Twists and Turns

This last week has had a number of twists and turns! We found out that one of our more 'trusted' workers was stealing from us. This has been hard to accept and deal with. He calls himself a Christian and is involved in the local church. We have had to suspend him - please pray for wisdom to know do to relate in him in the coming weeks. Though he currently is not working on the compound, he is meeting one-on-one with one of our construction workers to read the Bible each day during lunch hour. Pray that God might do a work in his heart that he might acknowledge his wrong doing and commit his life to following Jesus.

Stephen and Melvin in one of the new classrooms currently being plastered.

We would also value your prayers for our church leadership through these days. They are having to deal with some intense challenges with interpersonal relationships. Relationships between those leading the ministry in the north have been heavily strained. We are very aware that satan is very busy trying to cause misunderstanding, discouragement and strife. One leader has been asked to step aside from ministry. Please pray for understanding, forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.

On a more positive note, it was great to be able to help with the showing on the Jesus Film in a shanty area on the outskirts of Maputo on the evening of Good Friday. The film really helps people grasp the significance of Jesus' life. Brilliant for visual learners and the illiterate! We started showing the film with about 50 children and a dozen adults but a hour later we had about 200 - 250 people! It was especially encouraging to have a disabled guy, John Paul come to watch the film. He is a guy that we met when Sarah from OMS HQ took the footage for the 3 minute Girassol movie clip that we have on our blog. He asked us if we would repair his wheelchair which we did! Praise God for Girassol donors, customers and volunteers! Pray that he becomes a dynamic disciple of Jesus. This opportunity has caused us to think and pray about developing a church ministry through Girassol to supply and repair wheelchairs. With the research that we were able to do while the McClures were with us we see such need in this area. Dear Lord, help us show compassion, build relationships, share the Gospel, involve your church and train your disciples!

John Paul

In relation to the construction project that I am overseeing, please pray for me as I plan to go back to the council office this week. I have been there umpteen times over the last four months trying to navigate a way through bureaucracy and inefficiency! Already I have made numerous trips to consult various personnel about the unknown whereabouts of the official file relating to our property - LOST like a neddle in a haystake! Praise God is was eventually relocated so we were able two weeks ago to submit our plans for approval. We have been promised that they can give us feedback this coming week. We pray that such a miracle might happen!!

We were so encouraged to have Ali McClure, the Girassol shop manager, and her husband Stephen with us. We will write more about their trip on the next blog!

Also thought you might like a few photos of Abigail and Joshua!! I wish I could record their conversations with each other in their own language! They really do seem to understand each other although no one else does!!Joshua & Abigail supervising the creation of their sand pit!