Spaghetti is traditional here in Mozambique

  I read once that children who have known family traditions while growing up in the home are better adjusted socially and have a more secure sense of feeling that they belong to something bigger than themselves.  Right or wrong, I decided tradition would be a good thing to add to our list of do's and dont's that I wanted to do for my children. Anything that would make them more stable citizens and family members.  After all I am their mother and I am supposed to do everything I can right?

  Each year before Christmas I run around looking for a good buy on PJ's for gifts for my kids and grandchildren.  For many years now this has become one of our family non-spiritual tradition's at Christmas.  Everyone knows they will get something new to sleep in for the new year.  My family can pretty much count on me giving at least this as a gift.  Other families have more exciting and fun traditions but this one seems to work for us.

  Another family tradition is, my sister believes that on Thanksgiving you need to have turkey.  So this is my extended family's tradition.  Then after lunch we all collectively sit around and tell each other what we were thankful for in the current year.  It is fun to watch the kids growing up enjoy this 1/2 hour of accolades to each in the family.  I like this part of Thanksgiving and as our family tradition, this one is my favorite.  Personally I could eat pizza on Thanksgiving and it wouldn't matter to me just so we can sit around and give thanks and teach our children the importance of thankfulness and family.

  I write all of this to tell you what happened to me yesterday at my small church in the bush at Centro Emissor.  Well really, it started the day before when Val and I went to visit a family from church and saw that one of the babies sleeping on a mat on the ground had a cord wrapped around his belly indicating that they had been to the witchdoctor.  Or the witchdoctor had given them a visit.  On any given Sunday, the witchdoctor will travel around the village and visit those who have just come from church and try to sell their goods.  The goods being, spells, cords for health, serums, and their chants and advice.  This is still very common in the bush.  The tradition of witchdoctors is alive and well in Africa.  Probably in America too but under a different guise.

  It is cultural here to go to the witchdoctor for advice.  I was talking with a friend of mine from here one day about witchdoctors and she told me her husband had been married 3 times already and they were not yet 25.  I asked "why?!"  She went on to tell me that her husband had failed at his business of selling clothes in the market place and the witchdoctor would tell him that it was his wife's fault so he kept leaving his current wife to find a new one that would help his business succeed.  My friend is a christian and they no longer to go the witchdoctor they pray to God instead.  But this type of tradition is very real here.

  Back to my story about yesterday........ after seeing this cord around this little boy's tummy, I was horrified.  This boy, his name is Miguel, is the grandson of the leader of our women's group at  our church.  I left their home asking God what He wanted me to do about this.  So I spent the night praying about how I could approach my friend and also practicing my Portuguese because I didn't want to use a translator so no one else would know what we would be talking about.

  When we arrived at the church for Christmas eve services she was the first person God placed before me and I took her aside and said I needed to talk to her alone.  So we went for a walk. I quickly asked the Lord to give me the right words so she understood what I was trying to say and would not in anyway misinterpret my heart or words.  In my very best Portuguese I said to her, "We are friends, we are in this together, this is our work.  We know that the God we worship is the only God we can trust."  She nodded in agreement and smiled. Then I went on to explain to her that I had seen a cord from a witchdoctor on Miguel's belly and this was not a good thing.  She told me that Miguels other grandmother had placed the cord on Miguel while he was visiting her the day before.  And off we marched to my friend's house near by to find Miguel.

  We walked into the yard of their home and there was all of her family member's, their spouses and children.  I greeted everyone and then my friend began to talk to her family in their tribal language about the cord, witchdoctors and that we need to have faith in Jesus for our lives to be good.  She tore the cord off of Miguel and threw it in the bush.  He had no idea what was going on and fell down into the sand crying.  Then we laid hands on him and started praying for his life and protection and favor for his future as a Christian and godly man.  It was a special moment. Miguel's mother is young and still very naive.

  As I share this incident with you I'm thinking about the sower and the seeds.  Our church is full on Sunday's, it's a tradition to go to church here in the bush.  It's like America, many of us go to church on Sunday and many stay home to cook.  The seeds are sown during church by the word of God being shared, our faith increased and then we leave to go home.  Have those seeds fallen on a rocky ground?  Or on some ground that had thistles, or in fertile soil?  Is the thief going to steal the word away from the heart's of those I love here?  And those in America too?

  Would you pray with me about this tradition of following a witchdoctor?  That this tradition be one that is broken and replaced with following Christ!  Would you look into your own heart's and homes to see what traditions are keeping your eyes on Jesus and one's that have become distractions to follow idols?

Miguel and his young mother Sarah

This little guy is healthy and fat!

  I love my work here in Mozambique.  I learn more each day that poverty is found in the soul and hearts all over the world.  I have learned that people may be rich in their souls and have nothing in their surroundings.  And then there are those who have many many things and traditions who are impoverished to the point that they are dead man with bones walking around.

  Thank you for all of the support that you give me spiritually and financially.  Let us do a good work together in breaking the bondages of deadly traditions everywhere.  Speak the name of Jesus!

Obedience,

Keep America a God fearing nation!

Shoes donated from money raised in Iowa at a church in Colesburg.
Population 450 and they raised $1,400 at VBS this summer!  Courageous kids serving God by helping the poor!

All kinds of shoes for shoeless children.

People fighting for a box.
Something as simple as a cardboard box is a prized possession to own.
They will hold items that would otherwise lay on a dirt floor. 

One piece of clothing or a pair of shoes.  There just is not enough to give to everyone.
Consider sponsoring a Christmas program for 2012 with Children's Relief International.

 This little girl was so sweet and shy.  It took me quite a while to get her to smile with me.  I think it was more about the sweet sucker than it was about me trying to encourage her to smile.  At this church plant most of the children only speak the tribal language.  She probably thought I was crazy when I was trying to speak Portuguese to her!

Today was a hot day for this ole’ Iowa girl.  There was not a breath of air to be found and even in the shade the heat was pounding through the tree branches.  Today I realized no matter how much I love Mozambique and how much I want to be part of this land, I will always be a weaker one, an American, who lives here.  The heat was assaulting and at the end of the Christmas give away event I went home to a comfortable bed to nap with a fan blowing on me.  I’m not nearly as sturdy as I should be or would want to be if I had to live the life of a woman who was born and raised here.  Life is hard and the war has left a mark and an attitude of desperation.

I have seen this many times before at gatherings at different locations around the area and villages that I am familiar. There is a crowd mongering that happens when there is something that is distributed.  It’s like there is a war going on.  A war in their hearts and a war in their minds.  An indescribable madness that happens even to the children to reach, push and grab for something, just anything so they can be the one to hold the prize.  It must liken itself to what happens in America when WalMart has the deal of the year on Black Friday and everybody and their mother is out there trying to get that one special thing for that one special child.  With one exception.  In America, the children have asked for so many things, they can’t remember that they asked for this one object that drives their gift giver into insanity to insure they have it to give.

We drove to the mountains north of here to a village called Mt. Silovo.  The pastor told us there would be around 30 kids attending and there were more like 130.  And again the pastor’s number of 50 families, again was under estimated and we saw around 200 come to partake of the Christmas party.  I wasn’t saddened by the increase in numbers rather I became quite excited to see so many faces light up when they became the chosen child who was given either a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes or a toy and every child received a sweet sucker.

Each time I have the privilege to stand before the poor I think about the teaching of Jesus.  Over and over again I have learned that the last will be first and the first will be last.  That we will always have the poor with us.  I have learned that if someone asks for something and I have it, I need to give it.  God will so bless us when we are obedient.

Tonight as I prayed, I thanked God that He would have me be born in America. I am thankful that I have learned more in 5 years of living in Mozambique about myself and what really matters and pleases God, than I had learned in all of my life before coming here.

God has blessed America.  Let us remember to keep it a God-fearing nation.

This will make your face hurt........

  Rise and Shine!  I was up at 6am this morning trying to gulp down a cup of coffee before this day would begin.  It’s a special day here in Centro Emissor, at our church and for our church.  Today again was the provision of God’s word coming back to us as answered prayer.

  Off I went to ElShaddi to meet with my friend Edmundo to fill our little truck, “white lightening” with food from the containers.  Answered prayer for such a time as this.  It is a season of little food and little rain.  Even the crops planted thus far are not even growing yet.  As farmers in Iowa we all know that corn should be knee high by the 4th of July.  Well here, rice should be knee-high by Christmas and there's not a stalk to be found.

  We filled the truck, blessed those who helped us and then off I drove to the church to unload and go back to Dondo to get the pastor and his family.  As I drove through the village I just couldn’t take the biggest grin off of my face.  I thought, “God You are SO GOOD! Thank You that I get to be part of this!”  Have you ever smiled so hard and long that your face hurt?  Today mine did.

  My little church in the bush thanks you all at Wooddale and at CRI for all that you have provided for this Christmas season.  Can you imagine?  Every family in our little church will have food for Christmas!  Every family!  Every child, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, auntie and uncle....... every one!  They will have the basic need of food on their mats, in their bowls to celebrate another day of life and the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

He IS the reason for the season.

  I hope this makes you smile.  Trust me when I say, you are making a difference here with the poor, the widows and the orphans.  I know that God is pleased because we have obeyed.

Kids start to learn how to carry things on their heads at a very young age.

This is Sarah.  She is single and still a teenager, already a mother.  Her son's name is Miguel.  He is strong and fat.  Pray for these two that God will continue provide food and shelter for them as they both grow older.

 I wish I could say I knew every name of every child at church but I don't.  This little girl is one of 6 children in the family.  Last summer my friend Deane was blessed to dedicate her baby sister to the Lord.

This little guy is new to our church.  He and his momma have started in the last 4 months to join in on the fellowship and worship of Centro Emissor.  Our church is growing and growing.  I'm so thankful that God has continued to strengthen our pastor and anoint his preaching.

  If you feel so led please visit Children's Relief International's website to donate for more families to have food.  $1,000.00 will purchase enough food to provide meals for 120 families for 1 month.   This buys oil, sugar, corn meal, and then we add the rice packets from Wooddale.
www.childrensrelief.org

2 Corinthians 9:6-14

New International Version (NIV)

Generosity Encouraged

 ⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.⁹ As it is written:

   “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; 

   their righteousness endures forever.”

 ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
 ¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

Obedience,

Kathy

This all began with 7 or 8 older women

  Each week there were 7 or 8 older women from the barrio (section of town), Macharotte that would walk to the Dondo church.  It is a good 2 mile hike one way, I know, I have done it unprepared and totally pooped when I got home.  But these same women would walk to church every Sunday because they wanted to hear the word of God and truth be spoken.  They wanted to fellowship with other believers, they wanted to dance and sing and worship the King together.

  Noemia is a woman whose greatest fault is her compassion.  She just cares about everyone.  Every woman, man and child that God places before her.  It was hard for her to see these women walk to church each week and sometimes mid-week so she began a bible study with these 7 or 8 precious women under a tree with the prayer that one day a church would be built for them.  That was a year ago.  And today the building stands as is for now, mud, bamboo and one day a cement floor inside with a clean water well too!

  Also that group of women that started out as 7 or 8 older women is now close to 20-25 women of all ages and 60 children hearing the word of God two times a week at this church.  Well, we are still outside under the tree but we are close to moving in.

  Each time I have come to the church for bible study the water well has a continual line of people getting clean water.  This well is the only water well in the area of the church and it has been a tremendous blessing.  For every hour that can be removed from getting water, another hour is added to do other chores and responsibilities.  My prayer is that this time will be loving their neighbor, their children and Jesus.  People come to get their drinking water and end up hearing about the living water.

Newly built church in Macharotte with a new "clean water" well too!!

This woman told me her house fell down last Sunday after the heavy rains.
 Now she lives with a friend.  She needs a new house for herself and her orphaned granddaughter.

These are 3 of the first 7 or 8

This is only part of the group today,  Praise the Lord!  May His kingdom expand!

 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 

as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.

 For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Obedience,

kkk

Dancin' in the dirt!

  If you would have walked by the door of the church today you would have seen a cloud of dust inside from all of the dancing that was going on!  It was a good day at Centro Emissor.  We celebrated 3 important events today:

1.  This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice in it.
2.  Fernando a new baby boy was dedicated to the Lord.
3.  It was our leader, Zito’s birthday.  

This is great cause for celebration when someone reaches another year.  We must celebrate each day!  But another year?  Now that is a time for celebration.

Zito is thanking everyone for their gifts and love.

Fernando our newest addition to Centro Emissor!

   Maybe you remember Zito’s wife Ziara passed away two years ago last November.  If you have ever lost a loved one, you know that his wounds are better but still deep.  His children wept at the thought that God has protected their daddy to remain with them and raise them another year.  It was such a sweet site to behold, his family together rejoicing.

  The entire church danced and sang songs of celebration for the pastor.  The women danced a special dance.  I just love it when they dance.  They don’t ask me to join in anymore, I’m too much of a distraction when they are trying to get all of their steps just perfect.  The dust filled the air!  I just smile with so much gratitude for the way the body of Christ honor’s their leader here.

  Then one by one everyone went to the front and gave the pastor a hug to show their affection.  And me too!  So grateful to God that today Zito is strong, he is leaning hard into the work God has before him.  The church is growing and so is Zito in his faith.  He is a small man in stance but huge and growing on the inside.

Everyone loves Mahayo!

 Before we all went home..... out came the celebration drink!  It’s called Mahayo.  It is not an American drink.  Corn meal and sugar together... fermented.  You can imagine the smell.  The ladies all laugh at me because I can’t drink it, it totally gives me too much time in the casa de banho.  Everyone left with their belly’s full and more in their take away container.

  It’s days like these that I just can’t stop smiling the biggest smile I have.  Life is good here.  God is so faithful to provide.  Thank you all for making this happen.  Without you, I wouldn’t be here, without you, my church family would not have gone home full.

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God n Christ Jesus for you!

1 Thes. 5:18

Obedience,

"You called? I am here!"

  A name is called, “Lucia Fernando Ginsinca “ “I am here!” responding with force so that she would not be overlooked.  Each name called, a person stands, opens their bag and the rice packets are dropped in.  Everyone helping each other, this must make Jesus smile.  I know it does me.


  I watched as she very carefully laid her capalana (a piece of material that is used for many things ie: a wrap around shirt, a head covering, to carry bundles of goods and many many other helps for a Mozambican woman) her capalana in place on the ground near her to lay one of her twins.  He was a bit fussy.  The family had come to receive food from the containers and they had been sitting waiting for several hours. This food packed by thousands of Americans in Minnesota that took their time and resources to feed people that they will never see face to face.

Today again we had the privilege to feed the blind community of Maffarinha.  And today I met a sweet family of 6.  Lucia is the mother and she has 5 children, 7, 5, twin 2 year old’s and one being absent today.  Lucia has been blind since she was 14, she is a widow now.  She has no home, she lives with other family since her husband died.  Lucia was very happy to hear about the American church who blessed them. And more importantly that many of them are still praying for each family that receives the food.

  "Lord, today we thank You for Wooddale and their service to our Mighty King.  Lord may You richly bless all of the helpers of the Million meals above and beyond what they could have ever hoped for or imagined."

  Isaiah 25:8  The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all      the earth.

Obedience,

Big Mamma