I, Kriek, have so much to blog about, and yet I haven't done anything. (And yes, we are still in Swaziland; where else would we be?) We had an amazing, blessed time in the States. Visiting 'newly involved' churches, sharing about Swaziland, God's work, God's faithfulness, spending time with friends, doing fun things as a family. We enjoyed all of it, but we were also happy to return home.

During our time in the States I shared a couple of times my take on Isaiah 58 and how God uses this Scripture to encourage me and to sustain me. I was sharing that we are daily surrounded by death, desperation and despair, and that in all this hopelessness I need to hang on to the One who is my Hope and remind myself of His promises.

Boy, was I lying to myself ...... Daily being surrounded by death? What was I saying? It almost was like after I made this statement, the crap hit the fan for real .....

My mom's cousin, a dear, God loving woman, suddenly became a widow. Ministry friends in Mozambique were in a car accident and the husband passed away. My own cousin was shot and killed in his home in Johannesburg. And dear friends in the States (the 'closer than family' type of friends) lost their son and we are all still grieving his death.

And with all the suffering, and the grieving, and the crying, the enemy comes with his loads of lies and plans to steal, destroy, kill and distract and dumps that in there too.

So much sadness. So much heartache. So much evil in this world.  So many questions without answers. Almost overwhelming, almost unbearable.

But God is faithful and He continues to speak, to bring truth and hope and comfort, and to reveal Himself in so many ways. In Him I still have HOPE. In Him is my SECURITY. In Him I have PEACE.

I can't let go of these truths. I can't stop believing in this. I can't allow myself to loose hope. I don't dare take my eyes of Him.

'Higher than the mountains that I face

Stronger than the power of the grave

Constant in the trial and the change

This one thing remains: