The queen .... spending a few minutes with us!

Photo:  Her Ladyship, Francois and an amazing MG in the streets of England.

Have you ever met the Queen of England.  NO ..... well ..... to be honest me neither.  I did meet Her Ladyship, Barbara Rainford though.  Well ..... she should get a "Ladyship" in  my humble opinion.  I love going through older photos.  This was taken in September 2009, England.  Barbara has played a huge role in the success of our work in Mozambique.  I don't think she knows just what she has accomplished yet.  She and Alan has been in Mozambique for a few times now but due to health reason they would not be able to fly long distances anymore.

It made me think of how someone like Barbara could come on board from "nowhere" and make such a huge impact.  And I realized again (as I was preaching the message this morning" )  ...... real church is not about a building (and England does have amazing cathedrals) it is always about people.  Barbara knew this and made a diffence because she cared and went into action.  So this is just a short tribute ...... (while she is alive and healthy) to understand just a little bit of what she has accomplished.

•  first school (now housing 280 kids) was started up financially by Barbara;
• helped to fund our second school with 80 pre-primary kids;
• Our current house we have built was sponsored by Barbara;
• She has adopted some kids in the bush and helped them;
• She currently helps the womens ministry;
• and donated funding for our orphans on the mission base;
• and many other things that left us breathless;
• and MOST IMPORTANT of all - being church herself, she introduced her great family to us!

We salute you Barbara and Alan!  Mozambique loves ya!

The pen is truly mightier than the sword!

There is a happy face if you have ever seen one!  And for several reasons too.  Providing books and stationary for more than 300 kids really takes some good planning.  Our pre-school and primary school just finished a week of training on how to resolve conflict and problems.  We had an interesting and creative way of dealing with the topic:  WRITING and COLOR.  We came up with a set of problems and resolving them by writing about it ............. even writing letters to our president.


I wish adults could find the same solutions to the world's problems.  Our schools are closing but for our next CONFLICT week we have decided to pick a country with a problem or crisis and play president and resolve the problem through very interesting ways ..... which off course the kids will come up with.  Will keep you posted ..... maybe Barak Obama will make a note! 

The AK-47 - perhaps the deadliest assault rifle being used:  How do we fight war?  The kids decided themselves .... no more guns - more books - more education - more peaceful solutions.  And then I think back at what JESUS said:  We should become more like the children.  And the more I work with them the more I realize .... I think they have the answers.  It is right under our noses.  I am happy to report after a lesson or two the question was:  What is mightier the pen or the sword.  An anonymous vote from all the grade 1 to 5 students:  The pen is! Now .....back to the drawings and colorful laughter of the kids.   

NEWS FLASH:
We have just heard that we have been helped to set up a library at our primary school.  It will be the first one in our area.  Finding books will be an interesting endeavor but it will be yet another huge weapon in our arsenal on how to solve problems - peacefully, educationally and creatively .......... and being educated in the process.

Don't you wish you were a child again!  (It's not that difficult you know ......!)

Photo:  The school in the background is one of our reconciliation tools in the community. It was shot down in the civil war with RPG's.  We rebuild the building to be used as a school and instrument of hope!

Still clearing landmines around us

Rumors of a possible ammo dump on our mission base called for immediate action.  One of our widows working in our orphan program reported a strange site close to her house.  Well ... who do we call to help?  Forget "ghosbusters" .... as we would have hoped we have our own "mine busters".  As luck would have it we had a team from Halo-Trust clearing mines about 10 km's from us.  They have already cleared an additional 5 mines since they arrived here and they were very willing to help us out.

Halo-Trust is a British charity who's job it is to clear war ravaged countries from mines.  After the long war against Portugal and followed by a severe civil war, Mozambique was full of land mines.  Halo-Trust cleared more than 1 000 000 mines in their 21 year history.  Read about their great work at Halo Trust.

The civil war between the FRELIMO government and RENAMO opposition resulted in mines being laid by both sides. The government used anti-personnel mines to defend provincial and district towns, airstrips, key bridges, power supplies and military posts - while RENAMO laid anti-vehicle mines to close the roads connecting towns and markets. Extensive minefields were laid along the border by both Portuguese and Rhodesian forces.

Photo left & down:  On our base - setting out a parameter to seek for any mines! 

Well .... back to our base.  Luckily no land mines were found and the area cleared.  This makes it possible for people to use the area without fear of a land mine killing someone.  


Special thanks to the Halo-Trust who came out without hesitating - and being extremely helpful and friendly.

Change ........ for the better!

 We have a new kid on the blog-block!  My wife always says ..... "please don't change what is already working!"  I struggle sometimes to accept this.  I like change in me, around me - frequently.  I think change is good as long as when you look back you or others are better off.

Hope this blog does that for you - if not let me know please.  I have been walking a bit today and was looking at the community around me.  I have been here a few years now and it is amazing to see the changes around me the last 14 years.  Kids we taught in our Bush Schools grew up, some got married and are working for big companies now.  We have a lost many ...... due to illness and I think they would say too:  "It was for the better - I am home now ....... and I love it!"

For us in our daily lives change is good.  Take another route to your work, home or just do something different.  Paint that old house - move the furniture around or stand on a table and get a different perspective on life.  It will change you.  And while you are out changing ....... greet that old grumpy neighbor and see what happens.

Enjoy!

A nation in CRISIS! What do we do?

We have grown accustomed to African nations in crisis.  Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Congo, Sudan ......... and the list keeps getting longer.  It is South Africa's turn - and being flared up by one man - but what do we do as Christians?  How do we react?

Writer and missionary, Floyd McClung  gives an insightful look at how we should react in these difficult times - specially when you are in South Africa today.

When a nation is in crisis we can either see what God sees for the nation, and align our hearts and thoughts with Him, or we can be overwhelmed by circumstances and allow offence and cynicism to take control of our heart. We can see how God sees and have faith, or we can see evil and tragedy without discernment - and lose faith. There is no in-between place for the heart of a Christian. 

The nation of South Africa has faced a very serious crisis in the last few days. A well known political figure was murdered last weekend. Though two farm workers have turned themselves in to the police for the crime, the murder is being attributed to the influence of a radical political youth leader in the nation and his racist rhetoric. 

These happenings have touched a raw nerve in both the white and black communities. There is great concern and fear that the racial divide in South Africa will be deepened. The old wounds of apartheid have been reopened. The pain of the Afrikaner people has been touched deeply. Everyone is aware that if the nation goes the direction of Zimbabwe, immediately to the north, South Africa will be plunged into economic ruin and racial conflict. There is a fear that a civil war could take place. 

How do we respond to such a crisis? Do we take sides and let the divide deepen in our own hearts? 

Does the word of God have anything relevant to say about such a crisis? 

The prophet Daniel in the Bible was a teenager when he was taken captive by the invading armies of Babylon. Daniel as a 16 year old was violently ripped from his family and all that was familiar to him. He was sent into exile, then forced to serve as a slave to the most brutal and wicked man on the earth. Daniel was surrounded by demonic religions, pagan idolatry, palace intrigue, and still he kept faith in God - and he became a political leader of great influence. 

There is no other book in the Bible that so uniquely reveals how the destinies of nations are impacted by the choices of ordinary people. We see one man pray, and the nation changed. We read the story and watch a young man given a role of counselor to kings. We are given insight into the throne room of God as the curtains of heaven are drawn back. We watch God judge His people, and overturn rulers and kingdoms to accomplish His secret plans. 

There is just one prophetic message in the book of Daniel: kingdoms come and kingdoms go, but God’s kingdom is forever! The message of Daniel is intended to inspire people to discern what God is up to in a nation, then align their lives with what is on His heart, with His purposes. We learn from the book of Daniel that God reigns over the affairs of nations and it is He who allows and uses rulers for His purposes. We learn we are not to panic or loose heart – God is at work. 

It is important for Christians today to understand the message of Daniel: if they do not they will have only a human perspective tainted by political views and ethnic considerations. The book of Daniel is not in the Bible for us to speculate about the future, but to understand God’s purposes in the present. 

The two most powerful passages in the book are two prayers of Daniel. From these two prayers in chapters two and nine, we learn how to pray for a nation in time of crisis. The prayers of Daniel are located in chapter two, verses 20-23, and chapter nine, verses 3-19. 

How to pray in a time of crisis:

• Focus on God’s character. Acknowledge God’s goodness, His greatness, and that He is ultimately in control. (Daniel 2:20-22 and 9:4,7,9). Refuse to be more impressed with sin or evil people or wicked rulers than with God’s greatness and goodness. Faith for a nation in a time of crisis comes from being impressed with God, not circumstances.
• Thank God for what He has shown you in the past as you prayed for your nation. (Daniel 2:23, 9:3). If you have not prayed with fasting and brokenness and humility for your nation, ask God for forgiveness.
• Declare to God in faith that He raises up kings and presidents, and He removes kings and presidents. (Daniel 2:21). Daniel believed his own king in Jerusalem was removed, and the king of Babylon was raised up to judge the people of Israel. God brings governments down if they do not govern righteously. God uses wicked nations to bring judgment on His people.
• Confess the sins of your nation in humility. Name the sins of the people specifically. Notice Daniel identified with the sins of his people. When he prayed he said, “we have sinned”. (Daniel 9:3-6, 9, 13)
• Acknowledge that the judgment of the Lord on His people are deserved because of the sins of their sins. (Daniel 9:11-15)
• Call upon the mercy and forgiveness of God. Daniel believed there was only one hope for the nation, and that was the mercy of God. He appealed to God to be merciful. (Daniel 9:4,9,18-19).
• Pray for God’s own sake, for His glory. As you pray, be more concerned for God than for the people or yourself. Too often our prayers are based on what we want or what we feel; our prayers become self-centered. (Daniel 9:18-19)

Read more articles athttp://floydandsally.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e89033d24dd27431809ed2ab7&id=d5afa66806&e=c0fb59e38e

An Easter miracle!

It takes a lot of effort and hard work getting the right Bible to the right address in Mozambique at the right time.  Right?  Usually that would be correct.  I have learnt though that when God gets involved in any situation it seems He makes the most difficult stumbling block look so so easy.

We have been out of Bibles for the last 2 months due to many outreaches.  I was wondering how I could urgently get hold of more.  Now to understand how God works ........ (forget formulas and mathematics - they don't work in His Kingdom it seems!) you have to take the following into consideration.  We have a growing population on the planet - we are successfully marching on to 6 813 200 000 people ......... well ok ... close to 7 billion people.  So what is the chance  that 2 strangers will meet and know someone they have in common?  Would make for some interesting stats.

Photo:  Meet Charl Cilliers and the team from Cape Town who met a stranger in Pretoria on the Highway to make the donation of 100 Portuguese Bibles possible.  They were on the way to Malawi when they stopped at our base on the way.

Well with God that seems a common thing.  Two total strangers got together, spoke - realized they know me and my needs and wola ............ deep in the bush I just received 100 Bibles from a great friend in South Africa.  God surely works in mysterious ways!  Thanks to Fanie Loots for the Bibles - it is much needed.

"I need some light ...... and I FOUND it!"

The last week was a hectic one for several reasons.  I have experienced extreme joy - in fact during Easter weekend festivities with the Mozambicans - I saw glittering eyes in so many as they experienced the fact that Jesus IS RISEN!  They felt it in their bones .... I think.  It made all the hard work worth it.  Had an absolute blast.  Many found the Lord and their smiles reflected the fact.

On the other side of the coin (and there always is!) it was hectic politically in my beloved South Africa.  Political unrest and racial tension flared up again.  Although many would blame Julius Malema (Youth leader of the ANC - governing party) for his hate speech against white people I still think the main contributor is the fact that South Africa never really dealt with their racial prejudice.  It's time to sit down and resolve ...... but will they and will darkness prevail.  WE PRAY.


HOPE

A great friend in South Africa (Johan van Loggerenberg) send me the following story .... and yes I will admit I shed a few tears.  THIS is what I am looking for in so many African nations as they struggle to find themselves and God in the process.  Enjoy the heart warming true story!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its

dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again..

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the

plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!


LET's be HEROES!

Seixta-Santo .... in the garden.

o

The secret is out: I love gardens!  I love everything about it ......... the colors, the smells - the huge variety - it really leaves me breathless and astonished.  I marvel at creation and how beautiful it is.  I plant flowers without a plan.  I love seeing them surprise me in unexpected places.  And I can keep writing ..................

BUT it made me think today ........... it's Good Friday.  Maybe not all gardens are that nice.  I remember Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.  Alone ........... kneeled down ... praying.  In fact praying so hard that His sweat became like blood drops.  He was isolated and carrying the weight of humanity - literally.  I doubt if there was time to smell the roses or see the butterflies hiding in the nectar of a sweet petal.  But His garden experience brought life to all of us in our own garden of Gethsemane.  May the news of Good Friday be good to you too.