Most recently....I applied for the IB program at my school ( a 2 years pre university course ), and I found out Monday that I was accepted! SO that's pretty cool. I'm happy and relieved, but not really looking forward to the work-load. I pray that God continues to give me the strength and patience and faith I need to get through it, and still be on fire for Him. I've seen many Christians come into my school and unfortunatelt many of them are no longer Christians by the time they have finished. I pray that doesn't happen to me. I know I can't live with out Christ so I pray I don't become lazy or stupid and give Him the backseat in my life you know?? I finish high school in November after our final exams. Right now school is okay...just a lot of revision because we have a 4 week break coming up in 3 weeks and then when we come back to school we have mock exams (practice exams before the real thing).
My best friend, Angelle, is coming here with HPC next week on a missions trip. I am sooooo beyond excitement I don't even know what to say on this matter. I can't even believe its really happening......God is awesome!!!!!!!! I really want to kidnap her for a few hours so she can meet my friends at school who are DYING to meet her, so we'll see how that works out. DOn't worry I'm not really gonna kidnap her (just in case your parents are reading this, angelle) :). There is going to be a huge youth day next saturday called Streets on Fire. God willing, it will be amazing!! There is going to be a 3v3 basketball tournament, DJ's, music, dances, food, etc... Please keep that in your prayers. Jordan and the guys have been going around to different schools advertising it.
As most of you probably have heard by now....my parents no longer work with Children's Cup. It sounds sad at first, and it kind of is because even though we aren't leaving Swaziland......it feels like we're somehow being separated from our 'Cup family. But God is in control and He has plans for my parents' ministry here as well as for us.....so I will fear not!! :) I just pray that through this separation from Children's Cup, God can make stronger the bonds between my family and the Children's Cup family, and not allow us to drift apart. I am excited about what my parents will be doing here.....my dad will be doing skills training for I guess teens and young adults who are unemployed. This is really cool because there are many unemployed young people here, many who never had the chance or money to attend school, so hopefully through this, God can use my parents to touch people's lives and draw them to Himself in the process.
I've been really busy with soccer the past few months. Our season just ended last weekend, we came in third in the league.....how sad. Muchachas were first and Kappa Ladies second. It's been a rough season for my team, most of the time we were short of players because one girl (Tema) hurt her knee and is currently recovering from surgery, and for some reason ( i think it's because my coach is unable to pay them) we lost a few players earlier in the season. With teams like Muchachas and Kappa who have sponsors, tracksuits, transport, and money.....finding players isn't really difficult I guess. I really want to become a Swazi citizen so I can play on the National team (Sitsebe) because the coach keeps asking me and I think it would be a really cool experience, since I dont think I could ever play for team USA. :)
Over the past few months, I have been blessed to have a new friend and sister in Christ. Isn't it cool how even before we were born God knew who would be our friends and who would end up being closest to our hearts......and it's also cool how God brings these people into our lives.
A few months ago, actually back in January, I got an sms (text message) from a player on the Muchachas team....her name is Nontsikelelo Mkhonta, or Ntsiki. But at first I had no clue what people were saying when they said her name, so I called her Ziggy... and it stuck. :) She asked me if we could be friends and I was like .....sure, why not!?!? But it was different....with the girls on my team, we're friends, but all we have in common is that we play soccer. With Ziggy, it was like we both knew we would be friends even before we met. It was a God thing. Even though at first, we didn't talk much because her English wasn't so good at the time, we clicked, and now I can talk as fast as I want (almost) and she answers right back....usually with some hilarious sarcastic remark that I end up rolling on the floor laughing about. :) Anyways.....she is like the best female soccer player in Swaziland, she's 21, and she loves the Lord with everything she is. This past weekend she came to play with my team in a friendly match against another women's team. It was sooo much fun because I actually got to play with her, instead of having to defend her....which is close to IMPOSSIBLE!!! But a lot of the time she had to scream at me to get open because I would forget that I was playing and just watch her dribble everyone on the field, and pass a brilliant ball .....(to me who was supposed to be anticipating the pass and going to the goal to score)....and then of course, I ruined everything and missed the goal all together!! Yea...it was one of those games. She laughed at me a lot. Everyone did. I even missed a penalty kick......yup, i kicked it straight to the keeper. I laughed at myself for this one. It was fun though. I think I am most happy when I am on the field with my soccer buddies. I love playing with them, I learn something new everyday.....most recently: SPECTATORS SIT OUTSIDE THE FIELD.......gotta get my head in the game. :)
She is part of a ministry at her church called Vessel of Glory (or V.O.G.) They share the word and love of God through dance, poetry, singing, interpretive dancing, and step....and they write their own music. God is using them to touch Swaziland and He shines through all the 10 girls and Pastor The-The (tay tay) so brightly. We just recently went to one of their shows called Dvumisa Acts...The revelation continues. Wow.....u can feel the anointing before they even begin singing. Seriously I recommend that all of you some here just to see them dance and sing, with everything inside of them....all for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's awesome what God is doing through them and I can't wait to see all that He is going to do. They have blessed us so much and now we want to bless them. Jacci and I were talking about having an evening where we minister to them instead of the other way around...( hey it won't be as good as theirs BUT).... there comes a time in ministry when one needs to stop for a little while and be renewed, refilled, and ministered to....now it's their turn, so please pray that God uses us to bless them.
Please keep my friend Ncamsile in your prayers. It is actually from her that I got my Swazi name Gabsile Shongwe. She is also a Shongwe. Ncamsile is on my soccer team and is an amazing soccer player. She can just about dribble anybody....boy or girl and sometimes you just have to stop and stare because its like "what did she just do, and how did she do it??" My coach started calling us sisters last year because she has a lighter complexion than the other girls on my team lol. ANyways.....I think she is sick and it makes me sad because there is nothing I can do about it. I mean she is fine now....but it just scares me that one day I will go off to University and leave all my close Swazi friends here.....and what if when I come back.....some of them aren't here anymore..... My mom was just reminding me that probably 1 in 3 of my friends here has the virus. I guess it never really clicked before because I am ,in a way, protected at my school and with the other missionaries. But its different now....a few months ago I was only really close to the other missionary people......now some of my closest friends are girls I play soccer with....and I just pray that God uses me somehow to touch their lives and help them find Him...so they can experience the love, joy and peace that comes through knowing Him. I guess its just hard because it seems unfair that I don't have to go through the things that my Swazi friends do, because of where I'm from and how I was raised and all. I wish I could somehow do something that would bless them and show them love like never before. And I know I can't do that in my own strength.......I need Jesus, they need Jesus.
SO...there were all the main stories. Obviously there is so much more I could write about but Its late and I don't even know where to begin. Or end. Basically...I'm still alive, the family is doing well and God is still in control!! Thanks for your love and support. I'll wrote more soon....I promise.
God bless!!!
Gabsile Shongwe
In the pic--> Ncamsile, Shisa, and Gabsile
Oh and funny story....I made a fool out of myself in South Africa yesterday...ok so I dont get out much. I got in an elevator....first time in a LONG time, and I just stood there. About 5 minutes went by and then Ziggy asked me...."why aren't we moving?, did u press the button?" I was like DUHHH I pressed the close the doors button. Then I started thinking we were stuck on the elevator. Ok so I forgot that you have to press the button for the floor you want to go to......eish technology. I really need to get out more. :)
