Intaca

Today we met with the Government official over the part of Intaca where our church is located. They have recently ran a power line near the road the church is on and we are told they are re-routing the road to follow the power line. Today we learned for sure that the road runs on "the other side" of the power line, so it won't run a few feet from our well. In addition, the government is surveying and preparing a map of all the land in this rapidly growing area to help with the land ownership questions. We provided the two letters we have (and that is all!) regarding our land ownership for the church land. They were pleased with the letters and asked that we put in small corner walls to mark the edges of the property. The Secretary of the area said he would walk with church leadership to agree on where the boundaries are and that would be the final place. So, we coughed up some money for concrete and blocks to identify the land. These sit-down sessions with local government people are very important and we were very encouraged by today's session. They did ask that we consider putting a pre-school on the property as soon as possible as there is great need in the community.

While we were there, we agreed to help the church pastor get a used sewing machine he had bought in a nearby area. We went back sand roads and came in right behind the huge new stadium they are building near the National Highway. I have to look at Google-maps to figure out what we did today - I believe that God has placed this church property in what will soon be a very strategic place. They are going to open this road all the way to the main north-south highway and we will be on quite a major road eventually. I'm so glad God takes care of those kinds of details!

Well, the sewing machine ended up being a sewing machine, a table, two couches, and a large chair - we stacked up as much as we could on top of the car and somehow managed to get back. We learned a lot of new roads today and met a lot of interesting people. To me the old and rusty peddle-type singer sewing machine looked like it was un-repairable and he paid an awfully high price for such a machine. However, I've learned that the Mozambicans are very clever and he will dismantle that machine, clean it, oil it, and probably fabricate a few parts for it, and have it working in no time. It will be interesting to see what comes of it. It is also encouraging, because Francisco's wife learned to sew at our sewing center at Intaka and now is off to start her business with her own machine!

Some sad news for me is that on one of the sand roads, I had to back up so someone could pass and in the process, running two big thorns through one of my new tires. I try to be so careful of those things! I've lost count on how many flats I've had from these thorns! So, tomorrow I will try to find an open shop to get them plugged. For my mechanic friends, the holes are on the side walls and they will plug them anyway. Our old set of tires had all sorts of plugs from these thorns in our sidewalls.

We are heading north in a couple of weeks - sure wish I'd hit those thorns after that trip!

Our visa's are in and should be ready in about 10 days. The process took two of us, but we understand the chaos now so the entire thing isn't near as daunting as it once was!

Blessings!

Dave & Ann

Well

Last Sunday we attended the church at Intaka. This was the first opportunity for us to check out the well that had been repaired and we were surprised that the church had also poured a new concrete floor in the church. There is also some contraversy about the land the church is on. Someone had swatted on one side of the land and a power line was put in over where they had squatted and so they have to move. Well, the municipality's position is that we need to give them the same amount of land on the other side of the property as we can farm under the power line but they can't live there. Heck of a deal. So, the church wants to put up a fence around the property. This is how it works here - you buy land but if someone decides to live on it and you didn't fence it in - it is your tough luck. You see lots of concrete walls (block skimmed with concrete) for this reason. One of the crazy things that you deal with here. So, the church has come to us to see if we'd provide the wire if they provide the posts. The first step is checking out the price - the property is nice - 54 paces by 160 paces - whatever that comes to....let's see, when I marched with the band on the football field, it was eight paces to 5 yards, which is 15 feet, which is......oh my - I need meters.....

Anyway, the property is a lovely peace and the road has been re-done and no their is a powerline along the road that goes to a rather remote clinic. So, in theory, we're positioned well for the future. I would love to build a more substantial structure in this rapidly growing community and it remains a little project I keep mulling about. The reed structure is getting pretty worn and fragile and the termites are doing their thing on the wooden posts. (That's why concrete works so well here! There aren't any concrete termites.....yet!).

We enjoyed the sermon given by one of young men the leader of this church is mentoring. It's a part of the process of training others to train others. He used the story of the owner of a vineyard who gathered workers throughout the day to work in his fields (Matthew 20). In this parable, Jesus starts it by saying 'the kingdom of God is like....' and it immediately follows the parable of the Rich Young ruler - it is a passage very rich to discuss. This young man took it in a very literal sense relative to wages - very interesting in light of the culture context we work in where work is difficult to find and wages are not very good. Afterwards, the leader of the church pulled us aside and indicated that they would need to revisit that passage in the future, which in itself was interesting, but also encouraging - our Saturday classes at the seminary are having a good impact (the leader attends there and is a very devoted man).

I thought you might like to see the updated pictures. It was so incredibly hot - and our air conditioner decided to stop working AGAIN! With the sun beating down on our metal box, and it is already 110 degrees in the shade, I don't want to even guess what it is inside the car! The air conditioning lasted two whole weeks since the last time we fixed it. I went over the system with a fine tooth comb myself Sunday afternoon and found where I think the leak is (two places) and we had it 'fixed' while we were at Language School today. We will see. The fellow who works on it is someone we've become quite fond of - and we're certainly there often enough! He agreed with my diagnosis and did not charge us today, which was a blessing. I'd really like to put some dye in it like they do in the States - but that is one of those 'no-no's' to take on an airplane (pressured freon dye). It's not available here.

It's time to submit our visa paperwork again - we have done the first step and were approved by the Department of Religious Affairs today and tomorrow we will turn in our passports (always a gulp!) and applications to the Immigration people. So that will be an item for prayer. We hope to get them back in about two weeks before we head north again. Don't like to be on longer trips without the passport in case we need to hop the border quickly for some reason. Things change here pretty quickly sometimes.

Blessings.

Dave & Ann

"So the last will be first, and the first last, for many are called, but few chosen." Mat 20:16

Updates

We continue to spend much of our time in formal language study. We have completed the first level and have been advised our final exam will be Monday. So, you know what we will be doing this weekend. I will loose one class Thursday as I'm having oil-pressure problems with our Toyota and plan to run it to South Africa Toyota for repair. I ordered a sensor and am praying that is the problem - I've tried all the tricks I know but something is not working quite right. It all started after Toyota Maputo fixed my broken starter - so I'm thinking they hit the sensor and damaged it removing the starter - if so it will be no big deal. I didn't take it to Toyota Maputo because if they have to order a part, it could be months as compared to days in South Africa. The sensor is waiting for me in South Arica. I spent Saturday under the hood fixing some electrical problems, replacing wiring and taking care of a few things but it didn't do anything for the oil pressure problem. The car is old, the temperatures here hot, and electrical wiring breaks and the insulation falls off, causing all sorts of problems.

The water well at Intaka - the fellows who installed it were there on Sunday and promised a quote, proposal, and 'fix date' to me by Friday. Now, they didn't say 'which Friday'...... This has been a long-time coming.

We took two sewing machines from our sewing center at Intaka to the repair shop. The two needing repair are the more exotic machines whereas the simple Singer is jugging away. The person at the shop just shook her head and said "these machines get alot of use don't they?" Yes, indeed they do. So, we are awaiting the call.

We have a wedding dress that we share amongst our churches as they are quite expensive. We just got it back from a wedding in the north and our white dress looks like someone drug it through red dirt. The dry-cleaners (yes we have them here) was doubtful they could do the magic this time but we are hopeful. They said the same thing last time and it came back beautiful. It's been used something like 10 or 15 times, so we really can't complain too much. Our next wedding is December 19 and we promised this dress. There is also one in the north this coming Saturday but they will have to rent something. We need to get a couple more dresses - hopefully at some second-hand shops while we are in the States although we need something more conservative than what you typically see in the States. They can add a little jacket or something to them. Anyone sitting on some old wedding dresses you aren't ever going to use? We can promise they will get used and used and used here. Send us a line.

We had a field retreat in South Africa recently with speakers from OMS - US. It was a weekend of rest and challenge. Great messages although I (Dave) came down with a horrible cold / sore throat thing and spent the better part of one day in bed (doing Portuguese homework). We stayed at a small garden hotel thing outside of Nelspruit and enjoyed the fellowship and time away. Two of the three men who came were good friends of ours, which was a special blessing and the other a very interesting man from South Africa working with Men for Missions International (MFMI) and who had just completed a 5000 km bike ride raising money for Bibles. He also holds several world records in bicycle events and is a little older than me but in incredible shape. I have no excuse..... I greatly enjoyed hearing his stories about competion and about his business endeavors in South Africa and Malyasia. Very interesting and a great testimony - he was saved through a "mighty men" conference in South Africa lead by Angus Buchan; I wrote about the movie "Faith Like Potatoes" which is about Angus Buchan's life. I have heard recently that this movie is now being shown in the States in some venues. The last 'might men' event attracted something like 200,000 men. Pretty incredible.

The message of the retreat centered on Fellowship with God - that is the first thing and we started from the story of Mary and Martha (see below). A message all of us who get 'busy' need to keep hold of...

We bought another load of bibles this week for distribution in our churches and communities. It's always a good thing when we get Bibles out into the hands of people seeking God's direction in their lives.

We have a big baptism event at Picoco on December 4. We will unfortunately miss that special day. We took our MFMI visitors out to Picoco while they were here and happened to catch a training session for those new believers and the Pastor asked me to speak, which gave me great opportunity to launch from the story of Philip and the Eunuch in Acts. Bottom line was to encourage them to follow the Lord in baptism and not worry about a party, a god father or god mother for the event, but rather to simply follow in obedience to the Lord's command. It felt good to do it in Portuguese and have Nelio be able to then translate to Shanghanna. It was a great time and that church is continuing to grow and it thrills my heart to see the steady stream of people getting water at the well. I had some balloons with me that day and blew up balloons and talked with all the kids gathered around the well, inviting them to the church, and challenging them about life in general. Balloons are a great conversation starter here and many kids don't have an idea of how to blow one up. I see all these kids here and just grieve about their tomorrows. The church is slow to reach the youth here and the youth are tomorrow's church and tomorrow's leaders. We adults are but a 'flash-in-the-pan'.

I want to write about the government excess car but it deserves a separate entry. It is another great example of how 'you get what you pay for....'

Blessings.

"And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."" Luke 10:41

Week's Summary

I have suddenly realized I haven’t written in the past week. I’ve started a couple of times but struggled with the topics, wrestling with what I want to write but you’ll have to wait for the book! I have a lot of topics I want to write about but need to understand so much more to provide any kind of realistic perspective or suggested solution, so I just ponder and try to gain experience. As the story goes, the young pup asked the aged man how did he get so good at making good decisions? The old man pondered the question a while and answered “from making bad decisions.” So, we’re still in the ‘making bad decisions mode’ so any book at this point would have little use to anyone! However, at 56, there’s not a lot of time left to become experienced so maybe that book will have to be written by a young pup who perseveres for 30 or so years. I think my friends Jason and Rachel may be the ones to write the book about 25 years from now except they already seem to be in the 'good decision' phase.

But I ramble. Much of our time the past week has been about administration. It was a week of reporting and we still aren’t done. Normal stuff that seems to take a lot more of our time than we would like (I’m sure many of you can relate to this!). In addition, we are entering our busy time of visitors and that always takes quite a bit of preparation and we have a Seminary dedication this Saturday and it seems that we’ll think of ‘something else we need to do’ right up to the moment of the service. So, it’s hard to write something spiritual about ‘do we have enough table cloths for the food,’ or ‘are the speakers all lined up,’ or ‘ooh, we didn’t know they were coming and where will we house them’ kind of things.

Wednesday our short-term computer wizard, Mike Gaunt, went with me to Khongolote and he checked out some problems they have been having with the computer we are using to manage the finances of the pre-school. He did some testing and some ‘tweaking’ and basically gave the computer a ‘thumbs up’ except for one small problem. There is no fan inside the casing. In addition, mice or rats had gotten in the casing and eaten a few wires before they blocked the hole! Anyway, Mike did his magic and everything is working well again except that we need to get a fan in the casing. When the guys at Khongolote did their upgrades to the computer, they removed the fan for some reason and so it was running slow because of heat buildup. Good thing it is winter here! He didn’t have a fan but it is an easy addition later on. It does make me wonder what happened to the fan. When I originally brought the computer out and put the second hard-drive in it and got it going, I know there was a fan in it. So, where did it go? Maybe the mice are more clever than I thought….

We also visited with Ricardo and Olga for a little while, the first time since they left the denomination a few months back. I just showed up with Mike, who knew them, and it provided a great opportunity to catch up and extend the hand of friendship. I still have my list of questions but that will wait for another more private time. They are pastoring a small church near one of our churches and actually we’re losing a few people to them. I suppose it should bother me, but it doesn’t at all. I know R&O very well; he is a good Pastor; and the people are in church and he is a dynamic leader so whether it be in one of our churches or another, it’s ok as long as the Word is being preached and lives are being transformed. My issue is more of wanting to fully understand what really happened and learning from it (see paragraph one above!).

Our short termer wanted to travel a bit in Mozambique and so we agreed to take him north to the city of Xai-Xai. I thought it would be good for him to experience the Bible School there as well as the agricultural project they have going to support the Bible School. In addition, we wanted him to meet the young couple running it as we thought he might enjoy a ‘younger’ perspective. So that was a quick two-day trip north. The photo is one we took of the beautiful undeveloped coastline near the Bible College. Breath-takingly beautiful. Mozambique has miles and miles and miles of rugged undeveloped coast line.

For me, one of the highlights was Jason and Rachel's ‘new’ second car. A fellow near them rebuilds VW beetles. They had bought a 1956 rebuilt Beetle. What many of you may not know is that my first car was a ½ 1962 other half 1963 VW beetle (two wrecked cars welded together but that is another story) that I did just about everything to. I was in heaven and couldn't wait to tinker! Jason had lots of questions and as we tinkered on the engine, it all started coming back to me about the carburetor rebuilding, adjusting valves, and all the tinkering those old models required. So, we started in to it and lost all sense of time. It wasn’t running exactly right and through our tinkering, it was running like a champ after a couple of hours and I don’t think I’ve smiled like that in a long time. But, things have changed, we got on the Internet and were able to look up part numbers and the like and I think their car is more like the Johnny Cash Cadillac from the song (It’s a 1962, 63, 64, 65, etc…..) The carburetor was a 1970, the engine a 1956, the rear deck 1975 plus, the rear fenders 1968, bumpers – who knows but certainly not 1956, I’ll guess 69. What a hoot it was. I got to drive it and I felt like I was 16 again for just a brief moment the memories flashed back - oh my. And everyone just loves it and waves and smiles as you drive by or was it my grin from ear to ear?! It was only $1500 and voila, a second car for when the other is in the shop – problem solved for few dollars. And they are great in the sand and mud (is why people make them into dune buggies!). So, that was probably a highlight of my week although it isn’t very spiritual!

We did start a fire in the engine while we were working on it; I only mention it here because if I didn’t, Ann would have to make mention of it. We did the manly thing and tried to blame it on two-year old Tristen who had climbed in and fiddled with the ignition while we were working on it – but the second fire when he wasn’t in the car ruined that idea! Just a wee problem with a wire that had no insulation on it and was grounding – we fixed it, but it was a bit exciting at the time....causing Jason to rightfully question my prowess as a 1956 VW mechanic. We came up with a list of the basic tools he needs to tinker with it and I just may have to make routine trips to Xai-Xai to satisfy my desire to make/tinker/fix cars (and see my surrogate grandson!).

Sunday, we went back to Intaka for church and to assist with communion as they had requested during our last visit. We arrived early but no leaders were there, in fact, they didn’t show at all. We asked about it but no one was sure. One of the ladies took charge and we worked with her to prepare for a communion service. We had a wonderful time of worship, prayer, and song followed by communion. The service is in the tribal language as many do not know Portuguese. I recruited one lady from the congregation to assist me with translating, but she had a difficult time understanding me. So, she became the Bible reader. A second lady whom we knew a little better and who understood my terrible accent volunteered to help me and so the three of us did the talking. Afterwards, I invited the preacher to come speak, only to find out that he didn’t show. I learned long ago to always be prepared with a message and this week had especially done some preparing in case. God knew and helped us through the language and although I did struggle with words, God was gracious and helped me with words I didn’t know I knew. I had gotten up quite early Sunday to study and pray, and had spent quite a bit of time reviewing Portuguese and some of the words I commonly mix up and wouldn’t you know that I needed each of those words. God doesn’t 'call the equipped, He equips the called'. Thank you Lord.

After Ann finished all her community health consults, we headed home, passing by two of the missing leader’s homes – one was traveling according to his children, probably a funeral although they wouldn’t say. The second was home and we talked for a while and listened to a long story of how one of his children (11 year old girl) didn’t return from school on Friday and he had spent day and night looking for her – finally found her. Because of this, he didn’t return home until 3 in the morning Saturday and so he decided to not go to the church. Certainly understandable, but I still don’t quite understand the story because he has young children at his house and this daughter lives at another house and ……well, after traveling in circular discussion for a while, I decided we might pursue it a bit more later when we weren’t all so tired! Thankfully the daughter was safe at home although there is some sort of Tribunal (judge) review this week about it all because the police were involved with the search. So, you probably think I’m some sort of crazy, but honestly, I understood all the words he was saying, but the conversation traveled in a circle as it often does when they don’t quite want you to know everything, and you have to just let it lay for the time being. He certainly didn’t have to tell me anything and we are thankful that everyone is ok. The rest of the story will probably come later, as is usually the case. But there seem to be some red flags flying…..

Today we spent precious time with our wonderful seminary guys; getting reports on the classes in progress; meeting and planning this weekend’s events and doing quite a bit of phone work. The days go by so quickly. In the morning we hope to finalize our review and comment on the church discipline draft before going to our team business meeting. Juka should be arriving tomorrow or the next day from the north also – somehow we must squeeze in significant time with him about our church planting program. He will also want our comments on the discipline!

Blessings,

Dave & Ann

“Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.” Romans 14:5 (The Message)

Sunday

This morning, we attended church at Intaka, introducing Aimee to this precious congregation. (No pictures - the camera is acting up again so I've pulled in this one when my daughter Sarah and her husband were here during better weather!) This is the church where we installed a well earlier in the year. This has been a vibrant church but it has been having some struggles. Their pastor resigned and the denomination put lay-leaders in place to continue the work. When we arrived Sunday morning, the church was nearly full and the singing had already begun. But, as the worship time continued, the clouds rolled in and a thunderstorm started. As Aimee shared her story, the rain began to pummel the metal roof, the wind rose up, and the lightening was striking all around us. The translator (to the Shanghanna dialect) spoke louder and louder trying to overcome the weather. The storm increased in intensity during the preaching and the roof leaks caused many to move the wood benches all around but the preacher never missed a lick. The dark-sky made it especially dark in the church and I couldn’t read my bible or the small hymnal. Eventually a small oil lantern was lighted at the front so the preacher could see his Bible.

At the end of the service, we were asked to come forward to pray for a sick baby as the people sang and it quickly turned into a special prayer service where many with various needs came forward to receive a touch and a prayer. We moved from spot to spot within the small church, trying to stay out of the water pouring through the open middle eve of the church. We continued for quite some time as so many had needs and perhaps in part, there was certainly no hurry to rush out into the pouring rain, wind, and mud.

One older women who we know asked me for prayer and as she began to speak, I began to hold her hands as I listened and at that instant a lightening bolt hit nearby lighting the church and the instantaneous “crash” made us both jump back away from each other – you could smell the ozone in the air. For a second I wondered how ‘under cover’ we really were with my head about a foot below a metal roof, in a muddy water puddle, and standing next to a reed wall with an window of chicken wire. We both laughed and then continued as she told me her story and health concerns, using a mix of Portuguese, Shanganna, pointing and motions.

Afterward the service, two of the lay-leaders who I know quite well spoke with me for quite a while. They were quite discouraged because the former pastor has been taking some of the people over to his new church and even one of the leaders has gone over. I guess you can say this amounts to a church split and they seemed to think I had the authority or power to do something about it. I tried to encourage them to stay the course and work to evangelize their community and invite new people to come; to make the church a place of joy and encouragement. I also told them that in these cases, some people leave, and others stay; but you must continue the work. They asked us to please return next week when it was a little better conditions and to help them with the service, mainly to help with communion, which we agreed to do.

We gave rides to many through the now flooded roads. The water had gotten so deep in a few places, that once again we saw the water pour up over the hood of the car for a moment. That always makes be nervous since we do not have a snorkel for the engine.The roads were mostly flooded much of the way home.

At one point, we were stopped by a Mozambican who tried to say he knew us (he probably recognized us because we drive the sand track often but he was not familiar to us). He seemed to be quite drunk and we kept trying to ask him what he wanted and he just couldn’t seem to get a clear thought out – not upset so much but having some difficulty in his life because of the weather. Now, let my try to explain. We understood the words he was saying, but it just didn’t make any sense, not because we didn’t understand in this case, but it simply didn’t make sense. In the end we said good-bye and drove away. There was nothing to be done and through my rear-view mirror, he seemed to just stagger down the road behind us. We will have to watch for him in the future, perhaps catching him at a more cognitive moment.

We found our way home to the power being out (it always goes out when it is a little windy) but our gas stove solves that problem. The power was out until the early evening and it made for a slow afternoon. It was too dark to be able to read well, our computer batteries are shot from all the power fluctuations, and it was too wet and cold to do too much. I studied Portuguese by candle-light while Ann worked on the computer until it died. We talked about some things about the work and the upcoming week. Our stove is gas, so we sipped on hot coffee to take away the chill. Yes, those reading this who know us well, coffee continues as our comfort drink! We were disappointed about the power because this is the day we listen to sermon CDs - but we'll reschedule.

Late in the afternoon, Mario called, he was at the airport headed to Nampula for his conference. Shortly later, a former worker for the mission called us a couple of times (call and hang up) wanting us to return the call (our dime, not his). I called him back and we had a nice chat and said he just wanted to see if we had any work he could do. I know he must need the money and I know he is a very good worker but we just don’t have anything right now. He worked for the mission for many years but due to various changes here, he was laid off because the work disappeared. Even knowing it isn’t my fault or really even my problem, it still grieves my heart as I know his need is real and I really like him. Dear Lord, help him find respectable work so he can provide for his family. We have told him we would vouch for him with any potential employer and have talked to our small circle trying to help find him work, but without luck. It is a fact of life here, jobs are few and far between and the fact he is a bit older hurts him.

Finally, the power is back on but the day is done. We'll call daughters on the computer (Skype) and then call it a day.

Tomorrow is our “at the seminary” day where we meet with the workers and we are taking a missionary from another agency who has a bit of interest in our seminary project. That will be followed by our weekly ‘business’ meeting.

Blessings!

Dave & Ann

"For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land’ Deut 15:11

Picoco Well is Complete

Today we finally made it out to Picoco and verified the well is operating. That is great news and while we were there, we watched family after family come and receive the water. Yes, we tasted it and it is good clean water. We will make the final payment on the well tomorrow and we pray it will bless the church and the community and draw people to this quiet and peaceful place. Thank you to all who contributed to this wonderful cause.

On the other side is sad news about our well at Intaka and generally about Intaka in general. We received a call that the well had been stolen at night. We found that hard to believe as it is no small task to unbolt a well, dismantle it, pull the rods, and put it in a truck all within easy earshot of numerous homes of church members. To top it off, there is some sort of strife within the church and the pastor has resigned. This pastor we count as a personal friend and we had talked on the phone about the well and now he isn't taking our calls. We received his resignation letter and we had a special meeting with the denomination leaders about it. The culture would have the denomination issue a letter back inviting him to a meeting with the leadership to discuss his letter. So, more to come, but we believe our long friendship provides the right to drive out and visit with them over this. It has rocked our world a bit as we have spent much time with this church and the Pastor and his family, so we are wanting to very much understand what is happening.

Today, I drove out to Intaka with a visitor from OMS, and confirmed the well was indeed gone, along with some damage to the inner casing that I think is more of a sabotage thing. It's all fixable but experience has taught us that the culture has a way of bringing these kinds of things around. The church and denomination has posted a reward for information leading to..... so we shall see. I talked to some people we know nearby and learned that indeed a car stopped there late one night and that was about all I could get - no one was talking. There is lots of gossip and finger pointing and the police are involved, but we just don't know anything. I drove by very similar wells that are around (although not close) and this seems to be the only one that was affected. We are praying that something good will come of this and I hate to admit it, but I'm praying for God to have His way with the culprits.

So, heartbreak and jubiliation; life here challenges the emotions on a regular basis.

Tomorrow, our long-time and dear friend Karlene returns to the States after three wonderful weeks (at least for us!) with us. This photo is of her today at Picoco. We covered alot of ground with Karlene during her time here and we hope that this trip will help her with the prayer ministry she leads that is so vital to the OMS work in Mozambique. Her leaving will leave a big hole here, for she is really much more family to us than a friend.

People do come and go, for yesterday Lon arrived from OMS headquarters to do some filming and documentary work and so he is also with us and we are enjoying introducing him to the work here.

"Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble." Ps 10:12

Update on Pre-school

We attended a meeting yesterday with the leadership of our church at T-3. They had great news to share with us about the pre-school situation. They reported that all of the people who had been stalling and holding back our license and generally blocking us in the government have been replaced and they have new people interested in working with us. So, one of the men in the church, who knows some of the new people, is going with the leadership to the government tomorrow to try and work through the final things for re-opening the preschool. I can't help but wonder if they were all replaced because most the pre-school in the province were probably shut-down and not operating.

In one of my earlier blogs on this long-standing challenge, I mentioned that I challenged one of the inspectors to take me to the very best pre-school in all of Maputo so I could understand what they were looking for - you know, a model school. They took us to one, and it wasn't so great and he was a little embarrassed at some of the significant problems we saw. We drove by that pre-school the other day and it was also shut-down - yes the very best one in all of Maputo was shut-down, and we've noticed many others not operating, so it makes you wonder.

So, pray with us that the meetings go well tomorrow and we can get this pre-school finally opened and operating again! We received an offering that covered our debt on the building through a former missionary here - thank you thank you thank you! I think all of this is how God is answering our long-standing prayers about this pre-school.

Other updates - Juka moved to Mocuba with his family to oversee our church planting in the north, but when he arrived, the house that we'd contracted for on our trip, was rented again and so the owner put Juka in a house with the owner for the two months we'd paid for. Not a good situation and he is trying to find something suitable for his family. Sweet deal for the landlord but not at all a good situation for him. Pray with us that God would provide suitable housing that we can afford. The rents are high in Mocuba because there is a lot of road construction going on nearby (and it is badly needed!) and with that construction are lots of foreigners, that are driving up rents terribly. This photo is of Juka, Elina, Milka-Mabel, and Ana (Elina's sister who lives with them) when we picked them up to take them to the bus for the trip north. Please pray for this lovely family - that they would find secure and safe housing quickly so they can focus on the work they have moved there to accomplish.

We just finished hosting a wonderful team of folks from Australia who wanted to visit the work in Mozambique. We had a great time learning about the "down under" and sharing about what God is doing in Mozambique. They had been in South Africa for about a week and drove over to spend three days with us. It is always a priviledge to show people the wonderful things happening here. The team leader is also the OMS head for Australia who is originally from South Africa and speaks Portuguese quite well (he says it is 'army portuguese' from his time in the South African army). The older couple in the photo are newlyweds (2 weeks at the time of the visit) and we and our churches had great fun with that. We introduced them at church and one older lady in the church sighed and said "no one has proposed to me yet, but now I have hope!". There was great laughter as when we did the translation, Ricardo thought I had it wrong, so we went from "2 years', to months, to weeks - good thing I knew enough to know what the numbers were!

I'll write one more item tonight although I feel like I could write for hours as there is so much happening all around us, mostly good, some heart-breaking, some a bit discouraging, but in the final analysis, it is all good. Our youngest daughter, Allison, just finished up three wonderful weeks with us here. We are thankful to know she is back in the States again and it was a such a wonderful blessing to have her with us - there is no way to explain well how up-lifting and encouraging it was to have her here helping us in our day-to-day life in Mozambique. The people here know her from her prior visits and she is taken in more as family now than a visitor, which is special for her and for us. Today as we were eating dinner, Ann looked over at the room she had stayed in and sighed with a tear in her eye, "I miss Allison so much; she is such a sweet girl". Amen to that. She took really good care of her parents while she was here and what wonderful things she brought to help us with ministry here.

We have to drive to South African in the morning (zero dark thirty) to take our poor car to the Toyota dealer to fix the damage from our last trip north. We're taking two cars and a tow strap just in case although we have to be moving on our own power when we cross the border. I'm always a bit edging when we travel there - friends of ours were robbed there just last weekend. I generally feel safer in Mozambique.

Blessings to you!

Dave & Ann

"Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up." Psalm 5:1-3

Ricardo's House

Ricardo and his wife Olga pastor the church at Intaka. They have done a wonderful job of growing and pastoring that small reed church and it is my prayer that someday we will be able to build a more substantial structure there. They have a wonderful vision for the church and what they want to see for the future - I get excited everytime I talk with Ricardo about it and sense his passion.

Ricardo and his family lived in a very small reed house that had all but fallen down. It was leaning over so far that you were never sure if you should enter it. He had saved money, accumulated some block, and with the help of a team visitor, was able to start on his house. We are happy to report that he is out of the reed for this rainy season and in a block house. He has plans someday to put another room out from this view but not now. Yes, that is a well in the front. The small structure to the front of the house is a small store-front where they operate a small sewing business. Ricardo can make a pair of trousers that you would think came from the finest department store in the States. They set an example that we believe so firmly in here - bivocational pastors. Lives changed, one step at a time.

The second photo is of these dear friends of ours with their two precious boys.

The well parts are finally in and we expect to finish the well at Intaka in the next couple of weeks!

Dave & Ann

Wells

While we were traveling in the north, World Hope put in a well at our Intaka church (seen in the background with the sewing center). Right now all you see is a pipe in the ground but they hit good water and we are waiting for the top pieces. The company they get the hand pump apparatus from is currently out of stock. So, we wait aggressively! You kind of get used to that here....

But it is great progress and we look forward to seeing the change this well will have on the church and this small community.

As we traveled in the north, the need for good clean water struck us over and over again. In the more rural areas, people gather water from streams where people bath, streams where the water is dirty, full of debris, and we know a source of disease. Diarrahea is a common ailment, as are stomach ailments - it is no wonder. Good health starts with clean water....

Thanks to all of you who have made this possible. We will keep you informed.

Thank you for standing with us.

Dave & Ann

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols." Exe 36:25