Katy Howry - Adventures In Missions -

Mother's Day

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I just want to take the opportunity this Mother's Day to testify about my own mother. I can truely say that my mom is one of my best friends. What a blessing?! At twenty seven years old she is still the first person I want to share all my good and bad news with. There is an unconditional love in her heart for all three of us. Kim and Travis would agree that we are blessed to have the parents that we have. When things got tight I never felt it. She kept us so protected and loved. My mom has taught me what it means to sacrifice.

I thank God that I have had such a great example of his love and provision through Tricia Howry. It is a blessing to pass on all that I have learned from her as I minister to orphans in Swaziland and American interns. I pray that our Lord would bless her for all the ways she has been an encouragment to me.

I love you MOM!

(please go to u-tube and search Happy "Mother's Day from Swaziland" to see me and my interns)

This has been a busy season... please expect more posts soon. I have so much to testify about. My God is a consuming fire!

Vacination

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The government hospital in Manzini, Swaziland is over capacity and under staffed. Sometimes the patients have to bring in their own bandages, meds and needles. Eighty percent of the people that check in never check out. Eighty percent of the people that go in for treatment are beyond a cure; they die. It is so difficult for me to understand what is happening in Swaziland.

The problem lies not in the death but in the culture of unblief. Swazi calls itself a Christian nation. But the gospel is watered down and added to. Ancient cultural practices are mixed with the gospel of Christ. A friend explained it to me like this:

It is like a vacination. A bit of something is injected so that the person will over time become immune to the whole thing. This is what happens when the word is watered down. Hope is diminished. We are afraid of doing just what the bible tells us to do. DIE.

When we die to self we are made alive in Christ. I don't want a vacination. I don't want a cure. I want the church in Swazi to die. I want to see these deaths stop. I want one thing. JESUS.

Pray with me for the nation of Swaziland. If we want to see the dying stop we must pray for death of self, and the life of Jesus to be lived through people here.

What did you love about school?

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When I was a young girl I loved gym class. Why? I was the best. Each year we had physical fitness tests, and I loved trying to beat my score from the previous year. I loved science class because we got to do experiments and really see what we were learning. I loved reading because there was a new discovery behind each cover. What did you love about school?

America is great isn't it? Every child gets an education; rich or poor. They don't call it the land of opportunity for nothing, right! However it would be fair to say that Swaziland, Africa is the land of little opportunity. Everything from the structure of the government to the structure of the family is set up for kids to have little chance to attend school and even then to graduate from high school.

There are no public schools in Swaziland. School fees range from eighty Dollars a year for first grade to six hundred dollars a year for twelfth grade. Because Swaziland is a polygamist society many fathers have twenty children all supported by one bread winner. There is no way families can send all their children to school. Not to mention orphans to whom eighty dollars might as well be eight thousand.

The need in Swaziland is overwhelming. I don't think lots of money is a good fix to the problem, though it is a great temporary fix. I think that standing in faith for these kids is the beginning to the fix. As I pray for the children of Swazi I am starting to realize the need to pray for this government and for the families as well. I wonder how many westerners have come with lots of money to throw at this problem become overwhelmed and left.

I don't have the answer. As of now I am a well meaning westerner sponsoring twenty six out of the millions that need to go to school. I don't know the solution, but I know THE PROVIDER! I know God's plan for these kids is for a hope and a future. I am not giving up on that. Because shouldn't each child in Swaziland have an answer to the question, "What did you love about school?"

Interns

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This week several of the interns serving here as First Year Missionaries met a man named Matthew, who had been in a terrible car accident. Matthew had stitches across his face and his arm was in a sling. He was in so much pain he pleaded with them to help him with medication. The interns had no medicine to give him, but they did have faith. They told Matthew that they didn't have medication, but that they know THE Healer. So they prayed for Matthew and went along their way.

The next day they saw a man running toward them waving his hands wildly. He called out to them, "Friends!! Jesus healed me!" Their new friend Matthew stood before them telling them that his pain had gone completely away. We are praising God because HE heals, answers prayers, and used us to further His Kingdom. Read more from the FYM's by going to www.adventures.organd looking under First Year Missionary.

True Love Story

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Sunday at church Dennis Brock, an AIM missionary, proposed to his girl friend Zwagele Mamba. Dennis came forward to give a testimony and Zwakele stood as his translator. Dennis spoke of the Lord's redemption in his life, his calling and the path the Lord had set him upon. He said though he is called to be a missionary there is someone who has been a missionary to him, Zwakele.

Zwakele translated all this to the church, but just laughed with joy when Dennis pulled out a beautiful engagement ring. The church prayed over them, and we are all very excited for these two to join their lives and minister together. What a joyous day!? Dennis is paying a traditional labola (bride price), and soon they will celebrate the joining of these families by slaughtering the first two cows that Dennis pays to Zwakele's family. Please pray for Dennis and Zwakele's marriage and their ministry together! (See pictures by browsing my photos.)

Bread for the Hungry

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Several of the First Year Missionary Interns have spent this week ministering in the Squatter Camp. We are asking for you to partner with us in prayer for these ladies. Our contact with them has been sparse. We desire to provide food daily at the Squatter Camp while building relationships with these young ladies. Please pray for provision for food outreach and for favor in the community.

The injustice of people selling themselves for food in a country where there is plenty of food is unbearable. We are not willing to see these young ladies perish into the hands of the enemy; we are trusting in God to redeem them!

Pray for wisdom and endurance as we enter into this ministry. Pray that as physical needs are met that Jesus would heal and restore these precious young ladies. Please contact me through e-mail to find out how to help further.

Squatter Camp

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Just outside the city, Manzini, there is a slum. Most of the people living there are refugees. Some of them have been cast out of their families; a common response when someone is found to have HIV/AIDS. These people are not allowed to own land and most are unable to find work. They are forced to "squat" on the land surrounding to city dump. There is no space to farm; the people are hungry. They rummage through the dump in search of any materials they might be able to sell.

After spending some time going door to door talking and praying with the people there I found that the biggest concern of the families there is prostitution forced by hunger. The women there are selling their bodies for bread. I was horrified to learn that even girls as young as six were known to perform sex acts for a single piece of bread.

This is not the hope and the future that my God has planed for those that love him! We are praying for the Lord to reveal his strategy to reach these young ladies. We are praying for the Kingdom of light to shine where the enemy has planned destruction and hopelessness. I have been taking interns into the slum to have our quite times in the areas known for prostitution. We always go with several loaves of bread!

Please partner with us in prayer for the squatter camp. Pray that the Lord would show us favor as we step into this new ministry. Pray that as we pray in these locations God would usher in his presence and people would come to believe in the One who delivers us from every kind of sin.

CAMP

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Kids from two of our care points, Bhekilanga and Thulwane, attended discipleship camp this weekend. We had seventy-six kids; each had excellent attendance at our weekly bible club. The kids just finished a series of lessons on "God is I am," which taught about the Character of God and our Identity in Him.

We transported the kids from the rural area to our team house in the city. They sang praise songs all the way into town, only stopping to chant, "Overtake driver," when we passed other cars on the highway. Once they arrived the boys jumped into their beds laughing, while the girls took turns waving at each other from the balcony.

We ate great traditional food all weekend. Inyama Khakulu! (Too much meat!) The kids played field games and watched movies outside projected onto the house each night. There was a choir and drama competition between the two care points. Awards such as best male and female performance were given. Bhekilanga was awarded first prize for their reenactment of the prodigal son. It was very impressive each child memorized their parts in English.

We had a guest speaker who shared her story of how she was orphaned at a young age. It was powerful for the kids to hear from an adult who had overcome her circumstances with the help of Jesus. We also had a teaching on "Believing and Being"; believing that God is who the bible says he is and being who the Bible says we are. The kids drew pictures of things that keep them from believing and being and then tore them up and danced on them!

They sang this song as they danced on their burdens: "Higher higher lift Jesus high! Lower lower stamp satan low!" Each child waved their hands wildly and stamped their feet like elephants. We later found that their worship could be heard over three blocks away. It was one of the sweetest times of ministry I have ever experienced in Swazi. It is the cry of my heart that this generation claims their freedom and rises up to follow HIM! Praise God for the ministry that happened this weekend

Prayer Request

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

AIM is partnering with a new organization called D42 to reach out to the poorest region of Swaziland. There are several care points being established there. I feel assured of the Lord's plan for redemption as I spend time with the kids in Nsoko. Their needs are being met and they are hearing and experiencing the love of Christ.

I am writing to ask for prayer for one of the children from Nsoko. Her name is Thandiwe she is six years old. Thandiwe had an infection on her foot that reached her bone. Surgery was necessary, but her family could not afford the fee of roughly seven USD, or even the bus far to get to the hospital.

A group participating in AIM's World Race was staying in Nsoko and made arrangements for Thandiwe to have the surgery. The appointment could only be made a week after the World Race team was leaving; that's where I came in. I agreed to transport Thandiwe and her mother to the hospital. The surgery went smoothly but the doctors decided to admit Thandiwe for five days, because the infection was worse than they had thought. Hospitals in Swaziland do not allow parents to stay with children over the age of three, so Thandiwe's mother was not permitted to stay.

Thandiwe's mother had to return home to care for her other children; leaving Thandiwe alone at the hospital for five days. I have a camp for the kids from Bhekilanga and Thulwane care points this weekend, and am unable to make the two hour drive to visit. Please pray for Thandiwe's recovery, pray that the Lord's presence would be close to her. She is on my heart on mind constantly.

I am always amazed at how these kids are brave even in the hardest of situations. I know that they are positioned to see the hand of God moving. When this generation comes into adulthood they will be the ones who are proclaiming the faithfulness and provision of the Lord despite their overwhelming circumstances. I am praying for that day to come in Swaziland, won't you join me?

Pay as You GO

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I can't understand how the Lord works, but I tell you today that He indeed still works. The Lord will have his way. He commands all things according to his good purpose. His timing is perfect and his plans will not be thwarted by man or anything of this earth.

Last night I made a call to a dear friend in the states. I knew I had only a few minutes of call time on my pay as you go Swazi phone, but just wanted to hear her voice. I had forty-two Rand of credit; roughly six USD. This is enough to buy a little more than five minutes of call time to the states. As many of you know when that time runs out a lady who sounds nice, but is actually very mean and covered in warts interrupts your call saying, "You have one minute of call time remaining."

With that thought looming in my mind I dialed and greeted her with, "I only have a few minutes; how's it going?" We talked mainly small talk for a few minutes, and then we started talking about deeper needs. I was sure that my phone would cut off at any time. It was clear that the Lord had other plans. As we poured out our needs for prayer the call just lasted on and on. We gave each other advice and prayed together. The Spirit of God wanted to move in and through us; God was not about to be stopped by a pay as you go phone plan!!! I'm pretty sure pay as you go is the tool of the devil, but that is another blog. (wink)

We shared in deep fellowship over the phone for one hour and fifteen minutes!!! Now, some might call this a fluke, or even judge me for taking advantage of the cell phone provider. I just call it a wonder. God had plans to take back ground from the enemy; He made my five minutes multiply fifteen times so that he could be glorified.

"I will praise you Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of ALL your wonders" Psalm9:1. I just want to proclaim that God is moving. To me this was a small example of how God can make a way where there is no way. Praise God!!

Kibera

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This week is a week of reflection for me. I just spent the past two months ministering in Kenya. While I was far from my home in Swaziland, I was still close to the African culture I have come to love. Now only after sending my team back to the states and resting for a few days can I call my journey to Kenya restoration. The Lord restored in me a vision I didn't know I had lost. I experienced restoration of faith, because I experienced the presence of the spirit of God manifest in the ministry in Kenya.

The first month my team stayed inside Kibera, one of the world's largest slums. I have never experienced anything like it. I am at a loss to explain what it is like to walk for an hour and still surrounded by shacks woven like yarn in a scarf. The smell of sewage and supper mix in the air; smoke is an invited identifiable aroma. Occasionally the maze of homes opens up to a small dirt field where children play soccer with plastic bags tied in knots to serve as a ball.

I think about these children. What would they think of a soccer field with grass lined with shade trees? What would their laughter sound like as they role down a grassy hill? The poverty in Kibera is overwhelming because even the simplest pleasures are unavailable there. No clean water, no fresh air; it seems as if there is no hope.

But in the midst of this place there is the most beautiful presence. There is a joy and certainty in the believers. They are hoping in what they have never seen. Their faith is strong. They see their surroundings and can't help but meditate and long for the rescue of their savior. They are longing for the Kingdom of God, because they are so aware of the kingdom of darkness here on earth.

DO SOMETHING

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I feel more and more disturbed by the movement of the Spirit. Not in a bad way of course; I've been asking to be disturbed for sometime now. I have been made uncomfortable in the comfort of the ordinary. The beauty of it is that it is not from a place of judgment but from a longing for something more. I don't want to settle for a life away from the groaning of human suffering. The more I read the bible the more I am convinced that this comfortable life was made to be interrupted.

The way of Christ is not the easy way. Really my life was much easier before I became a true disciple of Christ. Was it better, no way!! (Just easier.) This world we live in begs us to choose independence. Make a name for yourself. Live the dream. The power of one etc.. I don't want to be conformed to this world. I want to know Christ in the groaning of human suffering. I want to be part of the body, I choose interdependence.

I used to fear asking God why poverty exists. Maybe he would answer. Maybe he would ask me to, gulp, DO SOMETHING. I would either have to answer and do it or pretend that I don't really understand what the word of God says. The problem was I did understand and I was under obligation of love to do something. Why should I wait for someone to show me what it looked like to love the poor? I am not just someone; I am called and appointed to bear fruit by the maker of the universe.

Galatians 2:20 Says that I have died and that it is Christ who lives in me. This led me to stop practicing good acts of charity and BE THE BODY. I had to give up the independence of this world. Sure I live alone in the bush of Africa. Sounds pretty independent for a single white female right? Wrong. I died. I became interdependent on the body of Christ, who now provides my every need. And started to really love the "least of these" Matthew 25:31-46. I have allowed the spirit of God to disturb my life.

So you are reading the words and thoughts of a disturbed woman. But I truly believe that faith is only the beginning. What matters is how we live. How is what I believe being fleshed out? Do I believe so much in heaven that I am living, and praying "your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven"? I do. So church do something.

Kenya

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Greetings from Kenya! As many of you know AIM has sent me to Kenya to lead a team of eighteen college students. I was reluctant to take on the job because it meant spending two months away from the ministry in Swaziland. However, after being here in Kenya for two weeks I can clearly see that this is the Lord's perfect plan for me.

I am so refreshed in my spirit! I am living in one of the world's largest slums, among vast poverty and disease, and I have joy overflowing. I have seen more fruit in ministry in three days here than I have seen in Swaziland in three years. I never truly understood what "ripe for the harvest" meant until now.

I challenged my team to live out the Acts 2 church. We are living in community. The statement "mine" does not exist among us. We are meeting morning, noon and night to pray and worship. The most wonderful thing is happening; "daily the Lord is adding to our number those who are being saved!"

We have seen the Lord heal the sick. I prayed with a lady whose knee was swollen to the point the she could not bend it. The healing power of Jesus made her well! I felt the swelling go down in my hands! She went away walking on her own waving her cane in the air! Jesus is living in Kibera!

Please pray for me as I lead this team; this "church" of young people. I am overwhelmed with the fruit that God has given us, but the victory has not come without attack from the enemy. I am holding to the truth of the word and claiming it daily. Pray for strength, wisdom, and anointing.

Please join our team and read more ministry stories by going to www.adventures.org . Click "trip reports." Choose the Kenya REAL LIFE trip start date JUNE 3. Subscribe to that page to receive an e-mail notice each time we update our trip.

Mocking

Tue, 8 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed at the need in Swaziland that I feel paralized. Moving by the Spirit of God, when I myself feel paralized, has given me a richness of faith that cannot be easily tossed by the wind.

In the face of poverty and death I can feel the mocking of the enemy; in Swaziland it apears as if he has won. That feeling is paralizing. But over time I have come to see that for those of us who believe it is just that, mocking. God's victory cannot be stolen by mockery. The truth is that we all live among poverty.

We live in poverty of compassion, purpose and hope. We allow how close to home something hits to determine how much we care, and fail to identify with the pain of others. We are pulled toward petty things; towards the world. Like you, we all faced a tension between this world and the purpose our Maker fashioned us for. When faced with overwhelming need we feel powerless. In powerlessness we are paralized and our hope fades.

This is just the plan of the enemy's mocking; that hope would fade. The enemy says "there is never enough, don't care it is not your problem, make something of yourself, you can't change anything." Well, friends I will not stand by and and let the enemy mock the Most High God! When I feel paralized it is only for a moment. Because I know the God I serve is the GREAT I AM. When the enemy mocks me trying to deminish my hope by saying, "Are you able to make a difference?" I can only say, "I am not, but I know I AM."

Our God is able. I believe the word of GOD. I beleive he is who he says he is and that I am who he says I am. I am NOT paralized; I am moving in a richness of faith that cannot be tossed.

pink silk night gown

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Several days ago while at the government hospital in Swaziland a young woman in a hot pink night gown changed my ministry perspective forever. It was just like any other day at the hospital. I started off by visiting with mothers in the children's ward, and then found my way through the long open air corridors toward the women's ward.

The smell is like a stangnate mix of new ace bandages and old cabbage. The ward is one big rectangular room. The worst cases are at the back and the less severe are toward the front. Starting at the front and working my way back I sit and listen to the needs: broken legs, burned hands, trouble breathing, snake bites, crocodile attacks, and TB. No one ever says AIDS.

I pray with them and read them scripture. The further towards the back I get the more apparent it is that AIDS is taking its toll on thier bodies. They lay naked on the beds; only skin where their voluptious bodies used to be. Their hands are too weary to swat the flies that land on their faces. This is the very face of death. This is poverty and disease. This is the work of the enemy.

There was something that caught my eye, something that stood out among the dispair, a silk hot pink night gown on a girl in the back corner bed. She was young no doubt, but she seemed very old. I was only half way through the room, but my mind was captivaded by this silk hot pink night gown.

It looked like something any sixteen year old American girl would love to own. Pictures crossed my mind of sixteen year olds I know. How different are their lifes from this girl's? I felt a rush of emotion as I saw them laying there sick and dying. (It was your daughter, your younger sister laying there dying.) I continued to pray for other women towards the front of the ward, and looked forward to reaching the back of the room. I thought about how if it was girls that I knew and loved I would start at the back of the room. I would spend most of my time there with them at the end. I would try to make them understand God's grace and mercy. I would show them HIS love.

The pink silk night gown changed my minsitry perspective because before I reached the back of the room the girl died. I sat there holding the hand of another young lady as the nurses brought her body out. That day I prayed for the rest of the ladies with a fervency and passion that I have never known. Latter as I prayed I knew that I could never start at the front again. God used that girl to teach me urgency and compassion. I will always go to the back rooms of life. I am a bearer of the message of hope and slavation. My place is in the back.

RUN for HIM

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I went for a run yesterday evening and met God in an unecpected way. As I ran through small foot trails the sun was setting behind me and it brought the first releif from the hot day as it cast a orange tint over everything. I could smell the cabbage and chicken cooking at each homestead I past. I was at peace. The busy day slipped away from me as the sun faded.

I heard the sound of footsteps behind me through the sound of my i-pod. When I turned five naked children burst into laughter. They ran next to me for at least the next mile laughing the entire way. I finally stoped to learn their names, and okay to rest. They looked at me so intensely, not at all embaraced by their nakedness. I gave them each a turn to listen to the music. Then in my broken SiSwati I explained the words of the song.

"It's all GOD's children singing glory glory hallelujah HE reigns." I told them that we were created by the same God who loves us and cares for us. I spoke of how much I love God for the sacrific he gave us through his son. I prayed as I spoke that my Siswati would translate to them and I felt that it did. We prayed together and then danced as we sang over and over, "Glory glory hallelujah HE reigns." Well they said, "Lory Lory hallelujah he rays."

I sent them home and was filled with joy as I ran hard to get home before dark. I never palnned that moment. It was God breathed. His timing and purpose is so perfect. I am thankful that those five naked kids joined me for my run. I am thankful that my GOd is living and that he plans devine meetings with His children.

Mind's Eye

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Living, following, leading, ministering all must come from the mind of Christ. When the mind of Christ truly takes hold of your thoughts the result is not only righteous it is miraculous. When we claim his truth with out having his mind we are on very dangerous territory, this is where legalism is born. It is the basis of Christian pride.

Jesus never spoke to a prostitute or a thief. He spoke to people that he had love and compassion for. Jesus didn't see the beggar he saw the need. We all need Christ to transform our minds so that we see people as he does; loved, forgiven and redeemed.

I am in need of forgiveness because I don't see people's need before I judge them. I want to have eyes that see brokenness and not sin. Only then will I really catch on to this ministry God has called me to. I want the mind of Christ to be in me more than my own, then I will see.

Compassion

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I have been thinking about compassion. Not just feeling for someone, but the compassion of Christ. I realize that most of my life I have mistaken pity for compassion. Pity says, "that is so sad." Compassion doesn't say; it does. So I have asked myself, "How do I make the compassion of Christ credible in my own world?"

I don't see in my human nature a place where compassion is moving on its own. Regretably, many times failure is my greatest teacher. I see a need for prayer; a need for faith. God needs women who are not afraid of gross conditions, prostiutes, hurting, dying, hungry and the unknown. Sign me up!! I am ruined for the ordinary. My hearts greatest desire is to go to the hard places with people, to be unashamed of others hurting situations.

So pray for me. My request is simply that I would faithfully take my burdened heart for the lost to the Lord. It sounds easy but giving myself over to compassion is going to change my life. True compassion, that of Christ, does not tolerate the the presures of this world. It just is; without regard to cost.

Greif and Glory

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Today while praying I saw the glory of the Lord. I have been asking HIM to show it to me for some time now. He answers prayers. I can't explain what I saw and felt, but I urge you to ask to see the glory of the Lord. It was as if I was blinded for an instant and came away seeing clearer than ever before.

Instead of being filled with joy and excitement I was filled with intense sorrow. I grieved for the Lord. How many accept him and then never turn to him? How many waste away and never repent to him? How many feel weak in faith because they never ask forgiveness?

I saw glory and felt sadness for the world. If they could only see him they would love him and turn to him. Yesterday I read, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." (F. Buechner). I have seen the world's deep hunger. I have been called.

I am not alone. I have the Holy Spirit as my councelor. My God guides me. He instructs me. The Lord himself teaches me. Psalm 32:8 May I be a daughter who leads to the Father.