magazine that went along with the short sound "a", like apple, animal, ant, etc. It was fun and Lacie was way excited to cut and then paste them in her "homework" book. I thought...girl, you have many, many years ahead of you for homework! :) I hope you stay excited as you are about learning and loving school. I work with Lacie at home, too, and preparing to homeschool her through part of kindergarten while we are in the USA for six months.

I thought it was just too funny that homework is already starting...wow! However, I must admit it will be fun to have yet another time to spend with Lacie watching her grow and learn new things in her life. I thought...mmm, I wonder how that is with our Heavenly Father in that He cannot wait to spend time with each of his children watching us grow and learn each day?!?!

Church plot FINALLY marked

Hawane Baptist Church was our first church plant that started as a Bible study at a local roadside curio market back in 2004. The doors opened for the group to begin meeting on Sunday mornings in 2005 and quickly, the group formed a new church, Hawane Baptist. It has been a great joy in our lives to watch this church grow and grow, not necessarily in numbers, but in their walks with the Lord. The church has waited and waited for their own land so they could begin building their own church structure. Praise the Lord, they were approved to use a community building that also serves as a preschool during the week. However, the church quicky was outgrowing this temporary structure. Steve and several members of the church tore down a wall that was dividing two rooms to add more space.

The church began requesting their own plot of land in 2007 but it has taken until yesterday to "officially" have the land marked as their own. Amazingly, their new land is plot of land just up from the temporary structure so the church is not moving far from its current location. On their new land, there is a run down structure that can be refurbished and part of their new church building. It has been a long road of "waiting" for Hawane Baptist but they never gave up. They kept their heads up and seeking God's direction for their church daily. The main reason for such a long delay, which is not the usual case here in Swaziland, is that the chief in the Hawane area passed away a few years ago now. The chiefdom is an area of five communities coming together. The communities have not been able to agree on a new chief so much is placed on the indvuna's shoulders in the different communities. The indvuna is like the assistant to a chief.

Steve collected the indvuna at his homestead at 7am to take him to the church to start the meeting. The meeting ended up starting at around 9am or so as they were waiting on one of the community elders to arrive at the church meeting. It did not take long once the meeting started and then the church fed the indvuna, community elders and church members at the meeting. Steve was asked to take the indvuna and community elders to the next community, Nkhaba, for another meeting and then Hawane Baptist was ready to start their Sunday morning worship service. Services yesterday was filled with much celebration, singing, praising God, shouting (literally), testimonies and preaching on Nehemiah (Steve did a wonderful job!). I actually got to hear most of the sermon, which is rare these days with an almost two-year old wanting to run around during the service. The church asked me to share with them at the end of the service and the biggest challenge I gave them was to continue to, "press on" in their journey as a church, their walks with the Lord, with their families and with their community. God has done much through Hawane Baptist Church and although they do not have a consistent pastor, they have sweet spirits that truly love the Lord with all their hearts. I look forward to seeing all God has planned for this precious church in the near future.

So, we challenge you...."PRESS ON"!!!!

Lacie helps to end the church service by singing, "Building Up the Temple".

The indvuna in the Hawane community leading the meeting for the

church to have their land "officially" marked as their own.

Hawane Baptist Church in their temporary structure.

It was a great day of celebrating all God has done through His church so far!

The indvuna and community elders "marking" the new plot of land granted to Hawane Baptist Church. The church is excited to start building their own church building very soon!

As with any "meeting", food is always served! :) It is custom to serve the community elders after any special meetings and Hawane Baptist did this graciously and with a servant's heart.

That time of the year....

January is a tough time of the year for us as it is the neverending flow of people asking us to assist them or their family with school fees. School officially opens tomorrow for all the government schools, although some private schools and preschools opened last week. For any age of school children, preschool to form 5 (grade 12), school is not free. There are costs for school fees, uniforms, school supplies, extra activities (sports, arts, etc) for each child. I cannot imagine what it is like for families that have many kids. Most of the time, boys are kept in school longer because girls can help out at home more and also help to watch the younger children still at home. Education is needed to further someone in life here through a job or going onto university. I just wish it was not so difficult for any child that wanted to attend school to be able to do so.

Monday is typically the day we try as a family to be our "day of rest" as Friday, Saturday and Sunday are quite busy for our family, especially Steve, with ministry opportunities. Lacie does attend school on Monday mornings but we attempt to keep our gate closed, cell phones on silent and not work on business items all day long.

Well, this morning, we had visitors at our gate by 9am, which is not too bad because folks have stopped by much earlier in the past. We knew that it would be about school fees and it was. Fortunately, this issue has been a huge matter of prayer for Steve and I in recent months and we felt the Lord leading us to a solution that fits our situation as well as our finances. Unfortunately, we had to tell the people sitting in our lounge (living room) that we could not help them with school fees. If we helped every person that asked us for help, we would have run out of money in our second week of our time in Swaziland! The needs are overwhelming in many ways but we also know that we have to teach our Swazi brothers and sisters how to save their own money, look for resources that are available to them, build within the church support and on and on. It broke my heart to see this young girl, probably age 15, starting to weep in my home because she is not sure how she will attend school this year. In the past much jealousy and tension arose in many of our churches when folks would find out that so and so was helped by this missionary or so and so was helped by that missionary and so on. We know that for now we cannot give to direct individuals because this cycle of dependency has to be broken. God has blessed us with different resources and we are being led to give through our Baptist churches.

This youth girl also has been ill and somehow we are looked upon as medical folks sometimes, too. We are comfortable in sharing Tylenol with people but we are not doctors and nurses. How I wish we had a bank account that never ran out of money but that is just not reality! For the orphans, there is supposed to be money that they can attend school for free due to outside contributions and government scholarships. However, corruption gets in the way and the funds are not available to all those that desire to attend school. The process is ongoing and a solution does not seem to be one that can be "fixed" with our own hands.

God, give us wisdom to know how to deal with this stressful time of the year and to wisely share resources and finances you have provided for our family to those in need.

This is by no means a blog post asking for folks to contribute but rather a window into the daily happenings of our family during January and part of February. Thank you for your prayers!

BGR Haiti updates

Please help us spread the word! Do you know other believers who care about helping people in need? Why not forward this e-mail and encourage them to subscribe by visiting gobgr.org!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The five-member BGR assessment team is on the ground in Haiti, driving toward Port-au-Prince. They are accompanied by Mark Rutledge, who has 26 years of experience serving as an International Mission Board worker in Haiti. The team will be connecting with Haitian Baptist leaders, surveying earthquake damage, and delivering relief supplies.
A strong aftershock measuring 6.1 in magnitude struck Port-au-Prince at 6:03 a.m., Jan. 20, according to news reports. The shock sent people scrambling for open ground as buildings damaged by last week’s quake shuddered and rubble began falling to the ground. Eyewitnesses said people already traumatized by the horrors of the past week cried and screamed at the new tremor. More than 40 significant aftershocks have hit since the Jan. 12 quake.
Members of the assessment team reported they did not feel the aftershock at their base in the Dominican Republic. However, Steve Leach, a member of Round Grove Baptist Church in Miller, Mo., who operates an independent hospital in northwest Haiti, reported the aftershock “brought down some of the damaged buildings that were still standing and will keep anyone from going back to what buildings are still standing for many days to come. With so many severe aftershocks over the last week and now another new quake, who knows when people who have a place to go will feel safe to return there.”
Leach said about 1,200 refugees have come to the hospital for treatment and he has been sending trucks into the capital to look for survivors with family who live near the hospital.
“We live in a place that is about as far from the capital as you can get and still be in Haiti and yet we have watched these very poor people trying desperately to figure out a way to get their family members out here so they can take care of them,” Leach said. “The truck drivers are less and less willing to [drive into the city] as the situation in Port deteriorates.”
Relief efforts are struggling to get essential relief supplies to hundreds of thousands of desperate people, but destroyed infrastructure and disorganization are hampering the effort. Officials are concerned that the desperation people feel will boil over into violence. Looters by the hundreds have been fighting each other with broken bottles, clubs and other weapons over whatever goods they can still find in damaged stores.

“Pray specifically for God to give those in control wisdom to direct the relief effort,” Leach said.


HAITI CONDITIONS BAD, BUT RELIEF PIPELINE OPENING

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Conditions on the ground in Haiti are very difficult, a member of Southern Baptists' joint assessment team reported from Port-au-Prince Jan. 20. A U.S. military commander, however, said important progress has been made on enlarging the conduit for relief shipments into the quake-ravaged island nation."We've seen quite a bit of damage – more so toward the center of the city," reported Jim Brown, U. S. director for Baptist Global Response, in a terse e-mail sent from his cell phone. "We've helped with a couple of deliveries. Helicopters everywhere. People still being found alive!"In another report, relayed to a meeting of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Network, team member Bruce Poss indicated that traffic in Port-au-Prince is terrible and milling crowds are making travel and security serious concerns. He reported seeing 5,000 or more people lined up outside the US Embassy in the capital.The five-member team delivered relief supplies – water, plastic sheeting, bottled gas, beans, rice, eggs, diesel fuel, canned goods – to a couple of churches and orphanages, Brown said. They were planning to connect with a Florida Baptist assessment team later in the day.A U.S. military commander said the flow of relief supplies into Haiti would be helped by the opening of three new airfields and the country's seaport, news services reported. Gen. Douglas Fraser, who heads the U.S. Southern Command, told the Miami Herald newspaper the capital's seaport would reopen Jan. 21 and could accommodate about 150 shipping containers per day. The port's capacity is expected to grow to 250 containers per day by Jan. 22.The main airport in Port-au-Prince, which has one runway and one loading ramp, has been a bottleneck for the arrival of humanitarian aid, even after it was reopened. A total of 1,400 flights are backlogged to land at the airfield, Fraser said. Because congestion on the roads has been hindering delivery of relief supplies, 63 U.S. helicopters have been dropping water, food and medical supplies into the most inaccessible areas, he told the newspaper.The U.S. Military has distributed 1.4 million bottles of water, more than 700,00 meals, and about 22,000 pounds of medical supplies directly to people in need, Fraser said.As many as 2 million Haitians are homeless because of the Jan. 12 earthquake, relief officials say, with vast numbers of people living in makeshift tents made of sheets and sticks. The estimated death toll stands at 200,000, but humanitarian medical groups warn that number will continue to grow as people die of untreated injuries and disease that infects the ramshackle camps, news services report.Southern Baptist medical personnel who are willing to help in the relief effort can e-mail haitiresponse@imb.org to register their availability. Baptist state convention disaster relief offices also will be organizing teams of volunteers to help once the assessment teams have returned with strategic recommendations for the response.The Southern Baptist relief effort, like the one mounted after Hurricane Katrina and the South Asia tsunami, will be focused on the long term, Mickey Caison, who directs disaster operations for the North American Mission Board, told the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Network Jan. 20. Previous strategies have focused on short-term help for people being missed by large-scale humanitarian projects and a long-term emphasis on helping people rebuild their lives and communities.

Pray for Haiti

Dear Prayer Partners,

As many of you have watched the devastation of what happened in Haiti this past Tuesday, January 12, many of us have felt helpless and asked ourselves, "What can I do?" We wanted to share with you resources and prayer requests that we are receiving from our own mission organization. To our knowledge, all of our personnel are safe but dealing with much heartache in Haiti. I, Monica, have been to Haiti back in 1998 with Florida Women's Missionary Union as part of a Florida Baptist partnership and Haiti has definitely touched my heart in many ways. It was by far the worst devastated country I have ever seen personally (and yes, I live in a third world country even now in Africa) so I cannot imagine how this earthquake has devastated the country of Haiti even more. We know that prayer is the biggest support we can give to Haiti right now but we know they need financial and manpower resources for those that are able to assist them.

Here is an excellent website and related article that we highly recommend for folks to check out as well as prayer requests for Haiti:

Haiti relief assessment underway after quake
Jan. 13, 2010
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Southern Baptists are mobilizing to assess disaster relief needs after the largest earthquake in more than 200 years rocked Haiti the evening of Jan. 12.
The initial Southern Baptist disaster relief effort will be led by Florida Baptists, who have had ministry relationships in Haiti for more than 20 years and currently have six staff members who live and work in the country, said Jim Brown, U.S. director for Baptist Global Response. The Southern Baptist International Mission Board does not have long-term personnel stationed in the country.
The North American Mission Board’s disaster relief office is organizing an emergency consultation with state disaster relief directors to coordinate response to the catastrophe, Brown said. Disaster relief teams in Mississippi and Kentucky are on standby for immediate response.
An assessment team is being organized by Baptist Global Response, International Mission Board, North American Mission Board and state convention disaster relief directors to enter the country as soon as possible, Brown said. They will work with Haitian Baptists to identify immediate needs that must be addressed and will draft mid- and long-term plans for an ongoing relief effort.
Initial funding for the relief effort will come from the International Mission Board’s disaster relief fund. Contributions toward the relief effort also can be made at gobgr.org.
The 7.0 magnitude tremor hit 10 miles from the center of Port-au-Prince, a city of 3 million people, at around 5 p.m. Jan. 12, according to news reports. One source said the quake could be felt more than 200 miles away. The earthquake triggered a tsunami watch for Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
Multiple strong aftershocks continued to rock the country after the initial tremor, said David Brown, who with his wife, Jo, directs Baptist Global Response work in the Americas. Reports from inside the country indicate infrastructure and many buildings suffered catastrophic damage. The main airport is closed; power and communications are down and security is a serious concern. Specialized search and rescue teams and military units from several countries are being rushed into Haiti to help secure the situation and begin relief efforts.
Apart from donating to the disaster relief fund, concerned individuals can help greatly by joining in focused prayer for Haiti’s 9 million people, more than 80 percent of whom live below the poverty line, David Brown said.
“Please pray for us as we assess and monitor the situation in Haiti after the 7.0 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks this evening,” Brown said. “The initial information indicates 2 million people in Port-au-Prince are directly affected. Please pray for victims and their families. Pray for wisdom as responses are initiated.”
The situation in Haiti is very fluid and additional information will continue to flow in on a daily basis, Brown said. Updates will be released as new information becomes available.

-----To donate to BGR's Disaster Response fund, click here. or www.baptistglobalresponse.com - an excellent resource of information on keeping up with Haiti as well as needs all around the world!!!

Or you can always check out our mission organization's main website for more information as well: International Mission Board - www.imb.org

Prayer Requests:
HAITI. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’” (Psalm 91:1-2, NKJV). With the devastating situation in neighboring Haiti, personnel in the Dominican Republic have requested help in post-trauma counseling and training in the area of spiritual support. Since this is such a critical need in Haiti, training will be held next week in the Dominican Republic. Please pray for the trainers as they travel and prepare the materials for the conference. Ask God for the emotional health of personnel as they confront the dire needs. Pray also for those who will receive counseling and training as they share God’s love with a nation that is in deep spiritual darkness.
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINEIMBFriday, January 15, 2010
"The LORD reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned above the cherubim. Let the earth quake. .Exalt the LORD our God; bow in worship at His footstool. He is holy" (Psalm 99:1, 5, HCSB).

What is different about us? About Christians? Just like our neighbors this week, we have heard numerous stories about the horrendous events in Haiti. We watch news clips, read twitter and blog reports-we gather information to be aware of what is going on in the world. Just like our neighbors, our hearts have been broken for the people of Haiti. But what is different about us?
The difference is that we know the One who is able to help. We all have opportunity to give and many will be able to assist physically by going. But we Christians do not have to wait a single minute to send aid. We don't have to look in our wallets to see if there is any money to send. We can talk to our Lord immediately, begging for His mercy throughout these days of recovery.
Please take every opportunity to lift the Haitian people to our heavenly Father, asking in these earliest days that He will fill the people with a sense of calm and unity of purpose. Gunshots have been heard on the streets, but violence will obviously not improve the situation. Ask the Lord to comfort the frightened. Many are sleeping on the streets even though their homes have not been damaged. They sense no hope for the future.
Intercede for the initial responders who have worked diligently through the long hours, praying that they will find rest in Him. Ask God to provide unexpected ways for aid workers to get through the destroyed roads so that they can provide necessary supplies.
Lift up Haitian Christians who are striving to serve others while grieving their own losses. Plead for them to have God's mighty endurance and vision as they love their neighbors through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Exalt the Lord our God and pray that His holiness will be demonstrated throughout Haiti.

Thank you for your faithful prayer support!!!
Serving Jesus in Swaziland,
Steven, Monica, Lacie and Nathan Allen

Allen's Christmas Letter 2009

Greetings from Swaziland, Africa! We pray extra blessings on each of you during this special season of celebrating our Savior’s birth, Jesus Christ.

As we look back on the year of 2009, we have much to thank the Lord for in our family. Ministry has been challenging, exciting, fun, and busy all at the same time! God has done many great things this past year with the Swazi people and it is only a privilege to serve with such amazing people. We are thankful for all the volunteers that have come to Swaziland this past year to work among the Swazi people. Our mission team reduced as three units returned to the USA and we miss them all greatly. We are blessed with many prayer partners that faithfully pray for our family, team, ministry and the Swazi people. Without you, we could not continue the work God has for us to accomplish in His timing.

Our family is doing well and staying quite busy balancing family and ministry each day. Lacie is now five years old and will start kindergarten/grade 0 in January 2010 at The Little Brown Hen Preschool. She has attended half days there for the past two years. The school year here is from January – December, with three school term breaks. She started ballet, gymnastics and swim lessons this year. She loves them all and even placed first in her age group for the Swaziland gymnastics competition in November. Lacie asks many questions about “asking Jesus into her heart”. We know God is working on her tender heart.

Nathan turned one this year and is quite an active little boy! :) He loves cars, trucks, trains and balls. He loves anything that moves or he can throw. The kids play well together and one of Nathan’s favorite words is “Sisi” (siSwati for sister)! We are blessed with two, amazing kids…thank, you, Lord!

Steve took the trip of a lifetime to Israel this year with Southwestern Seminary to assist with their Tel Gezer project, an archeological dig. He thoroughly loved his trip and one he hopes to do again someday in the future. Monica’s mom, Gogo Polly, came for a visit on her summer break and our family enjoyed having family visit us in our African world. Lacie and Monica made a quick trip to the USA in October as Lacie was one of the flower girls in Monica’s cousin’s wedding in Florida. It was a fun trip for mother/daughter and the “boys” had their male bonding time back in Swaziland.

Our family is looking forward to our stateside time in 2010 as we will be in North Carolina from end of March – end of June and in West Palm Beach, Florida, from end of June – end of September. We want to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are sending you hugs and love from Swaziland to your family! May God richly bless each of your lives in a special way in 2010!

Love and prayers,

Steven, Monica, Lacie and Nathan Allen

Something to think about....

With 1 week before Christmas REMEMBER:

JESUS is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is STILL the reason for the season.
May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2009
And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year.

Lasik Surgery Adventure

Whew...what a past several days for me! I found out on Monday morning that Lasik surgery will never happen for me. I was very disappointed to hear this news but glad the doctor had enough wisdom not to do surgery with possible complications. I had so looked forward to being able to wake in the night and actually read the clock or be able to jump out of bed to get to one of the kid's rooms quickly without the need to reach for glasses or even read signs or license plates from any distance. However, I am grateful for glasses and the ability to see most things! :)

Back in February, I saw the eye doctor for a consultation about Lasik surgery and he asked me to stop wearing contact lenses for at least six months. It seems the blood vessels on my cornea were deeply affected by many, many years of wearing contact lenses. I have faithfully worn my glasses (except for a few rare exceptions of wearing contact lenses) in hopes of having Lasik surgery this year. However, it was just not meant to be as the blood vessels had improved but not enough to have Lasik surgery without possible complications. I am a candidate for PRK laser surgery, which will have the same end results. The PRK surgery is a bit more evasive and has a longer recovery time vs. the Lasik surgery. The doctor was ready to schedule me for the surgery this past Tuesday but I could not stay in Johannesburg for a week as well as take care of Nathan all on my own in recovery, too. I am not sure if I am going to do this surgery and would love to hear from anyone that has had PRK laser surgery. If I do decide to proceed with the PRK surgery, our whole family will go over to Johannesburg sometime in the next couple of months so we are all together for my recovery time. Please pray that I make the right decision on whether to proceed with the surgery or be content to wearing only my glasses for the rest of my life.

The trip to Johannesburg was quite an adventure in itself as Nathan ended up getting sick Sunday evening, not long after we had arrived at the guest house. I had bought Clover First Growth Milk in small boxes for him to drink to make it easier for traveling. I did not realize all the extra ingredients (like iron and so forth) that is added to this "special" milk as Nathan normally drinks full cream (whole) milk every day. Well, he had an allergic reaction (the best I can tell based on the fact that his daddy is lactose intolerant!) to the milk and poor little guy threw up five times in just a few hours. It was Nathan's first time to throw up so he was quite scared and did not like it one bit. Once it was all out of his system, he turned over and was back to his old, usual self. Praise the Lord it was nothing else and he bounced back quickly.

Whew....always an adventure!

Allen's African Adventures - November

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NASB)

Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of our family and ministry in Swaziland. The work is greatly enhanced and empowered by your prayers on our behalf.
Since we last wrote we have had some encouraging developments in the work in the Lesibovu community. This is an area about an hour and a half southeast of Mbabane. Last month we had our second baptism service and baptized nineteen new believers. We have continued holding weekly chronological Bible story lessons every Saturday. This week we had over one hundred adults, youth and children present. The church has begun conducting Sunday morning worship services on their own, with different members taking turns leading. I have reduced my preaching there to once per month. Last Sunday the church held its first Sunday school, with assistance from members from Hawane Baptist Church. We also celebrated our first Lord's Supper together as a church family. On Thursday I met with church members and local elders concerning a plot of land for the church. The location which the church had requested was granted and a down payment made. The only thing left is to have an official celebration with the putting in the boundary stakes by the local authorities. Please pray that nothing would create division among this enthusiastic group of believers. Pray that strong internal leadership would continue to develop.

We are the only IMB personnel in Swaziland at the moment, as Wayne and Barbara Myers are in the US for their stateside assignment. They will be returning in January. Please pray that the Myers would have a time of refreshing in the states as they visit with family and friends. Pray also for their safety as they travel to different churches to speak about the ministry work in Swaziland.

Please continue to pray for various churches that are seeking plots of land on which to build. The plot for Hawane Baptist Church has still not been officially marked due to an unresolved issue between two competing chiefs for the area. Mpembekati is also seeking a plot as their church is being relocated due to the construction of a school on land which they had previously been granted. Other churches currently have buildings under construction. Please pray that the churches would be able to see these projects through to completion (Ntsintsa and Victory Baptist Church).

Please pray for the upcoming National Baptist Women's Retreat, which will be held December 17-19. The theme is, "Power of the Journey" based on II Corinthians 3:5. Hannah Poe will be the keynote speaker for the event. You may recall that Greg and Hannah Poe, and their two sons, Joshua and Elijah, served on the Swazi team for two years in 2005-2007. The whole family will be coming to minister December 10 (leaving the USA) - December 25 (arriving back in the USA). Please pray that they would have traveling safety and a wonderful time of ministry and reconnecting with old friends in Swaziland.

Thank you for your prayers for Monica and Lacie as they took a short trip to the states for a cousin's wedding last month. They had an enjoyable time visiting with family and friends, and Lacie had an opportunity to serve as a flower girl in the wedding. Their trip was an enjoyable and safe one. While they were away, Steve and Nathan stayed behind to continue ministry. Nathan was a real trooper, and he and daddy had some good male bonding time. It is good, however, to have the family all back together again.

Please pray for Monica and Nathan as they will be traveling to Johannesburg on Sunday, November 15th. On Monday, Monica will be having a medical consultation in Johannesburg for possible Lasik eye surgery. If all looks well she is slated to have surgery on Tuesday. She is really looking forward to seeing normally again without the need for glasses or contact lenses. Steve and Lacie will be staying in Swaziland in order to continue ministry and schooling. Please pray that Monica will be able to proceed with her surgery and have a good outcome.

As the holiday season approaches, please remember to give to the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This year, more than ever, the International Mission Board is in need of everyone's financial support if the work of missionaries, such as ourselves, is to continue around the world. God is at work and this is your opportunity to join in HIS activity and plans! The goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is $175 million.

***Remember, we live in Africa and there is no guarantee that our e-mails are received or even sent out correctly. If you have written and not heard from us, please write again. We would rather receive e-mails two times than not at all.***

Family Blog - www.allensinafrica.blogspot.com - leave us a comment so we know you stopped by to visit! - Be looking for new stories shortly....
Skype - allensinafrica
Monica and Steve are both on Facebook so look them up!
Team prayer blog: www.swaziprayerbytes.blogspot.com

Blessings and love,
Steven, Monica, Lacie and Nathan Allen
IMB missionaries to Swaziland

Baptizing a new believer at Peace Baptist Church

Getting ready to show the JESUS film to a primary school

Precious children at Ntsintsa Baptist Church

Church under the trees

Preparing to take "The Lord's Supper"

Steve, Monica, Lacie and Nathan hanging out after church at Lesibovu