Another chapter is coming to a close. And, as is my new custom when we take leave from a country, it is time to take an inventory of all there is to be thankful for…
Obrigada (Thank you!) to my USA based WR Team:
Week One – For supporting our participation in an international youth conference where we were challenged to believe the Lord for great change/healing for this nation and our own. The Lord used this time to equip us to pray big in Beira and pray big we did…see John Michael's blog on ushering in a healing on a chappa ride…(John Michael Bonasso – “Get to the Chappa!”)
Week Two – For the opportunity to pray over and along side numerous widows and orphans that sickness has stolen the life of the men that should be a covering over them. For energy to compete in a field day inclusive of volleyball, ultimate frisbee and baseball with the orphan boys at the site of our sister WR team here in Beira. For time to invest in helping to lay the foundation of a new home for yet another widow and her three babes on Christmas Eve.
Week Three – For a joy filled Christmas celebration at the House of Blessing Orphanage. Kids always make Christmas more fun but I spent the day repeatedly struck with how I too would be an orphan were in not for Christ return and my adoption into the Kingdom. For supporting a Friday afternoon “Festival of Fun” where we were hosted a scavenger hunt, various games, bible story skit and lunch for the orphans in our immediate community (the ones who come by to play daily).
Personally – I am grateful for time invested in a handful of helpful training sessions on my new role within the Squad. While the Mozambican internet has added more than one grey hair me, Chris and our new Squad Leaders have made some progress in making plans for the coming months. Thank you also for your prayers for health. Aside from being somewhat weirded out by a flea burrowing into my toe and laying a sac of eggs (Yuck!) and annoyed by numerous mosquito bites I have enjoyed good health this month. Please keep the prayers up though as malaria takes 8 – 10 days to surface, it is initially dormant, and we've got four more weeks of Africa to go!
As you can read, many good and wonderful things have taken place this month but I would be giving you a skewed version of our time in Mozambique if I pretended this all came easily. As a team we have struggled against discomfort, lack of structure, fear of sickness, longing for home and feeling almost continuously lethargic. Some of that is just the nature of Africa: heat, time being away from the familiar and awareness of the distance from loved ones. The rest is the very real battle that faces us each day. We desire to bring light to darkness and the Keeper of Darkness is none too pleased about it.
Alas, one last blessing and point of gratitude is for the example our host/contact and his two brothers have set for us in this light/dark battle. These three men have been amazing. They pray with great faith. They move forward with steady endurance in the vision the Lord has given them. Until the walls of the orphanage the Lord desires that they build goes up they daily create a safe haven in their front yard for kids to seek refuge. They are better with babies than I am and they hand out hugs, encouragement and loving discipline like they have an endless supply. The men I have observed this month serve, and serve, and serve. They struggle, cry and experience victory in their weakness. They dig into the Word for answers. They desire to see a generation changed for the better. They are inspiring and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve along side.
