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Mozambique Trip: You Love Us

Yesterday was a cultural experience never to forget. The team was heading to Manicha were WorldVenture has done a lot of work in helping to grow a local body of believers there who are concerned about the problems facing the community. This little church decided to tackle the AIDs problem (about 58% of the people are infected) head on. As a result they found another problem; their people didn’t even have food, let alone a proper diet, for the AIDs medicine to work (about 90% of Mozambique is unemployed). Then in trying to tackle these two problems another one arose. Deaths from AIDs was leaving a generation of orphans. So this little church is struggling in what seems like an up hill battle against these three monsters. Progress is slow, but their joy and love in Christ is high!

So we went to visit these faithful brothers and sisters. When we arrived we were invited to a funeral of a 10 year old boy who died due to a lack of knowledge on how to take the medicine given to him. It was a moving experience as the Mozambique women sang and wailed. We ceremonially were escorted to view the body and then to the grave site that had just been dug by hand. The mother had to be literally held up because she was limp with grief as snot and tears mingled down her face.

After the funeral around dusk, we journeyed back to the church/orphanage to have a meal and stories around the camp fire. As we sat and listened to the history of Mozambique, 2 live chickens were slaughtered and cleaned behind us. One of the little boys, who was quite shy, climbed into my lap and quickly fell asleep in my embrace in front of the fire. We ate the recently alive chicken and rice, which is an expensive meal to serve the guest. Then we headed off to our homes for the night.

Our team of 8 was broken up into pairs as we headed in different directions to spend the night as the majority of Mozambique people live. The gentleman that took JJ and I in, was a brother in the faith and eager to practice his English with native speakers. We had a great night sleep, waking up to a rooster sitting on a papaya tree. As we talked, he asked me why I would leave the comfort of America to come and be with his people and even to live in Mali. He said that “not even the higher-ups in his own country come to stay with his village, but you Americans have. Why is this?” As I thought about that question, only one answer came to mind. I answered, “We have come to eat and stay with you because of Christ who lives in us and gives us a love for you.” He smiled and said:

"even when our own people would not, you left your comfort to come and cry with us, eat with us, stay with us, and praise with us. I know that you love us.”

Praise God for shining His light through me to be an encouragement to this brother.

We gathered together for church in a customary Mozambique style. The believers gathered and praise instantly broke out with dancing, swaying, clapping, and singing that would receive a noise violation in the States. It was a sweet glimpse at the praise which will take place in heaven.

I am exhausted, but to be with my brothers and sisters here is certainly unforgettable and well worth the baggy eyes.