Inchope

In central Mozambique there is a more-or-less level corridor that runs from the town of Beira on the coast to Zimbabwe. The town of Beira was controlled for years by the English, who used the corridor for shipments in and out of what is now Zimbabwe. Beira is a smaller version of Maputo and even the folks who work at Gorongosa Park are bused from Beira to Gorongosa because of their education and English skills that many in Beira possess, which helps in dealing with tourist trade Mozambique is trying to develop in this once incredible wildlife park. The east-west road in this corridor is in horrible shape and the National Road (EN-1) bisects this road roughly in the middle. The small town at this intersection of these two 'major' roads is known as Inchope.

Inchope is about 1/2 way between Maputo and Nampula in the North. Depending on road conditions (and that really means something here!), you can drive to Inchope in something like 16 or so hours if you stay with it. It has developed into somewhat of a weigh-station stop for people making the grueling trip on EN-1.

In the olden days of the ferry across the Zambeze River (bridge just recently opened), stopping at Inchope on the way north for the night allows an early start and assurance of getting across the Zambeze river on the ferry (which had incredibly limited hours) without having to stay around the ferry, which was a sketchy area at best; dangerous at its worst. There was a saying, "If you don't make it to the Beira Corridor by 2PM, then you won't make the ferry. Stop in Inchope, or go west to stay in Chimoio." In fact, the entire north-south run or vice versa was always keyed to "can I make it across the ferry?" and we've often seen semi-trucks lined up for literally miles trying to cross - it could take days for them as only a few trucks at a time can make the 20-minute crossing. I'm not sure what impact this new bridge across the Zambeze is having on Inchope, as the traffic can now keep rolling - so maybe we've just experienced a glipse of God's timing - one of many many things He can see in the future that we cannot even fathom.

But, I'm getting off track - my point is that Inchope has always been a place where busses and cars stopped on the journey both north/south and east/west. There are many vendors who sell things along the side of the road in rickety lean-to structures or under trees. There are also small structures where you can rent a cot to sleep for a bit before the bus takes off in a few hours (I hestitate to call them motels - they really don't quite meet that standard). So, when the bus stops or our car stops, the vendors come running with fruit, snacks, bread, trinkets, drinks, you name it and you can buy almost anything through your window. The bus drivers catch a little shut-eye and while they snooze, the passengers mingle with the vendors and people around this area.

During these trips north, Juka, our country ECC coordinator, struck up a friendship with one of the vendors along the side of the road. He started by witnessing to him in 2005 on a trip, leaving him some tracts and a Bible. He maintained contact with this young man (named Antonio) mentoring him by phone, continuing the contact, and always stopping to see him when he passed through. We met Antonio on a couple of our trips, dropping off a box of Bibles and study guides for a Bible study he was leading. The first time we were driving this route and Juka said "stop here," I would be thinking something like, "why are we stopping in this busseling area? Everything on top of the car will be stripped off within minutes! We have a ferry to catch.... We're supposed to be in______ (town) by dark." He would say something like "I have some things to give to a brother I know here and I'll be back in just a few minutes. You really should not go into this area where I'm going - just wait here" and so we'd wait and talk to the vendors, buying some pineapples, cashews, and the like. When I would ask about where he'd been, he would really not say too much more about it, saying "it's just someone I've gotten to know and I like to check in with him when I pass by."

So every trip, Juka would spend a few minutes with Antonio, leave a few more things for him to read, and one thing led to another and eventually Antonio's began a Bible Study with others. So, here we are five years later, and we just learned that Antonio has begun a church in Inchope that he is now leading. Maybe not the exact ECC multiplication model, but a little side work that happened because someone took the time (and not a lot of time) to witness to someone who was open, to disciple him a little (even by phone!), to hold him accountabile, and to simply love him. Way to go Juka. Thank you for the wonderful example you set for all of us.

(actually this is just one story - as there is the guy at the gas station in Xai-Xai, the lady who sells pineapples in Muxunge, the fellow in an un-named place on the old detour in Sofola Province,....)

Thank you Lord for the way you work through the love of your people. Guard and grow this work in Inchope so that others may experience the peace and joy that comes from knowing You, for eternity truly hangs in the balance. May this work grow and grow for your names' sake.

Dave & Ann

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts." 1 Th 2:4

Haiti Assistance - Earthquake

While we were traveling back to Mozambique, we learned of the terrible earth quake in Haiti. Regardless of what country this kind of event occurs in, it should move our hearts to compassion as 'except by the grace of God go I....'. But despite that, it especially tugs at our hearts because we first became involved with OMS through a dear friend who went to Haiti to serve for a year, our daughter has served in Haiti, we have missionary friends in Haiti, and our mission has extensive work and many missionaries in Haiti, including a radio station, seminary, hospital, churches and the like. Friends of ours who have been to both countries (Mozambique and Haiti) say that they are very similar, from culture to construction techniques differing mainly in the language spoken.

So, it is with heaviness of heart that we watch these events in Haiti. OMS has established a specific project number for the relief efforts in Haiti. OMS has people on the ground now and is one of the conduits for assisting with this incredible disaster. Every little bit helps, no amount is too little, no amount is too much:

There are fundamentally two ways for you to help the people of Haiti through OMS:

1. Go to www.omsinternational.org. Follow the link on the Haiti Earthquake story and make your donation on the secure link. It connects directly to the Haiti Relief project number: 405120.

2. Write your check to OMS with "Haiti Relief 405120" on the memo line. Mail to:

OMS-Haiti Relief
P.O. Box A
Greenwood, IN 46142-6599

Help.

Dave & Ann
Mozambique

"But you, beloved, .... keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion....." Jude 1:20-22

OMS Name Change

Just a short note - our mission, OMS International, has been going through a 're-branding' for the past year or so. Our mission's name originally stood for "Oriental Missionary Society" and when OMS went world-wide, they dropped that and became just "OMS International", which was pretty much in voque at the time. But everyone wants to know "what does 'OMS' stand for?" Well, that is a loaded question and so we would essentially start with "OMS started with Charles and Lettie Cowman in 1901...." and end up with "so 'OMS' really doesn't stand for anything....." ??? Well, that certainly isn't a true statement, but I found myself saying it on many occassions and some of our dear readers have probably heard us say it!! So, in keeping with the evolution of organizations (oh my, there are some push-button words there!) we have updated to better reflect what our organization is all about.

I would say that it is really just a name change / logo change and the long-standing history of evangelism, church planting, leadership training, and partnership continues. We aren't changing what we are doing here in Mozambique or anywhere else in the world. The main thing is still the main thing, lives changed for eternity....

So, what does OMS stand for:

One Mission Society; One Lord, One-Life, One Calling.

What is our mission statement - different words but essentially the same meaning:

"By God's grace OMS unites, inspires, and equips Christians to make disciples of Jesus Christ, multiplying dynamic communities of believers around the world."

We remain your missionaries in Mozambique.

Dave & Ann

One Mission Society
Mozambique

Back in Mozambique

We have safely made the trip back to Mozambique. Our luggage all came through and although we had the notice that TSA had opened and inspected two of our bags, they had locked everything back, restrapped the suitcases, and everything came through just fine. We did have two suitcases damaged beyond repair - so that makes three on this trip that were totaled. We think we can canabilize one here and repair the other, so that would be only two! It doesn't seem to matter - name brands or the ulta-cheap brands; the trip is hard on luggage. At Johannesburg, we watched from the plane as they removed a bunch of bags looking for others and then put them back on the plane - the guys coming out from luggage compartment were all frisked by a supervisor so maybe that is a part of the program for stopping the problems at Jo-burg. But then we watched them literally throw the bags they had removed from the ground into this open-bed truck, up over a rail, one after the other - crash bam bam bam - hope they were well packed!

It is hot as blazes here, which is normal for this time of year but things are very very dry. What was really special for us was that our colleges where we live and the friends who picked us up threw a little party of sorts as they knew we wouldn't have food when we arrived, so it was really nice to get together with them all - we felt so welcomed and we are so thankful for these dear people God has placed in our lives. Aleta made Mango pie - at first I thought it was peach and apple - but it was mango and it was absolutely amazing. It is the tail end of one type of Mango tree season and another is just beginning. It was the highlight of the meal for me! I want to have that again sometime!

The next morning I worked on getting our Internet going again. We pay for about 3 months at a time. I had all my receipts and talked to them on the phone but it was clear it might take more so I went to the office in town. Well, I thought they tracked our account by our name, but no, it is by our email address (with them - we don't use this email address). When we went through the various receipts, they had typed in different email addresses on each invoice, so we had five different emails linked to OMS International and they thought four were in arrears and one was current, so they cut our service. I had to explain how it was one modem, one account and we finally got it worked out and they deleted all the ghost accounts and we're back to one with the correct email (and now I know how they track it!). So, we're good to go!

Our car air conditioner died while we were gone (leaked out) so driving around in the car that first day was like being in a oven set at 350 degrees, but after freezing in the States, I just enjoyed sweating again! We have an appointment to get the air conditioning fixed next week - it is a security issue for us - it is not good to drive around with your windows down. But, the car we need to borrow (rent) while the other one is in the shop - the battery is dead and it wouldn't push start, so that will be the next challenge! I just missed the stores today to get a new battery - things close early on Saturdays here!

We did get to visit with our dear friend Juka and his family and we have a business meeting with him later this week. We brought a puzzle from the States for his daughter Milca and it was fun to work together to put it together. However, I felt like my brain wouldn't engage in Portuguese real well after the month in the States. It was doing better by the end of the day but Ann was on-top of the language and between the two of us, we managed - takes both of us! We have much to cover: the start of the training center in Mocuba; a planned training conference; expense reports; year-end reports; status of our church planter/trainers; our planned trip - lots of good stuff!

Our seminary director has 30 students ready to begin classes in February - Praise the Lord for this! We need to meet as a mission this week to work out some details relative to the start of class, including funding issues prior to officially accepting the students. It will be a busy week, especially for our colleagues are up to their eyeballs in the start of CAM School for the new semester.

We will attend church at T-3 tomorrow, looking forward to seeing the newlyweds who were married while we were in the States and our other dear friends at this church.

Blessings!

Dave & Ann

"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night..." Ps 92:1,2

Travel

Greetings dear friends. It has been so long since we've written but our internet access has been very spotty. Right now I'm sitting in the Dulles International Airport waiting on our flight back to Mozambique - boards in a little while. So far the travel has gone well and I cannot express what a wonderful time of rest and refreshment we have had. We needed it much more than we realized. I have alot of stories to tell but that will come later - diving in a Septic tank on Christmas morning with my son-in-law and future son-in-law, Ann's flat tire and the guardian angel who stopped and helped her, rescuing daughter three when her car gave-up the ghost (four tow this year), and the wonderful people that God put in our path this trip. Pray with us that our luggage will come through and our transit in Joburg goes well; it is always a challenge there. Our bags were broken into coming this way - we pray they go back without the same problems.

The above photograph is of our four daughters, Dave's sister and Mother and son-in-law Dave and future son-in-law Byron on Christmas at a home some dear friends let us use for a few days so we could all be together.

The technology has been amazing here - blazing Internet when we can get it; cell phone works every time!; texting with our friends in Mozambique - it is a different world today. What a blessed country we come from.

More later but the next entry should be from Mozambique.

Blessings.

Dave & Ann