Widows and Orphans

In a previous blog I wrote about the death of our friend Paulo and some about the story of how his family 'grew horns' and basically tossed his wife and kids on the street and confiscated the house and everything in it. It was unbelievable but not so unlike the true nature of man that the Bible speaks about. Olga was forced to return to her mother's house with her children with absolutely nothing.

We met with the church leadership (where they had attended) and encouraged the church leadership to help this young widow. We asked that they check with the ministry of the government that had given us such a hard time at the pre-school last year (Social Action) to see if she had some recourse. We knew there had been some changes in the law recently giving more rights to women and children and felt like this case very much warranted some interference as the new law was certainly one that would challenge culture. No one had considered this type of action because it really does tend to go against culture (the way it's always been done before) but they agreed to give it a try.

First the leadership tried to meet with the family to put some reason to the problem but that was not successful. Next, they met with the Social Action group in the government, who advised them on what rights she had. As a result of that meeting, Olga was able to get the death certificate from the family, which opened up some small death benefits she can get get. A small success. Then, the church wrote a letter on her behalf regarding the situation and that resulted in her being able to retain custody of the children (yes, that was in jeapordy) and they are still working on recovering the house and belongings. It's a very sad situation indeed for a couple who was once so active in the church.

We sat with Olga in church today and it was so sad as the verses they read were as if they were written to her. She is still deep in her grief and wondering what she can do. At one point, we had to leave with her and sit a little while outside the church to console and encourage her. We prayed together and listened to her story. A priviledge we had today was to provide a small amount of money donated by a friend of the Meyers (former missionaries at CAM School). I say small, in that it was relatively small by American standards but here it is a difference between eating or not eating for quite some time. She was so appreciative and overcome by that thoughtfulness, that someone so far away could feel her pain and respond in such a loving way. She continues to grieve and wonders what will become of her and her family and I am so thankful that the church is taking such an active role in doing what they can, even though she is now living in another district (at her mother's). The church in action.....

Pray for this lady - the photo is after church - Pastor Lucas is on the left, Olga is in the middle standing with Ann.

In Mozambique, because of the scourage of HIV, malaria, cholera, and other diabolical diseases, there are many children without one or more parents. There are many widows and widowers. In Mozambique, the family unit is important and a child is classified as an 'orphan' when both parents are gone, or as in this case, only one is gone. In either case, life is not the same. Olga is holding up well under very dire circumstances and we have encouraged her to truly turn this problem over to the Creator of the Universe. No one can stand against Him. We have called on Him in this case and He is answering - may His name be praised.

Please pray for her and her three children.

This morning's verse is below:

Dave & Ann

"This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is His name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:2 - 3

Traveling

Friday we received the call that our car was repaired and ready for pickup. We had to have the 4-wheel drive rebuilt and the windshield replaced and reset because a water leak (rusted out) was causing electrical problems (like the lights and flashers coming on in the middle of the night!) and yes, it cost about a gazillion rand - whatever number is in your head - go higher!

Around noon we headed to South Africa, honestly dreading the border crossing because it was Friday afternoon. However, we were pleasantly surprised (thank you Lord!) and made the crossing without delay and picked up the car, dropping off the one we were renting from our Christian School as it was due service. We drove back home, crossing the border again without delay and were home shortly after dark. With our car done, we have a short window of opportunity to drive north to check on our church multiplication work in Zambezia, resolve some problems with a land purchase for a seminary extension site, and work on some other issues that have arisen. So, Monday morning we will leave very early for the two-day drive, stopping to visit some new missionaries we know living in Beira.

Today was a day of preparations as we needed to assemble our training materials, purchase some Bibles for distribution, some mosquito nets, some medical supplies, and a few other things we needed for the trip (like a new tire repair kit - we will need new tires after this trip!). Also, word is out we're going, and friends and family of our Juka and Elina are bringing things to take to them so the car will be full. We're looking forward to the change of pace. Our field schedule becomes extremely full for the next several months so we knew if we didn't go now, it could easily be October, November, or even December before we could make it.

The photos are at the Bible League where we purchased the Bibles and discipleship materials, part in Portuguese, part in the tribal languages of the area where we are going. The Bible League operates out of the garage of a house in the center of Maputo and the lady, Rose, is always a pleasure to deal with. She speaks good English but today we did the entire transaction in Portuguese. I had forgotten that she spoke English and as we were leaving, she said "See you next time Dave and Ann!" in English - and we laughed. She gives us a decent discount because we have purchased so many bibles and materials from her during our time here. In the remote areas we will be visiting, there are few Bibles and they are received as great treasure. The few we see in the villages are shared, dog-eared, worn, and marked in; well-used. They are also a great item to give a policemen when they pull me over to check my papers instead of the bribe they are normally looking for.

Some of my friends ask where is Ann? She is in each of the pictures above - right behind the camera!

I look forward to sharing with you about what all is happening in the north when we get back. I'd written that our new camera died but somehow the old one decided to start working so we should have pictures! We're wondering if the bridge will be open or if we will get to use the Ferry one more time to cross the Zambeze River. The news reports are that it is very very close to opening.

So many things we could write about, the seminary class students we talked to this morning, the church discipline that is once again in review after comments have been incorporated, the Christian School picnic at our place last weekend, how I trashed the computer at Khongolote trying to add a new drive to a Windows 98 computer, about a dear man we know who lost his job in a conflict between linear western thinking and more circular African thinking, my plumbing exploits, Ann's removing stitches from someone's hand, all of Ann's nursing exploits, a special baptism service, a couple of sad stories we learned counseling with some people - just too many things and not enough time!

As a final note tonight, Belarmino Junior is growing rapidly and the family is doing great. The photo is of Ann holding him while we visited with them a couple of days ago.

Thank you for standing with us!

See you (well - write to you) in about 11 days!

Dave & Ann

"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:10-11

Women's Meeting

Our church is Evangelical Church of the Living Word right now (IEPV). Every Sunday we look forward to participating in one of our IEPV churches in whatever capacity that might develop into. Sometimes we preach, sometimes we teach, sometimes we simply participate, but it is our church.

One of the exciting things happening is how the ladies are organizing together. Every month there is a denomination-wide meeting of all the ladies. It is held at different churches and of course always involves a meal! Ann attends as many of these meetings as she can. The most recent meeting was at our Khongolote church. I was doing some other things in the area and snapped a few pictures of the meeting. You'll see Ann's translator sitting next to her - translating from Shanganna to Portuguese. The meetings are in the tribal dialect and many of the older ladies don't understand a lick of Portuguese - the reality of life here when you get out of the cities. It is a challenge with over 40 different language groups in the country so that language translation is a normal part of life.

This meeting had ladies attending from nearly every IEPV church in the Maputo province. Similar meetings are now happening in our northern churches as well. It's important. The meetings are long as everyone gets their say. There is much singing, much praying, much dancing, and much listening and considering. They are a part of the life-blood and fabric of the church here, changing the culture, changing the community, embracing the truth of a God who loves them and is interested in all the details of each life. What an amazing God we serve! This group is truly a family and they are bonded together in a common faith that crosses every boundary.

As an aside, we were able to procure more training books today for our church multiplication and seminary program. We loaded nearly 500 books in the back of our car and took them to the seminary - restocking our dwindling supply with some key titles. We are still struggling to get a few titles we need but the publisher in Kenya has been quite helpful and we may be able to purchase licenses and simply make our own copies legally. That's good news but we have details to continue to work out. The publisher wants 10% of our profit! I laughed out loud - what profit? Does that mean when we go in the red, they will help us with that also? Shouldn't it go both ways? Now that would be a really good negotiation don't you think?

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.....a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31 29-30

Why Do You Need a Mask?

Just a short entry. On the way back from church this morning, we stopped at a bakery where we get bread. When you come to visit us, you will enjoy the fresh bread that you have to get nearly every day because there are no preservatives and it won't last any longer! This particular bakery is a simple store-front in a run-down building near our house with a red-framed glass case on the side-walk with hand-rolled loaves on one side and smaller rolls on the other - fresh made daily. Like most of the businesses here, the owners are of Arabic descent and Muslim. We chat a little and they know us and like to practice their English on us. But today was a bit different....

There were a couple of cars out front with guys with camouflage clothing on, kind of a tougher-looking group. When Ann went in the store to see if someone could help at the case outside, several men were inspecting brand-new black knit hoods - you know the kind - holes for your mouth and eyes that you wear when you're snow skiing or when it is 15 below zero (not much chance here!). They pushed it all aside when she entered and sent a helper to sell the bread.

A bit disconcerting. Why the masks; why on earth would you want them here in hot hot Mozambique? Can there be a logical reason that makes sense? Or is mischief afoot? Or is it some base fear deep inside that makes you think bad thoughts? Innate prejudice influenced by world events, a manipulative media, or some sort of deep fear? Probably we should have just asked but it didn't look like one of those cases where noticing would be a good thing!

We are in what is commonly called the "tension zone" where Christianity meets with Islam. Normally we find the Muslim folks quite cordial and willing to talk, but then you run into this kind of thing, it flashes horrible thoughts in your mind and reminds you that the fallen world can be a tough place. We know there are extreme groups operating in the area and this was a simple reminder, even if there might be a logical explaination.

You would think that there should never be a time we need to hide our faces but rather we should be shining lights in a dark world - the thing we should all fear is God hiding His face from us...

Dave

"And I [God speaking to Moses about the future] will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods." Deut. 31:18

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light." Luke 8:16

Into-Africa

The OMS village church planting program is administered in over 18 African countries through the Into-Africa project in South African. Because Mozambique is a country where OMS has a primary field (missionaries on the ground), we have been closely associated with but not actually a detailed part of that program. After attending a conference last year with our "Into-Africa" brothers and sisters in Johannesburg, we throught it would be good to become very closely aligned with that project as we have a common goal. We have been working towards that end for a while now and communicate regularly with church planters around the continent.

Into-Africa has a wonderful web-site and we just added some information on Mozambique to that web-site. So, we encourage our readers to cruise that web-site and we've provided the link on the left of the page - click on "Into-Africa". It explains the OMS church multiplication program quite well. If you click on "Partnerships / Denominations / Mozambique", you will get linked into what we've added for the Mozambique field. It was fun to put the information together and Erich did an amazing job of putting it all together!

Happy reading!

As an aside, we took our car to South Africa to check the 4-wheel drive. They have to keep the car a couple of weeks, parts are on order, and we're gulping at the upcoming bill; double or triple gulp is more like it. I knew it was close to going out and they confirmed it, when we stopped to check on it on our way back to Mozambique from checking our South African mail drop, they had the front end out from under the car - rebuilding the drive train. The age-old challenge, new or used cars - they get your money one way or the other! Ours is a 1999 with way over 200,000 km on it with a lot of very heavy use. We love it and baby it, but mileage is mileage! It has interfered with our plans as we need to go north again to resolve some difficulties with a training center and assist some of our trainers. We have a small window we can go and the car isn't cooperating with our window of opportunity! Maybe there is a reason yet to be revealed! Another lesson in living by faith.

Fortunately, our school has a vehicle we can rent until ours is ready, but it isn't up the the trip we need to make but does a great job for us around town.

We're short on pictures because our little kodak camera bit the dust. We bought it the last time we were in the States - a little thin camera that isn't flashy and that Ann could easily carry in her purse or me in my pocket. That is two of those little ones that haven't held for us. So, we're going to be a little short on photographs until we get this resolved. The problem seems to be in the electronics so there isn't much we can do about it. I'll have to write more flowery descriptions!

It was a dark and stormy night......

Blessings to you!

Dave & Ann

A New Baby

Our close friend Belarmino just had a baby boy. It is his wife's first child in over 19 years and they are so very excited. We had the priviledge of running them to the hospital and then again taking them home. His wife was way over-due and we had been told she delivered by C-section, but at the last minute, was able to deliver normally. The baby is beautiful and Belarmino is absolutely giddy about this new baby, named Belarmino Junior. They have suffered many miscarriages through the years including a couple since we've been here - God has truly blessed them with this child.

Some of our readers have visited here and know this wonderful couple. So, thought you'd enjoy the picture!

Blessings.

Dave & Ann

The Gospel on Film

Saturday night, we showed the Jesus Film out doors in Machava, about 12 km from where we live and where we have a new church plant. One of our church leaders had tried to show the film at Easter while we were showing the film at T-3 (earlier blog) but had technical difficulties and wanted to try again with our other set of equipment.

In this case, we showed the Tsonga version of the film (southern language dialect) and again used DVDs vice the old grainy VCR tapes. About 100 people showed up in this rural area to watch the film. We did an evangelistic outreach afterwards, there were many people who accepted Christ, and all were invited back in the morning for church at the same location, under a tree right now! There are about 20 faithful followers meeting at this house under the tree each Sunday, including several times during the week as well.

I’ve seen this movie so many times now that I tend to watch the crowd more, wander around more talking and listening. This film has been shown many, many times around Maputo and many have seen it multiple times. It is the Gospel story, based on the book of Luke, shot in the 1970’s. This time, I was surprised to see many people saying the lines a little in advance of the actors at certain places. That surprised me and demonstrated to me how many times this film has been viewed.

Things have gotten a lot more sophisticated around Maputo in the last couple of years. There are more and more TVs and DVD players around and hi-jacked movies can be purchased on the street for a couple of dollars all over the city. (Yes, the grainy movies with poor sound that at the end, you can see the people get out of their seats to leave! – As an aside, that is how people get their view of America and the West – movies. Gulp!). I think the medium is very accepted and enjoyed here, but perhaps we need to move to the next level. The Jesus film works tremendously in areas where people have not seen it or heard the gospel – it’s incredible; but last night as I wandered through the crowd I was wondering how much of it in this case was simply entertainment, something to do. “We’ve seen it 10 times, but there is nothing else to do tonight……” But, I stand on the promise that God’s Word does not return void…(Isaiah 55:11) for if only one person accepted Christ as a result of the movie, it was absolutely worth doing!

There is a wonderful kid’s version that we are starting to use (from a kid’s perspective) and it is always enjoyed because it is new.

People love stories, oral, visual, written, drama. Wouldn’t some sort of follow-up or just some true stories of lives changed – some good movies that touch the heart with the truth…what an opportunity it could be. Not for simply entertainment, but with a heart-felt message that relays that there is no other answer. It’s a great opportunity for someone with a flair for that sort of thing, but probably not a money-maker, but rather a gold-in-heaven maker! The beauty of the Jesus film is all the heart languages it is available in. I wish we had some other things in the heart languages in addition – what a great tool it could be.

I rejoice at how this film has changed lives the world over and for those just last night who accepted Christ as their Savior. I pray our leaders do a good job following up; there is so much more to the Christian life. It begins with accepting Him but the time-line extends into eternity, one step at a time. It isn’t so much how we share the story but simply the fact that we but ourselves out there and share the story. As Ann says all the time, ours is the easy job – “we just tell the story.” God is the one who moves the hearts of people to see the truth.

Tomorrow we make a quick run to South Africa to get our car’s four-wheel-drive repaired in advance of another trip north. It’s making lots of ugly noises and we depended on the 4-wheel drive nearly daily. In addition, the windshield is leaking all around the top – will probably require some body repair to fix. At zero dark thirty in the morning, we’re caravanning with some friends, one who has a truck with no brakes (or nearly no brakes) that needs repair and another friend and her daughter who feel safer not traveling alone. Head em up, move em out!

Dave & Ann

“Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven...” Luke 6:23

Sunday in Xipamanine

The past Sunday, we visited a small church in Xipamanine. It is a simple lean-to structure in basically a dark slum on the edge of Maputo. The church is basically a family that OMS has been involved with since the beginning. Jorge has faithfully led the small congregations for years in this very spiritually dark place. On this particular Sunday, it was essentially all family members with many children from around the community. Jorge brought a great message and his younger brother assisted him with worship as did several of the younger people in attendence. As we sat there, I could not help but praise God for Jorge and his family’s faithfulness in the face of tremendous odds. Jorge has a group of young guys he is working with one day a week; we recently visited him while the group was there – wonderful youngsters seeking a good adult role model – Jorge is a good one.

This photograph is of Jorge and Regina at his graduation ceremony last November when he completed our seminary program.

After church, we just sat and talked with Jorge for a very long time. He just finished high-school, doing very well and passing all of his final exams, something that is rare here. Most have to take at least a subset of the exams more than once to finish and there is always the question of paying for grades. However, in Jorge’s case, the country has moved to more standardized exams (multiple choice) and computer score cards (in the big cities); his was the first class to use this new technique. Still, many of his peers had to retake the exams.

He has wonderful hopes and dreams and I love to hear him talk about them. He wants desperately to attend University to study Human Resources and continue his education but lacks the necessary finances. He has been looking for work since January without success although we did a little “connecting-the-dots” to try and help him with a new business we knew that was hiring. Like so many, after many months of job hunting with no luck, it is difficult to stay encouraged. He also wants to marry and has a lovely young lady who wants to marry him but again, the job, the house, the bride price, the party – so he waits. Jorge presents himself well, has a very gentle and kind spirit, is intelligent, has completed our seminary program, and speaks a little English – it seems that there should be a good job out there for him. We really pray that he can find work to help his mother and family in this small parcel of spiritual light deep in an inner-city slum known for its witchcraft.

This is one of the difficult parts of the work here. I want so badly to "parent" him and send him to school and do so much more (if we had infinite resources!), but he is well into adulthood (late 20's), part of what I call that "lost generation" who missed the early school because of the problems in the country, but who faithfully continued even late into adulthood to get their education. He is to be respected for his efforts and we really feel the best thing for him right now is to work and continue to grow his ministry. I think he would absolutely blossom with some decent work and that would encourage him also with his church and ministry.

Bless him Lord for his faithfulness…Open the doors that need to be opened!

Dave & Ann

“May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness….”1Sam26:23

After the Funeral

Olga has called us this week a number of times. Her husband died (see my earlier blog about Paulo's funeral) and she is left with a set of twins and a baby. She called us asking for money for transferring the children to a new school near her mother's where she is now living. We asked why she wasn't living in her house in Khongolote, and she said that Paulo's family wouldn't allow it and she was afraid to live there. We asked her if she had approached the church and she said "no" and we encouraged that. She was reluctant to do so.

So, we talked with the church leadership to find out more about Olga's situation because we can so easily "get it wrong" with the language and cultural nuances. Today, I sat with the church leadership to talk about what they do for orphans and widows and then specifically what they think about Olga's situation as her needs will be ongoing. The story I received was not very pretty.

On the evening of the funeral, Paulo's family told Olga she must leave with the children as the house they lived in was in the name of the family and they had paid some of the money to build it so she must move. In addition, they told her that they had been to their witch doctor and put a curse on her so that if she returned to the house, she would be killed. It became ugly and she left with the three children to live with her mother in Xipamanine, a dark-slum area near Maputo. Apparently there is some bad blood between Olga and her in-laws and I knew that the marriage was a bit rocky from time to time, but it would seem the family has a different view.

Paulo worked some for a large aluminum smelter here occassionally and had accumulated a few benefits and the equivalent of some social security money for the children. However, the death certificate issued by the government was delivered to the house and Paulo's family holds it and won't let Olga use it to obtain her meager benefits from the government. The church leaders are trying to meet with the family to work out a solution but to date haven't had much luck because his family is not Christian and they are heavily into the 'dark arts' as I like to call them.

Under Mozambican law, it is my understanding that the house is supposed to go to the wife and children and that if we can get Olga to go to one of two agencies with the government, she may be able to get some help. However, there is a kind of reluctant fear that prevents many from approaching the government on these kind of issues (probably for good reason!). But, first she needs the death certificate.

So, she is basically out-in-the cold (figuratively - you've never in the 'cold' in Mozambique), living miles from her home and church and feeling totally alone. The church is trying to encourage her along but the relationship is difficult and now geologically distant.

The leadership encouraged us to help her through this first crisis and they would speak with the family and figure out what to do with the next crisis that will most certainly come if she doesn't return to her home. It's a complex and mirey mess of broken relationships, greed, and spiritual darkness. Please pray for Olga and the kids and the church leadership as they work through this mess. Pray for us as we meet with Olga this week to provide a little help and encouragement.

May God be honored in all that we do in this situation and I pray that God will protect these precious children who had a godly father taken at such a young age. Their horrified and downcast faces will be forever etched in my memory when they first saw their father's face in a casket. Come to their aid dear Lord and may we be your hands and feet.

Dave & Ann

Pre-school update

I've really been having fun every Wednesday working with Carlos at the Khongolote pre-school. We've worked up a budget for the school, we developed an Excell notebook to help him keep up with students, payments, expenses, etc. From the budget, we're able to figure out how to plan better for the future. So, right now, he is imputing the information from the first of the year and soon it will be very easy for them to understand exactly where they stand. They are licensed by the government to receive up to 70 students. In the picture, some of the kids are 'exercising' to the beat of the drum. They are absolutely precious.

The leadership of the pre-school continues to want a small bus to take the children to and from school (extra fee for that!). This is something the government is pressuring them on as well. I think they have the funds to operate a small bus (like a minibus) but they don't have the ability to buy one out-right. So, that becomes a matter of prayer for God's provision. I cringe when they fill the small VW beetle with little kids and head off to deliver the children. They are renting the beetle, but it just isn't the best from a safety standpoint. We think the small bus will open up the school a little more relative to taking the student population to the top.

Carlos is a lovely and godly man and he thinks very critically about things. I have always found him a joy to work with. He challenges things and thinks things through very well. I've been able to teach him a little about the computer (an old windows 98 thing that barely works and I hold my breath on it continuing to work!) and he has been able to teach me about pre-schools, language, and culture. He has a very good mind for business and had developed a very nice system of tracking things in ledger books but he lacked a way to pull it all together simply to see where they stood.

He is also in leadership at one of our churches and is thinking about how to better apply what he is learning to running the church. I find all of this encouraging and am praying for the opportunity to assist the T-3 folks as well who have not been as open to our assistance with the business end of things. The T-3 preschool continues to operate and the number of students continues to grow as people discover it is open again.

I think that each week we make a little progress and it is a task I truly look forward to each week. It's not a big thing I suppose, but certainly one that I think will have some long-term pay-off. In the one picture we are talking about the program and in the other, I think he is looking at me trying to explain something and thinking, "what on earth is he trying to say?"

Blessings.

Dave & Ann

Two Weddings

In what we often call our “past life,” we frequently went to weddings and receptions as it is an important part of any culture. Each culture and even family has its traditions and expectations based on the culture around them, what they have experienced, and what is ‘normal’ for the cultural context. I remember very vividly the dramatic differences in weddings in Idaho, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina and am sure that much of it is culturally driven. This is not necessarily good nor bad, but simply a reflection of the local cultures. Here, the culture puts amazing demands on a couple and as a result, many simply live together, have children together, and never marry because of the cultural barriers that come into play. So, as missionaries, we face into some interesting challenges when people are called to be Pastors and church planters and yet are not married, or maybe have multiple wives.

I am daily challenged in my thinking to realize that all the cultural bias I brought to Mozambique is simply that, bias. I must cast that aside and simply look at God’s word and evaluate the practices by Gods’ word and nothing else. However, even that is fraught with challenge because we all cannot help but read God’s word through our individually culturally-fogged glasses, praying that we might cut through and see God’s truth as simply that, TRUTH.
One of the interesting things for me here is that outside of the cities in Mozambique, life is not so different from the culture that Jesus walked in over 2000 years ago. The stories of the Bible carry direct relevance into the culture here and do not need to be explained, because people truly understand them as written. I have also found it easier and easier to read the Bible ‘as if I was there’ because as I sit on the mat on the floor of the house, I sense that it isn’t so very different now as then. With that comes great encouragement through a different kind of understanding of this timeless book.

Last weekend, we had two weddings of people who are important in our lives here. The first was for one of our Trainers who is tasked with training church planter-pastors as a part of our church multiplication program. We have been ‘encouraging’ this wedding for a very long time and trying to help our trainer through the cultural struggles. (See first photo) The second was for one of our OMS Counselors whose friendship and counsel we treasure greatly. The challenge for us was trying to be two places at the same time, a situation we find ourselves in frequently here and so we have readily adapted to the African proverb “to arrive late means that you were able to attend…”

So, for this blog entry, I’ll write about the second wedding, first. You may remember that last September, I wrote about a dear lady we knew who had died of Malaria. It was sudden, tragic, and touched us deeply. Well, this was our Counselor’s wife. I remember after the funeral, sitting and praying with this man of God in his living room. He loved his wife dearly but still has children at home and because of a previous stroke, he himself has need of someone to help him. So, he boldly asked that God would provide a help-mate for him. It was pure from the heart and full of love and admiration for the wife he had lost, but still a heart-felt cry to God. It was one of those defining moments where you just felt the very presence of God in that quiet place as we prayed together – almost a light shinning in the room kind-of-thing.

Well, here we are six months later and God has answered that prayer. It’s a beautiful story. Our friend and his late wife were very close to a couple in Xai-Xai where our friends frequently taught at a Bible College. The two couples did everything together and had been fast friends for many years. A few years back, the husband of the lady in Xai-Xai died but the friendship continued. Then the wife our friend died and the friendship continued…..to a decision to marry. The photograph is of them at the wedding.

This man is dearly loved here and a wedding here is a two and often three-day affair. We had many responsibilities in our Trainer’s wedding and had to choose and decided to attend part of the second wedding Sunday after church Sunday. We went to the church wedding of our trainer in the morning and left shortly afterwards, arriving around noon at the second affair. Our Pastor friend had the church service in the morning in the area around his house and it had just ended when we arrived. A large area had been set up with a tarp overhead for shade from the strong African sun. Two large mango trees provided additional shade for the others and I estimated several hundred people in attendance.

We were brought in to two chairs under the tarp that had been reserved for us. The bride and groom were seated next to each other with the “God Father” and “God Mother” of the wedding (called Padrinho and Madrinha in Portuguese) on each side of them. As is the tradition here, they were extremely composed, looking very stern, formal, and serious. However, our dear friend did let us see a bit of a twinkle in his eye when we arrived, which warmed our hearts as we knew he was glad we had come.

We arrived at the time the wedding gifts were being presented and that process continued as we walked around and quietly greeted all those we knew (and didn’t know!). These greetings are extremely important culturally and it can take quite a while. We had our name added to the list of people presenting gifts and sat quietly to enjoy this outward demonstration of love for this couple. A man acting much like an “MC” would announce who was next to present and the group would assemble together with their gifts, and then break into song, slowly dancing their way to the area in front of the couple. Then, as the singing continued, the gifts were presented, giving to the Padrinho or Madrinha, who in-turn would provide to the couple, who then passed to the Padrinho who placed it on the table. In some cases, fabric or clothes were draped over the couple, or dishes were provided as “his and hers” with specific instructions that bordered on fun harassment – a great time of laughter and joy. And through it all, the couple keeps their stern look – I’m thinking it must be a cultural challenge to see if you can make them smile! Another man would then write down the gift and who it was from in a small book so the appropriate ‘thank you’s’ could be delivered later at a later date.

When our name was called, we gathered our gifts and since I can’t sing or dance, I challenged the wedding singers/dancers to help me and taught them a new song (thanks Kent Eller for the idea!), and we had a great time singing and dancing and presenting our gifts. It’s not if you can, if you’re good or not, it’s just participating and being part of the process.

Afterwards, a dinner was presented of rice, shema (a corn dish used like rice and similar to grits but MUCH better), chicken topping, and beans with soft drinks. I sat next to one of our other OMS advisors and across from the couple and we enjoyed a wonderful time of conversation. Then, it was time to cut the cake – here you cut the cake into little squares and pile them in a bowl, and everyone takes a little chunk of cake. The bride and groom travel through the crowd feeding the cake a piece at a time to the people who helped with the food or otherwise assisted with everything as a way of saying ‘thanks’.

Then, it becomes a time to talk, fellowship and people gradually depart. Our day started at 7 in the morning and by 7 that night, we were home – a wonderful time but exhausting as my brain starts smoking (short-circuiting) after about three hours of Portuguese.

We did visit with his son and daughter in law, who used to live below us when we first moved to Mozambique. Their daughter, Leonora, was born two days after we arrived and we can easily judge how long we’ve been here by Leonora as she continues to grow. However, they are struggling as Leonora’s dad doesn’t have work right now and so, like so many, they struggle to keep things going each day. In addition, he seems to be having more and more health problems, which is a concern. We spent quite a while just listening and offering suggestions. We make it a point to visit with them from time to time as we feel God has put them in our path for a reason.
As we were leaving, we were asked to take people home – something we do quite a bit of in this land where you use chappas to get around or you walk. The Pastor’s house is way off the beaten track with limited access by chappa. We were able to communicate some with our riders but most didn’t know Portuguese, only the tribal language, so it became more of an exercise in traveling to known landmarks (Shop-rite, Matola), and then upon arrival saying “left”, “right”, etc. So, language in Mozambique is always a bit of a challenge with the older folks, but the younger ones are all good at Portuguese (and some English) because of the emphasis on education.

In the end, I just kept remembering his prayer for another wife – a prayer that he said with certainty and trust while deep in my western mind I’m thinking, “wait a minute – you’re old like me – how are you going to remarry at this point” and yet, six months later, we see the answer. Lord, forgive me for my unbelief! It sounds like the story of Abraham and Sarah and I’m Sarah….

Blessings!

Dave & Ann

“Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Gen. 18:13-14

Motorcycles - my change of heart

As a part of our church multiplication program, we are authorized to purchase an occasional motorcycle to assist the leaders of this program to visit with new churches, conduct training, visit trainers and church planters, and generally further the work in our more remote locations. It can be extremely helpful because transportation he is always very much a challenge because people rely on buses, minibuses called 'chappas', and walking. I’ve previously written about the terrible corruption involved in getting a driver’s or motorcycle license and we’ve had great struggles getting people licensed to the point we’ve moved more to “mo-peds” because you don’t need a license for them. Others are doing the same, because we are seeing more and more of these 50 to 90 cc motorcycles dodging in and out of traffic here.

In addition, we’ve had a challenging struggle with a very nice bike we sent north and the repairs have been considerable because we aren’t there to mentor and help with teaching about maintenance and general care. In addition, we were told people had licenses, who didn’t, and after bailing people and the bike out of jail, etc. for driving without a license…. and after the last ‘rebuild’, we said “that’s it with this bike, no more money for repairs – take care of it or next time we scrap it.” So, I’ve been a bit soured to be honest.

We had also bought a nice Chinese 'road and dirt' bike in Maputo not long after we arrived, planning to send it north. However, the fellow who was to drive it could never seem to pass his driver’s license test, so, based on our other experience, we refused to send it until he had a license. So, it sat on our property for a long time and I’d start it and drive it around a little, just to keep it going. Yes, I know, it was tough but someone had to do it!

Our southern church multiplication coordinator was finally able to get his license and we started the process of training him on driving and caring for the bike (previous entries) and it has been a joy to watch this work unfold. He comes by quite often now as he has this new mobility and he is much more active in the multiplication work in Maputo Province because he can easily get where he needs to go in a reasonable amount of time. His skill as a rider has dramatically improved and his care of the bike is good and improving with his increasing knowledge and experience. It seems to have given him more confidence and given him more time for ministry in his church, the denomination, and the work we do with him in our church multiplication program. Instead of being satisfied to accomplish one thing in a day, the bike gives him the opportunity to accomplish multiple things because the uncertainty of transportation is removed. His entire work ethic has been shifting as he accomplishes more and more. Today, as he drove off, I couldn’t help but praise God for the opportunity to watch this wonderful man’s life open up a bit more because of a simple motorcycle. I’d never have guessed the blessing it has become.

Next week, we will be doing routine maintenance, changing oil, and that sort of thing. Thank you God for the leadership Pastor Abel provides, for his heart for you and your work, for his friendship, and for his faithfulness. Protect him on the roads as he travels to and fro joyfully doing your work.

(PS - he normally wears a helmet!)

Dave & Ann

“… The Lord preserves the faithful….” Ps 31:23