It’s month FIVE and I find myself in Chokwe, a medium size town in Mozambique. We have the privilege of being the first World Race team to work with Mana Sybil (sister Sybil). Words cannot even begin to explain the joy this woman brings to her community and those around her. It has only been three and a half days since arriving and I am already blown away at this woman’s faith, ministry, and her love for the ministry God has entrusted her with.
We arrived midday Sunday and jumped right into routine with Mana Sybil (not norm for the World Race, we usually have a day of rest when we arrive after traveling…but NO complaining here!).
Coming from South Africa twenty some years ago, Mana Sybil has done so much already for the community she left her home to serve. Her passion is children’s ministry and just loving on those around her. Her faith and trust in God is contagious as is her joyous spirit. After only being here for twenty years, she has already started a school with GOOD education for the locals with grades from preschool to third grade. Just the stories of how God has provided the finances for the buildings and her ministry are so awesome to hear.
Starting off our ministry in Mozambique, we have been helping create posters and charts for the school so the children can learn their alphabet, times tables, and how to tell time. Today, we are washing walls and painting.
Yesterday we got to be a part of an awesome local church experience. Every Wednesday a nearby church has a time of intercessory prayer and fasting. Mana Sybil asked if we would like to attend and we agreed. As visitors, we got to sit on the STAGE! It was hard to understand most of what was going on, but as Mana Sybil translated for us here and there the gaps of our lack of understanding were filled in.
The people meet each Wednesday to pray and fast for their government, their country, and those in their lives that need prayer. One of our own, Aidi had the privilege to speak on the importance of interceding for others and fasting. The experience was unlike any I have had in the states. The passion, joy, and zeal created an atmosphere filled with the Holy Spirit. Just to see the jubilance of the people as they sang praises and worshiped and danced with the energy and smiles on their faces was so contagious. They welcomed us with shouting, jumping up and down, clapping, dancing and blowing their whistles. It was hard to not have teary eyes from the amount of rejoicing at just our presence, let alone the present of the Holy Spirit and our Heavenly Father. Even thought the words to the praises were not in our language, I found myself clapping and swaying with my own translation of praises being sung to our King.
It has only been three and a half days and I can already tell this month is going to be unlike any other. Tomorrow we have a day planned of prayer and fasting. Next Tuesday through Friday we will be in a village and finally using our TENTS! But to prepare for the spiritual warfare we WILL encounter, Mana Sybil advised for us to take a day to pray, fast, and prepare our hearts. I am so excited to get to have this opportunity next week. We will be starting a children’s ministry in the village with the teens of Mana Sybil’s “club” she does every Sunday. She is empowering her teens she minsters to, to go out and fulfill the great commission in their own country and we get to be a part of it.
I feel so blessed to be given this opportunity and am so thankful for all of those who have partnered with me so far. Through your partnership with me you are also partnering with Mana Sybil. We always welcome and love everyone’s prayers for us as we take the gospel around the world, but given the known heavy spiritual battles we will for sure encounter next week, we would love the extra prayers and fasting (if God calls you to) for our hearts and the hearts of the people we will minster to next week.
It is going to be a great month and the experience is going to be one of a kind I am sure and I cannot wait to share it with you!
Thank you again to all my supporters! I am still fundraising to reach our final deadline on July 1st and I only need $6,700. Please prayerfully consider if God has for you to partner with me in a financial way. Either way, through prayer or financial support, your partnership is a great blessing!
