The Sweerin's

- October 27, 2021

Hello Family and Friends-

I know in past posts we have mentioned the possibility of a well. October is the best time to survey and have a well dug as the water table is the lowest at this time. We talked with the Joubert family and we saw that as the needs of the ministry grow the need for water would rise as well, so in faith we all went forward with digging this well. We had a surveyor out to the base a few weeks ago and he pinpointed an area with good potential. As I am writing this update, the drillers have now arrived to start drilling!! Excitement is filling the camp as we anticipate the outcome.
Please join with us in prayer as we are believing that they will find good water.

THE HOUSE is ready for the roof! We had 4 workers building the house, and 4 to 8 people who were working on the bricks. The making and burning of the bricks is complete and they have all been delivered to our home. The builders have completed their work, so now Nate can begin getting the roof up. He will hire 2 men to help him with the roof, then depending on the rainy season and how their work is coming along in their fields; the workers will return and pour the floor and begin plastering the interior of the house.

THE VEHICLE- The landrover engine has been completed by the machinest in Lusaka and sent back to the mechanic in Livingstone. A few days after we returned from Lusaka, Nate went to Livingstone and picked up the engine. Nate has spent a couple of longer days on it but it is very close to being finished. We are excited at the possibility of having our vehicle back again.

DISCIPLESHIP. In Mukamba(village central within walking distance from our base) Nate is doing a bible study on Saturdays. Our builders, and a few other people in the community have been attending. On M,W,F mornings he is doing a Bible study with the workers employed by Jako. Since we were in Lusaka for about 5 weeks, and planting season getting closer. Now many of them are clearing their fields in the morning before they come to work, so they have not been meeting as regularly. Nate is still trying to build relationships with them as he works alongside them in the day to day tasks of the ministry. In our extended medical stay in Lusaka he ended up building a relationship with the guard (Patrick). Patrick has opened his heart towards Jesus in many ways. Nate spoke with him daily and Patrick was ready with questions as he was seeking to find out more about Jesus. Nate and Patrick prayed over his commitment to Christ so we are excited to see these changes in Patrick as God continues to draw him in to Himself.

BIRTH OF LEVI

We left for Lusaka on September 2nd. On September 5th my bag of water broke prematurely at 34-35 weeks, so we thought baby was going to come quickly, but with each hour passing with no contractions they decided that maybe baby was going to stay put for a little while. I received the steriod shot for lung development and antibiotics to ward off any infection. As each day passed we decided that maybe it would be best for Nate to stay with the kids, while I stayed in the hospital. The doctors encouraged to keep her hospitalized until the birth of the baby due to the possibility of infection. Nate was able to bring me a few things to work on as the days in a hospital room can be long. I was thankful that they allowed me to walk the around the labor and delivery floor as often as I wanted. The meals were very good and fit well with me dietary needs, but the hardest part after the first week was being away from Nate and the kids. We were so thankful when they allowed me to go downstairs to an outdoor patio to visit with Nate and the kids. The kids would bring coloring pages and little notes for me to hang up in my room. It really touched my heart to have their handwritten notes and crafts hanging in my room. As each day passed we were thankful that the baby's and my stats stayed good. We were so thankful that the Joubert family could be there to help with our children the weekend Levi decided to come so that Nate could be with me. We were so thankful that on September 18th we delivered Levi- a healthy baby boy!! My long stay in the hospital allowed me to

build relationships with the midwives who cared for me, and I was able to spend time creating and typing the Spelling curriculum and other grammar resources. I was able to write close to 50 or more lesson plans while I was in the hospital waiting for Levi. We were so happy to be together again, and as you can see. The kid were happy to have their brother home too!

Unfortunately, after 2 days of being home, Levi and mommy had to be readmitted to the hospital because his jaundice score was too high. So we had to do some phototherapy for a couple of days. It was hard for everyone to be away from each other again, but we were thankful for the good care we received for Levi. He loved being under the lights. The doctor was amazed at how well he did. I was thankful that his bloodwork came back well and our stay at the hospital was much shorter this time.

Within a few days of us being together Nate got a bite on his ankle. He did not feel being bitten, but noticed it as the redness and pain increased. He had a fever that night and the next day he was unable to put his leg in a downward position as the pain was too much. So, Nate wanted to have a turn at going to the hospital. The doctor did bloodwork and started him on antibiotics right away. They thankfully allowed him to go back and forth as long as he left his foot elevated as much as possible. We are grateful that the infection from the bite was stopped and he could sense it feeling better with each day. Now, you cannot even tell his foot was so swollen and red. We praise the Lord for His kindness and protection of all of our family during our stay in Lusaka.