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Spring 2008 Newsletter
Mission Report Thu May 1, 2008, 4:34 pm by Branden Petersen
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Africa '08 Update.
It's been more than two months since we've returned from Africa and I'm finally getting around to sending this report! It was a great spring for all of us at Infusion Ministries and it started with our trip to Swaziland. Thank you to everyone who supported the trip financially and with your prayers! It was truly a dream come true for me to be a part of such a significant international experience.
On February 3, the first group from Collin Creek Community Church left for Manzini, Swaziland, for three weeks of worship ministry. Here is a brief overview of the trip.
Week 1
The first week was spent working with Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College. Our pastor, Blair Ritchey, spoke for a series of chapel services on "Sunergos Leadership." "Sunergos Leadership" is a compelling spiritual leadership training series that Blair has developed over the past several years. Jenn and I led worship for the services and taught three days of worship classes for the ministerial students.
Also during the first week, Jenn and I did a series of television and radio interviews to promote the concerts the following week. On Thursday, the rest of the group from Collin Creek arrived to begin preparations for week 2.
Saturday Worship Concert
Week 1 culminated on Saturday with a mass concert involving several area worship teams. It was our first taste of African worship. Africans love music! And this proved to be the best way to begin to develop the unity between the teams that would participate in the next week's concerts.
Week 2
The second week started on Sunday with a great worship service with our partner church, Manzini Christian Community Church. Monday was our one day-off spent at Mkaya, a nearby wildlife game reserve. Tuesday was spent passing out 2000 flyers all around Manzini. This was a faith stretching experience for our team! Wednesday was the big "dress rehearsal" day for following three days' concerts. It was a challenge to work through several technical issues, but God helped us to resolve them.
Indvumiso Celebration
Thursday was the day for which we had been planning for two years! The first concert of "Indvumiso Celebration" was held from 4 to 6 pm in Millennium Park in Manzini. It was a rush of adrenaline and a wonderful time of worship. We were actually playing a concert in Africa! Friday followed with another concert, and "Indvumiso Celebration" concluded on Saturday with a full day of concerts in the park (and in the sun!).
Week 3
Our final couple of days started with goodbyes to the team from Manzini Christian Community Church at the morning worship service. It was an emotional time, to say the least. Two teams had become one over the past two weeks, and now it was time to say goodbye to our new friends. Sunday afternoon and evening were spent debriefing the trip and packing. The time went by so quickly, but we were physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. God is faithful, and many Swazi and American lives were changed through our experience in Swaziland. Monday and Tuesday were travel days back to Texas.
Final Thoughts
My life was marked significantly on this trip. This was a five-year dream come true for me, and couldn't have imagined a better team with which to experience it. Ever since my first missions experience in 1998, I knew that God wanted to use me on the mission field to help connect North American artists with what God is doing around the world. Thank you to everyone who supported the trip financially and through your prayers. We couldn't have done it without you!
Branden and the Infusion Ministries Team
Africa Team
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