World Race

Our friends John Michael and Ashley

The days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, and suddenly you realize you haven't written for a while.  My apologies!

As I started to write this, my dear wife was doing some medical consultation at the door and searching for medicine to help someone.  She pretty much does this in her sleep anymore and has learned the common things here that cause people difficulty.  We brought a fair amount of medical supplies back with us and are going right through them.  She's been doing some on-line nursing things as well to do the requisite training to keep her license current and that has been something she has been enjoying.  She does love the nursing field.

We just returned from a medical trip for a couple of days in South Africa where I got another eye work-up related to the problems last August and a scary high pressure reading a couple of weeks ago and ended up with a clean bill of health for both the eye doctor and our general doctor here, getting some of our prescription meds going again.  On the way back, we got a call from a couple from our home church who were on their way to Mozambique from Cape Town on a bus, and could we host them, and oh by the way, there are 21 of them.  They are participating in a ministry called World Race.  They take a year of their life and travel to 11 countries, working in each one about a month on different ministry assignments.  It actually put a bit of a lift in our step to know we were getting visitors from home!  So, they came in for one afternoon and night and it was our joy to help them find transportation to the north of Mozambique where they were going to work in two different locations.

I took a picture of the license of the bus, just in case!

Ann whipped up a dinner for the 21 young people (something she loves to do) and we had a wonderful time getting to know them.  They are a few months into their journey, having visited China, the Philippines, South Africa, and now Mozambique.  And bright and early in the morning, the bus we arranged actually showed up and off they went with their back-packs to work.  We texted with them on their journey, which took something like 24 hours on what they called "a real African bus".

They told stories of being shook down for money by the border people when they entered Mozambique - that was their first impression, and then while we were arranging for some sort of reasonable transport for them, I made a wrong turn and they got to witness first hand the police corruption, for they took my license and wanted a huge fine.  I admitted fault and knew that the fine was 1000 mtn, but he was insisting on 5000 on the spot.  I had a copy of the law but we were in a hurry and to work your way through this corruption can easily take an hour or two, so I ended up paying 2500 on the spot to get my license back - which of course he wouldn't receipt.  It's the first time since returning I've had to deal with this but it got quite ugly and he was going to keep my license for three months and I wouldn't be able to drive; he kept making different kinds of threats and didn't let up until I finally say that I would just have to leave the country because I couldn't work if I couldn't drive and I would all our workers lose their jobs - is that what you want?  I was willing to pay the fine but he was be corrupt and was damaging his country.  At that, he came to 2500, which in my frustration I paid and went on my way - all right in front of the Mozambique capital building with the flag flying on top.  Then one of the Racers said 'welcome to Mozambique'.  First impressions - you get one chance to make them......  But, I have to admit, I was at fault.....

Anyway, it really was a bright spot to have the racers here and I was able to have some good conversations with several of them, and it is always good to hear how God is working in the lives of His people.

Today we had the joy to participate in a baptism service at one of our churches.  The entire area around the church has been without water for nearly a year and the estimate is the required infrastructure upgrades will be completed by May.  So, the ladies of the church carried water in buckets for nearly a mile to fill a rather large baptismal.  Quite a sacrifice as the people being baptized were from a remote church outside the city and were using the facilities of one of our larger city churches.

I don't think I will ever get used to the length of services (3 hours for this one), but that is one of the big cultural differences I've spoken of before - Americans have watches and Mozambicans have time.  They asked me to speak a word of encouragement at the end, which was my privilege, and a great homework assignment to work with my Portuguese teacher.  

That's probably enough for tonight.  I have many things on my mind to write but need to think them through a bit more before I write them up!

Thank you for standing with us.

We just issued our monthly and quarterly church planting reports and continued to be amazed at what God is doing throughout this beautiful country.  We have just received news that we have our first 4th Generation church planted!

Dave and Ann

May we all be able to say:

  "I have fought the good fight, I have completed the race.  I have kept the faith."  2 Timothy 4:7

Overcoming Cultural Barriers

Sometimes in accepting Christ, one must overcome some cultural barriers. It really doesn't matter what country you live in; the culture puts pressures on all of us in ways we don't always recognize.

In Mozambique, the culture generally does not accept that ladies who are pregant can or should be batized. It is one of those things that no one can really explain well but something everyone pretty well accepts as fact in the culture.

This past Easter Sunday, we had two of our relatively new church planter/pastors doing a baptism service near Mocuba, Mozambique. Our church multiplication supervisor (Juka) sent me these photos quite excited that two of these ladies were baptized even though they were very pregnant. There was much rumbling through the crowd, and yet they had accepted Christ, they had professed with their moutn, they had been discipled, and they were ready to follow the Lord's command in obedience. With much singing, celebration, and worship, they were baptized to the glory of God.

The following night, one of the ladies had the little baby boy and both the mom and the baby are doing very well. The culture was waiting for disaster, and God provided a great blessing. Maybe they should name him John (the Baptist)?;-)

We praise God for this great blessing and we pray for this new mom and her child, that His hand would be upon them for His name's sake - for the culture is always watching.

So, what are some of the cultural barriers that we face in following Christ? I think they are subtle and they are often difficult. Peer pressure, what people think, the impact on status, employment, and in some countries your very life....all can be barriers. Ultimately, we either believe and profess, or we don't. Where do you stand in the face of your culture?

[PS - speaking of water - once again Afrodrill says "next week" - nothing new to report on the well drilling in Mocuba! Keep praying!] TIA.

Blessings!

"See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Acts 8:36

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Matthew 28:19

Cultural Barriers

This last weekend, we went to a special Baptism service at our T-3 church. People were to come from two of our churches, Machava and Mavalane. There were originally 14 people that were prepared and to come for baptism. In this photo you will see the 4 who actually came.

So, you might ask, what happened to the other 10 people? It's heart-breaking and the same thing we experience with weddings. In this culture, no one 'pays their own way' but rather there seems always to be someone else who pays. The answer is actually in the photograph in a way. Behind each of the people who were baptised, there are people standing behind them who are their 'god father' or 'god mother' for this particular event. Their responsibility is to take spiritual responsibility for the person being baptized, to take a life-long interest in their life from a spiritual perspective, and to pay for the party that is to follow the event, even buying dresses, clothes, paying transportation for guests, or other things related to the day. The 10 people who didn't come didn't have that person and so they didn't get baptized. To put it another way, it's all about the party....sigh.

Another barrier is that these services are dreadfully long (three plus hours) and with the requisite parties, it is an entire day's event, going long into the night. So they aren't scheduled all that often because of the time commitment and if you don't go to the party, or stay long enough when you do go, it is an insult. Then, afterwards is an expectation for receiving the first communion, which is another church service to follow. I like the tradition, but there goes an entire day - and with a limited leadership team in our churches, it becomes a barrier.

We went to one after-baptism event we had been invited to and after a church service at the home and the people receiving first-communion, a big meal was served. We talked at length during and after the meal with many people and when we tried to leave afterwards, we were told that the huge meal we'd just eaten was a 'pre-meal' and that to leave would be an insult. So we waiting and even more food came out. It is a great time, but I find it discouraging that people let a party keep them from getting married or being baptized. And the 'time thing', well that is partly our western time-orientation perspective. We like to say here that 'we have watches and the Mozambicans have time'. Think on this. I'm getting better at this, but still when I look at all we are trying to do, it is hard to watch the hours run away!

I praise God for these four who were baptized and grieve about the other 10 who have finished discipleship classes but felt they had to have a sponsor to pay. A tragic dilution of the importance of baptism.

Pastor Able talked about this in his sermon at the Baptism as his heart was also broken over this. He had no idea until the morning of baptism day when people called to cancel. This is something that is much more prevalent here in the Maputo area and as you move out from the city, it is becomes less and less of an issue. Makes me think of the old TV show "greenacres" where the city people move to the country and take their nonsense city ways with them - hope we don't do that.

Challenges. Why is it that we ('we' in the sense of people from all cultures) "have to have" the things we can least afford?

"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36)

Answer: "I don't have a Patrinho (Godfather) with deep pockets to throw a party for me, my family, and my friends." someone in Mozambique

Baptisms

This photograph is the 10 people who were baptized at our T-3 church today along with their family and friends. If nothing else, this photo shows the numbers of people one person can influence!

It was a wonderful service and we were thrilled to be a part of it. It was a big celebration that started at 0900 and we left at 1230. There was much dancing, preaching, celebration, and prayer. I was asked to close the service and was able to stumble through in Portuguese and I praise God for that small victory today in language. The service was amplified today, which causes quite an echo in the church and that makes understanding doubly difficult for us but we were able to follow. It wasn't that long ago that we'd completely miss the cues when we were asked to participate in some fashion so maybe we are making a little progress after all!

Afterwards, we agreed to take the sound equipment back to our Khongolote church, getting home a few minutes ago. It is unbelievably hot today. Whew! Yesterday I got so hot doing a little outside with the car that I started to have heat stroke and my nurse had to take action. That was a first for me - nauseated from the heat! This 'in the shade' thermometer is only about 95 degrees today - it was over a hundred yesterday.

What a great celebration today was!

I'll try to load a small video to help give you a small flavor.

Blessings to you!

Dave & Ann

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters." Psalm 18:16

Picoco

Today we drove out to Picoco to participate in this new church's first baptism service. We spoke about this new church plant much when we were back in the States as it had just started the very weekend before we left for our short trip back. I'm not sure I can express the absolutely overwhelming joy that this day has brought.

We left at daybreak to travel to Khongolote where we picked up Juka and Nelio to make the long trip to Picoco. We stopped on the way to check out the selected river, which was a tidal river from the sea, with a nice trail to the river although it was relatively low tide and the access to the water was through some pretty thick mud. We were happy with the location and then proceeded to the church. We passed another rather picturesque river on the way and I asked about that location as it looked cleaner and with easier access and was told - no, too many crocodiles. That's enough reason for me!

At Boane, we turned off the road, working our way through a market, and down a narrow road that eventually lead to the church. We had hired a small bus to help transport the church to the Baptism site and after a short service, we loaded up and headed back to the river. The picture above is at the river with the people being baptised. We spent time singing and praising God, and then proceeded with the Baptism. The singing as we had approached the area attracted many people, and much opportunity was provided for sharing and getting to know new people.

In one case, a lady who had been remarkably deep in prayer in the time leading up to the baptism, began to be quite agitated as she approached the water. When her feet hit the water, she began shrieking and crying out in a different voice. We continued to pray and I felt like I was re-living the book of Acts as we sensed demonic activity. The two pastors performing the baptism had seen this before and firmly prayed and the lady immediately calmed down and emerged a transformed lady, remarkable change, not only in demeanor but also in appearance. It was truly remarkable and a testimony to the reality of spiritual forces in this world. This lady's life was forever changed today and she emerged from the water a new person. It was remarkable and at the same time sobering as we witness the constant battle for the souls of men.

Afterwards, we returned to the church, although we did have to push the bus out of the deep sand at one point. The singing and dancing on the bus was full of joy as they celebrated the baptisms and people waved and waved as our singing bus went down the road. After the church service, in which Ann and I were both invited to speak, we celebrated with a meal together of fish and rice and just enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship. We finally returned home just before dark - a wonderful day of joy and celebration; transformed lives.

Tomorrow we start a new training class for a group of potential trainers and church planters. We will be using our T-3 church because it is more centrally located for this particular group than our seminary. We are very excited at the potential that could result from this new group.

We have been blessed by having a young couple from England staying with us the last several days. They have truly been a joy and we have become very fond of them - it was almost instantaneous and we have really enjoyed seeing how God is opening their eyes in new ways as they work with us. Their love for the people of Mozambique is evident in their every action and the people readily respond to that love. Tomorrow they will begin working at our Christian School, helping get it ready for the next school year.

"...And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8: 36 - 39