Anniversary

Three years ago, the OMS founded denomination, Igreja Evangelica Palvra Viva (Evangelical Church of the Living Word) was registered with the Mozambican government. This weekend has been a time of celebration in all of the Palvra Viva churches as people remember that event and we were priviledged to participate at three different churches this weekend. In just a matter of three years, the church has grown from a handfull to over 85 churches. So, this morning church at Khongolote started at 0900 and was over about 1230, at which time a lunch was served. I have learned to love the Mozambican food and it is always a treat to participate in these special "fiestas" or parties of celebration. The photo was taken early in the service, and as is normally the case, once the music started, people started flowing into the building.

The service included a time of reviewing the history of the church and a time of testimony where people spoke about what the church has meant to their life. Mozambicans are always able to speak eloquently to a group - and seem to enjoy doing it. Each person would go to the front, singing as they went, leading the congregation in a song, and then would speak. The process would then repeat and it was encouraging to all to see truly what God has done in the lives of so many. This followed a full day yesterday of special teaching that went on all day at the church as people explored God's word and talked about this upcoming year. As we seek God's will for the direction of the church, an all-night prayer service is planned on Christmas Eve.

So how do you get through such a long service when it is so hot you are concerned about heat stroke? Well, you get up and go to the back of the church or the little porch and lay down on the cool cement for a few minutes and then go back and sit down. At one point, Ann made me get up and leave to cool off because I was so flushed and she said giving off so much heat - and it really helped although I didn't lay on the cement - probably should have! Lots of others were lying on the cement for a few minutes.

Last night, there was also a special service at our City Church that meets in the seminary, also celebration the three-year registration and 12-year history of the church here. We were told to be there at 5:00 and many came, but it didn't actually start until 6:45. But, that was still within the range of cultural acceptability because food was involved and many people did an awful lot of work to bring food to the seminary. After the service, everyone moved outside because of the heat and that is where everyone ate. It was exciting for us to see so many people at the seminary, so many visitors, and the interest of all of the neighbors in what was happening on this special Saturday evening. The service was followed by a big meal and we ate outside because of the tremendous heat - a wonderful time of celebration as well. So, it has been a weekend of praising God for the great things he has done here in Mozambique.

We continue to be challenged by the cultural baggage we bring to the work here. So much that we have taken for granted as being "right" or "how it should be done" is no longer quite so obvious as we understand and appreciate the culture more and more here. I have just started a book written by an African Christian Theologian that was loaned to me by a Mozambican friend working on his doctorate in theology. This combined with our new African Bible Commentary is helping us overcome some of the cultural bias we "bring to the table" just because of where we come from. I think I had to live here a while before I could even relate to such a book as we grapple to not be confined by the cultural box we brought with us! (For example, having very long church services that start quite late!). Clearly to be as effective as possible here, we must understand the culture well and be willing to set aside those 'truths' that are simply culture and not biblical mandates. We have to understand culture well to counsel those living together because of barriers to marriage, those who have accepted Christ but have more than one wife; and understand the tremendous family influences and pressures - but I'm rambling.

This living cross-culturally is quite challenging and it is our prayer that we can meld in just a little more every day, seeking those opportunities to share the gospel story that transforms lives of individuals, families, communities, and nations. Jesus gave us a mandate to reach all peoples because He died for all peoples, of every tribe and tongue, and he offers us eternal hope and the reality of God's presence in our lives every day - but that just might look a little different from one country to the next!

This last picture is one Ann took today at the church lunch. I have on my Mozambican shirt given to me by ladies in the church and if you look carefully, there is a small dog in my lap. The dog belongs to my friend Belarmino and I had so much fun with Milka (the little girl next to me) and the dog during the meal; we're dog people and miss our little one that is with our oldest daughter in Philly.

Thank you for standing with us - we're excited to see what God will do this next week - we are praying that these two wells can be finished and we may be able to run a water line in to our church at Sao Damasao! More to come!

Ann has decorated the house for Christmas with a few things we brought with us but it is a bit hard to imagine when it is 100 degrees outside!

Dave & Ann

"To be late means that your were able to make it" An old African proverb