Month: July 2018

Zambian Zeal

The day after that Portuguese “I Do” we ran off to a training in Zambia.

We spent two wonderful weeks learning, growing, praying and praising our Father for His Word and His work. Through studying some great passages and applying it to the Bible as a whole, we talked through, prayed through and strategized further evangelism focus among the Massinga, Maxixe, and Chopi bodies of believers in Mozambique.

(Uncle John and Aunt Wanne we’re there! 🙂 )

The girls all enjoyed a GREAT kids program in which they all got to be together (huge bonus for kids that normally do life together).

The lake conference center was gorgeous and had some really cool neighbors not so common in all parts of the world. 😉

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(Impalas alert, but they’re really camouflage)

We took a quick hop to Johannesburg, South Africa on the way home for routine doctors appointments and then after nearly three weeks of July had passed, we returned home to Mozambique.

(We ran into our Moz supervisors in Joburg. 🙂 )

Despite some normal air sickness (Sigh) and some flight delays,

we all had a safe and happy travel, returned feeling refreshed and are further focused in how to better support the furthering of the Gospel here in Mozambique.

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A Portuguese “I Do”

On the last day of June we got to celebrate the first wedding ceremony in the church here. Matt and I got to be “god-parent” type roles in the wedding, which added in all kinds of cultural lessons.

We’re so proud of this couple and how they, as new Christians, are fighting to honor God in their hearts and their home. Please join us in praying for this couple, J and I.

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Chopi Update

Through the grace of God, we saw the first evangelical church launch among the Chopi (show-pea) body of believers. What better way to launch a church of 30+ new believers than to baptize most of them?

Our city church came out to support and launch the first Chopi church service. They’ve been there all along this process, faithfully sending at least one member down to the weekly Chopi Bible studies.

Before baptizing one new believer, he brought his old witch doctoring items handed down from his father and burned them as a powerful testimony of Christ’s newfound freedom in his life.

Then we trekked the 2k’s to the river and rejoiced in 21 baptisms.

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(Check out Eden cheesing big time as my happy freeloader. Hehe.)

2k’s back to the church tent and the celebration was on!!! Complete with the new believers’ first Lord’s Supper.

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Then came a post-service feast.

Please continue to guard your Chopi brothers and sisters in your prayers as they take off on these first steps of the adventure of Sunday morning church services. And as for their wonderful hearts? They’re already bringing to Matt a desire to press out to the next village with the Good News. We love their urgency, “Now that we know the truth, we have to go and tell them too because they don’t know yet!”

Thursday Bible studies are still going strong (even when we have guests, the girls and I are still heading out 2x a month for the Thursday study times) and now that Sunday services have begun, Matt is no longer doing the study on Mondays. So that puts our Chopi visits at Thursday’s and Sundays instead of the previous Monday and Thursdays. With Matt’s Monday time now open, he is looking to start a new work among other Chopi in another village.

We will keep you posted as God opens more doors, so please do join us in pounding the throne for the salvation of the Chopi people.

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Beyond Privileged

June came with some exciting stuff. One of which things was a visit from our Wilkins!!!!

You all, I can’t possibly express how much this moved all our hearts. They’re just our people, you guys.

They just fit like family and it was great just doing our normals together again.

Our Wilkins, you make our hearts so happy. Thank you for being you and tolerating us being us. We CAN’T WAIT until it’s our turn to come see you all in South Africa and do your norms together. Until then, you’re continually on our hearts and in our prayers. See ya soon on the flat screen. 🙂 Air hugs and air kisses!!!!

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Belated Digital Birthday Message

Ok, so I have some catching up to do here in blogland. First and foremost is one incredible kid that I owe a birthday post.

Our incredible Abi Grace turned 8 back in June and due to all the wonderful chaos of our schedule, I failed to get her up a birthday post.

Abi, my dear Abi.

You are a hoot and I am so grateful to get to be your mom. You are an absolute blast. I love your comic timing, your dry wit and your spunky personality. I love how you are not afraid of quiet and yet you sure love to tell a good story. I love how you run absolutely wild in the backyard and yet can sit so quietly and respectfully when you need to be. You are a great mixture of Merida’s wild freedom and a quiet lakefront watercolored on a blank canvas. Abi, I just love you and your awesome self and I am so thankful to have gotten 8 years by your side. Can’t wait to applaud you more as you grow and mature into new layers of awesome.

May it be filled with more reckless-abandonment hugs, wild wrestling tickle fights, and homemade bows and arrows in the backyard.

Love you so. Happy Birthday!

P. S. Way to improv on birthday candles.

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Another Glorious Four

Today our baby turns 4!!!

Eden, you are an absolute delight and we love your sweet little snuggling ways. Your little heart is just blooming as this fun-loving character is emerging.

I love how you have begun to see other people, especially little ones who need a friend, and while you are initially shy, you warm up well in hugging love. Even though you are now a huge four year old, know that Mommy and Daddy will always pick you up when culture feels too uncomfortable and uncertain. Also know that we see how you are flourishing in your quiet, but sweet little heart. Eden, we all love you so and even though your birthday is and will be celebrated in three different countries over the next few weeks due to travel, know that regardless of where we are or will ever go, you are treasured so in our hearts.

Eden, it’s a privilege to be your mommy.

I love you, Happy birthday.

(And yes, I will read you this to you like I read all the other birthday messages to your sisters, even if they can read. 🙂 )

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