We are rich to have friends like you.
Together we are making a difference!
We are running to keep ahead of every plan of the devil or earthly authority to hinder our progress, and we are keeping ahead. We thank God for a very low count of Covid-19 cases in Mozambique and for many new avenues of ministry that are being unlocked during lockdown.
Ingenuity is the game of the day. It is good to be stretched, to think outside of the norm and to gain new places. The church of Jesus Christ cannot be destroyed, pulled down or defeated. We rise up strong throughout the land, joined together from nation to nation. Living while dying to self, in the midst of uncertainty, sure of our purpose and call.
We send our news and pictures to encourage you in these incredible days of breakthrough. The bigger the obstacle, the greater the victory.
"FOR BY THEE I HAVE RUN THROUGH A TROOP; AND BY MY GOD HAVE I LEAPT OVER A WALL!"
…..Do yourself a favour and read all of Psalm 18. You will start running and leaping and taking territory like never before. This is not the day of less, It is the day of MORE!
Thank you Beloved friends for your love and support. You are vital to the plan of God in Mozambique!
We love you, we value you highly, we thank Jesus for you.
Together for His Glory,
Rod & Ellie
and the Afrika Wa Yesu Team.
I LOVE Inhaminga paths with Mikayla and Ashira.
Inhaminga Paths ~ Just a 4 minute bicycle ride from our house, people live not much different from the way they lived a hundred years ago.
A few plastic items being the only thing to suggest a different age. To stop and chat with them is a precious moment. To see their contentment in the midst of meagre resources is an example to us.
This man makes 10 baskets a day and sells them in Inhaminga market.
Remember the woman who gave me a chicken for Deborah?
A few weeks ago their house burnt down.
The Ndoro wa Yesu church helped them make a shelter of reeds and grass with plastic sheeting for a roof.
We sent a gift to buy timber and roof sheets. Such a small gift yet such a huge blessing to them. "Give and it will be given unto you."
CHURCHES OPEN?
NOT UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
Each church has to have an Infrared Forehead Thermometer. These range from 70USD to 90USD. There is no way the majority of churches can afford this. Present regulations allow for 50 people in a one hour meeting, using masks and social distancing.
RIGID INSPECTIONS (inspectors from Beira pictured above) must be carried out by Health Department teams before a church can be approved. This includes having running water on tap, an impossibility when water has to be carried from a well a long distance off.
MOST LOCAL CHURCHES CANNOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS
As seen in the pictures of other churches above, there is no space for social distancing, no water point nearby. People sit tightly together.
OURS IS THE ONLY CHURCH IN INHAMINGA THAT MET THE REQUIREMENTS. This is so sad. People here are very poor, their tithes and offerings often come in the form of produce, not much hard cash.
WE HAVE A PLAN! To help other church groups meet, we have opened Inhaminga Wa Yesu to their pastor and his flock. They will come one after the other, with the required 30 minutes in between for disinfecting, and will have opportunity to meet face to face.
TEAM MINI-CONFERENCES
Each year we gather all our Ministry Team from our four bases to meet together in Word, Worship and Fun. This year things are different. Our motto of ‘Make a Plan’ kicked in and we met first in Nacala with North Team, and now in Inhaminga with Central Team.
NACALA MINI CONFERENCE ~ We met in groups of 10 in three different rooms for fellowship and connected through Zoom to hear the Word. It worked very well.
INHAMINGA MINI CONFERENCE ~ By the time we got back to Inhaminga, we were allowed up to 50 in a group. This was wonderful!
NEWS FROM THE NORTH
UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDIES continue in the North of Mozambique. Some of our church members continue to live in the danger zones, they prefer that to being refugees with no place to lay their head. Others are refugees without choice, running for their lives with only the clothes on their backs, dragging and carrying little children.
We now have two rented houses in two separate places where we have established two key pastors with their families. We moved them with all their possessions. They are ministering to refugees and managing the distribution and help to the displaced people. Souls are being saved, being are receiving love and care to the best of our ability.
NEW ARM OF THE MINISTRY This has opened up a whole new arm of the ministry. It is a huge opportunity to help with unforeseen needs which we know God will provide for all the way. We personally, as well as our teams visit these places giving back-up to the leaders on the ground, as well as surrounding churches.
The devastation and trauma to those caught between a civil uprising, Islamic insurgents and Security Forces is indescribable. Anyone interested can check for Cabo Del Gado war on the internet. The worst thing you find is probably understated.
Top: Baptising new Believers Centre: Relocating our Pastoral family to a safe location Bottom: Distributing food to the needy and displaced.
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.” ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:1
