So what do missionaries do when they
retire? Does one ever really retire from being a missionary? Well
here in Pemba, Mozambique, John and Mary are living the retired
missionary life. They have been overseas for over 30 years sharing
the love of Christ. They feel that God has led them to this place to
rest in him. The original plan was for them to live in a converted
shipping container. As they were looking for a piece of land to live
on they came across some beach front property and God spoke to them
about a new vision.
 
 (Prayer House)
Now they are in the process of building a place
were other missionaries from around the area can come to get away
from everyday life and rest and be restored in the Lord. Currently
they are living in the original house and building their new home.
(The Old House)
They have already built up the land around the area to look like a
beautiful sanctuary along with a large pavilion that hosts weekly
gatherings of believers to worship and spend time together.
 
 
 
Once their
new home is completed they will remodel the old house to accommodate
more people. We are currently helping in some of the construction
and maintenance of the property.
(The tree is over 500 years old)
This is such an amazing place that God
has blessed with his beauty.
 
During the high tide the water comes
right up to cliffs so you can hear the waves crashing down.
 
During
the low tide you can take endless walks on the sand. We are
surrounded by perfect blues skies everyday.
 
God is pouring out his
blessings on John and Mary for their many years of faithful work and
the many years that they have ahead of them also.
 
Although this was probably the hardest
month of ministry (scraping and sanding support poles from 7am to 3pm
all month long) God filled it with so many blessing too. We
encountered so many awesome people that were sold out for God. Our
first week there we met four missionaries our age from Switzerland
that had been in Mozambique for five months and were taking a little
vacation. At our Sunday gathering we met all the local missionaries and
heard their stories. At the end of the month we went to the Iris
Headquarters that was host to their school and Children’s Home.
People from all over the world go there for six weeks to learn more
about God and the power of His Spirit. Everywhere we went we felt
blessed by the people that God placed in our lives. This was a month
of huge blessing.