May 2006, 2
Boa Tarde I am doing very, very well. I feel so very settled here in Pemba. I am reminded of Gods goodness and grace every day. God has been speaking to me about worship over the last week. It has been totally awesome just being swept up into His presence. I am so glad, that I am beginning to be able to sing and worship not only in English, but I am beginning to grasp the Portuguese and Makua songs. The Makua way of worshipping is simple – move and sweat. We dance and dance and then we dance some more! They really do understand joy! It totally brings tears to my eyes every time I hear them testify. They go through hardships and trials that many of us will never understand, let alone see or experience and yet, they are always thankful and full of joy! The verse that comes to mind is that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” and in seeing these people survive every day, I am beginning to understand that verse.
At the end of this week, all the missionaries and the national leadership teams are going on staff retreat to meet up with all the bases from around Mozambique. I am greatly looking forward to meeting up with friends and making new ones, but more importantly to seek the face of Jesus together. Would really appreciate your prayers as we all travel and that while on the retreat we can come together in unity and see Mozambique rocked by the power of God!
Nampula Outreach
The boys arrived back at the end of the week. Again rich in stories with salvations and healings. As I listened intently, I noticed their eyes grew bigger with each story and testimony. The crazy stories they shared of healings such as blind eyes opening, deaf ears hearing and malaria fevers gone – all in His name!!
Bible School
All the student pastors have arrived and school started earlier this week. I am thoroughly enjoying helping with administration with the school this semester. At the moment we are working on name/ID badges with photos and getting a chance to speak with them and taking their photo is such a delight and has brought many smiles to my face. When you get your photo taken here, you are usually not allowed to smile, so getting the student pastors to smile; it’s a barrel of fun! Please continue to pray for these dear student pastors. That God would really reveal himself to these men and also protect their families they have left while they are learning about our King! And also that none of them would return to villages and homes and churches the same!!
Church Visits
Being able to visit the local Iris churches is such an awesome opportunity to go out and encourage the pastors and their churches, but also to meet with the pastors and their families. This last weekend, Felito and I went to encourage Pastor Juma. Pastor Juma is a dear sweet man, who has been married to one woman and has five beautiful children. Usually when we arrive at church we are greeted very warmly with singing and dancing, when we arrived, the door to the church was closed. But after speaking to some of the children playing at the front of church, Pastor Juma and his church had gone to one of his friend’s church to encourage them. So, off we went for another 20-minute drive past the long, green grass, and the cornfields. If you look out the window, you can see the soft faint outline of the hills in the distance of Nampula. We arrived and they were already worshipping. They were so happy! The presence of God was so vivid and real, but more, you could feel the joy and trust they have in our God. Pastor Juma came running when he saw we had pulled up. He greeted us and hugged us and the children came pouring out, all with smiles. As we walked into the four-walled mud-hut styled church, you couldn’t help but notice the simplicity, the humbleness of the place. It was small, it was dark, it was hot, but God was here! We entered from the back of the church and made our way up to the front, my eyes wondered around this peaceful little church, a smile grew on my face. Worship, praise and dancing continued. The instruments are simple – an abacus is a tambourine, used cans of fizz become cymbals, hands become the drum and our voices the trumpets. Everyone takes a turn to lead a song. Everyone is joyful – the women watch me as I dance. The rhythm they move too is different to what I am used too, and I struggle to keep up, but all is well, once they seen the “onkenya” (white person) start to sing in Makua all is forgiven. Worship stops and Pastor Juma steps forward, raises his hands and everyone begins to pray. What a noise to hear and a sight to see. I now understand, how prayer moves the heart of God. When they pray, their whole body prays. Their face expressions, the hand movements, the sincerity of their words – everything is used and given to God. As I prayed for the offering, God filled my heart with love and compassion for these dear people. They don’t have much, but they give so gladly. I was left in tears as they brought their offering forward. Some gave money, some gave melons, and others gave produce from their farms like corn, beans, and peanuts. Felito was introduced and he stepped forward and rested his bible on the bamboo platform and began to speak. Everyone became hushed as the word of God was spoken.
When church ended, we were greeted and welcomed again. We shook hands with every person. Young and old had come to worship today. We gave a ride to the women and children of Pastor Jumas church. Felito’s car can fit 8 people; we had 14 people in the car. As soon as the doors were shut, they began to sing. We rolled down the windows, as we drove we worshipped, people walking stopped and turned their heads, to see where the sound was coming from. It was such a beautiful sound – I imagine what heaven will sound like – will it be in one language we sing too? Even though we had come to serve, to encourage and to bless. It was really the other way round.
President Spoke
The newly elected president was in town, and all nationals were required to go and hear him speak. I asked permission if I could go and was greatly excited when I heard the answer was “yes”. I have heard many good things about this president, and I was interested in what he was going to say. All the pastors climbed into our two cameos and drove into the city. I drove with Felito, we spoke about what this visit means for Pemba, and also the protocols I had to follow in this meeting. The president spoke in Portuguese and the translator spoke in Makua. He spoke very well, and encouraged the people. Many people were there, standing under the hot afternoon sun. Women and children selling cold ices and also sugared peanuts and other delicious hand-made goodies. In between the speeches, there was dancing and singing, which was a great fun to watch.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support.
God Bless you mightily
Mana Ana
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