There is a beautiful simplicity to life here in the villages of Mozambique. I have left such a peace and joy living in Matchovane. The sun rises at 4:30 a.m. and by 5:30 it is sweltering in my tent. That’s also when they feed the ducks and geese that make quite the racket. Usually I am up shortly after that.
Everyone has time in the morning to be with Jesus, read, pray, journal, etc. I can usually be found sitting on the patio with my coffee, journal, Bible, and whatever book I am reading at the moment (right now it happens to be Calvary Road by Roy Hession & The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer). The quietness of
the morning is refreshing to my soul. I love meeting with my Savior in these quiet morning moments! Breakfast is at 8 and is always delicious thanks to Jonathan (our ministry contact/cook). After breakfast our body of believers meets for worship, prayer, and devotions. Life is simple, but it’s SO good!!
The evenings are mostly the same- eating together, laughing, sharing stories of the day, playing card games, worshipping, or just enjoying each others’ company. Nightfall always means headlamps, lots of bug spray, and usually being in my tent and asleep by 9:30. After both Asia and London were so tightly scheduled, the Lord has really been rejuvenating me here in Mozambique.
For the past couple weeks we have been partnering with HIM Ministries and working with local churches in Matchovane.
Lindsay, Amy, and I have been working with Pastor Fernando’s church. Our role is to train local churches in evangelism, prayer, worship, discipleship, and church planting. I have loved working with our church! There is such a joy and hunger for the truth among the believers here. However, because of the lack of Scriptures available (I think there are 3 Bibles in our church), the truth has been very distorted within these churches. You find cultural elements of ancestor worship and witchcraft intertwined with the gospel. It has been exciting to see the churches grow in faith and to bring Biblical truth here. Also, HIM Ministries will be brining Bibles in Xangan (the local dialect) to the churches in April.
Pray that the churches will continue to grow in truth, that someone will provide pastoral training, and that there will be separation between the church and the witchcraft that is so prevalent in this region.
Lindsay, Amy, Solomon (our translator), and I walked 1 ½ hours during the hottest part of the day following Fernando & Ana to their home. Fernando and Ana are members of our church and they invited us to their home to visit and to pray for their family.
Shortly after arriving to their home, Fernando walks to the shed and returns with a fuzzy white bunny. The rabbit is sitting on Fernando’s lap. He turns to Solomon, tells him that they want to cook the rabbit for us, and ask if we prefer
roasted or stewed rabbit. It’s rude to refuse such kind hospitality so we decided on roast rabbit. I just hope that our faces didn’t reveal our horror at the prospect of eating Thumper.
