Yup, that’s right. After another change in continent, another 52 hour travel day(s), buses and planes, 4 different currencies, crossing 3 borders and a still occurring battle with head lice – I have arrived in Africa. Mozambique to be exact.
For the next three weeks I’m stationed in Machava: a suburb of a suburb of Maputo, the capital. Our ministry contact for the month is Angie – a strong and persevering woman of God who founded the ministry Beacon of Hope in Mozambique 11 years ago. She has a piece of land with two homes; one for herself and her four adopted children (5-28 yrs) and the other house for her “boys”.
In Mozambique school only goes until 10th grade and then you’re on your own. So, Angie takes in 10 teenaged boys every January and has them live on her property for at least a year. She teaches them English, other higher level subjects, skills and trades and what it means to be true men of God. The boys become part of a supportive community and many of them have become more successful in life due to the time they spent learning and being loved at Beacon of Hope.
My team has joined with another this month working to help Angie and to encourage her in her ministry. In the mornings everyone works in the large garden while myself and two others work on organizing Angie’s database of supporters while helping her plan and expand the business side of her ministry. Although I’m a relational person, and am missing out on some of that thus far, I feel like I am in my element.
In the afternoons we teach English and another subject to the boys and play soccer with them afterwards to get some physical activity. Additionally, we spend time in the early evening praying for the country, its people, Angie and her ministry. She’s been facing lots of challenges with her residency papers, adoption papers (in process for 5 years) and other projects around her property – you can keep her in your prayers!
As for me and my team you can pray that we would grow in unity in order to better face any battles and spiritual warfare we might confront. Please pray for emotional strength and courage as we experience and process the adventure on which God has led us. Pray that we would continue to grow more and more in tune with His voice and what he has for us. Pray that He would bring us to such a point of change and renewal in our spirit that we will never be able to revert back to the old. You can pray for physical healing as well since we have had 8 people on our squad (myself included) who have been battling head lice since we left Moldova last week.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
(Yes, I took my title from the popular song because it has been stuck in my head for the last week and EVERYONE has been singing it since we arrived. Maybe it'll be stuck in your head now…)
