Simple Things that aren't Simple

We have been buried with a crisis that caught us completely by surprise. A simple thing really.

I've written previously about our mission changing its name to One Mission Society (still OMS) to update the image, modernize, and better present the long-standing purpose of OMS. We just sent our prayer letter in for publishing (to arrive at your box soon!) and it is with the new logo.

In our minds a simple change....so we mentioned it to some of our Mozambican friends and they said, oh my Gosh, you need to let the Department of Religious Affairs know as soon as possible so they don't hear it from someone else. Name changes here are a BIG DEAL. So, we wrote a simple letter, attached our president's letter (translated) and went down to tell them about it but "no worries" we are still OMS.

Well,,,,,,,not so fast. After we were all done explaining, they put their hands on the table and said, that's all well and good, but what is the REAL reason you are changing your name? Very unsettling. We thought we settled it all and went one our way, only to be called back in a few days later to go through it again, what is the REAL reasons you are changing your name? Financial problems, going out of business, merging with someone else, major change of personnel, bankruptcy is looming, what is the REAL reason. And, if we want to change our name, we have to go back and to all the things again that two of our colleges spent 15 years doing to get us registered. The hint was very very clear: Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? Plus, we got homework to write a paper about how we inside the country decided to change the name - explaining that the direction did not indeed come from outside the country. In the government's eye here, we are separate and independent and they do no want outside folks telling us how to do business in Mozambique. I have to admit that I like that but it was certainly a surprise. After researching some of the older legal documents here, we are indeed independent and responsible to the government here more than we realized. It was a very valuable thing to review and reconsider.

After lots of talk and research, we really don't have to change our name here (thank you Lord). It is amazing how such a little thing can actually jeapordize the entire work. Wow, but that is the legal reality and we want to walk carefully and not make unnecessary waves.

So, tomorrow we go back to try and retract our letter and say 'never mind' and be extremely thankful, recognizing they were trying to help and guide us in the indirect way of the culture that we learn to appreciate more every day.

That has delayed our trip north - we hope to go in a few days and are mostly prepared.

Pray for us for this meeting tomorrow and our subsequent travel. We will be out-of-touch for a few weeks but are looking forward with great anticipation to being with our church planting workers in the north of Mozambique.

Blessings.

Dave & Ann
OMS International - Mozambique!

"Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name." Ps 86:11