money, money, money

I have been dreading writing this for a while now, but I know I need to sit down and do it.  Reason being is because it’s about money…which for me at least is never an easy or fun topic to address.  However it’s something that I need to do and typically comes with the territory as far as missions is concerned.  The bottom line is I am dependent on people to give so I can be here.

Ultimately it is the Lord who has told me to be here and I fully trust Him to take care of me, financially and otherwise. But in accomplishing His purposes here on earth, God uses people to do His will, whether or not they even realize it.

Let me be the first to confess I live more comfortably than most of my neighbors.  Its funny how things like wealth are so relative.  With $250/month  I am rich here. 80% goes to the family I am staying with, as I live on their property, using their food, generator, transport, etc. The remaining $50 goes quickly to communication and food,  and things that make life easier like batteries.  I also give sometimes. Its challenging because I see so many more physical and financial needs that I can possibly meet.  Like Julia and Sergio…it would be nice to buy them a house but I don’t have the income to do that.  I can do things like buy my neighbor laundry detergent and soap.  Or Bibles.  I wish we could give every literate person in church a bible.   

 It was really refreshing to go to South Africa but financially it set me back about $500 which was spent on transport, my visa, communication, and supplies.  Renewing my visa is another costly thing that needs to be done.  While in South Africa it cost me $100 to get a one month visa.  Clearly I would like to get a longer residential visa for 6 months and it will probably be at least a few hundred dollars.   So getting a visa is another place my money is going. 

It has been my privilege to be here in Mozambique for more than 3 months now.  But in  order to be here I am dependent on generous givers.  I am asking for funds so I can live here and have things like some variety in my high carb diet, or have enough money to have internet access so I can do things like communicate with my family and friends, write a blog, etc. Please give me money.  I need your help just to be here. 

If you would like to give go to: http://www.razoo.com/story/Beloveinc?referral_code=share

or visit beloveinc.org. for more information about BeLove, the organization I"m working with.  

Thanks!

A forced vacation

I was traveling 300 miles two Fridays ago, in hopes of getting another stamp on my passport, prolonging my visa for another 30 days.  Instead I was told I must leave the country immediately…as my visa expired on October 2^nd and it was already September 30^th.  I had spent 90 days in the country on a tourist visa and it was time to go. I was already unhappy about spending 8 hours in a cramped vehicle that day just to go to Maxixe and back and the news of having to leave country just added to the frustration.  As we (Andre, the translator came with me) were heading home the Lord changed my heart, assuring me that leaving the country and having a break in South Africa would be for my good.  I became excited as I thought about people I could visit and all those comforts I’d have again, like a hot shower without boiling water and ice cream and cheese sandwiches.  I knew I could relax in a way that I can’t in Mozambique.

 I got home within an hour of sundown and didn’t even attempt to sleep until 3am when I was once again in a cramped vehicle headed to Maputo, Mozambique’s capital.  Ten hours and 700km later I was dismayed to find that Jaco’s friend, who I had hoped to stay with, was out of town.  Great, I’m a city I don’t know anything about.  The only thing I’ve really been told is to carefully watch my stuff as crime is common and I’m sure I’m an easy target- a confused malungu.  I took a taxi to a hotel, astounded by the prices of both; I talked the taxi driver down to 500 instead of 800 meticais ($1=27mets), and then spent $83 on the hotel room…which is a lot when you live off $250/mo. and you were told it should cost half that much.  I could be in the States at this price.   Fortunately the hotel was within 2 blocks of a greyhound bus station, so arranging transport for the following evening was easy. I made the most of 30 hours I spent in Maputo: ate at KFC, slept in, had a nice breakfast at the hotel, went to the beach that afternoon and had a far more comfortable over night bus ride to Johannesburg.

                                             View from hotel room in Maputo.

I’ve spent the last 10 days in South Africa, and I’m leaving for Mozambique tomorrow. It’s been nice to be in a developed nation again. To speak English. To have constant electricity.  To eat a vegetarian wrap with hummus- things you just don’t get in Mozambique.   It’s even been easier to pray here as well…there’s not the same spiritual darkness as in Vilanculos.  I’ve been staying with the Homan family that I met in Mozambique when they came out to do an outreach in July.  It’s been fun and relaxing to spend time with them and see how God is working in them and through them. They’ve taken good care of me…I even have Marcel’s room for the time I’m here.   I’ve visited a handful of other people too.  Last week I visited a couple, Barry and Helen who went on that same outreach in July…I have to say they spoiled me…I got a massage and probably the best bath of my life. Then I spent the next day with their granddaughter who accused me of “trying to trick her into praying” I thought that was hilarious. Helen and I prayed for Angie, the masseuse and we both see that the Lord has great things in store for her.   I had good conversations with them as well as their maid who was very interested in hearing about Mozambique.  The following evening I visited with some childhood friends; ate out and went to another friend’s house.  It was really nice to catch up. I also saw some people that I met last June in the World Cup outreach.  Chris Dirks’ family was a lot fun with young energetic kids and then also talking with Sammy who is sensing God’s leading in a new direction in his life.   God has truly blessed me with each encounter that I’ve had.  And I’m looking forward to a prayer meeting tonight.

                                           Lexy, who later said I tried to trick her into praying.

Julia and Sergio

                                            Julia and Sergio

They’re a young couple at church.  After being here for a few weeks Julia started to stand out to me as someone of great promise and potential.  I also felt drawn to her, like she’s one of the particular people I can minister to individually.

On a typical Sunday there are about 100 people, most of which come to church with the help of Pastor Jaco driving in all directions to pick up people before and after the service.  But the past two Sundays when Jaco was out of town, and we had no means to transport people and as a result, less than 40 people came to church.  Sergio and Julia live over 18 kilometers away from the church, and are actually farther from the church than any one else who comes regularly.  However they made the effort to come.  They trusted God for the money needed to take public transport and they came.  Sergio and Julia also come to the Bible Study in Pambarra on Thursdays…often Sergio will translate from Portuguese to Xitsuwa. Clearly they are committed to coming to church and growing in their faith.

Another interesting thing about Julia and Sergio is that they don’t have a house, or really any shelter.  They sleep in the bush.  If it rains, they get wet.  Suddenly, being woken by rats in my caravan is a minor inconvenience.

Even as I think about them now, my heart is drawn to them.  I know God wants to do huge things with them.  I know that spending time with them is not and will not be in vain.  They are eager to learn.  I also know that I need to help them with a house. I don’t know anything about building a house. They don’t have property to build on or any money for a house. I wish I had the money just to lay down and give them a new house, but I don’t.  But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If it was that easy, I wouldn’t learn anything or depend on God.

 I want to help them get a house, not just give them a house.  I want them to have ownership in the planning process…I want it to be the house they want…if they want a round windowless house made from canisu (reeds) which is most common here I want to help them achieve that goal.  I don’t want to do this for them.  But I want to help as much as I can while still giving them a sense of ownership and leadership in the project.  Right now its on my heart to match every penny they have for the house…but I feel like I need to do more.  Its tricky because they don’t have jobs nor do they have property that they could build on.

I feel like the Lord is telling me to build with them. Both in the physical and spiritual. How do I do that?