So I see that my first blog about this was blank lol…so here is the story. Thank you Jon for filling them in…enjoy.
Again we found ourselves with no access to blogs and internet for a while this month. By now you all must be asking yourselves, “Where in the world is Melissa Betz?” Well I am about to answer what myself and the team have been up too in the last couple of weeks.
We had made our journey to Pemba Mozambique from Nampula. We were tired from all the travel but I was so excited to finally be at IRIS Pemba and to see a part of what Heidi and Rolland Baker had worked so many years building. Mark and Jennifer our hospitality team greeted us at the bus stop and we were off. I was sad about missing Heidi’s birthday party which I had thought was the day before, but then Mark says, “How great it is that you arrived today on Heidi’s Birthday and we are heading now to the party after we drop off the bags.” “WHAT?” I was so excited that I cried a little. Yup I sure did.
We got to the party and the team immediately went on a Heidi Hunt for me. It was so embarrassing to have them harass me about meeting her and I felt a little nervous even though she is just an everyday person like all of us. But for me this is Heidi Baker, the woman who’s ministry has spoke to my heart more than anyone else’s and who’s books have inspired and encouraged me more than I could ever express and she was 10 feet from me and I was a little overwhelmed.
I did get to meet her briefly and she gave us all hugs and we took pictures. The party was excellent. Heidi was exactly how I pictured her to be. She was gentle, loving, joyful, and she had this presence about her that can only be called one thing…Jesus. She just shined. As the party was wrapping up I asked the group if I could stay behind to talk more to the IRIS students and dance and celebrate. They had trucks leaving for the base every 10 minutes or so, so I knew I had a ride. I stayed for awhile and then I climbed up the bag of a very loaded large truck and stood on a flatbed and held a gated tailgate for support. Mozambique roads are bumpy and we flew all over the place, landing on people. I got my balance once again and then BAM…..
I was no longer in the truck, and there was pain in my shoulder. There was a person on top of me. I knew I had to let go of the tailgate that my hand was still holding while the truck was still moving. The driver could not hear them yell stop over the sound of the engine. I was on the ground slightly hurt in the dark with some children who did not speak English and seemed to be okay, in the middle of Africa and the truck was gone. The children ran into the bush area and I assumed they were village kids. I was alone. I thanked God I could walk and was not hurt all that bad, my shoulder and head hurt and I knew I needed to go back to the party, which was only a half km away. Again thank you Jesus. I got there and told someone that they tailgate flew open, I fell out and need some help. They took me to Heidi and she sat and they all prayed over me. She held me and kissed me and prayed forgiveness and no shock and no fear over me. I felt peace and the pain release from my body….
I was put in the front seat of her truck and on the way back to the base we were able to talk about my heart for IRIS and I was able to ask her questions. It was then that I was given the most amazing opportunity. Heidi invited me and the team to go on a 10 day village outreach which is not something visitors usually just get to do, but she felt it was a divine appointment and really wanted us to go. She made a way for us. So I met with her and the leaders the next day and it was set, our team would join one other team from LA and one family with 2 small kids and the Mozambique teams and head out to the bush of Mozambique to witness, and pray for the people.
I was humbled that God would bless me with so much in one small moment, I met one of my spiritual mentors, I was blessed with an amazing opportunity and we were shown favour. It is a beautiful thing when your Lord blesses you with such a wonderful invitation to serve him like that. You see for some people they would go about this by applying for outreaches and doing the whole plan ahead thing, but you know me and that is just not my style and it\’s not always our Gods. I fell out of a truck… that is how it all began. Not only that but forever I am now an IRIS legend, having been the first missionary ever to have a tailgate clasps and be tossed out of a truck. AMEN!
