Mozambique team report back - Jan/Febr 2003
We had a blessed time in Mozambique, with many giving their lives to the Lord, and
bringing their evil deeds to the light. Many would arrive during the course of a service,
so that we ended many services with a thousand or more. In the evenings we usually showed
a film, but had preaching before and after the film. At other places we would have
separate meetings for the preachers, to teach them the standard God expects from them.
In general everything went smoothly and according to plan with only minor problems here
and there. We experienced God's hand in many ways where He kept us from harm that could
easily have befallen us. There are a few interesting experiences that we would like to
relate:
- As we crossed the border from South Africa to Mozambique at Boane, there is a nice tar
road on the South African side and only sand on the other (However, there are other border
posts between South Africa and Mozambique that are different). Everywhere we travelled in
Mozambique we could see the bad effects of the long war and communism. The country is poor
and it is dark spiritually (For R1 we could get between 2400 and 2800 met, the unit of
money used in Mozambique). Floods and drought ravage the land, and cause many promising
harvests to end in complete failure.
- Carlos Vilanculos who received us at his home for the first 6 days of our trip was a
great blessing to us. His zeal for God and His work touched our hearts. We were glad to
see some progress on his house from the previous time we were at his home. Before the
services he fastened two loud speakers to his pickup, drove through the area, announced
the meeting, and played Christian songs, so that no-one would be able to say that they did
not know about the meetings.
- We only travelled in the southern part of Mozambique, and in general the roads were very
poor. As we left from Carlos' place in the Inhambane province, to go to Massangena in the
Gaza province, we had to travel on very poor routes. The best route, recommended by the
authorities, started off quite well, but before long we found ourselves on a small road in
the bush. Both the locals and the GPS we used assured us that we are still on the right
road. At some places the road indicated by the GPS was no longer in use and we had to take
a detour of a number of kilometers, hoping that it would meet the right road again. The
500 kilometers we travelled took us from the morning 6 am to the following morning 1 am.
However, we experienced God's mercy and guidance throughout the way.
- There is a great hunger for the Word of God. Many of the ministers of the Gospel we met
do not know God, but are still preaching! Others saw their spiritual poverty after some of
the meetings and openly confessed the division and sins that are in the church, and in
their own personal lives. They request prayer.
- Everywhere we were welcomed with great hospitality. From the little that they had, they
gave abundantly, e.g. washing our dishes, drawing water for us to wash and drink, etc. One
minister even gave us a chicken as a present, which we cook and ate with other food.
Each one of the team would like to thank all who remembered us in prayer.
|
