Praise God! I'm updating via my cell phone, so I'll have to keep this short.
I went on my second bush outreach last weekend! We saw many people receive Christ both nights after the Jesus film and most were healed, though at times we had to pray two or three times before the healing manifested. The first night Heidi was there and I got to see her in action in this new bush village scene. After briefly preaching, she asked if there was anyone present who was deaf. A man in his 20s came forward. After about five minutes of prayer his ears were opened! Many received Christ and the crowd grew. Various other visitors, such as Che Ahn and Chad Dedmon and Mozambican believers from Pemba, gave different invitations for prayer: for people who suffer from nightmares, the deaf, mute, children with learning disabilities to pass their classes...people would raise their hand and two or more Moz Bible students, mission school students, visitors, or translators would go pray for them. I ended up praying with a lot of different combinations of believers. My Portuguese is improved enough I can tagteam with a Moz pastor or Bible student and actually KNOW what is going on!
The second night it was just my color group. We arrived in the village early enough to have light to set up and gather a crowd. I had learned some Makua worship songs since last outreach and I put them to work, singing loudly and dancing and getting participation from the 50+ children who were rapidly gathering. Moz pastors took over as my songbase quickly ran out and I noticed older women off to the side of the clearing. I used my few Makua phrases, greeting and introducing myself, before sending them into gales of laughter by taking pictures of them and showing them their image in my digital camara.
I had so much fun, I've jumped at the opportunity to head back out tomorrow with my roommate Caitlin's color group! I wanted to tell you also of a pretty amazing healing service God ambushed me with, but it will have to wait! Mbaka iwara iquowe! ( Later!)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Bush Outreach
The past two and a half weeks have been so full, I feel like I’ve been in Mozambique much, much longer!
We were divided up in groups to spend a few days in the bush doing evangelical and medical outreaches. Orginally, these outreaches were planned for just one trip for the whole summer, but they decided up double us up, so instead of waiting till July, I also got to go last weekend! The town we ministered in was only two hours away. A dozen Mozambican Bible school students and as many international mission students loaded up in the back of a truck along with a generator and sound equipment. We sang praise songs in Makua and Portuguese as we bounced down the road to our mystery destination.
Our caravan arrived just before dark, hastily set up tents, and headed by flashlight in the dark past dozens of mud huts to the town center, the center yard of their wall-less school. The Iris outreach veterans were still setting up the sound and projector and generator to show the Jesus film in Makua, so while we waited we made friends with the rapidly gathering crowd. On the walk I had a chance to chat with the pastor of the local Iris church. He said there were 46 people in the church, and that the Jesus film had been shown in that town three years before. I asked how many lived in the town. He would only reply over and over, “muitos pesoas”, many, many people.
We danced to an African choir on the screen as a crowd continued to build and the last light faded. This is probably the second and possibly the first film most people there had ever seen, at least in the Makua language.
My “color group” Aqua fanned out in pairs to quietly intercede during the movie. I found it strange that no one sat down, but three hundred or so villagers stood watching it. Finally, some in the front began to sit in the dirt at the forty minute mark and eventually most people sat down for the 2 ½ hour long movie. Afterwards, my Brazilian group leader asked people to come forward if they would like prayer for healing. Many wanted prayer. Some prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior! It was pretty loud in chaotic to me in general. The speaker was so loud my ears bled, and everything was translated to Makua because they don’t speak much Portuguese in the bush. There were drunk men in the back mocking, children just laughing at the sight of the “acunas”, as we whities are called here, and then the very sincere twenty or so who really wanted prayer.
Welcome to outreach in the bush!
The next day we had a church service in their small hut, which included a warm welcome from the local congregation and prayer for the sick. After this, the medical tent was open and people lined up to see the doctor and receive prayer for healing. I went back to the campsite to clean up lunch and play with the children, but my friends got to pray with a teenaged boy who was deaf and mute. After quite a while praying, my friend spoke the kids name into his ear, and the teenager said it!!! All the kids nearby who knew him and knew he had never spoken in his life became very excited and they all wanted prayer. Praise God! His hearing is not completely restored, so we prayed for him again that night. We just loved on him and I believe he felt God’s love and hope. We will keep praying!
That night we were supposed to go to a different town down the road to show the Jesus film again, but we received word that the elders of the village changed their minds and did not want us to come. This was sad to hear, but I knew that the village we were in, Naquita, had many more people that had not been at the movie the night before. This time we showed the film in the church yard. The whole atmosphere was much more positive. There were still guys in the back smoking, and we knew this town had a lot of people addicted to drugs, but on the whole there was a greater joy and spiritual hunger. After the film, I got to pray for a lady who felt sick and see the joy in her face when I learned through an interpreter that she felt great and that she wanted to pray to receive Jesus. Her name was Lucia. Praise God! There were more people in this smaller crowd who responded to the call for prayer and salvation than the much larger crowd the night before!!! We walked home with a great sense of jubilation. God is advancing his Kingdom in Naquita!
When we arrived back in Pemba, we were blown away when we heard testimonies from the other team that had gone out that weekend. They had a modest response after the film the first night, with Heidi Baker and internationally known missionary to Mexico, David Hogan. leading the ministry time. But what really was amazing was the second night when Heidi and David had gone home and it was just the Mozambican and international students and the regional pastor, Pastor Jose. One of the guys gifted in soccer drew a crowd on the soccer field where they set up for the movie, doing amazing tricks and wowing all the kids who gathered. They said there were 300 or so people when the light went off and the movie started. The outreach team prayed the whole time. When the movie was over and the lights were back on, they were blown away to see about 2,000 people had gathered on the soccer field!!! When people were invited to raise their hands if they wanted to receive Jesus, at least 800 people responded!!!! My friend Rachel prayed for two people who were completely deaf and after the third prayer, God opened their ears!
What you should remember is that this is a Moslem country! But God is preparing the way. They are so hungry for abundant life available in Jesus!
We were divided up in groups to spend a few days in the bush doing evangelical and medical outreaches. Orginally, these outreaches were planned for just one trip for the whole summer, but they decided up double us up, so instead of waiting till July, I also got to go last weekend! The town we ministered in was only two hours away. A dozen Mozambican Bible school students and as many international mission students loaded up in the back of a truck along with a generator and sound equipment. We sang praise songs in Makua and Portuguese as we bounced down the road to our mystery destination.
Our caravan arrived just before dark, hastily set up tents, and headed by flashlight in the dark past dozens of mud huts to the town center, the center yard of their wall-less school. The Iris outreach veterans were still setting up the sound and projector and generator to show the Jesus film in Makua, so while we waited we made friends with the rapidly gathering crowd. On the walk I had a chance to chat with the pastor of the local Iris church. He said there were 46 people in the church, and that the Jesus film had been shown in that town three years before. I asked how many lived in the town. He would only reply over and over, “muitos pesoas”, many, many people.
We danced to an African choir on the screen as a crowd continued to build and the last light faded. This is probably the second and possibly the first film most people there had ever seen, at least in the Makua language.
My “color group” Aqua fanned out in pairs to quietly intercede during the movie. I found it strange that no one sat down, but three hundred or so villagers stood watching it. Finally, some in the front began to sit in the dirt at the forty minute mark and eventually most people sat down for the 2 ½ hour long movie. Afterwards, my Brazilian group leader asked people to come forward if they would like prayer for healing. Many wanted prayer. Some prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior! It was pretty loud in chaotic to me in general. The speaker was so loud my ears bled, and everything was translated to Makua because they don’t speak much Portuguese in the bush. There were drunk men in the back mocking, children just laughing at the sight of the “acunas”, as we whities are called here, and then the very sincere twenty or so who really wanted prayer.
Welcome to outreach in the bush!
The next day we had a church service in their small hut, which included a warm welcome from the local congregation and prayer for the sick. After this, the medical tent was open and people lined up to see the doctor and receive prayer for healing. I went back to the campsite to clean up lunch and play with the children, but my friends got to pray with a teenaged boy who was deaf and mute. After quite a while praying, my friend spoke the kids name into his ear, and the teenager said it!!! All the kids nearby who knew him and knew he had never spoken in his life became very excited and they all wanted prayer. Praise God! His hearing is not completely restored, so we prayed for him again that night. We just loved on him and I believe he felt God’s love and hope. We will keep praying!
That night we were supposed to go to a different town down the road to show the Jesus film again, but we received word that the elders of the village changed their minds and did not want us to come. This was sad to hear, but I knew that the village we were in, Naquita, had many more people that had not been at the movie the night before. This time we showed the film in the church yard. The whole atmosphere was much more positive. There were still guys in the back smoking, and we knew this town had a lot of people addicted to drugs, but on the whole there was a greater joy and spiritual hunger. After the film, I got to pray for a lady who felt sick and see the joy in her face when I learned through an interpreter that she felt great and that she wanted to pray to receive Jesus. Her name was Lucia. Praise God! There were more people in this smaller crowd who responded to the call for prayer and salvation than the much larger crowd the night before!!! We walked home with a great sense of jubilation. God is advancing his Kingdom in Naquita!
When we arrived back in Pemba, we were blown away when we heard testimonies from the other team that had gone out that weekend. They had a modest response after the film the first night, with Heidi Baker and internationally known missionary to Mexico, David Hogan. leading the ministry time. But what really was amazing was the second night when Heidi and David had gone home and it was just the Mozambican and international students and the regional pastor, Pastor Jose. One of the guys gifted in soccer drew a crowd on the soccer field where they set up for the movie, doing amazing tricks and wowing all the kids who gathered. They said there were 300 or so people when the light went off and the movie started. The outreach team prayed the whole time. When the movie was over and the lights were back on, they were blown away to see about 2,000 people had gathered on the soccer field!!! When people were invited to raise their hands if they wanted to receive Jesus, at least 800 people responded!!!! My friend Rachel prayed for two people who were completely deaf and after the third prayer, God opened their ears!
What you should remember is that this is a Moslem country! But God is preparing the way. They are so hungry for abundant life available in Jesus!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
First Days in Pemba
Hello all!
I've finally gotten a chance to get on the internet! I can't believe I've only been here in Pemba since Friday! So much has happened. My bags and I got here safely, and the first few days were great, with time to get into town, go to the beach, and get full nights rest for the first 3 nights and catch up on sleep after 3 days with pretty much no sleep.
The weather here is gorgeous, really not too hot, very breezy. The base is built up on a slight hill, so the sea breezes reach all the students cabins.
Sunday church was awesome as they prayed over the Mozambican Bible students and the Harvest school students who arrived. We all danced on the stage holding hands. They are pretty amazing dancers in church here! :) Quite a workout.
Monday was initiation to the nth degree. It was children's day, a holiday, and one of the two biggest days of the year for Iris. The other day is Christmas. We were all tasked on teams (I was part of the Sister Act II singing dish-washing crew ;) and fed the whole village in addition to everyone on base. The count was 2,410 people we fed lunch!!!! Wow!!!!! I didn't see a lot that went on with the children's ministry, but heard it was great.
Today was our first day of class--it started off with Randy Clark teaching the first session, with ministry time, and followed up with Heidi Baker doing the second. We finished about 1pm in time for lunch. The afternoons we have time to connect with the Iris kids in the children's center or have other meetings and opportunities. This morning was so powerful, and it's just the beginning!
To top it off, the 80 or so mission school students are soooooo amazing! They are so passionate for God, and many have tons of missions experience to offer. We range in age from 18 years old to in their 50s.
God bless you all, I don't have much time today, but hopefully soon with have some amazing testimonies to share! There have already been healings among the students. Actually one quick highlight for me so far was going out on my porch to play guitar and worship, and opening my eyes at the end of the first song to see 30+ students all over the hill in front of my cabin all lost in worship! Amen!
Angie :) <><
I've finally gotten a chance to get on the internet! I can't believe I've only been here in Pemba since Friday! So much has happened. My bags and I got here safely, and the first few days were great, with time to get into town, go to the beach, and get full nights rest for the first 3 nights and catch up on sleep after 3 days with pretty much no sleep.
The weather here is gorgeous, really not too hot, very breezy. The base is built up on a slight hill, so the sea breezes reach all the students cabins.
Sunday church was awesome as they prayed over the Mozambican Bible students and the Harvest school students who arrived. We all danced on the stage holding hands. They are pretty amazing dancers in church here! :) Quite a workout.
Monday was initiation to the nth degree. It was children's day, a holiday, and one of the two biggest days of the year for Iris. The other day is Christmas. We were all tasked on teams (I was part of the Sister Act II singing dish-washing crew ;) and fed the whole village in addition to everyone on base. The count was 2,410 people we fed lunch!!!! Wow!!!!! I didn't see a lot that went on with the children's ministry, but heard it was great.
Today was our first day of class--it started off with Randy Clark teaching the first session, with ministry time, and followed up with Heidi Baker doing the second. We finished about 1pm in time for lunch. The afternoons we have time to connect with the Iris kids in the children's center or have other meetings and opportunities. This morning was so powerful, and it's just the beginning!
To top it off, the 80 or so mission school students are soooooo amazing! They are so passionate for God, and many have tons of missions experience to offer. We range in age from 18 years old to in their 50s.
God bless you all, I don't have much time today, but hopefully soon with have some amazing testimonies to share! There have already been healings among the students. Actually one quick highlight for me so far was going out on my porch to play guitar and worship, and opening my eyes at the end of the first song to see 30+ students all over the hill in front of my cabin all lost in worship! Amen!
Angie :) <><
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I'M IN AFRICA!!!!
Praise God, my visa WAS missent from DC and ended up returning there last Friday and sitting until with the help of the Hillsboro post office manager, I called and got them to literally RUN it downstairs to catch the truck AS IT WAS PULLING AWAY to load the last air express mail to St. Louis on TUESDAY. They arranged for it to go to the post office by the airport, so Wed morning I dropped by before 9am and picked up my passport and visa in time to get to the airport for my 11am international flight!!!! (Thank God no Daryl-esqe midnight drive to DC, though Mom was game! :)
Tuesday was the most "pressed but not crushed" day I've had in eons. The whole reason the post office gave for it not arriving in St. Louis successfully last Friday was $2.30 short on postage. Seemed weird bc they had said it was $17.50 to overnight it back so that was prepaid. When I finally picked it up in St. L, the lady at the counter said, nope, she doesn't know why they have it written I need $2.30 more because the $17.50 was plenty!!!!!!! So my conclusion was this was all about testing me to see how I stood up under stress! Thank you for so many of you who were warring in the spirit with me on this one. I gave a high sigh of relief when I was finally sitting on the plane.
The flights over were delightfully uneventful and we even got to South Africa one hour early. I sat next to a young woman from Memphis who was going to South Africa on a mission trip! We had wonderfully encouraging "God conversation". There were other church groups all around me on the plane. The family of God is everywhere! There was another girl across the aisle originally from St. Louis who recognized me from volleyball in high school! She went to Tower Grove High School! Small world.
Early night in tonight in Johannesburg, South Africa. I'm staying at a backpacker hostel near the airport and I fly out to Pemba, MZ, early tomorrow!!!! I'm looking forward to sleeping!!! Only 1 hour of sleep and a few restless cat naps on the plane for the past 2 nights. It's a little chilly here in the evening. I forget how far south we are. But the heat should greet me tomorrow in Pemba!
Love you all and thank you again for praying!
Tuesday was the most "pressed but not crushed" day I've had in eons. The whole reason the post office gave for it not arriving in St. Louis successfully last Friday was $2.30 short on postage. Seemed weird bc they had said it was $17.50 to overnight it back so that was prepaid. When I finally picked it up in St. L, the lady at the counter said, nope, she doesn't know why they have it written I need $2.30 more because the $17.50 was plenty!!!!!!! So my conclusion was this was all about testing me to see how I stood up under stress! Thank you for so many of you who were warring in the spirit with me on this one. I gave a high sigh of relief when I was finally sitting on the plane.
The flights over were delightfully uneventful and we even got to South Africa one hour early. I sat next to a young woman from Memphis who was going to South Africa on a mission trip! We had wonderfully encouraging "God conversation". There were other church groups all around me on the plane. The family of God is everywhere! There was another girl across the aisle originally from St. Louis who recognized me from volleyball in high school! She went to Tower Grove High School! Small world.
Early night in tonight in Johannesburg, South Africa. I'm staying at a backpacker hostel near the airport and I fly out to Pemba, MZ, early tomorrow!!!! I'm looking forward to sleeping!!! Only 1 hour of sleep and a few restless cat naps on the plane for the past 2 nights. It's a little chilly here in the evening. I forget how far south we are. But the heat should greet me tomorrow in Pemba!
Love you all and thank you again for praying!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Visa time!!!
Pray for favor with the Mozambican Embassy so I get a 90 day single entry visa!!! Pray that nothing gets lost or misplaced and I get my visa and passport back in plenty of time!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Financial Update
Raising support for an endeavor like this has been a faith-stretching and building experience. I'm so thankful and humbled at all the generous giving!!! Praise God, this past weekend I was able to share in Rolla and it was a great experience---just talking about all that God is doing in Mozambique and all He has done in my life in the past year has gotten me excited afresh! God is mighty. He is in control. His leadership is perfect and good.
Praise! I have all I need to pay for the mission school and outreach! That's $2900.
Praise! I have $1300 which I can apply to airfare, Visa, travel medical insurance.
I'm still standing in faith for God to provide about $1100 more to finish covering the airfare, water, and immunizations, etc, as well as purchase some Bibles and have something to bless the ministry with as God leads.
One of the Scriptures that has encouraged me in this is Haggai 2:6-8, " 6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 8 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 9 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."
" 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty."
God has a plan. It involves the whole earth coming under the leadership of the God-Man Christ Jesus. Right now it looks like the Great Commission. And God has all the wealth and power to accomplish His purposes. We just get to jump in the river. :)
Praise! I have all I need to pay for the mission school and outreach! That's $2900.
Praise! I have $1300 which I can apply to airfare, Visa, travel medical insurance.
I'm still standing in faith for God to provide about $1100 more to finish covering the airfare, water, and immunizations, etc, as well as purchase some Bibles and have something to bless the ministry with as God leads.
One of the Scriptures that has encouraged me in this is Haggai 2:6-8, " 6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 8 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 9 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."
" 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty."
God has a plan. It involves the whole earth coming under the leadership of the God-Man Christ Jesus. Right now it looks like the Great Commission. And God has all the wealth and power to accomplish His purposes. We just get to jump in the river. :)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Mozambique Show in Rolla!!!
I'm excited to say I will be back in good ol' Rolla, MO, this coming Saturday, May 2nd, at 7pm at the Vineyard church to share through music about God and just a little bit about what He's doing in Mozambique! I'm looking forward to seeing my old church family and anyone who can make it out for some worship focused songs. I'll be doing some Christian covers and songs I wrote in the past year. The show is free, just consider if God is leading you to make a donation to help me get to Africa! :) And back. (I suppose.)
I was hoping to sing with my sister backing me up with her beautiful harmonies, but unfortunately she had an obligation come up. :( That bad news came with a very positive twist--I'm going to have the LONG awaited pleasure of singing with the enormously talented singer/songwriter Bonnie "the Bonz" Cox! She's helped me out with BGV's on past recordings, and vice versa. I'm glad to finally get to sing with her in public! Also, I would not be where I am as a worship leader or songwriter or musician without the encouragement of her husband Nick Cox, who has agreed to provide percussion.
It looks like with everything going on this time of year, this will be the only show. Thank you, Springfield. Hopefully I'll be able to work something out when I get back!
Yesterday I was reading these verses in the Book of John, Chapter 12, which really summarize WHY I am going to Mozambique. "25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
I especially like the part where He says, "where I am, my servant also will be." Jesus is moving in Mozambique. He is stirring hunger in the hearts of the unreached to know the hope only found in Him; to believe in His goodness and the tenderness of His leadership with the faith of a child. The Gospel is not an ancient manuscript explained into obscurity and irrelevance by scholars. It is a living reality--the reason their mother who was blind can now see, the reason their brother who was lame can now walk, the reason there is enough food on the table to provide for the abandoned street children their father brought home. They are drinking Living Water and eating the bread of sacrifice as they become evangelists for their own countrymen. I want to learn from these!
I was hoping to sing with my sister backing me up with her beautiful harmonies, but unfortunately she had an obligation come up. :( That bad news came with a very positive twist--I'm going to have the LONG awaited pleasure of singing with the enormously talented singer/songwriter Bonnie "the Bonz" Cox! She's helped me out with BGV's on past recordings, and vice versa. I'm glad to finally get to sing with her in public! Also, I would not be where I am as a worship leader or songwriter or musician without the encouragement of her husband Nick Cox, who has agreed to provide percussion.
It looks like with everything going on this time of year, this will be the only show. Thank you, Springfield. Hopefully I'll be able to work something out when I get back!
Yesterday I was reading these verses in the Book of John, Chapter 12, which really summarize WHY I am going to Mozambique. "25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
I especially like the part where He says, "where I am, my servant also will be." Jesus is moving in Mozambique. He is stirring hunger in the hearts of the unreached to know the hope only found in Him; to believe in His goodness and the tenderness of His leadership with the faith of a child. The Gospel is not an ancient manuscript explained into obscurity and irrelevance by scholars. It is a living reality--the reason their mother who was blind can now see, the reason their brother who was lame can now walk, the reason there is enough food on the table to provide for the abandoned street children their father brought home. They are drinking Living Water and eating the bread of sacrifice as they become evangelists for their own countrymen. I want to learn from these!
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