Our trek to our ministry site was significantly longer than expected. It included two 10 hour flights, a 9 hour layover, an 8 hour bus ride from South Africa to Mozambique before the border closed at 2 a.m., an overnight stay in Machava, an hour ride to Maputo, a 2 day stay in Maputo, and finally a 5 and a half hour drive to Chibuto. We would call Chibuto home for 7 days before heading out to Zavala (… stay tuned). During these 13 days I have learned that ministry looks far different on the Race than I ever expected.
I have participated in 7 mission trips prior to Launching on January 7th. So far my experience has been far from what I had expected – and so much better in many aspects. As I left the states I prepared for the worst; I’m really glad that I did because it has made me appreciate the little blessings so much more.
For example, after 5 days without a shower I got in the shower at our ministry host’s home in Maputo, fully expecting the bitter cold ice showers I had grown accustom to in Honduras and other trips I had been on. I turned the nobs, hopped in the shower, and much to my surprise the water started warming up. Within a few moments the water was warm, hot even. I couldn’t help but raise my arms in the shower and say “Thank You Lord!!!!” It was just the blessing I needed as I prepared for my first Mozambique church experience.
Disclaimer: Per Pastor Artur, it hasn’t rained here since August 2016. Since we arrived in Mozambique it has rained almost everyday and monsooned for the first 5. Tents were flooded, church was delayed, and ministry was put on hold. We quickly learned that when it rains everything in Africa is put on hold.
As I Launched on this 11 month kingdom journey, I was ready to hit the ground running. However, God had other plans. He used the storms to give us much needed rest and because it was storming and our tents flooded two nights in a row, we were forced into tight knit community. When I say tight, I mean 14 tents in a bamboo hut tight. We had to sleep in tents because the mosquitos are so bad here – and I don’t know about you but none of us are particularly fond of contracting Malaria.
Disclaimer: Most World Race teams Month one include 6-7 people per location. This gives you time to bond as a team and set the pace for the rest of the year. R-Squad had the opportunity to have 4 ministry sites: 3 sights with two teams and 1 sight with one team. Our site, Africa on Fire, would host 2 teams and 2 squad leaders. Ready or not, community, here we come.
On the first night/day in Chibuto, the wind ripped and roared around our hut and the rain poured and poured. This was the day I realized ministry would look different on the Race. It was pretty tight in the hut so in the morning a few of us ventured out in the rain while others stayed back. The 5 of us that went out spent the day with the people working at the compound. They poured into us and we poured into them. We cooked together, cleaned together, shared stories and learned Portuguese (envision Portuguese in a southern accent – it makes for a great laugh). By the end of the day I realized we had been doing ministry all along.
Now for the individuals who stayed inside, they completed ministry on this day as well. They poured into each other just as much as we had poured into the locals. They spent their day water color journaling, singing, worshipping and bonding together.
It was a perfect day! It was the day God had planned for us to reset what we thought mission work would be. We quickly realized the Race is going to be what we make it and ministry doesn’t have to include passing about bibles or building something to make a difference. It is about sharing the love of Jesus in words and in actions. Ministry is about being the hands and feet and answering the Holy Spirits call on your heart. This includes the rainy nasty days or when things don’t go as planned. Which undoubtably they won’t…
For example, one day the rain decided to stop and the sky decided to clear. We took hoes, rakes, and brooms down to the first Boys orphanage home on the compound (which is in the process of being built) to clean it out for church on Sunday. We cleared out an area surrounding the home which was covered by brush and green growth. A few members of our team went inside to sweep out all of the goat poop and sweep away more spiders than they cared to admit. We were getting close to the end of our work day when myself and three of my team mates started working on clearing a path from the home to the main area of the compound. We had cleared about 50 feet of path when we heard “Ouch, it bit me!”
One of our team members, Levi, had just been bit by a poisonous snake. INSTANT PANIC. We assessed the situation and Levi, his team leader Bill, and our squad leader Tabitha, headed up to gather their things and find someone to take them to a hospital/clinic, whichever was closest. The rest of us circled up and prayed, HARD!
There were 13 of us in this circle and as soon as we started to pray the rain started coming down and the wind started whipping around us, but we didn’t unlock hands and we didn’t stop praying. There were two locals with us, Antonio and Edilson, who also started begging and pleading in Shangani, their local language. It was a beautifully peaceful experience to be a part of in the midst of a physical and metaphorical “storm.” We stood together for about an hour praying, singing, worshipping, and putting our faith in God and His plan. As we finished, it stopped raining and we headed back to wait on word from the others.
As it turns out many of our prayers were answered. There wasn’t anyone on the compound to drive them to the clinic and since Levi’s hand was turning black they headed out towards the road, and there a man sat at his car. Turns out he was a friend of one of the workers on the compound, Oscar, and drove them quickly, without charge, to the clinic. Once arriving at the clinic Levi was administered a dose of anti-venom, which was a huge blessing because we didn’t know if they had that here in the clinics of Chibuto. Fast forward to the following Sunday… Remember Edilson I spoke about, who participated in our prayer circle for Levi… Something had stirred in his heart and he went up in front of the whole church and declared that Jesus is Lord, was saved, and began a new life walking with Christ. So again, I say ministry looks different on the Race.
We spend our days answering the call of the Holy Spirit. That looks different daily! I can’t wait to share with you all that Lord has done and will continue to do on this journey!
As for Levi, he is doing much better! The pain is almost gone and the swelling has gone down. He is no longer in a sling. Honestly, he handled to whole situation like a CHAMP and with a peace that definitely transcends my understanding.
Love,
K
