Baptism Service 'Near' Mocuba

I have promised a bit more about our most recent trip north. It was a good trip in that we learned much, spent precious time with our church trainers and church planters, and came back with a little bit more understanding of culture and challenges in this rapidly growing work.

On Sunday, we were asked to attend a special baptism service in a 'nearby' church. It was a church that we had tried to visit with a Men for Missions Team back in January but we had to turn back because it had been raining and the road was too treacherous, even though the church was "just a little bit further" which we found was another good hour on very poor roads that would be impassable in the rain.

We picked up Juka (our church multiplication Country coordinator) and his family early Sunday morning, passing by to get Antonio and his wife, and headed out towards the church. An hour later we picked up Jorge Manuel, the responsible Trainer, and a couple of other fellows - and the car is absolutely packed. Two hours after we left Mocuba, we're at the point where we had turned around in January. I haven't seen a single vehicle since leaving Mocuba. Soon the road is little more than a walking path that I stradle to keep the grass seeds from clogging the radiator. One hour later, we finally arrive at the church. We are welcomed with much singing and celebration and after greetings, the service begins and people begin appearing and soon the church is filled with 10 people deep all around the grass covered open structure.


Eleven people are presented for baptism, having attended training classes and who publically testify to their faith in Christ. We're presented as visitors and requested to bring a message of encouragement to the people. We are past Portuguese and deep into Lomwe only and there is no one with English, so no crutch to lean on today. We had expected this and have a message we have prayed about that Antonio translates to Lomwe for us. We enjoy a time of singing, praise and worship and soon the crowd begins the 'short walk' to the river.

Half-way to the river, I remember that we have Ann's medical kit and supplies, car parts, and a few other things on the top rack. Too late - if this were the city, those things would already have disappeared so no point in going back now. However, this is not the city and different morals apply - there was no problem at all. As I have said before, we feel much safer deep in rural Mozambique than we do in the cities or areas around the cities on any given day.

At the river, the singing begins afresh and the Trainer works with the Church Planter to train and help him through his first baptism process. It starts with prayer and many people align the bank to watch and encourage the new believers. Afterwards we return on the 30 minute walk back to the church through beautiful land full of bananas, casava, corn, and sugar cane - individual plots but it is clear it has been a good year for rain and crops. The grass, dry now, is high.

When we return to the church, almost three hours have passed and a second service begins to have communion for the newly baptised. There are a ton of kids around and I enjoy a time of teaching them a couple of songs in Portuguese but our language barrier is huge but a fellow steps out of the crowd and helps me as he has my accent figured out and the Lomwe begins to flow again. Elina takes over the kids as we are called back into the church and the second service begins and the crowd has really grown, with several of the people saying we are the first 'Brancas" they have seen. I pray that we can simply represent Christ.

Communion is served, again something new for the student Pastor/Church planter and so it is bumpy but precious. The service goes on and on and on as if they just don't know how to end it. We are asked to speak again, and so we do a very short lesson. There is more singing and dancing and then afterwards, there is a meal of Shema, rice, and a little chicken to put over the rice. Delicious but we are starting to sweat getting back into Mocuba before it is way dark.

Ann does some health work with a few of the ladies and we visit with many, and then head back to Mocuba. Three hours later, having again not seen a single vehicle, we find ourselves back in Mocuba, exhausted but thankful for the opportunity to participate, encouarge, teach, and present the Gospel. But, at the same time, we wonder if it would have been better if we had not been there - as the National Church is well equipped to do this although the travel would have been quite difficult. Sometimes we worry that our presence with our car can build false expectations. Several pulled us aside to present their story on how they needed us to give them money. We know of one case where a Trainer gathered his students by promising material gain from us (OMS) if they would attend training and we spent some energy this trip working on trying to fix that expectation. If people come to training and church only because they are expecting money, a new house, or whatever, it can only lead to problems. We must look to our God as our provider, not the man with the car.

In this remote area, it had been a good year and people had sufficient food through hard work on their small farm plots. But there remain tremendous opportunities for clean water and health related training and assistance. Educational needs are huge and the opportunities for ministry to children and women almost endless. God, give us wisdom to represent you well in these remote areas where both the spiritual and the physical needs are so great.

It was a great opportunity; 11 baptisms and the opportunity to share the gospel with several hundred people. And we have a church where training and Bible Study is taking place. Thank you Lord.

"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." 1 Co 4:1