Though anxious to connect with so many, I checked up on
Fatima first. Fatima is an activista
(worker) with Project Life, our AIDS hospice without walls. She has suffered a
number of bouts with TB but continues to fight it. She has such a sweet demeanor and continues
to trust God for her healing. Will you pray for her to get well completely?
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| Fatima is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. |
I was delighted to check up on the basket ministry. The quality of the baskets is impressive as
the people in Project Life continue to excel in their skill of basket
weaving. I will try and get a picture up on my blog soon!
It also has been encouraging to hear that many still attend the Bible studies out in the bairros with the activistas. Some people attend from other churches just to write down what we are teaching so they can teach it in their churches! So many churches are here but there is a need for trained and educated pastors.
To those of you that support an activista –
you are making a difference not only in this project but in many other places
as well. PTL!
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| The women wearing their matching capalanas are singing and dancing in worship at the Nhamaibwe Bible study this week. |
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| The women are getting better at being able to read their Bibles. |
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| Finding chapter and verse is getting easier. |
After the Nhamaibwe Bible study, I visited a very ill
elderly man from Project Life in his home.
From his humble surroundings I could see he had very little of this
world’s possessions. His sickness has kept him from even getting out of his
bed. He hadn’t eaten his small plate of
masa his wife had made for him because he had no appetite. In spite of his
circumstances, he looked up and said to me, “I am trusting God with all of my
heart!”
It is good to be back doing the soup ministry. Emilia, Anapaula,
Simone and I went to the hospital yesterday. We always go into the pediatric
ward of the hospital first to pray with the sick children. Mothers bring their babies
to us for prayer and soup. It never ceases to take my breath away when I see
the suffering of these little ones.
Some had malaria, or other deadly infections. I asked the age of one
infant (a week old?) and discovered she was 7 months old! Her little arms were
smaller than the circumference of a quarter. In the adult wing, a man with swollen legs
told me he was a Muslim but he also had accepted Jesus. It really didn’t surprise me to hear him say
that. 17% of the population here is Muslim but often they don’t really
understand the extent of what that means.
It isn’t uncommon for people to mix their religions here in Moz, often
including witchcraft as the foundation. In
the last room, a man who was attending his sick wife accepted Jesus as his
Savior. I am so thankful for those that support the soup ministry because it is
a very powerful way to share God’s love and hope and it is so often received
well.
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| This woman in PL is suffering from what started out as a toothache. The infection spread to her face and now it is swollen to her eye. The need for dentists in Moz is great! |
I spent the day today interviewing a number of women who are
in need of housing. As I sat listening to their stories I was drawn back to a
time of war in Mozambique (not so long ago) that disrupted lives and tore apart
families. The aftershock of war still lingers as they struggle with being a
woman in a poverty-stricken nation. Yet,
it is with great satisfaction that I know we can help. I know that these women’s stories of loss and
suffering are powerful. But the stories of those who have sacrificed to give
are also powerful…many giving sacrificially in spite of their own loss and
struggles. They didn’t give out of their wealth or poverty, but out of
love. It is a love that reaches around
the world to hold hands with the Mozambican people to make their burdens light.
Thank you to all of you who had a hand in this!
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| My doggie and I are back together again. Paz was so excited to see me. I was worried he might not remember me. He kept staring at me intently in the face, would walk away and come right back to stare at me intently again. Now he isn't letting me out of his sight....:-) |
