Ministry of the month:
This month we were working alongside Elijah a local in the Manga province of Beira. We walked alongside him in his daily life doing a few different things.
Elijah has become a valuable member of his community and much loved. He is active in is area churches. Elijah spends his days visiting widows in the area to encourage them and support them.
He also is currently building a children’s home where orphans will be able to leave.
So what was our ministry this month?
Following Elijah. Literally. We would traipse through the surrounding villages to visit widows, help at his orphanage and go to church. We did life with Elijah. If it rained we stayed home. When he had to walk miles and miles, we would walk miles and miles.
Another part of my ministry this month was cooking- we took turns in groups going to the market down the road and cooking.
I got to know the locals who own the different stores and bought oranges and bread from the same people. [also tried multiple different donut vendors.]
I loved doing life in the village this month in Mozi.
Speaking of which:
Living Situation:
This month we lived in tents out in the open in the middle of the village. I shared my tent with my teammate Workman. Our tent was placed in the back yard of the house. And the best part of that arrangement was that the local village kids wouldn’t bug us at 6 in the morning- they would bug the tents in the front of the house. We had a single room to store the belongings of 16 World Racers. We cooked over a single coal fire with three pots, had no fridge and electricity only at night. The roof of our kitchen/living room/ breakfast nook leaked whenever it rained [and it rained a LOT]. Our toilet was a cement squatty in a tarped in square outside. Our shower was buckets. The only running water for the village was a spigot in our front yard
And due to some safety concerns the AIM office had us move living location for our last week of ministry.
The local church we had been working with blessed us immensely by allowing us to stay in the flat that they own. So we moved from the village to the beach front, with an actual toilet, a fridge, a stove, an oven and running water.
Living situation I liked the most? Sans the massive amount of rain and my tent getting wet- I love the village life and the simplicity of it.
Church:
We participated in two churches this month. They were connected- one was in the village and was smaller and the other was in town and HUGE. We had the opportunity to speak and lead worship at both churches. I experience freedom in worship this month like never before. I got the chance to speak along side two of my good friends and lead worship along side them. We were able to see people get delivered from demons and healing occur before our eyes. I have absolutely adored being apart of the church community in Beira. Hands down my favorite church of the race.
Food:
VEGETABLES. We cooked for ourselves the most part this month. So we ate a lot of eggs, a lot of veggies, a lot of bread and a lot of fruit. But my favorite food moment this month occurred with the two team leaders took the two finance people out for dinner. Fried shrimp, coconut rice, chips and samosas. The ocean and 3 of my favorite people.
Street food: chicken, samosas, donuts. LOVE.
Spiritual Lesson:
I think this month God was teaching me how to just talk to Him. I was in constant communication- whether I was praying against the rain, asking Him what the widows needed to hear or praying laying in my tent. I learned that God just wants to listen, just wants me to talk to Him.
And I learned that when you are in constant communication with Him, He speaks more, I can hear Him more clearly.
And it’s lovely.
Biggest Challenge:
I’ve made quite a view comments about it- but in all honest? The rain was the biggest challenge for me this month. It made everything slightly damp, wet and uncomfortable.
None of my spiritual challenges I classify as my biggest challenge anymore- because I see all the pain as growth, as being stretched.
Random WR moment:
I could write an entire blog on random WR moments this month. EVERYTHING that happens at training camp? Happens in Mozi. Sleeping overnight on a bus at a checkpoint. Cooking with foil packets over a single coal fire. Sleeping in tents. Getting wet. Getting up early. Walking all over creation. Crazy market places.
But my favorite is night one in Maputo: Sleeping in a greyhound bus, eating pizza at 11 at night while we waited to board our “14 hour” bus ride to Beira. [14 is in quotes as it was 50 hours.
Favorite memory:
On the Wednesday that I spoke in church we also helped lead worship with the song “Break Every Chain”. In the second time around singing the song all of the power in the church went out. The congregation only got louder. God’s prescene was energizing the place.
Funniest moment:
Watching the rowboat that was taking as across a part of the ocean row to us. As someone bailed out the bottom with a bucket.
What I will miss:
I will miss walking down our small village road to the main road to walk to the market. I will miss greeting the ladies from the church who sell items in the market. I’ll miss finding new donuts to try with Cassie. I’ll miss the breeze that sounds like rain outside of my tent in the morning.
Prayer request:
Next month is our last month in Africa and then we move on to our last leg of the race. Next month is also the month when ALL of the women are together [nothing new for Team Veracity] and all the men are together. It will be a different month for most of the peeps on our squad.
Also: I am once again the team finance. This month was a bit crazy but I am trudging through!
Thank you for all of your support. Sorry for lack of pictures in this. Hopefully I will be able to do a Mozi picture blog of all of the cute little kiddos. I LOVE you all! Thank you again for everything. I am only 700 away from being FULLY FUNDED!
