Mozambique Mission Messages

Mission News

1. message received 2/9/07: the travellers are happy, healthy and dirty. Here is a fuller account as sent by Danie: A quick summary of the last 3 days On Tuesday the team worked on Murraba while I went out to Milange. Again they divided in 2 groups and did teaching, when I arrived they started to prepare for the drama. It was wonderful to see the participation of the members. Firstly, they were afraid to act. Pastor Matunda with his enthusiasm pulled them in and soon they started to act above expectation. Slowly the shy ones started to gain confidence and with joy we saw them participate. The message of the drama was very clear and we could see that it also touched the actors. They acted out how christians helped a orphan boy into a family, and helped an old man who were not able to work in his garden and a lonely person were pulled into the community etc. The others outside reacted and decided that they also want to join that community. The film was shown again. We went back and the next day the program changed and we have to work in town. Firstly we had a good experience in planning together with the pastors on how to approach the day. We asked them to help us who do not know much about the situation in Mozambique. It was wonderful how they took responsibility. Then we set of to inform the government and through the grace that did not take long. Then we went in search for christians that previously asked the church to help with training. We went on small roads through the town searching and asking till we found and by grace we found the people. First there we share happy moments. They prepared and the community for a training session and to show the Jesus film. We went back to eat and the afternoon we found some people there for the meeting. Koos started cautiously with a Bible study and it pick up speed. Then Arlene did a excellent study of the ten commandments which they enjoyed very much. I think some basic principles were understood and the members participated very well. It was an ideal teaching situation. After that the gospel was shared with the beads. Just a short story to see how God works. Me and Elbie went to buy chicken in town while Dirkie started with the teaching on the beads. At the shop we discovered that the beads were with us. Pastor Matunda was also with us to buy the food for the film crew. We rushed back and stop far of so that the car will not interrupt the attention focus. Pastor Matuda run in to give the beads. Later we heard that it was just at that moment that they started searching for the beads and could not find it. They started thinking of plan B when the angel in the form of Matunda gave the bag in a very surprised Dirkies hands. The study went down well and at that moment that evening were the high point of the outreach. The Jesus film in conjunction with the studies, caused a lot of interest. After the Jesus film there were questions from all over and took an hour to handle them and refer them to the local pastor in town. He is a very capable man with a strong faith in our Lord. He will do follow up and will visit the area for further studies. Today we went to a Prayerhouse in the bush 20km inland. It is a very neat small church. We arrived before the people but slowly the came and we had bible stories in the big group with pictures while we waited for the others. After our meal we divided in 3 groups and had good participation and joy. I were with the ladies and it was one of the best participation sessions that I have seen. With happiness they participated and we treated some of the most basic stumbling blocks in the christian lives in Mozambique. On this moment the film crew is showing the Jesus film and we prepare for supper back in town. We will go out again tomorrow morning. Pray for Casper for his stomach gives problems and he can not eat much. He is really suffering of diarrhea. Together in God service Danie

   (Posted on 2007-09-02 20:23:00 by martin)
2. Duncan received this message on 31/8: Hi Duncan, Hope you’re having a great time in Vienna. We’ve just got internet access for tonight, but you can reply here for tonight if you like. Having a wonderful time, each village is totally different. Saw a potter and a carpenter today making chairs from teak and using soil for clay. Also saw pineapples growing in the wild! Saw a huge sow(pig) on the back of a bicycle on it’s way to market, it was still alive! The people are very willing to hear the gospel and very excited if they receive a bible. We are staying with a fantastic lady called Bernadette, who runs the orphanage school, the children don’t stay here. She just came ten hours from Malawi on the back of a truck today, with all the locals. Limited water for washing, so we’ll be looking forward to a good wash when we get back! We travel around in Danie’s “backie” – sort of twin cab truck with a cover on the back. Four wheel drive Mitsubishi. His tent is on the top and we take it in turns and sit in the boot! No real roads, very rough, red dust! Could you pass this on to Martin and the others Lots of love, Arlene and Libby p.s. Both very well!

   (Posted on 2007-08-31 19:43:00 by martin)
3. message received 31/8: Getting ready 4 leaving 2moro. Still well. Stopping in Magudane on way to airport 2moro. X.

   (Posted on 2007-08-31 19:37:00 by martin)
4. message received 30/8: Still well. At a village called Katoni. Seen pineapple. X.

   (Posted on 2007-08-30 17:40:00 by martin)
5. received an email 28/8, which seems to tell the situation when the team had just arrived: The team arrived in Mocuba at 1h00 in the moring and was received with Bernadette in the house. We went to sleep and the next morning started preparing and after prayers went out to one of the bush churches outside of town. On our way there we stopped at te market for a while and Dirkie started to evangelize with the pictures of the two ways in life. Very quickly a crowed gathered and one person gave his life to the Lord and we invited him vir the meetings today. We pray that he will be there. We walked through the market with all the smells you can imagine. From dried fish to guine pigs etc. Koos was the preacher through two translators. The first one from English to Portugese and the second from portugues to Lomwe. It went very well. Some played afterwards with the children and we had a meeting with the leaders to sort out the program and other practicalities. The afternoon the team prepared and rested. The evening we had a meditation of the word and prayers. The night was a blessing accept for a big rat that was running through the house. At the end was caught in a glue trap and struggled till the moring when it was killed. Monday turned out to be quite busy. We had a biblestudy in the morning which Koos leaded. After that we left for the church. There the group worked with Elders, women, youth and children. I and Elbie went to town to buy food, pot and kettle and I fixed the sparewheel of the car. The afternoon there where three groups, women, elders and children. In the afternoon the Jesus film group were acompanied to another place and then we returned home. We heard that there are problems with the generator, and I went back to the film, where I am sitting and writing this letter. Tomorrow I will help Bernadette, in who’s house we are staying, to transport her visitor to Malawi. The group will have to leave very early and then wait till I will be back in the evening before returning to town. Pray for: 1. That the Jesus film will touch people. 2. Save trip tomorrow to Malawi 3. That the people be ready for the voice of the Lord 4. That the group understands one another and hear the voice of the Lord what to do when. 5. Also for wisdom how to handle the future. Pastor Samuel accepted a calling to another congregation near Milange. There are a few discisions to be made. Thank the Lord for: 1. Blessings on teachings 2. Safe arrival of team and for good reactions on teachings. Danie

   (Posted on 2007-08-28 19:21:00 by martin)
6. I spoke to Libby today - on the phone - all the way from Africa ! Arlene and Libby are both well, they both in great spirits. They have stayed healthy by using their water purification tablets all the time. It is too hot to be in the sun but cools down at night. Libby said it was "baking hot". They travel by pickup truck on dusty tracks for about 40 minutes to a few huts in the bush. One of the huts is the church. They start at 5 am when it is still cool. Because the truck is open and water is scarce she says they all look terribly dusty. Samuel - who I think is a local preacher who was looking for help from Strand Church - speaks good English and also speaks the local dialect. So translations aren't a problem. Libby said that lots and lots of people come to their talks. They don't bring notebooks and pens but seem to have a very good memory. They were both very upbeat and were clearly having a very exciting time.

   (Posted on 2007-08-28 19:08:00 by martin)
7. message received late 27/8: All going well. 2 same village 2moro. Working with the children. Good fun, hot and tired! 5 am start 2moro. X

   (Posted on 2007-08-27 20:08:00 by martin)
8. message received early 27/8: Both well. Hot in day - cold at night. Working with village women and children 2day. X.

   (Posted on 2007-08-27 08:11:00 by martin)
9. message received late 26/8: On the way 2 church in pickup truck drinking coke. Mission work in market in Mocuba. X

   (Posted on 2007-08-27 08:09:00 by martin)
10. The weather forecast looks very good. Cut and past the link into your browser. http://www.fallingrain.com/world/MZ/3/Regulo_Mocumba.html

    (Posted on 2007-08-26 14:48:00 by martin)
11. Got an email message from S. Africa that the team had met up with the local missionary Danie Murray last night at 22:30. They must have had a flight delay because originally they were meant to land at Quelimane at 19:30.

    (Posted on 2007-08-26 14:32:00 by martin)
12. 25/8: sms from Libby (from Johannesburg) "Hi just off 2 maputo. Everything brilliant. Say hi to everyone. X"

    (Posted on 2007-08-25 20:21:00 by martin)
13. 23/8 - evening - met other Strand Church members, had a meal with them, sang hymns together, someone played the guitar. 24/8 - morning - more sightseeing 24/8 - 3 pm met up with the team again, this is it, far too much luggage!, at the airport at 7pm, despite all the extra weight they get away without being charged extra, board the flight at approx 8:30pm, tomorrow they are spending most of the day in Johannesburg

    (Posted on 2007-08-24 20:13:00 by martin)
14. 22/8 - 6 pm - Arlene and Libby meet at church for their send-off. 14 people said their farewells. Douglas Pryde gave both of them a letter from the minister, wishing them well and addressing the people they will meet in South Africa and Mozambique. 22/8 - 9pm - They departed from Heathrow - on schedule 23/8 - 4pm - Libby called from Capetown. The flight went well and they have already been sightseeing. Meeting up with Strand Church tonight.

    (Posted on 2007-08-24 08:33:00 by Martin B.)