5 Days, 3 church plants and 11,880 meals!

                         A kiss for the hands that have packed the food to save lives.

               11,880 meals were delivered to 3 church plants in northern Mozambique!

                 150 blankets were donated to be handed out at the food distribution.

                                      Pastor Jeronimo and Noemia Cessito


  She is at it again!  Noemia a young missionary woman came to Mozambique from Brazil many years ago, met a man named Jeronimo and the rest is history.  She has been here longer than she lived in Brazil so wouldn't that make her Mozambican?  Never the less Noemia is vivacious, charismatic, has a great voice and uses it to glorify the Lord.
And most importantly she loves the Lord with all of her heart, mind, soul and strength.

  A week ago last Thursday she packed a van with 14 of her best leaders, loaded a huge rental truck with generators, clothing, 150 blankets and 11,880 meals and took off for a training in northern Mozambique.  Fearlessly she and her team managed to minister to over 300 families and most likely twice that many children.

  Before she left she told me that an American woman had heard that it was the coldest here than it has ever been in this area and she felt that God told her to donate money for blankets.  Noemia received the money, went straight to town to barter with the vendors there to buy 100 blankets for the $1,000 donated and walked out of the store with 150 blankets.  We both just squeeled with joy at what God would do to warm the hearts of His children.

  In Marromeu, there was teaching for the church plant leaders on how to handle a service.  What happens first, second, worship songs, and praise songs, everything needed to have an orderly service.  Crafts and bible stories for the children with supplies that were donated from American teams and church's.  Women's bible study and leadership training.  The youth and teenagers were also taught scriptures and played games, just like any youth group from around the world.

  After the three church's had been visited, God's word shared, teaching done, hundred's of people fed, sleepless nights for the travelers, food, blankets and clothing donated they all started their trek back home to Dondo.

  Many comments have been made by those who traveled with the Pastor's wife.  One statement that blessed me by a young man, "God was glorified."  Isn't that what we are here to do?  Isn't that the goal of every heart serving him well?

  Thank you Noemia for your love for His people!  Thank you that you spend endless hours each month, week and day to help the poor, the widow's and the orphans.  Thank you that you answered the call to go to Mozambique as a laborer because the harvest is ready.  Thank you God that you gave us Noemia and Pastor to lead us here at the project of Ray of Light.

  August 10th is Noemia's birthday... send her a birthday wish!

Obedience,

kathy

Wonder working Power!

This was one of those days when you had to be there to really get it.

  Pastor Jeronimo was preaching at the big church in Dondo.  It was an unusal thing for Val and I to be in Dondo on Sunday but we had visitor's who were leaving and their main work was in the Villa so we went to honor our visitors and gave them a chance to say their good-bye's.

  The message was one we have all heard before.  The words of God that ring through our souls in times of trouble, in times of glad, and in times of sorrow.  "with God all things are possible."  "everything is possible for those who believe" God's word sent to the ears of those who live in the depths of poverty and deep deep spiritual darkness.  He continued to encourage us by taking us right back into Isaiah 43:13, "When I act, who can reverse it?"  The emotion was building in me as he continued to encourage us all by the mighty power of our awesome God.

  At one point he had all of the parents stand who were supporting their children to go to school to get an education.  The parents standing were scarce in comparison to the people there. Pastor had the Americans stand and told them to look at us, he said, 'these people had to have courage and confidence in God to travel to Mozambique.  It is a long hard travel but they had confidence in God to get them here."  Boy was he right about one thing and that was our faith and confidence that God had sent us here.  His words became more rapid and louder, he was beginning to drive his point home.  We can trust in God.  He can do all things. He is Powerful.  He is Mighty! Only God can change a man's heart. Pastor then gave the example in Daniel with the 3 amigos in the blazing furnace. Can you imagine? Not even smelling like smoke? Who was that 4th person?  Anyone who calls upon, that is anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. My heart was racing at this truth that takes many of us so long to embrace.  It is amazing that God would love us so much to do the impossible in our lives.

  Coming into the finish he led to us think about the things that are pure and lovely, and honorable, the things of excellence and praiseworthy.  Do not flee to the witchdoctor, do not trust in the things of this world and culture but run to the Lord.  Because He can do all things.  He can and will do the impossible when you believe.  Let your faith not falter and be weak but press in, lean hard on the love of God.  He is faithful to the end.

   The Holy Spirit was present. It was quiet. You could have heard a pin drop. Every child sat in silence. One mother's voice came forth..... singing..... as a prayer.....Obrigado Deus Poderoso..... Thank You God, You are powerful.  The tears were running down our faces.  This was a mother whose children have seen the promises of God.  Two are in college, one to be a doctor and the other just starting.  This mother sang the song of thankfulness for her own life as she struggles with sickness.  She was leading us, calling us to trust this God who has done the impossible in this village.

  It is such a privilege to be here.  Thank you for walking this journey with me.  I know you pray for me because everyday is difficult and without your support many days I would just pack up and come home.  We get sick often and yet the laughter rolls out of our home from the joys of living life and serving our Mighty King on the sandy soil of Mozambique.

Obedience,

kathy

www.childrensrelief.org