The following account is from the bulletin of a church that recently participated in a missions trip to Mozambique:
The theme this week is ‘What God lovesmost about us, moving beyond dutifulness’. We share with you some stories from our Mission team, having returned from Mozambique. We can be sure that they were willing to be obedient to the Lord, by participating in this outreach opportunity.
Before we left on the mission trip, Brian Smith prayed for the team and prayed that there would be signs and wonders.
At the Zimbabwe border we discovered that the passport of one of the team members had expired. The person was integral to the team and everyone was devastated at the early setback. We all felt certain that the situation was hopeless, as it can take up to three weeks to get a replacement passport and the person was advised to go back to Benoni. The team prayed for the person and the situation, and transferred all the passengers and goods from his vehicle to the other s. The rest of the team then proceeded through the border and on to the overnight stop in Zimbabwe.
Early the next morning the team member went to the Department of Home Affairs in Louis Trichardt and found their office open. He discovered that their employees start their day with devotions, and was invited to lead the group in prayer. He then went through the due processes and received his renewed passport in less than half an hour, and continued with the journey – He arrived at the Gorongoza campsite where the team was staying two hours later. God opens doors!
On the first day of our mission we came across a woman with leprosy, who had already experienced the loss of some fingers and toes, and who had terrible open sores. After taking medical precautions, one of our team bathed and cleaned her wounds and applied ointment and bandages. The woman was ministered to and prayer for, and she spent most of the rest of the week attending the events which were held in her church! God binds up wounds!
At our first service in our mud and thatch church, we noticed that one of the women was holding a three year old child in her arms, and he seemed very sick. He hardly moved, his eyes were dull and lifeless and he had a raging temperature. The mother and child were prayed for by the congregation. The next morning the child came back to the church with his mother, the temperature was gone and a lovely sparkle was seen in his eyes, he spent most of the day playing with the other children. God heals!
We praise God for His faithfulness!
Mozambique is one of Africa’s up-and-coming hot-spots, with stunning beaches, excellent diving and offshore islands. Our Mission Team got to experience a vastly different country. The Mission hub which Northfield supports is situated in Northern Mozambique – where getting around takes longer than normal and is an adventure in itself. We share some of the team’s experiences with you:
Phyllis was our granny on camp, but what a bundle of mischief. With her quick wit she always had us in stitches of laughter. She tells one of her stories. “I went to the Jesus film (open air) and while it was been screened it began to rain. I was told to find shelter, but on watching the community of four hundred and fifty people glued to their places intent only on seeing the film, I refused. I saw in their eyes a deep longing to find out more about Jesus and a desire to know Him. It was this that riveted them to the spot as the story of the love and grace of God unfolded on the screen before them. I am so grateful for the experience that I have had on this trip.”
Allan was also part of the Northfield group, “The morning devotion was from Luke 7:11-17. The message was that if Jesus had not pitched up, the son would have been buried and the widow would have continued in her social plight. We were challenged to be Jesus to the people. How could we be the hands and feet of Jesus?
“When we arrived at the church we were told that a child had died overnight. I started asking the Holy Spirit what I must do. He prompted us to go to the home of the family, where he again prompted me to anoint the child and pray. The child did not come back to life, but what an awesome experience to be led by God. As a result of our care we were asked to share in the funeral with the family. As we became part of the community, I felt privileged that God had used us in this, for His Kingdom and allowed us to grow spiritually in leaps and bounds.
“Kingsley was the ‘doctor’ in our group. On the first day he saw a woman with leprosy and on day two ministered to her by washing her wounds, applying ointment and binding them up in bandages. In the process he had to cut off a piece of her finger that was gangrenous. This led to further ministry by him.”
Waldy was one of the missioners from Bryanston. “We shared the Bandana, God’s story with the people. We prayed and asked the congregation to come before God and repent of their sin and recommit their lives to God. I asked God to forgive me of my sins and cried in front of them. I turned to have a drink of water and when I turned around all the people had come up to the front, men, women and children.
“We prayed a prayer of repentance and salvation over each one as we laid hands on them. A woman started to speak in tongues during the quiet time that continued. Steve gave his personal testimony. Seventy people responded and gave their lives to Christ. God used these simple love gifts from ordinary people to find a way into their hearts. A Love so amazing.”
