Machava

On Saturday night, Pastor Abel called me asking if I would go to our new church in Machava with him and bring the message. We had not been to that particular church for a while and so we agreed and fortunately, I had something rolling around in my head that I could work on - so much for sleep that night!

We were a few minutes late, because we had to wait on a train that had parked on the track blocking the road as people loaded on. We were a ways out of the city and the train was headed to the South African border, where people will exit, walk across the border control station, and get on another train in South Africa. Then the train comes back to Maputo. In the mornings, the train is filled to overflowing as it heads into the city.

We arrived about 0845 and the service had just started. The church is in a small reed structure and it was filled to overflowing. The worship time went for quite some time, which we have gotten used to, and the time for a message came about 2 hours later. I did get another opportunity to give a lesson to the kids, which was fun. It involved candles, matches, and fire in a reed church with two four-year olds holding lighted candles, but I never said I wasn't willing to take risks! Pastor Abel helped translate my Portuguese to Shanghanna, which is always a great help - most of our churches are in at least two languages, which means the Pastor's sermon takes at least twice as long!

We were very pleased to see the order that has come to this church as God works in the lives of the people there. One lady did not come this morning and after the service, we all headed to her house for a time of praise, song, and prayer, which is something I like about the culture here.

After I spoke, they decided to have a time where people could comment on the sermon, and so there was this discussion time that followed. This doesn't happen all the time, but we do see it in some of our churches. Members will stand up and talk about what they understood about the sermon and how God is challenging them with it. People here can always stand up and give a small talk with no bashfulness at all. It also is a reflection of the culture, where if church goes one hour or four hours, everyone has time.

We were very encouraged to see the growth through the leadership training Nelio is doing with the leaders in this small church and the constant mentoring by Pastor Abel. We are hoping to put some small benches in the church before we go, to help with the seating. Some people bring their own plastic chair, others a matt, so there is a mix of chairs/matts, standing. The singing was a special blessing and we are going to miss the Shanghanna hymns while we are back in the States.

In the one photo, what looks like a hole in the ceiling is actually a clear fiberglass sheet that makes a great skylight and helps out greatly for those of us who don't see as good as we used to!

Blessings.

Dave & Ann

" For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)...." Eph 5:8,9