Close Fellowship at 'Women with Purpose' Event

On Saturday 4th April, my visiting sister-in-law, Karen, and I had the privilege of participating in the  'Women with Purpose' meeting that takes place every two months.  The meeting was held at Machovana, a new church plant in a rural community about an hour outside of Maputo.  Praise God, that this Church is growing and two of its converts are now studying in a Bible course! Our missionary colleagues, the Almeida family, are dedicated to help nurture growth there at this new beacon of gospel light.

The Women with Purpose event embraces ladies from all the Living Word Churches so we were asked to help with transport.  We had 10 ladies in our car (even one in the boot!!).  Needless to say the car was not coping too well with the humps and bumps on the road!  Our dear sister Isabel decided that we should all put on our hazard lights and travel in convoy! Off we went and praise God arrived in one piece two hours after leaving home.

Karen outside the little reed church at Machovana

The church is a little reed structure.  We all piled in and it was indeed close fellowship!  Karen and I found a little space on a reed mat and the service began.  We soon discovered that we are not as young as we thought we were.  A few hours sitting in this position and our hip bones were complaining.  How do these Mozambican woman of 50, 60 or 70 years of age do it?

The meeting was in Shangaan, so, much of it was a guessing game.  Each lady introduced themselves,  there was a time of hearty praise, and the Word of God was proclaimed.

Close fellowship!

 When it came to the Word, Luisa kindly translated from Shangaan into Portuguese and I translated for Karen into English.  The message was proclaimed boldly from Proverbs 31 and we came away exhorted to be true women of God in our day-to-day lives.  It is lovely to see these ladies grow in their walk with God and see the gospel translated into their everyday lives.  Our colleague, Aimee Howarth is supporting and mentoring the ladies leading this ministry.  God is using her to make an eternal difference.  Many of these ladies also are part of the Nkateko group.

Some of the children.  Many of these clothes came from the container sent from Northern Ireland

Cooking over an open fire

 After the meeting we were served a lovely meal of chicken and rice prepared by some of the young people.

Laura Almeida ministering to the children

After eating, we once again squeezed into the cars and minibus and headed for home.  We arrived home tired, after a 8 hour day, but encouraged by what God is doing. Please pray for this Church plant, that God will raise up strong local leaders.  Pray that the members of the church will grow in their relationship with God.  Praise God for 'Woman with Purpose'.  Pray that these women will be influential in their homes and families and that they will stand up for godly values and principles so that lives and communities may be transformed through Christ.