Scott & Liz in Africa

Our Journey is Starting...

2010-07-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

Praise God for Scott’s safe return from Uganda. As you may know he was staying in Kampala, the capital city during a recent terrorist attack. Scott was in the vicinity of the bombings and we are praising God for not only his safety during the night of the bombings, but also his safe return to Swaziland. Now that we are reunited life should start to become normal, right? We are praying for continued patience and the ability to surrender each day/week/month’s plans to the Lord. Our apartment is not yet finished. We are continuing to live in an empty children’s home, which has turned into a community storage shed. So you can imagine we still haven’t felt too comfortable in calling any place we stay “home”. Even though there is no completion date scheduled for our apartment-it appears that it could soon be finished...within the next couple of weeks! We are praying it is!
Our organizations founders, Peter and Mary Jean Kopp, have returned from their time in the states just before Scott left for Uganda. So now is when we are actually getting adequate time to sit down with them to talk about the hope and future of African Leadership Partners, the expectations we have, and the expectations they have for us. We are seeing now, even-though we are already three months in, the journey is just beginning. We are beginning to find our place here and filling our schedule with ways we can serve in the areas we are gifted.
We are excited about getting in a groove, but the main lesson we’ve learned since our arrival is: be flexible and fully surrender to God’s will. You might be thinking us two very flexible people, however, three months making nearly daily adjustments has taken its toll. We imagined it would be a lot simpler, but the encouragement that we are finding in the complexities of adjusting to Swazi life is that: God has it in His hands. We’ve accepted the fact that we are only now seeing a glimpse of what life will be like for the next two years. It has and may continue to take more time to adjust, but our prayer is to surrender and trust that God’s plan is greater. Something we recently read to leave you with: “...surrender is the glad and voluntary acknowledgment that there is a God and it is not me. His purposes are...wiser and better than our desires. Jesus does not come to rearrange the outside of our life the way we want. He comes to rearrange the inside of our life the way God wants.”(-John Ortberg)

Please pray for us...

Life is becoming normal. Scott is back. The Kopp’s are back. Now is when we are seeing what life will be like and defining our roles by the needs here and gifts we have. Pray God opens up the door for what He desires of us.
Praise God for Liz’s new ministry opportunity, serving at the local health clinic.
We still haven’t unpacked our bags. Our apartment should be finished soon, but still no guarantee. Please pray for our home.
Praise God for Scott’s safe return from Uganda.

School is in Session!

2010-05-22T23:34:00.000-07:00

School started last tuesday. Our first week at school was not what we had expected at all! We ended up being the only two teachers when we were anticipating 4. Everything went fairly well, the kids tried to push the limits with new teachers in, but overall I'd say it went really smooth and we had a good week! Our biggest problem is stealing one another's snacks and lunches-I think we can work on that!

Here is our more recent newsletter:

It’s been a busy month getting acquainted to our new surroundings and getting acclimated. We have been blessed with great coworkers who have helped to welcome us and steer us in the right direction. We are encouraged that God is shaping our hearts with a love for those on the farm who now make up our day-to-day community.

So what have we been up to? In my estimation we have spent entirely too much time in working out logistical crud like getting resident permits, buying a car, and finding insurance for that car, etc. (spoken like a true American). I suppose some aspects of getting started in missions is about as exciting as watching paint dry. However, things here ride on a different timetable then we are accustomed and we have learned a great deal of patience through the process.

Much of our time this month has been spent connecting with the children on the farm, hearing their stories, caring for them, and seeking to demonstrate Christ’s love. This has been a great challenge. We find it easy to love them, but due to past experience some have a difficult time accepting love. Each child on the farm carries with them the wounds of their past. We count it a blessing to be playing a role in their lives with the hope of helping each of them find new identity as transformed sons and daughters of God.

We are still waiting for our apartment to be completed in the town of Hlatikulu. We have been living on the farm in the house of our co-workers for the time being. The builders hope, as do we, that the apartment will be done by June 1. It will be nice to have a more permanent arrangement and a place to call home. It will be about a 30-minute drive to the area the farm is located.

The second school term began on May 18. Scott is teaching 3rd-5th grade and Liz is teaching K-2nd. A larger portion of what we will be doing, with the kids on the farm, is to join in with how God is already at work in their lives by teaching and discipling through weekly Bible study. We will be starting a soccer team to help encourage work ethic and teach values through athletics. A few adults from the community have approached us about adult education and we are excited about the prospective of how God will use these new community contacts for his glory!

Love & Prayers,
Scott & Liz Messner

As we are faced with new “trials” each day here in Swaziland this verse is becoming our slogan. We find God is transforming us through it all and growing us to be flexible and inviting of the challenges we face. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3

In Swaziland for a bit!

2010-04-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

24 April 2010

Sorry to keep you waiting! Finally an update, 1 week and 2 days later! We have arrived safely in Swaziland. Thank you for your many thoughts and prayers. We assumed incorrectly when we thought we’d have internet access upon arrival. We are 45 minutes off the paved roads, which means it’s 45 minutes of bumpy, dirt, mountainous roads. We’re out in the bush of Swaziland!

It’s been an “interesting” week to say the least. We anticipated seeing, playing, hugging, and loving on the orphans here. However, we did not take into consideration all the damaging & life-altering experiences these kids have gone through. Day one with the children was difficult. The kids tested us by mocking, calling names, and keeping their distance. Although a struggle for us, we are reminded of their stories- one child was abandoned as a toddler in the city-left to fend for himself. Another was brutally beaten by his ‘loved one’ inches from death. We at times see the scars and are reminded of their harsh pasts. Most of the children here have been through a lot and because of it have deep and complicated issues. Each day gets easier as the kids begin to trust us and see that we are here to serve, love, and learn with them in community. We are learning more and more each day how to cater to their needs and how to demonstrate Christ’s love and healing. They are taking to us much better now, too! Often coming to the door asking, “Where is Scott? We want to play!”

We are currently living in a house right on the farm as the people who were living here have left for 2 months stay to the US. School is currently on a 3 week break so in the meantime we are preparing the classroom for the next term and working out the bugs in the classroom lay out. Day to day we spend playing and working with the children and workers on the farm. In a days time we might be collecting eggs, packaging eggs for sale in the local grocery stores, helping with a construction projects, herding cattle, giving shots to cattle, helping with pigs, harvesting or planting in the fields and whatever else happens day to day. We are slowly becoming something of agriculturist of Southern Africa. Our main hope is all of this is to create good relational soil per say, with the staff and children here for the hope of planting the seeds of gospel and discipleship.

We miss you all dearly- it’s been difficult for us to not be able to connect with you sooner, but as life becomes more scheduled we look forward to updating you. At this point until we get our own apartment and Internet connection it looks like the video blogs will be at a stand still for the next couple of weeks so these will have to do.

Ways you can pray:

Life’s been a big hectic trying to learn the ropes of ALP and living life in community with Swazi’s while learning the trade of farming. Our brains are being used to what feels like our maximum capacity and there is still much more to learn.
Today is day 1 of a 3-week school break for all Swazi students. Pray for new opportunities & ways to connect with the kids and staff here during everyone’s time off.
We are also “on our own” now as our staff leaders are taking a short leave to the States. Pray as we adjust & create a daily schedule for ourselves!

Video Blogs

2010-03-25T06:22:00.000-07:00

We are trying to keep up with our video blogs each week as a new way to keep you all connected!! Here is our most recent! Thanks for your involvement and support! Click here to watch on YouTube.

Exciting Email

2010-03-04T13:11:00.000-08:00

This morning Scott received an email from Peter & Mary Jean Kopp (the couple we will be working with in Swaziland)! It was enough to stir tears of excitement in the both of us:

"Great news Scott!! We're looking forward to seeing you here! One of the boys (~10/11yrs old) came to Mary Jean at school the other day. He's so suppressed, hides most of the time, that it's pure torture to him to initiate a conversation (because of abuse and abandonment). He said that one of the other boys had told him that there was another teacher coming soon, - a man. Was this true? When Mary Jean said yes, and that he likes to do sports, this boy just broke out into a huge outburst of glee. Hurry up dude!! In His grace, PETER"

Our support is coming in at a nice pace! We are blessed by everyone's quick response to our need! We are almost half way to raising all needed funds for the next two years. Thanks to everyone who is a part of this exciting journey.

Answered Prayer!

2010-02-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

What better way to announce (and show) where God has directed us, then to sculpt it in the snow!!

We are thrilled to announce that we have been accepted with African Leadership Partners in Swaziland, Africa. We are ready to follow what God has placed heavy on our hearts: to serve overseas. After searching, applying, and praying about many different organizations... we waited for God's direction. We definitely learned patience and perseverance in prayer as we waited. Well, God answered and is directing us to Swaziland! We are excited, feel blessed, and will continue to pray as God moves in the hearts of those around us to provide the needed support.

Our very first post of many! We hope to keep you informed and connected through our blogs, photos, and hopefully videos! Much love and excitement, The Messner's!

If it's hard to see what is going on in the picture- we sculpted the continent of Africa. The little red dot is Swaziland.