Christmas Offering

God blessed OMS in Mozambique with a 10-acre plot of land in Maputo six years ago. On the plot there are 9 housing units for missionaries who serve in various ministries. 

I lived on this property for several years while I was in Maputo and my dear colleagues surprised me with a party to say goodbye when I moved away to Inhambane. 

Here were my OMS colleagues (silly style) at the end of last year when my mom was visiting. 

This plot of land is also is home to Christian Academy in Mozambique, a k-12 school for missionary children, where I taught when it was in the city for the first 2 years I was in Mozambique. The school now has space for more classrooms, drama productions, and playing fields.   

The property is also used for a wonderful community sports outreach to local children, called Chosen Generation.

However, in that past several months there have been a series of serious and large scale thefts from the property which has shown the need for a secure concrete boundary wall. 

If you would like to partner with OMS Mozambique this Christmas to make a special offering toward this need, you can go to www.onemissionsociety.org and give toward project #403350 (Mozambique Missionary Housing Project). Thank you!


Christmas Greeting from OMS
(click link above!)

Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for all the prayer as I've been in the US seeing  doctors, getting tests done, and trying out medications. I'm very thankful for one doctor in particular who is working with me to try and discover the root cause of my headaches/migraines. 

I celebrated a special Thanksgiving at home this year with my mom, my aunt, and my brother and his lovely family. We took polaroid photos; now a novelty to my 3 nephews.

I'm thankful to be able to come aside.

And I'm thankful for my mom's stressed out cat, Clive Staples Lewis :) who reminds me to not be anxious, but to trust in the One who made me.

"It is not you that shapes God; it is God that shapes you. If you are the work of God, await the hand of the artist who does all things in due season. Offer him your heart, soft and tractable, and keep the form in which the artist has fashioned you. Let your clay be moist, lest you grow hard and lose the imprint of his fingers."

– Irenaeus (130-202 AD)  

Headaches

I have been having frequent headaches and migraines for quite some time and have decided to travel to the US to consult with some doctors. 

I appreciate prayer.

~ Thank you ~

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you." 

Isaiah 46: 4

Progress, Village Birthday, and Partnership

After 5 years of working with the local government, I praise God for the official "certidao" that has been issued for the house land!



I appreciate prayer for the ongoing process of legalization for the house and church/training center land.

The village of Quissico, which overlooks the beautiful lakes that border the Indian Ocean, just celebrated its 44th Birthday.

The military band paraded through the village center.

And the local police marched behind the band.

The local chiefs and leaders came out for the big day.

I invited Carlos, Tina and baby Josue from Maputo to be here, and partake in one of the local specialties - grilled pork.

The next day Carlos shared an encouraging message with the local church in Cala.

After the service, we gathered together with the church group from Nyamajeho to learn from God's Word in our discipleship Bible study.

What a blessing to partner with my dear brothers and sisters from the province of Maputo as they step out of their comfort zone to visit and serve here.


I praise God for all that He is doing in Inhambane! 

Language and the Best Toy Car

Studying the Txitxopi language with my local language helper, Inocencia.

Her little brother has been building a toy car.

Here it is complete with soda can wheels, a wheel made of wood connected to a stick with rubber bands that turns to steer, and pieces of plastic bags used to connect the wires to keep it all together!

 Inocencia (center) and Edricio (left) just had their first baby, held by the proud grandma. It was a joy to give her a special little sweater, hat, and booties made by the God's Arms ministry.

At my house, I've been tutoring some of my neighbors in English. Young Dilercio comes by for help with his English homework from school. 

I invited neighbors and women from my church for an American/Mozambican lunch!


"Kudoto kudoto u ya ma soni" 

Txitxopi expression that means, 

"Little by little you go forward"

The Most Beautiful Thing

By God's grace, I continue to build relationships with the local people here in Zavala, Inhambane.

As I seek to show God's love here, I continue to learn about language, food preparation, families, songs, and even how to carry long pieces of wood on my head!

I've been invited to teach about God to those who are interested to know Him and grow in Him.

The most Beautiful thing to see

After I teach Ermelinda and the church group in Cala, she and I go together to the church group in Nyamajeho and she teaches. 

Our local church is also part of a Covenant group made up of 5 different Mozambican church denominations in the district of Zavala.

One of the ways I've been building relationships with the Covenant group is by participating in their praise singing and foot stomping dance presentations in the monthly services. I'm not the best dancer (or singer), but they can't help but know that I love them.  

I've been invited by the pastors of these 5 denominations to share God's love and truth in services and seminars, and I praise Him for the opportunities He gives as I follow Him.

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him." 

H. Taylor

IEPV/OMS/CONIM Partnership

Our partnering pastors from Brazil came to train, teach, and encourage our Mozambican leaders!

(Left to Right) 

Pastors Sandro, Rafael, Marinez from Brazil, with Mozambican leader, Belarmino.

Throughout the week of training, we learned about Biblical leadership, marriage and family, discipleship, and tithing.

Ermelinda and I worked together on a discipleship plan for the two churches where we serve together in Inhambane!

* Would you please pray for the churches in Cala and Nyamajeho, and for us as we serve?

Pr. Sandro, with Tomas and Ermelinda, was a great encouragement to the church leaders.

After the week of trainings, we had a special church service together!

 (Left to Right)

Aimee, Liane, Marinez, Paulo, Laura, Luana, Fernanda

The Mozambican church prayed for our partnership. 

Please pray for God to guide, use, and bless this partnership between IEPV/CONIM/OMS for God's glory?

Thank you!

Jermaine's Visit

My good friend and surfing buddy, Jermaine, visited me these past 2 weeks. We studied together at Fuller and then both went off to work in different countries. 

It was great to have her here, and she took some lovely photos...

Sunset at Tofinho

The central plaza of my district, Zavala.

A ground view of my garden.

A ground view of my dear sisters in Cala preparing a meal.

Little friends in Cala

After we visited and prayed with a family who have been dealing with sicknesses, they lovingly gave us a bag of cashews (to be roasted and then cracked opened for eating).

Jermaine met several of my neighbors, including Neusia, who opened a coconut for her. 

Would you pray for Jermaine as she returns and continues to serve in her context?

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." 
J. Elliot

Pictures of Life

 Dance

The kids at church performing a song with the traditional foot stamping in praise of God.

Toasting Tapioca

Aflita, toasting the mandioca to make Mozambican tapioca over her homemade oven in the ground.

My Off-road Truck

Pounded Peanuts

After being pounded with the giant pestle and mortar, the peanuts are sifted in the flat basket, then the bigger pieces are pounded again until it's all a fine peanut powder ready to add to any meal.

Wire Car in Progress

 This is the brother of the young lady that is helping me to learn some Txitxopi language. Once he puts the soda cans on as wheels, he'll be able to steer the car by a long wire he'll attach to the movable middle section...I call him "future engineer"

Dinner Prep

For most Mozambicans, there's no such thing as a meal that is not from scratch.

The Future

Beach Tractor

Dirt Coral

Ants found a way into my house and built these interesting coral like dirt trails up the walls from the corner. 

(I did clean it up after taking the picture)

3 Monkeys with Poor Posture

Engagement Entrance