julieanderson - Back in Business

I just got back from visiting some of the Timbali women out in the rural area. Winter has finally hit Swaziland, and today there is a pretty cold wind. The ladies were all bundled up. I smell like smoke from standing around the cooking fire. We stopped by one of the care points before heading out to see one of the older women, Philar. Philar has been sick for some time and unable to attend our weekly meetings because she is too weak to walk to the bus. She has HIV and asthma on top of that, and takes care of several of her grand children. We just went to pray, encourage her, hug kids and deliver some food.

It's been a really long time since I've written a blog. These first few months of 2009 have held a few "obstacles", and so rather than writing blogs I've been doing a lot of really loud sighing, growling in frustration, and praying. I should have been doing more praying and less sighing and growling.

I mentioned in my last email the big shipping bill fiasco (we were overcharged $15,000). FINALLY this weekend we got the email saying that it's resolved, and we'll only be charged the price we were originally quoted. B/c of the outstanding bill, since December we've been without hardly any money to function, and it's held us back in production and sales. After feeling like I've been on a slowly sinking ship for the last few months, praise the Lord, now we're back in business!! (Thanks to all the people who worked so hard on our behalf to get the issue resolved!)

My car is still in the shop. It's been there for 7 months. Ellie saw a picture of our car in a photo the other day and she said, "Look! There's broken!" I guess that's how she has most often heard our referred to, and she just thinks that it's name. J There are rumors that I should be getting my car back any day now. That would be nice!

After a few months of computer crashes and problems I'm happy to report that I have a big, nice, new laptop!!! YIPPEEE!!

All that to say, "no car, no computer, no money" has kept us in a holding pattern for most of the last few months. I'm so thankful that it looks like things are starting to get back in order. This has all been a great reminder that this whole project is the God's and not ours, and that we are so very dependent on Him.

A couple last notes:

· Please check out the Timbali Crafts website. We've added some new products and have a couple specials for mother's day. www.timbalicrafts.org

· We're hoping have a weekend retreat for all of the 80+ Timbali women in June. If anyone is interested in giving towards the cost of the camp, please let me know. More details to come.

· Ellie and I will be coming to the USA in July! We're planning to arrive mid-July and stay through mid-October. It's still a few months away, but we are already really looking forward to it. We hope to connect with many of you and are already working on our itinerary while home. If you know of any churches, groups or events where we might be able to share about our ministry in Swaziland, please let us know!

I'll end with new pic of Ellie. She's crazy.