Chamanculo Women's Bible Study

Here's a brief update on the Chronological Bible Storytelling study in Chamanculo.

The number of women varies from week to week. 

This past Tuesday we had our study at the home of Gloria, who just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

Irma Fatima and I have been co-leading this Bible study for the past eight months, and we've just finished the major stories of the Old Testament!

As we've started the New Testament stories, each woman from the group has begun to take turns leading the lessons.

Fatima and I would appreciate your continued prayer for the women of this group, that they would draw close to God as they learn and tell His story.

Thank you!

6th Trip to Gaza and Inhambane

On our 6th trip to the provinces of Gaza and Inhambane we showed the Jesus Film twice, visited and shared with the church groups, held a two-day church planter training, and...discovered a beach!

Showing the Jesus Film in Bangusa, Inhambane

My partners, Pastor Abel and Ana Miambo, setting up to project the Jesus Film in Bangusa.

Me and my beloved cords and wires...

A young fellow who came out in his 'Jesus Film best'

Before we started the movie, the children sang and danced.

After the first four days of driving, visiting groups, preaching, and showing the Jesus Film...we had an afternoon off!! 

An afternoon at Praia de Quissico

Ana and Abel discovering the beach in Quissico

Loving it :)

Two-day church planter training seminar in Zavala

After I taught the morning sessions on Chronological Bible storytelling, Pastor Abel taught the afternoon sessions on Biblical knowledge and church planting.

Ana worked hard in the kitchen to prepare the meals.

A few of the people who have been attending the trainings.

Hortencia

Isildro

Leonilda

Germelindo

After the second day of training, Ana and I fooled around with some new hair styles...

Ana with my hair (I'm under the capulana cloth)

Me with Ana's hair (she's under the capulana)

Ana, Aimee, Abel

I praise God for my wonderful travel companions and partners in ministry!

Training in Mocuba and Women of the Bible

Earlier this year, I traveled to Mocuba in the northern province of Zambezia. Juka and Elina Fernando, who come from the southern province of Maputo, serve as missionaries in Mocuba, Zambezia.

They have just held the first church planter/trainer seminar in the newly finished Mocuba Training Center!

When I was there, I had told Juka's wife, Elina, about a Bible study called, "Mulheres da Biblia" (Women of the Bible), and I gave her a copy. That was 5 months ago, and I didn't know if she would use it. I haven't heard about it since....until this week.

After church this last Sunday, a pastor from the south, who attended the training with his wife, commented on the Bible study that his wife loved so much...it was Mulheres da Biblia!

Elina leading the the Bible study for the women!

I praise God for the big things that He does through the little things that we do.

Tribute to the "Batmen"

This week I'll be moving to a place called Matola, which is about 30 minutes away from where I am now. Since I'm leaving the apartment where I've lived this past year, I'd like to give tribute to some special guards that have helped me immensely. I'll call them the...Batmen.

Adelino, Rogerio, Horacio, and Nataniel
(You may notice that they all look like Malibu locals! I asked my Dad if he could send some shirts to say thank you to them :)

After the first two bats, I didn't want this to become some sort of "bat blog", so I didn't write the stories of bat #3, who nestled under the pillow on my bed and then squealed like a little pig when the guard grabbed him (below). After bats #1 and #2, this guard suggested we start killing these bats instead of letting them go outside. So he "cremated" bat #3.

I also never wrote about bat #4, and how he chased me down the hallway, possibly using his "echolocation"skills to hunt me down...I was screaming all the way. 

When I got to a room, I quickly slammed the door behind me, and then found out that he was so close, that I had actually slammed him in the door...not a pleasant sight. 

I do not have a picture, which may be for the best. The guard picked up his lifeless body, put him in plastic bag and threw him in the trash (outside).

Finally, there was infamous bat #5 who flew in high circles around my dinner table and could not be reached...until that guard whacked him down with a broom. 

Once he got him onto the floor, a struggle ensued, all the while I stood screaming in the corner. Thankfully, the "broomed" guard won out. He then took him outside and finished him off with a shovel...also not a pleasant sight. However, bat #5 was given a proper burial (above) right outside my front door...

I'm thankful to these four brave Batmen!

Jesus Film and 5th Trip to Gaza and Inhambane

Before traveling back to the provinces of Gaza and Inhambane, Pastor Abel and I went to see my teammate, Dave, to learn how to use the Jesus Film equipment.

Dave, who has serious mechanical and technological skills, patiently taught Abel and I, who seriously lack these skills.

Dave and Abel putting the screen together.

"Pastor Abel, meet projector power chord"

Aimee's Nightmare #1 - chords and wires attached to various machines

Aimee's Nightmare #2 - Generator thing...also more chords. At this point in the learning process, I believe the word "throttle" may have been used.

Aimee's Nightmare #3 - numerous buttons and knobs (thankfully, I didn't have to mess with these too much)

After Dave showed us everything and set it up with us, he told us to dismantle it all and set it up without his help...

Amazingly, we were able to do it!

However...I had taken pictures when Dave was setting it up, so I referred to my camera display to see what chords went where...a kind of photographic cheat sheet.

After we passed the 'Jesus Film set-up test', Dave's wife, Ann, prepared a lovely meal for us. Thank you, Dave and Ann!

5th Trip to Gaza and Inhambane

Pastor Abel and I were off to Gaza and Inhambane again! This time Ana Miambo, from the church in Chamanculo, came with us.

Pr. Abel and Hermenigildo setting up. 
During the days, we did teaching and training - Pastor Abel led the Introduction to the Bible course, and I led the Chronological Bible storytelling.

Then...the moment of truth came on Sunday evening. We drove out to one of the new church groups in Nyadumbuque to show the Jesus Film!

On the way to the village, we had planned to get gas for the generator. But we soon found out there was no gas at any of the stations, or in the ubiquitous road-side bottles. There was already some gas in the generator, so we prayed that it would be enough to show the 2hr film...

As we approached the village, gray clouds were forming and it began to sprinkle... 

We arrived in darkness, and began to unload the equipment. After setting up the screen, Pastor Abel went off with several of the young men to start up the generator. Each man successively took his turn pulling the chord, but it refused to come to life... 

After about twenty minutes of trying, P. Abel accidentally tilted it up as he pulled the chord... and all of the sudden it roared to life! But when he put it down again, it died. So a suitable piece of wood was quickly found and propped up under the generator to keep it tilted. Then it worked very well...naturally.

All the while, my flashlight and I were left in charge of setting up the chords and wires connecting the amplifier, DVD player, projector, and speakers. To be the person in charge of these things is a nightmare for me. 

As the people continued to gather, I plugged in assorted chords and flipped various switches, and I prayed,"Lord, this is your work, your people, and You will do what you want. You and I both know I don't really know what I'm doing...even with my camera cheat sheet." But miracle of miracles...it all worked!

The picture is very dark, but this is Pastor Abel giving an invitation after the Jesus film. Many people prayed to accept Christ that night!

Wedding

The leader of the church in Chamanculo, Jorge, got married this past weekend. 

I picked up Irmao Jorge, the one in the suit, and the other family members from his home on Saturday morning.

I noticed a new "short-term pet" in the yard...he was to play an important role in the wedding reception meal.

After the wedding ceremony on Saturday, there was a church service on Sunday, and then the special meal at the groom's home. The women from the Bible study that Fatima and I are doing in Chamanculo invited me to help with the cooking!

All the cooking was done in Pastor Jorge's yard, and at times there were five cooking fires going at the same time...most of us were crying from all the smoke.

I worked alongside of my good friends Fatima (right) and Victoria (left).

As my right hand stirred, my left hand clenched my tissues to wipe away my smoky tears...

The bride and groom came into the yard accompanied by singing and dancing.

The bride, Virginia, symbolically carried a basin on her head, showing that she was now the working woman of the house.

The bride's family came to offer many useful wedding gifts.

Then groups of us came in to sing and dance and present our gifts.

I made a new dapper friend...Leo.

Fatima and I in the smoke...she was smart to close her eyes.

But the day's work with runny nose and watery eyes was well worth it!