Working for Green Door

I have had the amazing opportunity to work with Manuel helping out with Green Door this past week.

Green Door is managed by Manuel a Mozambican who works for the Ray of Light project here in Dondo. He is a tall slender man with an amazing smile and a heart for the Lord. He pastor's a church plant in Savane, goes to school at night, is married and expecting his first child. Did I mention that he is brilliant as well? He speaks like 7 different languages! 

Anyway, my days are spent driving the CRI pickup truck, which is an essential part of Green Door. On any given day multiple trips are made to various places to pick up needed supplies.

All the homes that are being built are 'off' the main, this would include all the places we need to 'shop' for supplies. But then this is Mozambique, nothing is easy here. 

So now you get the idea, Manuel is in charge, I just drive where he tells me to. There are times when he says, 'turn down this road' and I  laugh. You have got to be kidding me, trust me when I say there is NO ROAD, it can hardly be called a foot path. But, there I am turning as directed.

So, it won't surprise you to hear that as we were headed to a new site, for the next mud home, I was once again directed to take this path.  As it turns out, about 20 feet down the path two men were digging in the middle of the 'road'. They saw that we needed to pass and so they removed their shovels and motioned for me to come ahead..

I looked at the guys in the back, sitting on the pile of creosol boards and as they nodded to go ahead, I did just that.

It didn't look like they had displaced too much of the sand in the road. Then bam, the front tire hit hard and the next thing I knew, the truck was on it's side and I am laying against the door.

As the boards and men continued to fall off of the back of the truck, I realized that I was okay, but I wasn't sure about the truck. I prayed and asked God to let the truck be okay, please don't let anything be wrong with the truck.

Only moments had passed when the next thing I knew, there were 8-10 men trying to lift the truck out of the hole. They were yelling for me to go forward, first I prayed some more, and asked God to please help me be in first gear! 

They lifted, I prayed, nothing, the car didn't budge.

They tried again, now they wanted me to go in reverse, again I prayed. At this point we had gathered quite a crowd, there were kids everywhere. I prayed that God would protect them as I once again pressed the gas pedal with all my might. Still nothing.

So they shoveled some sand under the tires and once again lifted, this time they were more men on the front of the car. They were using their bodies to press the front of the car down. 

Now as they all shouted go forward, I prayed that the men in front would be safe.

I put the car back in first gear, pressed the gas pedal, they lifted, the car jerked forward and then I was headed straight for the cement wall that encircles the medical clinic.

I turned the wheel as hard as I could, not easy as there is little power steering in this truck.

I turned the truck off, started to laugh and once again thanked God for His faithfulness and protection.

As we continued down the path to our destination, I wondered how much more can those guys dig up before we return???

This was just another day of life in Mozambique....and you wonder why I love living here?!

About Me

I really love when I see God's hand in everything, and He helps me to appreciate His plan. Currently spending half the year living in Dondo, Mozambique working as a missionary with Children's Relief International. When I'm in the states I live in Iowa, and love where God has transplanted me!!

One perfect day!

Today was just one of those days, where you couldn't stop praising the Lord for His perfectness!

I got to cook with our embrigadas and learn how things are done here in Mozambique. It was terrific! I love these ladies!

Then after lunch the sound of their laughter got our attention. Our embrigada's had finished their lunch and were talking and laughing with each other.  So we went out to join them we got to listen to them share about their life and their families. It was such a unique and personal glimpse into their lives, lives we really know very little about.

We had made plans to visit with one of our dear friends, Louisa at Centro Emmisor. We asked Zito, one of the church leaders (who also happens to speak Sena) to come with us. 

We had a nice visit and as we were getting ready to leave a young women came by and asked for our help. She said that she was ready to accept the Lord into her life!

She had attended the service at church, a while ago and now was ready to accept Him into her life.

It was so incredible that God would plan for us to be there at that exact moment!

So Kathy shared the gospel with this young women named Fatima. She had a small child with her, maybe a year old. It was disturbing for me to see the strings around this little girl's neck. The strings are a sign that the baby was dedicated to evil spirits and the witch doctor. 

So we will continue to pray that as this young women seeks after the Lord she will no longer desire to trust in anyone other than our Savior.

It was a gift from God to be present in that place, at that moment. 

As we were getting ready to leave, a young girl came running up to Louisa to say that a women who had been in labor since last night was ready to go to the hospital. 

This women lives more than 6 kilometers from the hospital. So once again God and His perfect timing.... there we were exactly where we were suppose to be!

We piled Louisa, the pregnant girl and her sister in the back seat, along with Zito. At least the first half of the ride would have been enough for anyone to have a baby, ready or not!

But Mozambican's are tough and the ride didn't seem to phase anyone except maybe Kathy and I!

We finally got on the paved road, but we needed to stop and buy cashews from the boys.

I forgot to mention the cashew boys.

Just before you turn off the main road to head into the bush there are boys who wait there to sell their cashews. They're delicious and fresh and it's how the boys support themselves. So we always buy some, but we never buy them until we are headed back to town. Today was no different. So as we were racing to get this girl to the hospital, we stopped long enough to keep our word to our boys. 

Not to worry we made it, with time to spare:) The young women walked into the hospital with the help of the other women and we were on our way.

We shared with Zito the sweet potatoes Lousia had given us,  then dropped him home and thanked him for his help.

It was just a great Jesus filled day!!

Deus Sabe....God knows

Once again I find myself in a position of humbly seeking God's wisdom.  

Most every day here in Mozambique is spent giving someone something. Whether it's our time and prayers or a ride, or money, or food, or clothes it's always something.

My role here this year is to 'assist', to 'help as needed'. I love what God has me doing here, yet at the same time I have struggled with thoughts of self.  Of being 'second' so to speak, will anyone know that I too was part of that gift of food, or money? Will I get any recognition?  Will my works be appreciated?  Will anyone even know? Will they like me as much as they seem to like those who actually give the gift? 

Today God allowed me to understand what really matters, HIM. 

He knows, He sees, He understands my heart and my motivation, that's all that really matters, Him!

Do I want people to love me, or do I want them to see and love God because of our deeds and actions?

So as I sit here watching another perfect sunset over the village of Dondo, I am thanking God for His many provisions and praising Him for always hearing our prayers no matter how big or small.

Thank you Jesus for knowing me and loving me in spite of my faults.

God's Plan

It's good to make plans, take certain precautions and follow sound advise. Yet when it all comes down to it, God's plan is what will be.

As I sit here recovering from my bout with malaria, I think about the plans I had, the precautions I took, the advise I followed and still I got malaria.

I take Malarone daily ( an anti-malarial medication taken daily to lessen the symptoms and risk of acquiring malaria) 

I used my DEET faithfully morning and night since I arrived and I sleep under my mosquito net.

So, according to my plan, I should not have contracted malaria. I had things to do, I had my plans....

I am told I could have died, I received the medication I needed and people literally all over the world were praying for my recovery. All part of God's plan.

I am so grateful that God is in charge of my life and holds everything firmly in His hands.

I need to continue to be still and hear what He is trying to tell me through all of this.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in  Christ Jesus.