Winter on the Mountain

Shortly after returning from our 10 weeks of travel, Thanksgiving came to the mountain cabin where we are staying, through the amazing and overflowing generosity of one of our supporters. All the kids were able to come and though we were packed in; it was a wonderful time. A picture of all of us - I will try to include it if our internet speeds will allow it.

But the snow has come. We are under a severe weather alert over the next three days and they are predicting many inches of snow in the valley, which could be feet here in the mountains. I gave up shoveling out after the third clearing of our access to the gravel road - putting the mini-van up near the road. That way I only have to shovel a path the 300 feet from the cabin.

It is beautiful, it is quiet, but it is an odd feeling knowing you absolutely can't get out and probably for some number of days.

As I was getting the van positioned at the top of this hill, one of the residents (Harvey) passed by, moving his car to the foot of the mountain. I had a delightful conversation with him and got all the news and he was a bit surprised we were wintering on the mountain. He told me it gets a little gnarly on this old mountain. Do we have food that can last a few weeks? Gulp!

He volunteered to walk me down the mountain (literally through the woods down behind our house - straight down) to the church on the flat where he was taking his car. In my mind I have a hard time understanding how that church is straight below us but I believe him. No problem, he says, "you look fit enough that you can probably (????) make it down and back." He says when he is in a hurry, he can slide down the mountain in about 15 or 20 minutes. However, the trip back up the steep slope will take about an hour depending upon how much I have to rest. I relayed all this to Ann and she made it clear that if I wanted to try this, I could. There was no "we" in that discussion! So, I need a backpack for the requisite bread, milk, and eggs that one must always buy in the middle of a snow storm! ;-)

There is a narrow place on the one-lane drive up where you are in a deep narrow 'cut' - high on each side where you can't see past the banks. You basically drive up through the tree roots on each side - the road is four feet below the tree roots (they call it the "root canal" here). I never thought about it, but Harvey told me that was the limiting place - the wind whips up the mountain and deposits snow in the root canal and fills it and it takes at least a day with equipment to clean it out so you can get through - this is no job for a fellow with a snow shovel! I'll have to snap a picture of this some point.

It is 21 degrees, the wind is blowing, visability is near zero but we are warm and I am thankful to have a safe place to lay my head. I also know there is absolutely no way I could ever relay to my Mozambican friends that such a place as this even exists. I tried with my friend Juka, but he just says, "it is time for you to come back to us. No one should live in such a place." It is 81 in Maputo today!

I am surrounded by good books. I finished some long over-due reports to OMS. The budget and strategy for next year's Village Church Planting program has been submitted. There is great satisfaction to getting these things behind us for now, especially with the uncertainty of our internet in these severe conditions (it is slowest Internet I have ever had, even dating back to the dial up AOL days!).

But God is near and I relish the opportunity to do some study. I am reading a refreshingly realistic book called "Experiencing Leader Shift, Letting Go of Leadership Heresies." It is one of the most refreshing books I've read on "leadership" in a very long time. I have gone through so very much leadership training in my life, probably more than most people, but always knowing I was not gifted in this area and all the training in the world will not make you a gifted leader. God has given me other giftings, as he has you, and we should serve with confidence in those giftings, whatever they be. God does not make mistakes and each of us is wonderously and marvelously made with a God-ordained plan for us, provided we will open ourselves to the creator of the universe.

I am also reading a publication out of Canada that speaks to the compatibility of faith and science and I am finding it another refreshing and wonderful work. Christianity and science need not and should not be opposed to each other. The scientific method came out of the Reformation for heavens sake. We can stand confidently that God's truth is God's truth and he has given us a magnificant ordered earth and universe to figure out and understand as we seek Him. We need not be afraid, for He loves us and understands us like no other can.

Juka is hosting a leadership (there is that word again) in Mocuba starting in the coming days with our church planters, pastors, and trainers as we continue to seek that the Gospel of Jesus will go forth into the unreached places in Mozambique. There will be training, study, prayer, worship, and fellowship as Juka re-establishes the vision of our village church planting program. Dear Lord, give him and Pastor Abel the the wisdom that only you can impart and bless this gathering of Your people. Give travel mercies to those coming from all parts of Mozambique to attend. Reveal your will for the future and continue to grow this work which You began." Amen.

Enough for now. Thank you for standing with us. I never imagined being snowed in while on furlough!! But God knows what we need; there is absolutely no shortage of things we need to do in support of the work in Mozambique, even here in the States.

Wish I had some cross-country ski equipment - we used to be avid cross-country skiers in our earlier days - what an amazing place to have them! That would be a great trip to the foot of the mountain & back!

Blessings.

Dave & Ann

"Find out where God is at work and join Him." Henry Blackaby, Experiencing God