Cultural Limitations

Today was a long and fustrating day as underlying it all was the clash of Mozambique culture with Western culture - and it's all about the subject of money.

We had a series of meetings at our seminary today that started early and ended late. Without exception, the topic of every meeting ended up with us being asked for money with the expectation that we should give or loan money to each person. These are people we know well and who we've worked with a long time and today, it just all hit at once. In the first case, a young man wants money for a his wedding in November so he can start preparing. He has no idea of how much he needs, has no job and isn't motivated to find one and yet wants to get married. The second case (same man) has a scheme that right away (it's urgent we should act - TODAY!) we should buy a small house in Xipamanine for a church (so he can use it for his November wedding and not the one adjacent to his house). Ahhhh, but the catch is that we don't buy the house but rather build a house, drill a well, and build a bathroom for the owner of the house on some other land in Intaka as a trade. AND, to clench the deal, the land in Intaka is some land that his Mother owns that she wants to be part of the trade. All of this is going on at a time when he needs to build a house in Intaka also for his bride. Is this a scheme to get materials for his house too? And, of course, then we will have land in Xipamanine for a church, which he knows is a desire of us as a mission.....and money, well we don't want to tell the government because that involves taxes so it is just a trade. Give me a break.....It's a crazy scheme, nothing more.

So next we move to discovery of how our CMED project in T-3 has gone belly-up for the second time. The group includes church leaders who took loans but didn't pay them back and the entire group had to cover the cost and so all lost money, and now they want to start a third group - it's a good deal - borrow money from your friends in the church and never pay it back. An somehow they have suckered new people into a new group. Our CMED guys have said "NO" and this group is completely without our blessing and we will have to take it up with denominational leadership, which will be tough because one of them is involved. Sigh.......But, we have many many groups operating quite succesfully - just this one that has been dodging and hiding for months and months - no wonder. It is a great program, make no mistake and we stand strongly behind it - this is one bad example among many many successes - many have been blessed by CMED but it must be monitored and accountability is very important.

From there, one of our seminary workers is upset because one of the other workers is pressing and pressing him for money and in the culture, they feel obligated to not say 'no'. So, he asks us for help as the story (there is always a story) is that it is for medical expenses, which our work contract covers so we're confused. Where are your receipts (tomorrow, always tomorrow!)?

Next, another worker comes to us with a desperate need for a loan to secure his house because of robbery problems. He wants to borrow a mere 10,000 mtn, which is about 360 dollars USD, which would take a very long time to pay back. Now this particular person probably is good for the money based unlike the other examples, but still... OMS has a policy to not loan money, which we have made clear previously, so he said that he wants a personal loan, not from OMS. Sigh.......

Plus, waiting in the wings is another person wanting to talk about his upcoming wedding, another who is about to lose his job, plus the hands out at every street corner, everytime you get out of the car.

One of the challenges in building the church here is to sort out when people are simply using the church, the mission, the charity of missionaries, visitors, etc., to advance themselves. It is a constant tension in this culture where entitlement thinking and not telling the truth is a cultural norm. And yet, to be too far the other way to the point of hedonism, materialism, and the self-focus of Western culture is the other extreme. Oh that I could have the wisdom to walk this road! I desire so intensely that people would look to God for provision and allow Him to work. I desire intensely to be a conduit of God's compassion and love but not at the expense of building dependancy and a false Christianity built on material expectation or gain (I'll try to write more about this in a few days relative to our recent trip). I have learned that it makes you feel really good to give away food, clothing, medical care, water - to have lots of people dependent upon you - what an ego trip (and we've seen people all puffed up about it). But, creating dependency will not make Mozambique successful for the future. Without cultural change through transforming power of Christ, the dependency or entitlement-thinking seems like it will just continue. May we become truly unified as brothers and sisters through Him, who loves all of us from all cultures...And who of us can really cast the first stone at any other culture?... (John 8:7)

In Christ there is no east or west.....

Reminds me of a great old hymn:

In Christ there is no East or West,
in him no South or North,
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

In him shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find,
his service is the golden cord
close-binding all mankind.

Join hands, disciples of the faith,
whate'er your race may be!
Who serves my Father as a son
is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West,
in him meet South and North,
all Christly souls are one in him,
throughout the whole wide earth.

Written by John Oxenham, 1908

Day-to-Day Challenges

Today was a day of taking people to the airport. Our colleagues left this morning for the states and we picked them up and got them to the airport. Afterwards, we returned to their house to pick up a short term missionary who had been working at our Christian School and living with them. She was on the afternoon flight.

I parked on the street in front of the house, we went in and talked for a few minutes with Nancy and in the short time we were there, someone stole one of our front lights off the car. Our car has only been vandalized twice in Maputo (we’re lucky) and both were in front of the Weil's house around noon! Last time we lost our mirrors – today a light.

So, on our way to the airport, we cruised through the nearby Thieves market as we knew that someone knew we’d be around. Soon a young man named Antonio flags us over, pointing to our front missing light. I talk with him a few minutes and he sends a runner off. A few minutes later, someone else shows up with my light. I ask them how they are going to put it back since it was wedged out and the bracket broken, but it’s old hat – they use nylon wire ties and everything is all back in place. All of this is going on with a truck full of policemen behind me – this is all a normal thing in Maputo!

So we start negotiating price – they start at 3500 mtn, which is about 150 US dollars – to buy back my light (oh yeah, the broken bracket fits perfectly, so we know it is our light). I’m at a disadvantage because I’m negotiating with one guy in a group of about 12 young guys in the middle of Thieves Market, not the best bargaining situation. We settle on 1800 mtn and I’m just sick about it but this is our life here. They wanted to rivet metal strips over all our lights and acid etch our mirrors and windows with our license number – but I slowly drive through the crowd and leave – glad to have my light back but frustrated at all of this.

In our two trips to the airport today, we spent enough time there to be accosted by the same people for money and actually to see three guys working together to scam people as they wait for their plane. It is how things are here, seems like everything is going ok around you, but is it really! I think it is probably similar to how the spiritual world and our temporal worlds run along together – things are never quite what they seem.

What comfort to know that we are in the hands of a God who cares for His people and who has a plan for each of our lives. All of those people today who crossed our paths need to be in the arms of the living God. Who is going to tell them if we don’t in action, word and deed?

Blessings this Sunday.

Dave & Ann

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14

Starting off with a Bang

We are back from our trip north to check on our church planting work in Zambezia and there is so much to write about; I'll have to think about the topics and try to consolidate a little. So, I'll start at the beginning.

This was a very quick trip as we had time pressures on both sides of the trip and actually needed several more days to accomplish our total agenda, but as it was, we still were able to do mostly what we set out to do. More about that later - But setting out - we left at daylight on Monday, June 1 loaded with materials, Bibles, supplies, and got about six km from the house - cutting across a road I just hate to drive (through T-3) because of the intense congestion that grows with each passing day. We're pretty much going against the traffic because we're leaving town - on a narrow two-lane road that curves through the suburb town of T-3.

I wind through a narrow business area and through a deep drainage dip hugging my side of the road. There are a bunch of chappa mini-buses in the other lane making two lanes out of one and there is about 4 feet of clear space between me and the nearest chappa going the other direction. A small truck ahead swerves around the mini-busses at a high rate of speed with all sorts of people standing and swaying in the back of the truck as he barrels to try and fit between me and the nearest chappa - I try to go left but a wall, a small kiosk, and pedestrians limit how far I can go and I think he'll stop - but no - he closes his eyes and tries to make a five foot car fit a four foot space - Wham - he drives right into my rear quarter panel, hitting right at the door and the rear wheel.

He's a little dazed and everyone is yelling at him about his foolishness. He admits fault (shock of all shocks - that has not been my experience here) and we trade information. It is his first day with his driver's license! AND!, he actually has insurance, although whether that will help us remains to be seen. I try to talk to a few bystanders but 'no one saw nothing, nada!'.

He wants me to drive into down to visit the insurance agent and we say 'no way' because the way that works here is it will take ALL DAY and some of the next several days. We get the information and decide to deal with it when we get back. The damage looks horrible but is cosmetic although the rear tire did take a big hit. We decide to simply continue on, thankful that one of the crowd in the back of his truck didn't get flung under us - thump thump!

The fellow works for the Ministry of Health and seemed like a nice enough fellow. I tried to be nice and encourage him to be more careful - that someone in the back of his vehicle could have been killed, etc. I keep wondering if this might develop into a contact that could be helpful with Ann's community health licensing and plans in the future - you never know. That will be next week's work - to try and arrange to meet with the insurance people.

Driving here is incredibly agressive. The Mozambicans are very courteous and gentle people until you put them behind the wheel of a car - then it is full speed ahead and 'take no prisoners'. We were literally run off the road on this trip more than once. Some missionary friends of our rolled their car a few weeks ago, being run off the road by a large truck (not hurt, PTL!).

But, in the end, no one was hurt, both vehicles remained drive-able, and it was nice to have enough language to deal with it - in fact, the last few weeks have been absolute immersion in language, that is for sure. I'm sick about the damage - the door lock is acting up now and that is a security issue for us. It knocked our alignment out a little (just had it aligned) so we have some adjusting to do as well. I went ahead and did the run north because I knew I'd need new tires when we got back anyway - so the pull to the left is just an irritant - so back to the shop! I pray that his insurance will really come through - that would be a pleasant surprise and our depleting account would sigh in relief. (Note on top of the car, we have two spares plus the one on the back door).

I thought you might enjoy this photo of some of the more entertaining pot holes on our travels - we swerve all over the place trying to avoid potholes as we drive - and then these kind jump up on you. Mile after mile - road workers had cut them out in preparation (some day) of filling them - miles and miles of these. Imagine hitting one of these babies at 60 mph - that's why we carry three spares! This is the major north-south road you are looking at!

In the end, like our dear Rev. Mike always says, "it's all good". It's so true.

Dave

"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." Pr 16:9

PS - On our way back, I took the sand roads home - missing the T-3 road altogether!

Widows and Orphans

In a previous blog I wrote about the death of our friend Paulo and some about the story of how his family 'grew horns' and basically tossed his wife and kids on the street and confiscated the house and everything in it. It was unbelievable but not so unlike the true nature of man that the Bible speaks about. Olga was forced to return to her mother's house with her children with absolutely nothing.

We met with the church leadership (where they had attended) and encouraged the church leadership to help this young widow. We asked that they check with the ministry of the government that had given us such a hard time at the pre-school last year (Social Action) to see if she had some recourse. We knew there had been some changes in the law recently giving more rights to women and children and felt like this case very much warranted some interference as the new law was certainly one that would challenge culture. No one had considered this type of action because it really does tend to go against culture (the way it's always been done before) but they agreed to give it a try.

First the leadership tried to meet with the family to put some reason to the problem but that was not successful. Next, they met with the Social Action group in the government, who advised them on what rights she had. As a result of that meeting, Olga was able to get the death certificate from the family, which opened up some small death benefits she can get get. A small success. Then, the church wrote a letter on her behalf regarding the situation and that resulted in her being able to retain custody of the children (yes, that was in jeapordy) and they are still working on recovering the house and belongings. It's a very sad situation indeed for a couple who was once so active in the church.

We sat with Olga in church today and it was so sad as the verses they read were as if they were written to her. She is still deep in her grief and wondering what she can do. At one point, we had to leave with her and sit a little while outside the church to console and encourage her. We prayed together and listened to her story. A priviledge we had today was to provide a small amount of money donated by a friend of the Meyers (former missionaries at CAM School). I say small, in that it was relatively small by American standards but here it is a difference between eating or not eating for quite some time. She was so appreciative and overcome by that thoughtfulness, that someone so far away could feel her pain and respond in such a loving way. She continues to grieve and wonders what will become of her and her family and I am so thankful that the church is taking such an active role in doing what they can, even though she is now living in another district (at her mother's). The church in action.....

Pray for this lady - the photo is after church - Pastor Lucas is on the left, Olga is in the middle standing with Ann.

In Mozambique, because of the scourage of HIV, malaria, cholera, and other diabolical diseases, there are many children without one or more parents. There are many widows and widowers. In Mozambique, the family unit is important and a child is classified as an 'orphan' when both parents are gone, or as in this case, only one is gone. In either case, life is not the same. Olga is holding up well under very dire circumstances and we have encouraged her to truly turn this problem over to the Creator of the Universe. No one can stand against Him. We have called on Him in this case and He is answering - may His name be praised.

Please pray for her and her three children.

This morning's verse is below:

Dave & Ann

"This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is His name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:2 - 3

Traveling

Friday we received the call that our car was repaired and ready for pickup. We had to have the 4-wheel drive rebuilt and the windshield replaced and reset because a water leak (rusted out) was causing electrical problems (like the lights and flashers coming on in the middle of the night!) and yes, it cost about a gazillion rand - whatever number is in your head - go higher!

Around noon we headed to South Africa, honestly dreading the border crossing because it was Friday afternoon. However, we were pleasantly surprised (thank you Lord!) and made the crossing without delay and picked up the car, dropping off the one we were renting from our Christian School as it was due service. We drove back home, crossing the border again without delay and were home shortly after dark. With our car done, we have a short window of opportunity to drive north to check on our church multiplication work in Zambezia, resolve some problems with a land purchase for a seminary extension site, and work on some other issues that have arisen. So, Monday morning we will leave very early for the two-day drive, stopping to visit some new missionaries we know living in Beira.

Today was a day of preparations as we needed to assemble our training materials, purchase some Bibles for distribution, some mosquito nets, some medical supplies, and a few other things we needed for the trip (like a new tire repair kit - we will need new tires after this trip!). Also, word is out we're going, and friends and family of our Juka and Elina are bringing things to take to them so the car will be full. We're looking forward to the change of pace. Our field schedule becomes extremely full for the next several months so we knew if we didn't go now, it could easily be October, November, or even December before we could make it.

The photos are at the Bible League where we purchased the Bibles and discipleship materials, part in Portuguese, part in the tribal languages of the area where we are going. The Bible League operates out of the garage of a house in the center of Maputo and the lady, Rose, is always a pleasure to deal with. She speaks good English but today we did the entire transaction in Portuguese. I had forgotten that she spoke English and as we were leaving, she said "See you next time Dave and Ann!" in English - and we laughed. She gives us a decent discount because we have purchased so many bibles and materials from her during our time here. In the remote areas we will be visiting, there are few Bibles and they are received as great treasure. The few we see in the villages are shared, dog-eared, worn, and marked in; well-used. They are also a great item to give a policemen when they pull me over to check my papers instead of the bribe they are normally looking for.

Some of my friends ask where is Ann? She is in each of the pictures above - right behind the camera!

I look forward to sharing with you about what all is happening in the north when we get back. I'd written that our new camera died but somehow the old one decided to start working so we should have pictures! We're wondering if the bridge will be open or if we will get to use the Ferry one more time to cross the Zambeze River. The news reports are that it is very very close to opening.

So many things we could write about, the seminary class students we talked to this morning, the church discipline that is once again in review after comments have been incorporated, the Christian School picnic at our place last weekend, how I trashed the computer at Khongolote trying to add a new drive to a Windows 98 computer, about a dear man we know who lost his job in a conflict between linear western thinking and more circular African thinking, my plumbing exploits, Ann's removing stitches from someone's hand, all of Ann's nursing exploits, a special baptism service, a couple of sad stories we learned counseling with some people - just too many things and not enough time!

As a final note tonight, Belarmino Junior is growing rapidly and the family is doing great. The photo is of Ann holding him while we visited with them a couple of days ago.

Thank you for standing with us!

See you (well - write to you) in about 11 days!

Dave & Ann

"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:10-11