Grief

This afternoon we visited with a couple of families we know here. In the first case, we visited with the mother of one of our former seminary graduates who passed away at a very young age, leaving two young boys. Their mother was someone we always visited with at our T-3 church as she was used to poor missionary Portuguese and we could communicate quite well with her. She was lovely lady and we were sad to get the news while we were at OMS for the conference that our friend had passed away. She had been in declining health for some time. This is the unfortunate way of life here. Her mother now has these two boys to raise, in addition with the other family members who have found their way back to momma's house. We were able to share stories about our friend and cry together and pray together. Pastor Daniel (far right in picture) translated our Porteglais (Portuguese - English) into Tsonga for us. You can see the mother holding a prayer card for an OMS missionary (Aimee) who will be returning to Mozambique as soon as her funding is complete. Aimee stayed with this family part of a summer as she worked on her thesis and they had many stories to tell about Aimee learning to cook Mozambican style. But clearly, they know the love Aimee has for them, and they respond back in the same way, as love truly is a language that everyone understands. A family in grief, a family with incredible needs, and a family that trusts in a Holy God to meet those needs. We were privileged to carry a monetary gift to this family that will be used to continue the education of these young boys, something that we talked with them about as we asked them about their hopes and dreams. Pray for this family - it is not an uncommon story here where the needs are great and a little money makes a huge difference, but even more importantly, a family having the peace that surpasses all understanding.

"... but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Php 4:6-7