12th Trip to Inhambane

I have been so blessed to have such wonderful partners in ministry, Pastor Abel and Mama Isabel for this 12th trip to Inhambane.

I had also invited a 1-year missionary to join us, Kyla Semenyna, who was such a joy.

Going to the village of Quissico to buy food.

Kyla and Isabel having some laughs as they struggle to hold the heavy basket of food.

It was great to spend time with the students in Quissico.

Belmira had braided my hair the last time I saw her.

Hermenigildo, Belmira, and Kyla hanging out on the veranda.

Germilindo, a church trainer, leading a study at our weekend discipleship training.

Although there are many challenges, it is a joy to see the church trainers studying, growing, and putting into practice what they are learning. 

Please pray for the young churches in the Inhambane province, that they would grow in faith and knowledge of the truth.

Thank you!  

Studying Women of the Bible

I've been meeting with Mama Vitoria and Mama Isabel for discipleship and Bible study.

Meeting with Mama Vitoria.

We're studying "Mulheres Da Biblia" (Women of the Bible).

Please pray that Mama Vitoria and Mama Isabel would continue to be encouraged in leading these Bible studies, and that Mozambican women would grow in their understanding and relationship with Christ.

Thank you!

Dynamic Women Team

I was blessed to host the Dynamic Women in Missions Team that came to visit Maputo.

From left to right: 
Donis Kendrick, Gail Watson, Deanna Todd, Pat Dragon, Audrey Banales, and Karlene Clendenning.

Visiting the churches in the Maputo Province

Audrey, pumping water from the Picoco well, which was funded by the VBS kids from Audrey's home church!



Deanna sharing some love

I translated for Pat, left, who told the pastors and the congregation that many people are praying for the church planting that is going on in Mozambique.

Then the Mozambican ladies shared their prayer requests and the team prayed for them.

Sisters in Christ

Visiting the Maputo Biblical and Theological Seminary

We stepped into the classrooms...

...and we praised God together at the seminary chapel service.

Gail and Donis shared their testimonies with the students.

The women's team prayed over the women in the first-year class at the seminary.

Visiting the preschool at the T-3 church

The team put on a great play about David and Goliath

Pat does a great Goliath :)

Participating in the Women's Bible study at T-3.

What a joy to encourage one another in Christ.

All Dynamic Women!

My colleague, Larry Weil, shared with the team and gave them a tour of the new property for the K-12 Christian Academy in Mozambique (CAM).

Visiting the current CAM school to see the kids

Speaking at the CAM chapel

CAM Director, Susan Weil looks on with a smile

Deanna and Donis sat in on my literacy lesson with Fatima and shared some encouraging words with her.

We had a lovely tea for the career missionary women. 

I introduced the team to some of the women from the church in Chamanculo, and we spent a day together making traditional Mozambican food.

American women starting to look like Mozambican women!

Gail, learning to cut the cassava and getting some laughs.

Karlene, learning how to shave a coconut on the special stool with the metal shaving teeth.

Pat, learning how to pound out peanuts with the big mortar and pestle.

Then they put me to work 

They told me to flip up the rim of my hat so they could see my face...

...I thought I bore a resemblance to the early 90's TV character, Blossom.

Donis, with baby Elen from Chamanculo.

Pat and Elena showing what they've sifted.

Some neighbor kids came by to see what all the commotion was about.

After cooking, eating, and sharing a devotional, the team prayed for their Mozambican sisters.

Sisters praying for sisters

Thank you for coming

And thanks for the great pics Gail and Pat! 

Changana Course

These last three months, twice a week, I've been studying Changana, a Bantu language of southern Mozambique. The course ends this week, and I'm thankful to have been able to learn some things that will hopefully help me to grow in my understanding of culture and Bantu languages,which are spoken in much of central and southern Africa. The teacher, Benjamina, teaches in Portuguese, the official language of Mozambique...and the course is offered by the German cultural center...but the class is held at the French cultural center...and I usually sit next to a Norwegian woman, who incidentally speaks Japanese... :) It's a nice multi-cultural mix!