On the drive…
Our ministry here in Mozambique is super grassroots and very down to earth. And I mean that both metaphorically and literally. I have blisters on my hands from chopping down grass with a machete, and constantly have dirty feet. Im not complaining, thats just the Race 🙂
Elias
But for real, basically this guy Elias that used to be a translator for the World Race is now hosting teams at his house in Manga Village. We live in tents, and have a common room and his families rooms in a cinderblock house with a dirt floor and thatched roof. It’s exactly what we expected from the World Race, and by the amazing grace of God, sleeping on the ground is insanely comfortable. It is a million degrees here and we sweat constantly, but it is so worth it. (Side note, as I’m in my tent typing this, a tree just fell on one of our tents… Oh wait, actually just a giant palm leaf… Oh, the World Race…)
Our tents and the lovely bathroom. Mine is the orange one in the back.
Hanging out with some of the kids in our front yard.
Anyway, back to ministry. Elias has had a dream for some time now to care for the widows and orphans in the village. As of right now, he is able to do little things like teach the Bible to the local kids, feed a ton of people, and help some of the widows build houses. We just helped one woman, a widow with three kids at the age about about 26, build her house this week. But Elias’ big dream is to start an orphanage. He wants to find some of the widows and disciple them and make them house mothers for the orphans. (So cool!) So he prayed for land, and God provided the money! So every day, in the scorching heat, we walk a few miles to his plot of land, and we machete grass and even out dirt. Soon we will be starting to build. It is expected that six houses (three room, cinder block) will be built in two months. So I’m sure in our month here we’ll see significant progress! But again, this is Africa, and African time is… well, unique. But we’re SO excited to watch God work this month and see E’s dream start to come alive.
So we’re doing all we can for him – house visits so the neighbors know what’s going on, meeting potential house mothers, playing with the kids; whatever he needs. It’s so cool to come alongside someone else’s vision and make it happen.
Every day, the taxis fit up to 30 people in a 15 passenger van.
Another blessing: newlyweds and former world racers Will and Tara are here with us this month. Tara’s story is incredible. She and Will were on the same race, and she ended up falling off a three story building after her third month and was told she’d never walk again from a doctor in Romania. But God healed her, and not only did she walk again in one month, but a few months later she applied for the race again, and did her 11 months. She was able to go back to the hospital in Romania and show the doctors her progress. Now she’s dancing all around and serving around the world. She and Will obviously got married and are here serving with us. It’s such a blessing to have former racers to give us advice on life, God, the race, team issues, marriage, feedback, travel, etc. Another CRAZY thing… Tara (formerly Reed) worked at HARVEY CEDARS BIBLE CONFERENCE where I worked for five years. God is SO cool. Anyway, that’s kinda our month. On our off days we swim in the Indian Ocean. It’s pretty legit 🙂 Thanks so much for your prayers!!!
Sometimes, it gets really hot. So, I asked Sam to dump some water on me.
Bucket showers are no joke.
Walking through the village with some kids.
P.S. when it’s sunny, it is extremely hot here, but this week we’ve had torrential downpours almost constantly. because Mozambique is coming out of a drought, were having some flooding issues. nothing damaging, but we’re living in tents, so we’ve got a lot of wet clothes and muddy sleeping bags. but we’ve had the chance to play in puddles with kids for hours, hopefully a short video is coming soon 🙂 enjoy!
My happy teammates during the flooding 🙂
Hello Stephanie! It’s so good to hear from you. I’ve been praying for you and those sores in your mouth, trusting God has healed you and that you will have no other complications from the malaria medication. I was also praising God when you told us that sleeping on the ground was insanely comfortable. I have been praying that the Lord would help you with your sleep issues, especially now that you’re sleeping on the ground in tents. It is truly by His grace that you are even finding it comfortable – I was so encouraged to hear that. I can’t imagine sleeping in those little tents during the torrential rain, though I know the rain is necessary. (Honestly, I can’t imagine sleeping in those little tents, period!) And yet, even in those primitive conditions, you are able to sit and type on your computer! That is so amazing to me.
It’s so cool to read the ways that God is using you and your team to come alongside Elias over there, and such a blessing to read how excited you are to put up with all of the extenuating conditions to accomplish all you can during your time there. Thank you for sharing Tara’s story — evidence that God is still performing miracles, and how great that He allowed Tara and Will to be there at this time to bless you and encourage you with their testimony and experience.
I will continue to pray that you will not grow weary in doing good, for you girl are making a difference in this world; and as always, I pray for God’s hedge of protection around you and your team as you serve Him wholeheartedly and sacrificially. I so admire your courage to do what you’re doing!
Love,
Angela
Rain, mud, sweat, tents, orphans, widows, & flooding……Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thank you for your service……..
Steph,
Whoa….you are having the real African experience!! So few really see and meet the real Africa. Those people are really a treasure and really need Jesus and to meet people who know him and can lead the way away from ancestor worship. We pray for you daily for health, strength and wisdom (like not eating from poopy dishes, as ecoli can be serious). There is a difference between faith and stupidity. We had to learn that lesson, and sometimes we messed up and got really sick. He can and will protect, but he does expect us to use wisdom!! I had the flu on one of our trips anI could not get to a doctor, but the Lord was there and I got over it quickly. I was not in a position to ‘stay in bed’ as there was work to be done. He enables. I am so ‘proud’ of the way God has used you and continues to use you in making a BIG difference to all you have met in your race! I can hardly wait to meet the Stephanie that will be returning to us after this HUGE ministry! You will indeed be different…..and Dad will be prouder than ever! In our prayers constantly!!!!!
Susan
Hi Stephanie, all I can say is AMEN to all that has been already written. So glad you’re back in communication, I missed your commentaries on the trip. Bless you and the team as you labor for Him. love, Peg
Hey, Steph –
Just got back from a World Vision Child Ambassador conference and learned that the international color for HOPE is orange — so you are ‘right on’ with your tent color!!(and i have a new found love for WV’s color; but, still out of my comfort zone to wear,!)
I came back inspired and then to read your latest blog on clearing the fields for the building of an orphanage — new insight into The Power of One:
“I am only one, but I am one.
I can’t do everything, but I can do something.
I will not let what I cannot do, interfere with what
I can do!”
Thank you for being the tangible demonstration of how change will happen as each One of us does something!
Thank you for the difference you and your team are making
for the orphans and widows.
My prayers and blessings go with you. iris