Some Sad News

In the last couple of weeks, we’ve been writing and texting back and forth to our village church planting coordinator in Mozambique.  A scheduled pastor training conference didn’t go so well with one of our key trainers rallying others around him against others at the conference and he has apparently been an instigator of some of the unrest going on in our established churches.  To top it all off, it is alleged that he attempted to have the final paperwork for our training center land registered in his personal name rather than the name of the church denomination.  The conference ended in disarray and two of the national leaders took the problem to the National Assembly who took disciplinary action against the leader.   It is tragic; it is heart breaking; it is shocking; it is simply sad.  We had put so much faith and trust in this individual and were looking to him for leadership into the future.  From what I am hearing however, I am not certain that the fallen leader has truly been given ‘his say’ and perhaps that is a cultural thing where with me I like to think the accused needs to be able to face his accusers.  There are always two sides to a story and we need both sides to learn how to improve in times of relational failure, with a goal of reconciliation.  We have prayed; we have shed tears; we have tried to provide counsel but in the end we are all subject to the choices that we make and the consequences that they bring.

So, while we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called by him, sometimes the path can be rocky and painful as we are shaped and molded into His image.  But in the end we can have peace for He is in control and He will certainly accomplish His plans, with us or without us.  

The church planting work is progressing and a new work is developing between Gurué and Milange and we are thankful for the continuing moving of God’s Spirit in Mozambique and look forward to returning in what is not so very far off now. 

As I read the news and sometimes peruse the comments on various stories in the news, I cannot help but be taken aback by the raw hate and ill-will voiced in the comments.  In our own country, it seems we are becoming entirely polarized into hate groups as people strive to justify their own views; we are incapable of extending grace to those who walk a different path.  It is as if a great evil is again arising across the world and the world is hungry for someone, for anyone, to come and provide some assurance that personal peace and affluence can be retained or gained, however that looks in whatever culture.  It seems that times of great darkness come before times of great blessing.  But, the Bible teaches us that we cannot find peace when our focus is on ourselves - it just doesn’t happen.

Maybe that is why Jesus said “I am the light of the world” for he knew that times of great darkness would fall upon man as he fell into the wisdom of his own madness.  What other hope is there absent of relationship with the One who loves us so much?  Where else can we find the light of hope?

As I write, there is a great darkness coming over the mountain with tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the forecast.  We have had wave after wave of such storms over the past few months.  A precursor to the darkness of the times.  This day has brought so much pain and suffering to so many and our hearts grieve.

There is an urgency in the air.  Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Dave & Ann

“The city (the new Jerusalem) does not need the sun or the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God gives it light...Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me and will give to everyone according to what he has done...Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life...”  Rev. 21:23 and 22:12,17

A Great Sermon

Last weekend we were blessed to celebrate Easter with daughter Allison and Son Byron in Greenville, SC.  Byron is on staff with Summit Church and we always enjoy attending this outreach church in Greenville.  I was particularly moved by Sunday morning's sermon as it brought a perspective that I'd not heard before.  It was built around when Jesus exited the tomb those years ago and the stone was rolled away, there was no one there waiting.  He had promised he would arise, people had heard it, but they just didn't 'get it'.  We struggle in that same vein today in that in our finite understanding, we often just don't 'get it' as the finite meets the infinite.  But by the Grace of God, go I.....May we all 'get it' this day.

Anyway, I was really moved by the teaching and thought some of you might enjoy it if you have 30 minutes or so and want to stream it.  I wish there was video included so you could see the passion in Pastor Jason's eyes and his style.   Here is the link:

http://www.summitupstate.org/sermons/outsiders-a-study-through-luke/luke-241-12-easter-outsiders-pt12

We had a great day celebrating Christ's resurrection, spending time walking around the lake at Furman University with Al and Bryon and just continuing to enjoy spring.  And of course, Allison is a cook beyond belief and we had a fantabulous Easter meal.  God is good to us.....all the time.....

Blessings.

Dave

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 'Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.'  But he answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'" (Matthew 28:38-40, NKJV)

Statistics

We are back at the cabin after spending Easter with our daughter Allison and her husband Byron.  We are in a bit of a shambles as we begin the packing process.  We are shipping by sea as it is impossible for us to ship by air, which being unfortunate, is just the way things go sometimes and we will look forward to seeing the blessings which will result.  We have found some folks in Atlanta willing to help us get this shipment out and have begun the process.

Our formal travel schedule is now over although we are still trying to put a trip to Idaho together and have a few things left to do, but we were wondering about this past year.   Sometimes it helps put some sort of perspective on things.  Since last September, we have traveled nearly 30,000 miles, stayed in 38 different places, spoke 123 times in a variety of venues in 87 different places as we shared the Good News of what God is doing in Mozambique.  We have been in 28 different churches during this time and we have experienced the overwhelming abundance of God's grace through His precious people.  We are so very appreciative of what God has done in this time of furlough and we look forward to returning to see what He will do in the next years in Mozambique.  He is truly faithful and we pray God will richly bless all those who stand so faithfully with us as together, we reach the nations for Christ.  What a privilege it has been.

The tulips are from the Duke University gardens in Durham, North Carolina where we were visiting some dear friends from Idaho who were there for medical consultation.  We simply can't get enough of spring this year, having missed it so very much during our time in Mozambique.  We serve an amazing God who dresses even the flowers in such splendor.

Blessings all.

Dave & Ann

"I could sing of His love forever....."  a song written by Martin Smith of Delirious 

On the lighter-side

Near a place called Hazard, Kentucky (no, we did not see Bo and Luke Duke, Daisy, or Uncle Jessie although we did see the Pole-eese), we got behind this truck and just laughed and laughed. Ann’s mom worked for ‘meals on wheels’ for many years and all of our daughters helped her do this at one time or the other. In addition, we have some dear friends in Parkersburg, WV who do meals for the homeless and indigent in their area out of a couple of trucks. This is a whole new twist!

I'd hire this guy if nothing else for his creativity!

The other picture is just a quick out the window shot to try and catch some of the beautiful colors of spring!  Pictures just don't do it justice.

Dave and Ann

"Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126.2

Mount Carmel High School

Yesterday we had the privilege of speaking at Mount Carmel School in Vancleve, Kentucky, a short stone’s-throw from Kentucky Mountain Bible College.  We left on Thursday, traveling through rural Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.  We had met the headmaster during our time at Avon Park camp in Florida and just hit it off with him.

This school was founded in 1925 and is a faith-based school that accepts kids from all over the US and the world.  It is what I would call at nitch-school, in that it fills a particular need for quality and affordable education in a boarding school environment.  It is a peaceful respite in a beautiful setting and it was our privilege to spend a couple of days there.  We were quite impressed with the students we talked with. 

In addition, the school has an elementary day-school and the staff are some of the most dedicated you could ever meet, answering God’s call on their lives in this unique and important work.  

I was especially impressed by a young man from Thailand, who was graduating this year and had been accepted by Asbury College where he will study education as his dream is to return to Thailand and teach physics, math, and science in his home country.  His home country is helping him with his education in return for a 10-year teaching commitment.  Seems like a good deal to me, especially considering the extremely high cost of tuition at private schools like Asbury.  We know well, for our youngest daughter attended Asbury for a year and a half.   Opps, side-tracking again.

This young man is strong in his faith and will return to his home country with more than just an education - but as a missionary for Christ.  You cannot put God in a box - He accomplishes His plans in more ways and methods than we can imagine.  

And then there were the girls from Papua New Guinea that were just a joy to talk to and hear their hearts and dreams.  And a young man from Korea who wants to study Engineering and wanted my opinion on the best engineering universities in my opinion - I could answer that one right off the top of my head from my days in my old Job.  

It was a joy to serve in this way - I enjoy all the energy that young people bring, with their hopes and dreams, and especially those who are working hard to achieve those dreams that God has put on their hearts.  We challenged them to seek God’s plan and call on their lives, for he has given each of us unique skills and talents for a reason.  We need to cast our dreams before Him and then work towards them, asking for His divine direction and help - for that clear Call that comes from turning it all over to Him.

Kentucky Mountain Bible College is just down the road and the two schools cooperate with some of the college students being resident assistants at the high school while others practice preaching on Sunday at the chapel, and some of the high school students participating in college level courses at the Bible College - a great partnership with world-wide impact.

The drive over was amazing - one day the purple and white blossoms bursting out in their radiance and magnificence, and the next day the trees, as if competing for their turn, bursting out in that rich yellow-green of spring.  Spring came on April 14 and 15 in the Appalachian mountains and we enjoyed every sound, fragrance and sight, for we have sorely missed springtime in the States.

Thank you Lord and guide these precious students and guide them into the future you have in store for them.  May they not be distracted by the clutter of the world, but remain  focused on fulfilling that Call that you have for their lives.  Give the staff great wisdom as they teach and guide those precious ones you have placed in their care.  Amen.

Dave & Ann

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed......In his heart, a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.....Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD."  Proverbs 16: 3, 9, 20

Donations for this school via:

Mount Carmel High School

PO Box 2

Vancleve, KY  41385

God's Arms and Baby Blankets

While we were in Pittsburgh, we spent an evening with a group of ladies who call themselves "God's Arms".  These precious ladies from a variety of churches get together regularly and crochet baby blankets, hats, socks, etc. and distribute them free of charge to hospitals, the crisis-pregnancy center, and other organizations who assist families.  It is a labor of love and they have a great time doing it.  They provided us with a large number of beautiful baby blankets to take back to Mozambique.   Each blanket is covered by prayer for those destined to receive it.

Blankets are expensive and difficult to obtain in Mozambique.  In their winter, the temperatures can drop into the 50's which is very cold when you have no source of heat.  We had the privilege of providing blankets to new mothers during our first term and they were greatly appreciated.  We are very thankful for the opportunity to continue this ministry, demonstrating God's love in a unique way from a group in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania to the dear ladies of Mozambique.

Blessings.

Dave & Ann

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."  Matthew 25:45-46

God's world is simple in a magnificent way

After several months of travel, we arrived yesterday back at the cabin where we are beginning our preparations to return to Mozambique.  (My plan is to do a blog on statistics in the coming weeks).   As we drove south from Pittsburgh, the world became greener as we moved into spring.  The brown has turned to green and the Ornamental Pear trees, probably my most favorite tree, were moving from the white blossoms into their beautiful green; I had worried I would miss this favorite part of spring but God blessed us with this wonder of his creation as we drove south.

Ann said something as we traveled back to the cabin that was quite profound:

“God’s world is simple in a magnificent way”.  

It just rang true with me.  The Gospel is simple; God’s requirement for us to simply believe in Jesus is quite simple; our reliance on Him totally is quite simple; and the concept that He loves us beyond measure - well, it is quite simple. And yet, he can take us through the toughest and complex trial, by simply trusting Him.  And the beauty of the spring, the consistency of the spring flowers, the summer skies, the fall colors, and the purity of the snow.  Simply beautiful and a testimony of His love for us.

Life can be extremely difficult and there are no promises that things will be easy - it is a lie that we want to buy into but it just isn’t scriptural.  But armed with simple child-like faith, we see his mighty hand move in the most difficult situations as to the One who spoke things into existence, our most complex problem is, well, simple.  As Jesus says, “Trust in God, trust also in Me...”  It’s that simple!

We were greeted at the cabin by a beautiful patch of daffodils, attesting that spring is truly here.  I remain so thankful that we have this beautiful place of respite and once again, we are able to do devotions sitting on the porch viewing a world that cries out to the existence of a Holy God.  This one picture is of the sun burning through the cloud.  

I have begun to study the Book of Acts again as we prepare to return to Mozambique.  This precious book is rich with the history of the early church and God’s working to protect and establish His church.  I cannot study this book without feeling a sense of awe and even though I’ve taught through this book many times, it never gets old and I see new truths each time.

Tomorrow, we hit the road again to speak to the students at Mount Carmel School in Kentucky.  When I look at the map, it appears to me you can’t get there from here, so we are assured of a beautiful drive through the Appalachian Mountains.   We will then return for a couple of days before heading over to the Raleigh-Durham region to meet some friends from Idaho who will be consulting at Duke University hospital.  

We are praying earnestly for God’s direction on our preparations for returning to Mozambique.  We have quite a bit things we need to take back to Mozambique, more than we can check as baggage.  Even if we could, the theft problems in Jo-burgh are severe and we have learned from experience that one should minimize luggage going through that airport.  More times than not, our bags have been broken into and things removed at that airport.  Air cargo eliminates that problem and while it was exceedingly easy to ship from Mozambique to here, we have found it virtually impossible to ship air cargo from here to Mozambique because of Homeland Security regulations.  We have called numerous Freight Forwarders who initially say “sure” and then call us back later to say it is impossible.  The requirements are intense and while maybe a business can eventually get approved to air ship, the individual can’t.  South African Air told us they would receive a $25,000 fine if they accepted a shipment from us since we are ‘unknown shippers’.  So, our deadly audio bibles, wedding dresses, baby blankets, medical supplies, and keyboard can’t go!  Incredible to me but then again, when has government involvement in anything ever made it better?  Opps, is that a political comment?; I don’t think so - has nothing to do with politics - just government.  It all seems horribly anti-business to me.

Pray with us; we may just send some things by boat, but then we have to deal with long time frames and getting things through the port in Maputo can be very problematic and expensive.  We need to resolve this quickly as it is time to purchase our airline tickets but we are stalling until we know where we ship from.

A seemingly complex problem that is, well, simple to Him!

Make it so, dear Lord!  This is our prayer today; may we follow your leading - not our ways, but Yours!

Dave & Ann

“Did not our hearts glow within us while He was talking to us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:32 (Berkeley Version)

Mozambique for Kids

Our mission released today a web link for kids that highlights Mozambique.  From the web-site there are games, factoids, photos, activities, and stories that children will enjoy.  We're excited about this!  Thanks to Jason Campbell at OMS headquarters who prepared this.  Jason is a great resource for churches interested in youth-oriented programs relating to missions!

You can access this new web-site at:

http://www.onemissionsociety.org/g-a-m-e-site

Check it out!

Dave & Ann

"My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways."  Proverbs 23:26