Monday, April 24. 2023
We started off a little later than usual this morning as we were going to help with lunch at the orphan feeding center in Mpyupyu. After a challenge from Joshua to be strong and courageous we took the hour or so drive on terrible roads. The storm from last month washed out much of the road in places and there was still standing water in some places as well. So where it wasn’t very bumpy and rough, it was bumpy, rough and slippery! At one point Ovi and Marc got out and assessed how to make it through a particularly bad spot for about 10 minutes. This was plenty of time to accumulate quite a crowd to watch! We made it through with only a couple screams. (It was pretty fun!)
Upon arrival at the village we met the pastor of the church there. He took us to see a couple of the homes where a few of the orphans had been staying before the storm. The storm has ruined so many homes and many people are staying in a camp that has been set up for those who are displaced. Unfortunately, there are so many in that camp that many kids are still sleeping outside on the ground. He also pointed out that once again, their crops have been destroyed. This is the village’s only means of supporting and feeding themselves for the next year. There will be starvation in this village again this year. Please pray!
Back at the feeding center, we enjoyed singing songs with the children and Mark shared the gospel. About 10 children went out to talk with the pastors about being saved! Leah taught the song “My God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty…” The kids enjoyed singing in English and doing the motions along with it. After Bible time, the men took the children to play games while the women cooked lunch. They played the dizzy bat game with sticks. Apparently some heads took pretty good knocks! Then they play a huge round of duck, duck, goose (I have no idea what they were actually saying but the game was the same). The kids ran opposite ways around the circle, though, and, again, many collisions were had. All but one popped right back up and kept running (one little girl cried a bit but was ok after a short time). They are so competitive! Meanwhile we ladies were helping fix lunch. We watched them carry off the chicken to be slaughtered. When it came back headless, Janine helped pluck the feathers while Leah and I helped chop pumpkin leaves that were cooked and are a village favorite. After the chicken was thoroughly cleaned one of the cooks handed me a knife and pointed to a joint. So I helped cut up the chicken. I only did the easy part and I’m not sure I was very good at that. Leah and Janine each got to take a turn stirring the Nsima. I missed them cooking a bunch of little fish that they served to the children, but they smelled very strong!
The pastor led several of us to the village’s well. Several years ago, the muslim church had a well on it’s property and they were charging all others to use it. This is a very poor village so most could not afford to pay. A team from HPFBC was there and put out the word that a well was needed and it was funded overnight! Shortly after the muslim well ran dry so now they have to come use the new well—which they are welcome to use freely. I am so glad for a ministry that gives freely both food and water. I am more glad that they give these things so that they might have the opportunity to share the Living Water! John 4:13-14 Jesus says, “’Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
Unfortunately, I have been battling migraines for the past few days and it really caught up with me today. The heat and sun made it that much worse. I was able to function after sitting in the car for a few minutes but I came back to the compound and crashed for an hour or so. After waking, I took some medicine and ate a little and started to feel better. Please pray that these headaches quit! I want to be able to share the gospel and love on the children fully!
Another thing I ask you to pray about is one of the dear ladies who interprets for us is facing a real struggle personally. Please pray for sweet Misozi to be strong and rely on God through this test. And pray that Janine, Leah and I will be a comfort and encouragement to her while we are here.
The plan tomorrow is to go to the hospital and speak to some of the staff and hand out Bibles and gospel literature. This is a wonderful opportunity for HFF as there are a lot of staff and possibly could create inroads for further ministry. As we go tomorrow we all want to hold to the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
Thank your for your continued prayers for strength and fruit these two weeks!