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Update on our Trip to the U.S.
Dear Friends and Family,
 
Greetings from Swaziland, Africa. We have been back one month already, and we are getting back into the African groove. When we arrived back home, we had a few challenges ...... our cell phones didn't work, our internet took 2 weeks to get up and going properly, and had a few challenges with water pressure BUT we did have electricity!!!! Any one of these challenges could happen at anytime, but happening all at once, it took a bit of time to overcome ..... and we have overcome!
 
We would like to thank each and everyone of you for the LOVE that you showered on us while we were visiting the United States. We were able to meet with so many of you, to share a meal, fellowship, even just a cup of coffee. We were thoroughly blessed by the minutes spent with you or in some cases, hours spent catching up on life. There is a saying that we cherish that goes like this, "Shared experiences lead to relationship!" and we have deeper relationships now than before because of our time together.
 
We have been in Swaziland since November 2006 .... that is almost 12 full years. This time when we shared that we were coming for a visit, we had more people reach out to us than ever before, MORE people wanted to get together with us and hear what the Lord was doing. That was so encouraging! We know that we have many prayer warriors who continue to lift us up in prayer, and we would like to thank you and let you know that we saw the hand of God move in so many ways. From orchestrating all of our get-togethers, to safe travels, to a 100% healthy trip, to even some time to be able to slow down and rest a bit with family and friends. It was a blessed trip in so many ways ....... and we would like to thank the Lord and thank you for praying and carving time out of your busy schedules to be with the Brennans!

Below are just a few pictures of our time in the States ..... we had taken so many pictures and it was so hard to pick just a few but here are some highlights!

July/ August Updates from Swaziland
In this update, we share about our first church plant since returning to Swaziland. We are partnering with a previous ISOM student from 2010, Mandla Hlatshwayo. This church plant will be using the new sound equipment that was recently purchased because of your generosity. Over the years, the sound equipment actually gets used daily for 2 to 4 weeks at a time. It gets moved each and every night for security reasons and of course, the sound can never be loud enough! So this type of sound system should last longer and be easier to adjust and not blow the woofers or tweeters!!!

We are also mourning the passing of our dear friend Fikile who we have known since 2007. She was a friend, a neighbor and our translator for much of our siSwati exams. She will be greatly missed!  And lastly, we recently celebrated an ISOM Certificate Graduation.

Thank you for your love, prayers and support of the work here in Swaziland. We hope that you are blessed and encouraged as you hear of all the wonderful things the Lord is doing!
Love,
Randy and Karen

Church Plant
The next church plant begins on Monday and will be located in Matsapha. Pastor Mandla Hlatshwayo (in the khaki shirt on the right), was in our very first ISOM class in 2010. He has been patiently waiting on the Lord for His timing on planting a church, and knows that the time is now. Please be praying for Mandla, that many people will hear the Gospel and respond!

New Sound Equipment for Church Plants
Randy was able to 'upgrade' our sound equipment for the church plants because of your generous donations.  Randy is pictured here with Magoo, one of our former ISOM students from GLA (Global Leadership Academy.) He is the "sound engineer" at Healing Place Church. Now it's time for Magoo to be the teacher ...... and teach Randy how to use his new sound equipment.  Thank you Magoo!!!!

Our Dear Friend Fikile Kunene

When we returned to Swaziland on July 18, 2018 we received the sad news that our dear friend, neighbor and translator Fikile Kunene had passed away. We have known Fikile since 2007. We have worked together over the years and most recently, Fikile had helped us translate siSwati exams into English. She was also instrumental in proof reading our Discipleship Course in siSwait and making the necessary changes. She will be greatly missed. There was a beautiful tribute to Fikile in the local newspaper. The title reads, "Her smile would just make everything better" ...... this wonderfully describes Fikile and the way she lived her life.

ISOM Graduation
Pictured above is the most recent ISOM Certificate level graduating class. They have been a wonderful group of students, growing in their relationship with the Lord. Over the year, they have really become like a small church family that meet on Saturday mornings to study the Word, fellowship, and worship the Lord. Please pray that these students will continue to put into practice all that they have learned, and share it with others!

Prayer Requests:
  • Currently in Swaziland, the elections are coming up at the end of August. Please pray against witchcraft and the occult, as many bad things happen in this nation during elections.
  • Pray for our neighboring South Africa, that is currently dealing with a change to their Constitution that will allow for property to be taken away from white farmers, and given to blacks without any kind of financial compensation.
  • Pray for the upcoming church plant, that many people will hear the Gospel and respond.
  • Pray for wisdom and direction for future church plants. There are at least 3 more in the next 2 months.
  • Pray for our upcoming teams that will be here shortly. For the Lord to do amazing things as they step out to be Jesus' hands and feet to the people here in Swaziland.
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