love anyway

Mother Theresa is a hero of the faith. She spent most of her life caring for what the world considers “the least”. She is a role model I pray God could use me to become a fraction like. Listen to these impactful words that she not only said but lived:

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for the underdog anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you've got and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

Wow, she loved well! I believe God is calls me to do something similar. Not that I want to be Mother Teresa but I believe God has called me to work with the poor and the sick.

I began to think the other day how amazing it is to do what I’m doing. I have the privilege to serve people that God values so dearly. He treasures and values “the poor” those who lack, those that have a need. And yet He loves me enough to allow me to go and reflect Him to these great people. I feel so honored but yet so unworthy to do such a task. I don’t take this opportunity lightly, I can easily be replaced.

Thank you God for allowing me to do something I love and do it for an eternal impact. I don’t understand your ways for they are far beyond mine. 

Let me update you on what’s been happening in the great southern region of Africa and Children’s Cup. Last weekend Pastor Ben and myself brought a small team to Xai Xai, Mozambique. Pastor Joe Champion has planted a church in Xai Xai and this weekend they were dedicating the building. We went to work with the children and help with the food. We had a great time although we had a huge obstacle a language barrier. No one spoke nor understood English. Even the guys we brought from Swaziland had this barrier because none spoke nor understood siSwati the Mozambiqueans (?) only spoke Portuguese. We found ways to work it out though. Xai Xai is a beautiful city right on the Indian Ocean. One morning I awoke early and saw blue whales jumping in the ocean it was quite a sight to see. I thought I was dreaming.

This past Saturday I participated in a kids outreach a local care point. We called it “Super Saturday” we had jumping castles (spacewalks), puppets, games, worship, Bible stories and many other fun things for the kids. It was a great day! This week we are going to four care points and doing a very similar thing. As you can see there is never a shortage of things to do here we are busy loving and serving people. Its great and exhausting LoL Pray God will give me some energy Lord knows I need it!

Continue to pray for the Swazi people and the missionaries here. About a week and a half ago a guy broke in a lady’s house we go to church with. The guy raped the land lord’s maid and then stabbed the lady that goes to church with us daughter three times. Her daughter is fourteen years old. The stabbing didn’t puncture any vital organs. But as you can imagine the girl is traumatized by the whole event. Things like this happen way to frequently around here. The Lord said “If my people who are called by my name, would humble themselves and pray, and turn from our wicked ways He said He would hear from heaven and come and heal our land.” So pray! Please pray so we might see a change in Swaziland.


About two weeks ago I was asked to speak to the youth. I was nervous and hesitant but agreed to do so. We were starting a new series titled “Extreme” and my topic was extreme love. The Lord led me to speak on “loving through the cross” for when we love the cross we can love anybody even our enemies. Because we forgive them for they know not what they are doing. When we love like this it doesn’t make sense the world doesn’t understand this love. For the world is only capable of loving conditionally. Then I shared the story of Australian missionaries to India the Staine’s family. Graham Staine and his two boys were burned to death in their vehicle by Indian rebels in 1999. What was so amazing was Gladdest Staine’s comment to the people right after they pulled her husband her 8 and 10 year old’s scorched bodies out of the vehicle.

Staines Family

“I have only one message to the people of India. I’m not bitter, neither am I angry. But I have one great desire, that each citizen of this country should establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gave His life for our sins. Let us burn hatred and spread the flame of Christ’s love.”

I used this to illustrate what extreme love looks like in a modern day. Many people came to the altar that evening to exchange their bitterness and hatred for love. It was a great night.


Oh yea, also pray for this weekend. We are having the first ever youth camp. We are taking about 50-60 teenagers away for this weekend and praying they will connect with God and He would do a work in each one of their lives.

Thank you for partnering with me. Together we bring hope to the great people of Swaziland.

walking through tough times, just walking through not staying

Carrying a jug of water up hill on my head.

When I think about the Lord I’m left in awe. Although I don’t always understand His ways, I know He is painting on a canvas that’s much larger than my point of view. . .

This past week has been a busy and quite difficult week for me. For the past two months I had a roommate and friend to share this incredible African journey with. When my friend left last Sunday I had to go through another transition very similar to what day one was like but not as fun. This time I was alone. I felt isolated and found myself missing home, family, and friends more than ever. It wasn’t a fun experience. The Africa I loved so much felt like a prison of solitude and isolation. I couldn’t sleep at night all I could think about was the comforts of home and friends. On top of going through the “brick wall” as missionaries call it I was asked to speak to 412, HPC’s youth group. Also I was responsible preparing the interns for Intern Sunday. I was caring a huge load and yet was going through so much in the inside. Through the whole experience I felt so far from the ones I love but yet I knew God was so close. Although felt Him with me He remained so quite. I needed Him to speak to me and just say something.

“Say it will be ok and you will make it through this or something” I would plea. But I would get nothing. After a few days of going through this persevering, trying so hard not to show what I’m going through to the other missionaries and the interns.

God may not have said anything, but He was defiantly doing something. I found myself immersed in an enabling grace to complete the many task given to me. 412 went far better than I could ever expect or hope for. God came and ministered to His people. The interns and I had the opportunity to pray with many youth. Some came to the alter in tears wanting to repent and to exchange bitterness for love.

Intern Directors, the interns and myself. All dressed up! Went out to eat to celebrate the great job they all did on Intern Sunday.

Also the interns did a superb job yesterday for Intern Sunday. The interns performed a drama Sunday to the congregation and also shared their testimonies. Hearing their testimonies and seeing them act in the drama left me in tears. I’m proud of each one of them. 

God taught me a lot this week. And the same amazing enabling grace that helped me preserve and complete the tasks given to me also helped me fall back in love with Africa. I’m more excited than ever to be where I’m at. I went through a tough moment but I’ve learned from it. I’m focused and ready to continue to be used by God to minister to what the world considers the least.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MY EMAIL ADDRESS HAS CHANGED TO: brandon@childrenscup.org

Making a stick & mud house!