SLAM! BAM! KAPOW!

I finally met Superman. You know, the guy that runs to the nearest phone booth, turns into the masked man and flies to rescue the city and fight for justice.

Superman works for us at CRI, and he is a Mozambican. He is every employer’s dream of a worker and every parent’s dream of a son. His name is Ercylio and he just turned 23 last Tuesday.

I remember the first time I met Ercylio in 2006, he was a tall, lanky kid that played sports and didn’t shower before coming to church. He was looking for a relationship with one of the young ladies in our church and was finding that church was something that he would have to attend to see his girlfriend. This turned out to be a wonderful change of life for him. He found a personal relationship with Jesus, a new purpose in life and has become a man of integrity and a leader of this community.

Just a few short 5 years, he has completed high school and is in his first year of university. In 2009 we had a doctor visit from America and could see the potential in this young man and chose to sponsor a scholarship to the University. This is a dream for many young men in Mozambique, but others will never experience because of the poverty here.

Why Ercylio is so special to me is that he sees his own journey in life as a blessing and wants the same hope for other young men. He currently is coaching a Handball Team of young men. This team has so much more going for them than just playing handball. Ercylio mentors them in how to live for Jesus by being the example. He prays with them before and after each game. He spends time with each of them to speak into their lives about how to be a man. Many of these young men do not have fathers in their homes. He gives part of his own salary to them when there are needs like paying for a month of school. He has been found to buy clothes for some and provides drinks and sometimes cookies on different occasions. He just loves them like Jesus.

There are now 22 young boys on the team and more want to be in his inner circle. They all love who Ercylio is and want to be mentored by him because they see someone they can trust.

Ercylio’s dream is to be able to start a sponsorship program for his team to take classes at Young Africa a Vo-Tec school down the road from here. He wants for them to have computer classes so they can start a computer business of repairing and teaching others how to use computers. Interesting isn’t it? To own a computer here is only for the very privileged or even being able to use one is not common. In America 2nd graders are now learning how to use computers and in many homes children much younger are playing games.

Ercylio has placed himself behind others, which has put him in front. He no longer has a girlfriend but his love is helping other young men become the best that they can be.

Another interesting and amazing thing about this young man Superman, is he has been asked to play Handball in the African Olympics in 2011. I didn’t know how really good he was at this game. He never boasts about his abilities because it wouldn’t be a good example to others. There are only two men in Mozambique that have been asked to be on this team. The other blessing is that he already knows the other handball player and they play well together. So in June and July of 2011 we will have to do our work without Ercylio here in Mozambique but we will be praying for his success on the Olympic Team. This is such an honor for us all here at CRI to have this fine young man working for us.

I can’t explain all of the things he does for us at CRI to make our jobs easier on a daily basis. He is our voice here and I am privileged to have this season in life with this young man.

Matthew 25:20, 21 “The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!”


Waiting your turn

The Wooddale team has arrived for their annual Mozambique short-term mission trip. This is the 4th year that I have been able to be around when the team has arrived and done their work of serving the poorest of the poor in Mozambique.

The day after each team arrives we take a day that we call, "Cultural Learning Day" and Val and I drive the team around to each of the project sites to meet all of our workers and to experience the vision of Pastor Jeronimo coming to fruition. First we go to ElShaddi and see the progress of the school building and 3 large classrooms of exuberant children coming to total attention as we walk into the classroom ready to greet us. Once they have said their good morning in Portuguese, they go on to sing a song or two just to capture our hearts just a tiny bit more. There is a library now and it's supply of books are growing each year. The first time I came to visit in 2006, the main building was only 3 rows high in the building process and now, WOW, it is completed and we are ready to move on to the next building. The plan is that eventually with donors and enough funds we will build a campus with classrooms for grades K-12, a kitchen, a sanctuary and a cafeteria. So we continue to pray for all this to come in our near future here.

After a short visit across the road to the teaching farm our next stop is the Ray of Light pre-school in Mafarhinia. The smile on these children can not be compared to the children of the village or the children in public schools. There is just a significant difference between the privileged to be educated and light and dark when Jesus is taught in school. One day the children learned that they should pray before they eat and the next day a parent came to the school to say that evening as they began to eat the meal of rice the child began crying and crying. No one could figure out what the problem was. So they stopped eating their meal and calmed the child to have him speak. He told them that they needed to pray before eating, he proceeded to lead the prayer for the meal and they continued on. This family now prays before meals thanking God for their food. In the two pictures can you tell which picture is of a student of our private Christian School ElShaddi?

In this same area but across the street is our pre-school kitchen where a hot bowl of porridge is prepared each day. The Mafarhinia church, the newly remodeled Tessa Grace Nutrition center and our medical clinic that was started by a woman from my church at Maranatha Bible in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A picture of Robin Perry hangs on the wall to commemorate her work in Mozambique. A strong woman remembered by those who live in the area of the clinic and by those who loved her for her love for the children.

As I stood in the clinic waiting for the team to take their Mozambican led tour, I took a seat and watched the people waiting for their turn to be seen. In the waiting room, on one side of the room sits 45 spaces made up of a combination of chairs and benches. And on the other side where I sat, there are 10 benches. The clinic each month sees between 2,000 and 2,500 people by one nurse and two days a week for 4 hours a doctor comes in for those who need a higher level of medical attention. The left side of the room was full. Each time a person walks out of the examining room, they see the pharmacists and receive the medication for a minimal costs. Then the next person would get up and go to wait on a bench in the hallway by the nurses office for their turn. As each seat emptied, everyone would move over one seat at a time to find their place in order to see the nurse. Some days you can wait almost the entire day and not see a nurse or a doctor because time runs out. So you have to come back the next day. I sat there watching as each person moved to the next seat and wondered, "What are the thoughts going through their minds right now?" They have to move 45 times to get to the first seat. No one budges and those who are too sick to sit in the seat lay on the veranda outside while a family member takes a seat to keep their place.

All of the medications are donated by Americans. Sometimes we have enough for the month and sometimes we run out. There is never enough money to deal with all that we have to do here. Antibiotics, milk for babies, vitamins, gloves, nutritional supplements, tylenol and the list goes on. We need it all each month to serve just a few of the many who are sick and dying.

There is more to the project tour and someday I will share about that too but for today I just wanted to tell you about waiting here in Africa to see a nurse at our medical clinic. One dream of one lady that serves many.

Are you waiting for something? Are you in a hurry today? Slow down, take a moment, think and pray for our friends here in Mozambique.

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy 15:7

Obedience.... Kathy (BigMamma)

First Class Flight?

I have always wanted to fly first class to know just what it is why people pay all those extra dollars for comfort. Well, I didn't get to fly first class with all of the frills but what I did get blessed with was a whole section of empty seats! I had a full row to lay down and lift my feet for the long flight between Atlanta and Joberg. This is the part of my work in Africa that starts out with a long difficult flight and 3 days to get there. But, I am always blessed. Blessed to know that where I am going is just where I am supposed to be at this time of year.

The first part of July I was surprised with a middle of the night call from my kids saying, "Mom! Grandma is really sick and you need to come home!" After two days of phone calls between the hospital and a very short conversation with Dad telling me,"honey just hurry home!" I began the process of going home. This is not an easy or quick task but again, God is in everything. I was home in 3 days.

Every hour after that first hour of hearing about Mom being sick, I was in prayer about God allowing me to see her again and to hear her voice. I prayed each hour of each day until I walked into her hospital room. What I walked into was a figure laying on the bed before me. Tubes going in and out of her body all over the place and her face not recognizable. I remember seeing a friend of mine die and she looking this same way. My first thought was, "Thank You God for letting me see her alive."

I took her hand and whispered to her, "Mom, I'm home." She opened her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek. Was this going to be the end? Did I come home to walk with Dad and my siblings through the process of her death and funeral? What God had planned of course was something even more than what I could have hoped for or imagined because what I saw was not good. Many times we let our eyes judge what the truth is and what is going to happen. But God........

Each moment after taking her hand in mine was a miracle. The doctors were amazed at her recovery. The nurses made comments on how quickly she was coming around and how determined she was to get well. I know this recovery had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the God that I serve. My family and I watched the grace and mercy of our Lord fall upon Mom as she recovered, entered rehab and then return home with a walker in a month's time. Now she's preparing to strengthen her body enough to go one last trip to Arizona for the winter. We all are rejoicing at an extension to her life.

This blog is not so much about Mom and her recovery but more about my God. My God who is bigger than any problem we have, my God who can do all things, my God who has a plan for it all and who is in control of it all. My God who has more grace and mercy for each one of us than what we can muster up with all of our might. I am so blessed to serve this God. When people ask me what I am doing, I just can't keep inside of me the burning way down deep in my soul about the love I have for this God I adore and glorify. He has been good to me, in the good and in the bad times He has been with me each breath of the journey and season. He has had His hand in it all. I am blessed beyond belief. Even when I don't recognize what He is doing, I know that it was God that has designed this beautiful life for me and for you.

He is always always always right on time, in His time to make all things perfect and for His glory. We may not understand it now and maybe never, but we are His and he will never forsake us or leave us.

To conclude I would suggest that you too look for a First Class Flight. But this first class flight would be your journey through life with Jesus being your pilot. Doesn't this sound corny? Well, maybe it is but you get the point. Your life will be a first class life when you allow Jesus to be the guide. As I said, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Life has it's trials and it is not always easy and sometimes there are seasons of down right difficulty. But the good news is you don't have to go through that season alone. If you haven't already, accept Jesus as your Savior.

Hey, Maranatha is a great church and they would love to have you step inside of the walls of their worship center. Get loved on by some really great folks and hear the word of God spoken in truth and with a challenge.

If you have questions or concerns about your life or those you love let me know. I want to pray for you. I have time ya know?
Blessings to you all. May God multiply your blessings as you follow Him with courage and confidence to do His work.

obedience, Big Mamma

This week I had the, should I call it an opportunity (?) to drive THE most dangerous road in the world. The road between Dondo and Maputo was at one time considered to be the most dangerous road in the world because of the bombs that were planted during the civil war here in Mozambique. By the looks of the road, the bombs left sink holes in a stretch of about 50 miles. Oh my goodness, we were thrown from side to side in the car trying to avoid the holes and then when we hit them, what a trip! No wonder the tires and cars do not last a long time around here.

A fun thing to do along the way is to stop and buy produce from the villages that have small plots of land to farm. When you slow down people rush to the side of the car to sell their goods. Tomatoes, tangerines, cukes, lettuce, onions, green beans, pinneapple, carrots and a bunch more. We end up buying more than we need always because we are captured by the smiles on their faces and can't resist buying from them. I love how God each day puts people before us. I love how He speaks to me about caring for others and loving my neighbor.

Do you know your neighbor? Do you love your neighbor?

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. -
Leviticus 19:18

Watch the video.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TY5Ifu0AII

June 29th.. a Day to Remember

June 29th 2010

I like to quote Pastor Jeronimo now and then when it seem appropriate. Today he said, "Every man or woman's dream is to own his own house." This became a reality today for a woman by the name of Domingas.

Domingas is a sweet soul. She is the quiet type in your church that does all of behind the scenes work. She never complains about what she is asked to do, and many times she will go ahead of you and get things done without you asking. She takes crying children and holds them until they have been comforted or she will take a baby from the arms of a young mother so she can dance and sing for worship or at celebrations. Domingas is a gem a one of a kind.

But Domingas has a part of her life that not many know about. Her husband was abusive and divorced her several years ago leaving her with 6 children. He did allow her to rent the home she was living in because she had no where else to go. And while she lived there he would come and taunt her when he was drunk yelling at her to "get out! This is my house!" Life has not always been easy for Domingas but you wouldn't know it. She is always the first to start a song of praise to God for His goodness. She walked in faith that one day things would change.

A few months ago during the rainy season half of the house she was living in literally melted to the ground. The house had to be evacuated, and this left she and her children homeless. I don't know where she has been living since that time, until today.

Word got back to the states to Val and I that her home was destroyed and she was homeless. It is hard to for me to imagine living in a mud house to begin with but now, without a home? Domingas has always had a special place in my heart. I love her character, I love who she is. I put the word out and along with Domingas we prayed for an answer.

I let people know she was needing assistance. I told her story to others. I spoke the truth about the situation. And as only God would have it. The Holy Spirit spoke to a family to help her. God spoke and they obeyed. Isn't this what God asks of us? To obey Him? When we obey He is glorified.

A mud house costs $900. A small price to pay for someone to have a safe place, a dream come true, a refuge from life and a place to glorify the Lord for His goodness.

Please consider obedience at all costs. You will never be the same.

If you love Me, keep My commandments —John 14:15

He Gives and He Takes Away

Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Blessed be His Name.

Last weekend we were privileged to attend and participate in the baby dedication of one of our dear workers, Maria. If you have followed my blogs in the past, my description of a baby dedication is a time full of singing and dancing, gift giving, a short message to the mother's and then for food and drink. A typical food and drink would be a fried doughnut like bread in a
criss-cross fashion and a drink called "Maheou."

I remember the first time I was offered Maheou at the first dedication I attended. I asked one of the other Brazilian missionaries if this was safe to drink. She just made this awful face and said, "God knows. He will protect us." I was thinking, "well, am I going to die here from drinking this stuff?" It smelled really really bad, and if you know me personally you know I can't smell anything unless it is really really bad! So when it came for my drink to be poured, at that time I only knew a couple of words and thankfully one of them was, "pouco pouco" which means a little bit. So I drank a teeny tiny bit and was able to not offend the mother and her family for not refusing. That was 4 years ago. Today at any given baby dedication you can now find, Orange or Strawberry Fanta, thank you Lord!

Maria's dedication had even more of an endearment for Val and I. Maria asked us to name the baby! Val and I wrestled for a couple of minutes and then Maria said, "she must have the name of a woman from the bible." Well, that made it easier and almost unanimously we said, "Esther" It is pronounced so beautifully here. (Essteir) I love the language here, I pray I can one day speak it fluently.

The "dedication" of the baby process, is that women's ministry leaders and closest friends go into the house to pray and dedicate the child to God. After the prayer of dedication, then the child is brought outside into the sunlight to show for the first time. Someone gives a short message of encouragement and then the dancing begins with a loud shout for joy to the Lord. Not only was I privileged to come, but I dedicated the baby and then gave a short message of encouragement. Prov. 22:6
I wanted to speak to the ladies that we as Mother's have a tremendous responsibility in raising our children. They watch what we do, they follow what we do. We will make many mistakes and that is why all of us must help each other. We need to help keep each other accountable before the Lord and walk along side of each other to fill in the gap. We must take our children to church and teach them about Jesus and never take them to the witchdoctor. It doesn't matter what the traditions are, we must keep our eyes on Jesus because He is the only way. The blessings of our families come from Him. This is a day I will never forget and a child which I will always hold dear to my heart.

While I was speaking to the women and children, there was a stir amongst some of the ladies. So many people were crowded around me I couldn't see what was going on but a few of the ladies left. Afterwards we got word that a new baby had died during the dedication of life. This baby was the child of a boy whose father is the chief of witchdoctors in the Dondo area where we live. The mother was a niece to one of our other workers. The young mother had been living with the boy's family and they wanted the baby to be in line to be a dedicated witchdoctor. Since the baby died, the girl was put out. There was a ritual service for the dead baby the next day.

In the next 48 hours 4 people died within our project. Life is so fragile here. Have you thanked God for another day of life today?

Please Read These Words......
Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Without Clothes and Daily Food

Every morning at 7am we start our work day with a staff meeting. We have 12-14 workers each day come into our gathering room to pray, sing and receive their instruction for the day. Many of our ladies are very shy and do not say much when asked a question but when it is time to pray and sing, they can really belt it out! I love this about them, their relationship with the Lord and honoring Him in worship.

We have been going through the book of James and this morning we looked at james 2:14-24 about Faith and Deeds. We focused on later part of verse 22, "and his faith was made complete by what he did." Pastor Todd challenged each one of us to do something for someone else today and to bless some one with either clothes or food. When our workers were asked if they had someone in mind who they were going to bless, this was hard for them. Their thinking for some, was "I already have so little, what do I have to give?" But the challenged remain and they all came up with a name of their next person to bless. We didn't want to know, God already knew.

Val and I have already many on our list to help, it is just finding the time to meet privately with each family. Last year I visited a woman and gave her a bag of clothing and that night she was robbed. We have a chance of putting people at risk when we give so we have to be so discreet about our helping.

As we sat in the car in the village next to us some children walked by all smiles, dirty, their clothing falling off of them because they are so worn and torn, I said to Val, "it is not even clothes what they need here even with the condition of their clothes that we see but it is food that is the matter of importance." So many die here each year, month and even week due to malnutrition. It is the food, and yet food is so temporary. Yes we will give food, and we will even give clothes but more importantly we will give them a hope. And with that hope there can come change.

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Isa 40:31