On maintenance day

Then there was some serious work taking place for which we are so grateful. Much needed help and this with knowhow.

Maintenance Day

30th Turned out to be a day for essential maintance.

While out near Chitsama on our return trip a stone or stick went right through a fairly new tyre. So one keeps in practice and sharpens one's skills.

But the roads have got very bad. Since 2002 this is the worst they have been. And the rains have just made deep ruts and the mud deep. Not only did we loose a tyre but also two of the suspention rubber mountings. One in the front right and the other on the back left. Well necessity is the mother of all invention so they say. Today that proved to be true. I cut up a piece of old conveyer belting and mad a make shift mounting for the back. And for the front I had a rubber mounting which I kept in my garage of "treasures" from our first Land Rover.

29th A busy day

Monday turned out to be a day that didn't threaten to rain, as Espungabera area has had lots of rain in the last 2 weeks. So Leighton and I went and loaded up the Land Rover with mielie meal and went on a food distribution run. We went to Mukuyana & Makumba on our first trip in the morning. Then after lunch went and loaded up again and went to Mupengo and Chitsama. The morning trip was fine although we went through some difficult areas in the mud. But the afternoon trip was a whole new adventure. With long uphills which were so slippery and so much mud. God's good as He answered many arrow prayers to get through the mud. And when we arrived in Mupengo and Chitsama the folks were so happy about the food. They said that the situation had become much worse than a month ago.

But praise God he enabled His faithful servants "YOU GUYS" to help us feed our brothers and sisters.

We still need to make the next trip to Bunga, Goi-Goi and Siyabuzana. but right now it's raining again. So we are hoping to make the trip in a day or two.

BACK TO ESPUNGABERA

We were very glad to have seen some of the family again after a long time but would have liked to have been able to visit "Jinx's" parents in Port Alfred as well. But maybe the next trip will be a little less pressed for time.

The trip back to Espungabera was quite a long one. We left at 6am on the morning of the 26th December and arrived at 9.30pm in Musina. We then left Musina at 9am after doing some last munite shopping for vegitables, (but found only old and yuck!) We went throught the border in less than an hour both sides SA and Zim. And for those who have been that way before know that is very quick. But that is exactly what we asked God to do for us. And He made it all happen. We eventualy arrived in Espungabera at 4.30pm on 27th. Shoe! what a long trip.

Leighton from New Zealand taking a gentle 40 winks on the trip.

He is here with us in Espungabera for about 5 months. He will be helping us as we look into getting a project going called Farming God's Way. As he has studied agriculture in New Zealand he is well equipped to help us out. We would also like him to check out youth ministry. Between the ages of 13-18 especially.

Toni in one of the rare waking moments on the trip. These moments are qute noteworthy. But we are glad to have her back with us for the school holidays. She flies back to Kenya on the 5th of January from Harare.

Christmas

Dawn, Toni & I would like to wish all who know us a very blessed day as we celebrate the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ.
We pray that you have a wonderful day with family and friends. Consider all of you hugged and loved by us as if we were with you.

Plans

Plans for the immediate future, We are leaving Pietermaritzburg on the morning of the 26th to go to Musina. Then the next day 27th onto Espungabera God willing we will make it all the way through. Please pray that the border crossing at Beit bridge will go well with ques that are not too long.

On the 28-29th we hope to do the next food distribution. But we hear that it has been raining for a week solid. So bridges may be washed away again but lets hope we will be able to get through to deliver the food.

On 4th January we leave to take Toni to Harare to fly back to school in Kenya. And on the 5th we return to Espungabera with the Moyo family who come to us for 3 weeks and are going to take part in Bible school teaching.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

update

Hi everyone,
Just after I got back to Espungabera after completing the import and registering of our Land Rover, Dawn came down with a very bad bout of Malaria. That coupled with very bad diarrhoea she became very weak. But praise the Lord we had the right test and the right medicine and she was cured quite quickly.
Then we did the 1st food distribution and then off to our yearly conference in Chimoio. What a blessing it was close this year. We had a wonderful time with all our colleagues and a great time of fellowship. It's always good to share with our co-workers and what the Lord is doing through them.
We then left Chimoio to go to Pietermaritzburg. After arriving I was supposed to go and fetch Leighton in Lesotho. He is a young man from New Zealand who is qualified in agriculture and spent 2 weeks in Lesotho checking out a project "farming God's way". So we are hoping to get the project started in our area of Mozambique.

We have been able to spend some time with family in Pietermaritzburg. It has been quite a hectic time. When we arrived in Pietermaritzburg we took the Land Rover to the radiator repair shop. Because when we were doing our first food distribution a stone went into the back of the radiator and with the fan spinning around the radiator got a few holes. I managed to solder two holes that I could see. Then it still continued to leak. So 5 table spoons of curry powder were added to radiator water and that held until we got back to Pietermaritzburg.
The radiator repair shop fixed it but 2 days later it leaked again. So tomorrow it goes for a second repair attempt. Lets pray that this time it works and is reliable.

Food in the nick of time

Faithful brothers & a happy evangelist

We have some fantastic brothers who are also very good friends. One such brother after seeing the condition of Alexander's bicycle, decided to step in and put his faith into action. We have roughly calculated that he pedals about 200km per week spreading the Good News. He was so happy, the picture explains it all

Your prayers and help make the difference

We have given the maize to the Church leaders to distribute to the members. They have all said a huge big thanks. And the look on their faces, money can't buy. One old lady told me that she had a dream the night before of someone coming to give her a bar of soap. They had run out of food from "piece work" the day before.

Food distribution

The local folks have been having such a rough time with a massive shortage of food. This not because they are lazy. A year ago almost to date they were planting and getting fields ready and were set to plant when the rain was to come end of October, but it never came until the 18th December. Then it rained so much that most fields were in standing water. It continued to rain almost non stop until about 7th or 10th of January. Their crops produced very little.

For the past 6 weeks many have been surviving on green mangos dried and then pounded into a meal that is then cooked to as sudza (maize meal). While I was in SA waiting on export documents I took the opportunity to share about the hunger situation. You folks are just the best! Your generosity and faithfulness has made it possible to get some food out to some folks who are really hurting. Thanks for your contributions to AIM Cape Town MOZAMBIQUE EMERGENCY PROJECT

Up-date, It's been a while

First of all we would like to say a big thank you to all who have been lifting us up before the Lord. We have had quite "wild" time. I (jinx) left to South Africa with Klaus & Sue on the 22 October to go and buy and do exportation of the Land Rover from SA. and the the importation into Mozambique. That sounds like a simple thing to do. Anything BUT.

To make a very long story short a lesson of PATIENCE was obviously need to be learned by me again. The import agent in Mozambique gave me a list of documents I would need and assured me that was all. You've guessed it. But when I arrived at the SA border I was informed that I needed an export permission permit which is only got in Pretoria. Praise the Lord for good friends. Klaus stepped in the gap and rushed around getting the document for me. When arriving in Mozambique the import agent who assured me that I did not need an inspection certificate wasted no time in asking me for that exact certificate. EEEEEK!
I eventually got home on the 21st of November. Dawn was quite happy to see me. Thanks to all who were PRAYING

Now until end January

Pray, pray, pray. We have a hectic time ahead of us and that always means that we need to pray all the more. We are going to be traveling quite a lot and as always we would appreciate your partnership very much.
22nd Oct. I'm (Jinx) am going to South Africa to get "the new car" (see below) and should all going smoothly be back in Espungabera by about 2-3rd Nov.
16th Nov. we go to Chimoio for our regular shopping & banking trip and 17th return. 26th Nov. we got to Beira to fetch Toni from RVA in Kenya. She is then coming on holiday.
Dec. 1st we go to Chimoio for our yearly Aim Mozambique conference until the 8th Dec. This is also an urgent prayer item. As in past years the conference was subsidised a little but this year that is not going to be the case.
On the morning of the 8th Dec we leave for SA and arrive God willing in Pietermaritzburg on the 10th Dec.
So far on the 11th Dec I (Jinx) then leave Pietermaritzburg for Lesotho to spend 3-4 days there visiting Autust & Anita Basson who run a project called Farming God's Way. While in Lesotho I meet up with a short term missionary Leighton who will be coming to Espungabera for about 5 months.
Around the 15th or so of Dec. Leighton & I go back to Pietermaritzburg and will spend Christmas day with Dawn's mom & dad and our girls. We then leave on the 26th Dec. for Espungabera and should arrive on 28th.
Claudia our Aim Mozambique unit leader and Rebbecca will arrive to visit us and to meet Leighton on about the 30-31stDec. And spend new year with us.
Toni flies back to school on the 5th of Jan 09 from Beira
On the 6th Jan we will be receiving the Moyo family of 3 for 3 weeks as they are at Bible school and are wanting exposure to mission to help them decide where to after Bible school.
Please pray for travel and all the expenses that go with that but most of all for safety on the roads.

No words necessary

Hospitality Espungabera style

After the Thursday ladies meeting, punctuated by cake, coke and lots of joking. The ladies had been collecting little by little, maize meal, beans and a little money to buy some goat meat and some greens for relish. And after church on Sunday we were treated to a good meal. It's just beyond me, these folks are going through a very tough time at the moment with lack of food but they scrimped and scraped and we were spoiled.

Party time

The ladies have come to the end of their year. Which means that most of them will be out in their field preparing their gardens and fields, getting ready to plant and to tend their crops. Also once the crop starts growing they will have to guard the crops against monkeys and baboons. So it was party time. Dawn got a cake made by one of the local shop owners and they had a feast, cake, coke & lots of chat. Something special as they are never spoiled.

Ladies ministry

The ladies have had quite an eventful year. They have really been coming together as a team and we are very thankful for Virgina's leadership. They have been visiting the sick and have very often showed care for others as a group. That has been very good to see. Usually it is everyone for themselves.

This year the Church from our ministry area sent a group of 16 ladies to the conference in Beira. What a thing! Some of these woman caused others to be embarrassed. They were not used to wearing shoes so took them off in town when walking to see the "sights" of the big city. Man had never been further away from home than 15-20km. The stories about the "big city" seem never to end.

Vehicle

For those who have been following our situation concerning vehicles, we have decided to buy the Land Rover which is in the picture below "going onto the ferry". We are well aware that especially now, buying anew vehicle is an expensive exercise. Our car which we have at the moment is taking a lot of strain and needs constant maintenance. So this is why we have decided to look for a vehicle which is in good condition as well as being affordable.
It is a well looked after car and has had regular services etc. I will be going down to South Africa, Pretoria with Klaus & Sue on Wednesday 22nd. To buy the Land Rover and then to get all the paper work done for exportation and importation into Mozambique. Please pray that all goes well with that and all documents will be got with minimum of fuss. We especially want to thank God for the faithfulness of His people who have contributed to the "vehicle replacement fund". Thank you very much. But we are still going to continue with the vehicle fund as we will need to do some maintenance from time to time, seeing as it is a diesel engine and will need to be refurbished. So please continue to help if you feel led to do so.

Friends

Boy! Are we blessed to have good friends. Last week we had Klaus & Sue arrive in Espungabera to help us out with the electricity in our house. The house when it was built was wired for a single phase of 220v. Which very seldom got to above 175v. As you know not the best situation for computers & fridges etc.

So, as the town has slowly been installing new cable we asked for 3 phases (of 3x220v)to be brought to the house, which they did. And we have been very grateful about that. But with the new electricity comes new problems. Which phase goes where and how does the generator fit into the situation? Praise the Lord for Klaus who knows much more than I do about such things.

Now we have electricity (when to comes from town ) which is evenly distributed throughout the whole house. And with a flick of a fancy switch the generator works the whole house not just parts, as I had it sorted. The phases are still not all equal in strength but the stronger are now connected to the more important thing in the house.

It's good to have friends, Praise the Lord.

UUUGH! MIFFED! ("vexidley miffed")

For many of the folks that have been on outreach to us will recognise this picture. The ferry at Dombe 110km from Espungabera.

On Thursday I managed to organise a lift down to Beira to pick up a few things that we needed. At 12 midday I was picked up & off we went. The road is much worse that I remembered it and even more so in a 3 ton truck.

Well it took 3 hours to get to the ferry and when we arrived we were on the far side of this picture. Here is the UUUGH! part. right where this Land Rover is going onto the ferry a 10 ton truck with about 20 ton of timber was getting off the ferry but not quite. As it it left it's wheels sank into the sand and the back of the chassis / load bed pinned the ferry down.

Not to be phased by this the driver decided to spin the wheels and eventually broke the gearbox. So the saga doesn't end there. They sent a runner to get the tractor to come and help pull the truck off the ferry and out of the way. But the tractor is on the opposite of the river. And even if it was on the same side as the truck, how would a little tractor pull a truck up hill on dirt which weighs in excess of 20 ton?

After waiting for 3 hours and nothing was achieved during that time we decided to return to Espungabera. Another 110km, another 3 hours. SUM Total: 9 hours in very hot conditions 220 km and back in the same place as we left. UUUGH! Miffed

Just when you think that you have heard it ALL

The man in the middle is Mateus from the Church at Makumba. He has been growing in leaps and bounds and is a wonderful Godly man.

While at Bible school last time Mateus called a meeting of the Church leaders to ask for our advice on a serious matter. This is a situation which has been going on since 1996.... A man from the area where Mateus lives came to Mateus and said that Mateus must give his wife to him so he can sleep with her. Or otherwise something bad was going to happen to his family as he was an assassin for body parts and someone would be killed.

Mateus took this case to the headman of the area which produced no results at all. He then approached the community police and unless he paid an amount they were not going to do anything about it.

Last week the man came again and said again that he wants to sleep with Mateus' wife. As he was going to make sure that he did not stay there much longer. And on top of this he is now spreading rumors that Mateus is teaching in the Church that all woman should become prostitutes.

Please pray for Mateus and his family. As is the case for all our leaders as they are facing the ugliness of Satan on a daily basis. We have advised him to come to the "real police" in Espungabera. He said he was going to do that. Lets pray

Exciting, Exciting, Exciting

We are becoming increasingly encouraged over the past few months. We have had several meetings and discussions with the AIM leadership here in Mozambique & we have decided that it is time that we develop the missions ministry in these parts. And now we are in the process of putting our personnel requests forward to the missions "International Office" for approval. Pray that, that would all go well.
We are also working on the plans for additional housing to be built on the AIM property here in Espungabera. Costing of building material is quite a thing out here. Pray that soon all would be approved and we can get a move on with construction.
Excited!, ARE we excited?, you bet we are. After a long time of trying to get by we will soon be able to work as a team.
Discipleship / mentoring local Church leaders and believers has always been a huge problem. We are now going to be able to address that shortfall. Not to mention the company and fellowship for us. (a bit selfish I know, but I can't wait)

Be prepared, soon I will be asking folks to come and visit and to bring an overall and some building experience, painting, digging, electric, etc.

Reminded

As many of you have kept up-to-date with all our "happenings" you will remember all the car trouble we have had here in Mozambique. And just recently as we were returning from our monthly shopping trip to Chimoio, I was reminded very lovingly by pastor Alberto that cars are made by human hands and they will break-down. It was after three quarters of our return trip that the car started to over heat again. I can't tell you how many times this has happened over the last 2 years.

Please would you continue to pray for the vehicle replacement fund. That enough would be raised so that we are able to get some reliable transport fairly soon.

Bible school week 22-26th Sept.

When we went to Siyabuzana it was clear that we need to teach about FALSE PROPHETS / TEACHERS & WITCHDOCTORS. So that is going to be our focus this next week. Please pray that we will be able to be sensitive to the good things in the culture and also be firm about those which are not of any benefit. And if we have any time left We are going to be teaching on the APOSTLES' CREED.

So please pray with us as we get into some really deep cultural & Biblical issues.

Pull your hair out!

Every so often one gets a re-occurring problem that just won't get fixed. This picture is of the back axle of our car and the wet oily mark is just that. The factory weld is leaking oil. Now I've welded it once before about a month ago. As no doubt you have heard us whine that we don't have electricity. That's not 100% true, we do get electricity but between 10pm and 5am. Right at the time when we need it most. Our neighbours must have thought that I had lost a screw when a month ago at midnight I started grinding & welding. But I could not have done a good job as I have had to do it again. Pray it holds this time.

While working on the re welding I took a look at the "new shock absorbers" we had put in which the outreach team brought in July. And one had pulled it's self through the mounting bracket and gouged a big hole. So welding was the in thing. Let's hope that holds as well this time.

The roads have just got so bad and very rocky, everyone's cars are taking a hammering.

Still in the MIRACLE business

Praise the LORD!

While the ladies were learning how to sew, a woman brought her 9-10 year old son who's face was so swollen he could hardly see. She came asking for help, just any help. We asked her what had happened and she told us that he has been this way for some weeks now. After a few more questions it became clear that he had Bilharzia. We made sure that she understood that she needed to get him to a clinic/hospital very urgently to be treated. But we said that we would pray for her and her son that she would get the necessary treatment the boy needed. Hospitals and clinic's are few and very far between.



Placing our hands on them both we presented them to the Lord Jesus with our request for him to be healed. Being late afternoon Saturday she would only go on Monday to look for help. We attended to a few other questions about false prophets and witchdoctors.



Later on we got ready to show an "English" film on creation with Alex translating what was happening. The sound was so bad but not a person left. They were all packed into the half finished Church and were watching a 54cm TV screen. Amazing the hunger for truth!



Next morning, Sunday, we had a wonderful service with Alberto preaching and 5 people came forward to accept JESUS as their SAVIOR. P.T.L. Then I was privileged to lead the communion service. Just as we were closing the service a man stood up and said he would like to give a testimony. Saying nothing he brought the young boy with Bilharzia forward from the day before, HEALTHY - CURED Jesus is still performing MIRACLES.



What a weekend!

Blessings at Siyabuzana

We had for some time now planned to go back again to one of the Church's we planted last year at Siyabuzana. The leader is Edson Bhikosi who was converted out of a Zionist sect and held the position there of Bishop. (not a single day of Bible study but Bishop) He is just so on fire for the Lord it's wonderful to see. His hunger for truth and how quickly he has grown is praise worthy.

Some months ago the ladies in the congregation got to hear about other ladies groups that were sewing and knitting and asked if Dawn would come to teach them as well. So we planned this past weekend and off we went.

The Church had prepared so much for us, it was as if VIP'S were visiting. The love and care that these people showed us from the very little they have is sometimes overwhelming & often makes me think that, we in our western Churches have forgotten much or have much to learn about love and hospitality from these rural folks.

Just after arriving we were called to breakfast and were served FRESH BREAD, tea or coffee & sweet potato. And so?! you are thinking. Someone was sent to buy the bread by bicycle at a place called Dacata, easily a 50km round trip. That bread was great.

Dawn started to teach quilting to a group of 20 ladies who learnt to sew "Log Cabin". Dawn kept on saying that she was so impressed of how quickly they were learning. And next thing a whole lot were done. And they were shown how to join all the blocks together to make a quilt. Each lady given 3 different size templates and a pack of material so they as a group could get going on their own. They were also given needles, cotton and scissors. We hope that they stick to it and soon will be able to sell their handiwork. I wonder what the next thing will be that they will want to learn.

Mid year conference

This was a much needed time to get together will colleague's and find out how each other are doing and to be able to share in the joys and the frustrations of ministry. We went to a place just north of Beira called Rio Savane. Very beautiful but also very basic.

This was also the weekend before Toni was to fly back to start her new year at school. Grade 11 WOW! how old does that all of a sudden make me feel. She is really growing up fast & when we look back it seems that time is just flying by faster and faster. Toni did very well passing grade 10 well and seems keen to get going in grade 11. Next thing we will be looking at which university she will go to.

Ladies project

The leader of a Church at "Mucheyoyo" (spelling?) The ladies at his Church have asked if we could start a sewing & knitting project with them so that they could make and sell things.

The box that Zacharias is picking up is full of donated wool and needles which he is going to carry on his bicycle back home from Bible school week. The trip is about 70km and will take him one & a half days to get back home.

Pray that the ladies will get their project going and will actually begin to get in a bit of money.

Prayer & Praise

We have planned a trip out to Siyabuzana for the weekend of 6-7th September. This is mainly in response to the ladies of that Church. This is a Church which we were able to plant last year together with the outreach team. The ladies have been to visit at other churches and have seen the sewing and knitting projects which are underway. These also provide much needed funds for the ladies. So Dawn and Emmie a local school teacher will be teaching the ladies and I will make use of the time to sit with the men and do some Bible study with them.

We also hope to be able to visit with Kiyfas again and pray with him. He is the fellow who has been chained to the ground/tree for more than 8 years.

Camping with a twist

Living out in a small little town has a few challenges of it's own. We or rather I had thought that we had at least one full gas bottle when I went off to Bible school week 11-15th Aug. Well I was greeted with a sort of I-Told-You-So glare. Dawn & Toni ran out of gas for cooking and for shower the day I left. Needless to say I wasn't winning any popularity contest. After searching around I found a small camp gas bottle "very very" empty, but it had a little.

Every so often Mozambique throws a curved ball. Monday 18th Aug we went on our merry little way 5 1/2 hours to Chimoio for monthly shopping & to redeem myself from the gas situation. There was no gas in town not from any of the suppliers. Oops! Then on the grocery shopping list, no milk, no margarine, no fruit or very yucky. But the shops a full of non essential items. Eeek!

The fruit of labour is so sweet.

Tuesday afternoon on our way back from our monthly shopping trip we met the Church leader from the Bunga Church. And he just was so happy and could not express his gratitude. At the teaching on multiple wives. We focused mainly on the young men on day one. While the ladies taught the woman that they do actually have a choice. Especially when it comes to marriage and that sort of thing. Then in the evening the women asked the men what thy had learned as the women had learned about one husband & one wife. The men claimed they had no such teaching and could they prove it from the Bible. As most out that way are illiterate they couldn't. But day two was a shocker for the young men. We brought both groups together and taught the whole group together. Now they had no excuse. Mateus the leader told us that there is no more talk of taking a second and third wife. Especially from the young men. And even the older men and leaders of other Churches are now convinced. (for the time being)

We had a number of the outreach team give a brief view of what is taught in their home Church on marriage. Praise the Lord Lets hope that we will start seeing a different attitude towards women.

Teaching is the way to go!

While the outreach team was here we went to one of the local Churches Bunga. While there we were asked to teach and to help explain about multiple wives. The local leaders are facing a massive task going against tradition. And the young guys especially are wanting to continue with the traditional ways. "wow to have 2-3 wives doting over you" But that also means that you have 2-3 times more jealousy and spitefulness and the husband normally runs away when the going gets tough. What a man!

This picture is of some outreach members doing a drama on culture and tradition, showing the local folks what they look like through the eyes of outsiders.

In preparing todays reading was.....

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

I was just thinking how relevant the Word of God is in today's world. Talk about up-to-date. As I'm busy getting my thoughts together and looking at a number of publications on HIV/AIDS. The reading for today is spot on. Preaching the good news what a pleasure and privilege. The brokenhearted, boy oh boy are people ever brokenhearted as they deal with a "plague" like HIV/AIDS. Release from darkness, Satan has so clouded the minds of people that every which way they turn is just darkness & despair. But there is release in the Lord Jesus. And as people are constantly loosing the fight against HIV/AIDS, loosing family, friends & loved ones. They need to be comforted as they mourn almost constantly.

Our pastors are really under great pressure as they mourn their own looses but are also having to comfort, counsel and encourage their congregations. This all while ill equipped to deal with the whole HIV/AIDS issue. So this is what my aim is this week at the Bible school. To train and better equip our leaders as they face HIV/AIDS.
Please pray earnestly. It is not an easy subject to teach and will no doubt touch on a few sensitive issues.

FRUSTRATION

The lack of electricity really gets to a person after a while. It's been almost 3 weeks now that we have electricity only between 10pm and 6am. Slap bang in the middle of peak useless time.

I have been trying to prepare lessons for next week's Bible school teaching, from 11th to 15th Aug. I'm trying to put together lessons on HIV/AIDS. (without electricity for the computer). This is a huge subject and affects our leaders a great deal. As these people are called upon constantly to pray for, counsel, bury the dead and then as leaders of their communities and Churches take a stand. What point of view does a person take, especially one that brings glory to God. Is this God's judgment on sexual sin? Is it just reward for adultery? Should the local Church get involved at all?

The fact is that each and every family is affected in one or other way. So I'm aiming to teach on HIV/AIDS so that we can at least guide our leaders. Not only to be caring and compassionate but also to be informed leaders.

Please pray that we will be able to have a good week of lessons and discussions.

Prayer Request

Dawn's dad normally goes to the library on Thursdays in the center of Pietermaritzburg. Last Thursday he was robbed. His ID. document was taken and some money. It also seems that some of the wires in his car were cut. He has had a number of heart attacks since the house burn down almost a year ago. Please pray that his health would fine as he was quite shaken. Also that he would be able to replace or find his documents & that he would be able to get his car sorted out quickly.

Veggie garden

We have really been blessed this year. A faithful friend arranged a roll of shade cloth for our veggie garden, so that birds, chickens, ducks & other animals would not be able to hop through the fence and destroy our garden. We have been enjoying wonderful fresh lettuce and spinach so far and the rest are soon going to be ready. Wow! fresh veggies. The local folks here seldom eat anything beyond tomatoes, onions & rape or cabbage.

A successful day

Well yesterday was very frustrating, all the usual perks of Espungabera, 16 hour power cuts etc. But I did manage to get the radiator pulled apart a 2nd time and got it back together and re-soldered by the time it got too dark to carry on. This morning I tested for leaks and Praise the Lord none. So it's now back in it's proper place in the car waiting for a test drive.

Also I managed to get diff oil to refill the back diff-axle after re-welding the 3 inch crack. That also is now going to need to be put to the test. These roads really chew up and spit out cars.

Please pray that I won't need to take the radiator out again. It's a lousy job! And even more so that my soldering will hold good.

Investing in the future

Dawn has begun to teach 2 high school students to read, write and to speak English. Why in Mozambique we speak Portuguese? Well these two young guys played volley ball with the outreach team and became very embarrassed when they couldn't understand what the rest were talking about. So they have asked to be taught so that next year when the outreach group arrives they will not be embarrassed again. It's so good to see how the people are just so eager to learn. Who knows we may even be able to to use Armando & Fransisco as translators next year.

My second best past time

Praise the Lord for the Jesus film generator. Having it here allowed me to be able to realise my 2nd best past time, repairing our leaking radiator again. (again would indicate why it is my second best. I'm not very good at it). But this time I took the tank off completely to get to the root of the problem. The generator helped so much because we are having such long power cuts every day now for 12 hours or more. It is now 9.05 pm and I'm waiting for the electricity to come back on so I can go and do my 3rd most favorite past time, Welding the back axle of our car which has sprung a leak on the factory welding so I will soon go and make a valiant attempt to repair the silly thing.

By now you are wondering what is my 1st most exciting past time; CHANGING TYRES! What else?

Praise & Thanks

As we have been away in the bush quite a lot lately with the outreach team, we have not had the opportunity to to say thank you to everyone who has been so faithful to the Lord Our vehicle replacement fund is slowly creeping up. THANK YOU

HECTIC BUT BLESSED

Wow what a time we have just had with the outreach group. It's been run, run & run. The group arrived on Monday 30th June after a 3 day drive from South Africa. We also had Walter & Rosie from Northern Ireland who arrived a few days before the group so that they could be part of the bigger group. There were 14 folks from SA, 2 from Northern Ireland, Dawn & I, Alberto and his wife Virginia and 4 translators.
On the 3 day drive up in three cars 5 tyres were ruined. We were able to organise that 2 new tyres be bought and brought from Beira. And we had some second hand tyres here which we were able to fit so the team had full complement for the return trip.

What did we do?
1) We went to a place called Mupengo (which means "crazy") and we planted a new church. The local believers from a few churches came to help. Soon we were demoted to being the helpers but blessed as we saw the local folks take ownership and build their church. We were able to show the Jesus film 2 nights and at first we estimated there to be over 700 people. But the second night there were easily double that number, about 40 people gave their lives to the Lord. God is sooo GOOD!

The ladies of the outreach were just blown away by the hunger to learn and the huge need there is for ministry to the women. The local women are for the most part illiterate and are under a massive bondage of "culture & tradition". They just do not have any say in what happens in their lives.

2) We returned to Espungabera to get washing done & also to help out at the Espungabera Church and the building of the pastors house at the church property. Again we showed the Jesus film & had good attendance with 7 young folks giving their lives to the Lord.

On Sunday morning we split up so we could get to more than one Church to preach. Roger, Alberto and a few folks went to encourage the folks at the Makumba Church we planted last year. When they got there they found only a little boy with a letter telling folks that the whole church had gone to visit in an area which is far away and there was a sick member there. No prizes for guessing where the next likely church plant is going to be. So on their way back they stopped at one of the first church plants at Mukuyana and had a wonderful service there.

3) We went to Bunga to help with the expansion of the church building. But when we arrived the biggest part of the work had been done. They did ask our help to go and fetch some of the roofing poles. So off a few of the men went. Shoe! These people are so on fire for the Lord. The distance that these men walk to get building material from the forest is to be experienced to be believed. Again were showed the Jesus film which we have done before here and 5 more people were converted.

BUT the Lord had us teach on some very urgent matters relating to multiple wives. In this area tradition runs very deep and especially the young men are wanting to force tradition into the church. And are putting the leaders into a lot of conflict with the headmen as well as the witchdoctors. Please pray for the leaders, they are the ones who are really at the work face chiseling away.

The group left on Friday 11th July. We were able to take a short break to catch our breath with Walter & Rosie.

Short Update

This month is going to be an exciting, busy, hectic time! The Outreach group from SA will be leaving on the evening of the 28th June and will be traveling up via Maputo- they should be here by the 30th.
After one day of preparing, we get them on the road again to a place called Mupengo where we will plant a new Church. The leader of this new Church is called Oliver.
We will be spending three days there, building the Church, doing ladies/children ministries and be showing the Jesus film.
Thereafter, the idea is to come home, do washing, refresh and off again to Bunga for three days. Bunga was one of the first Churches that the Outreach team helped build. As the church is already built, we will be focusing on teaching and showing the Jesus film.

The rest of the time we will spend here in Espungabera working at the Church and around the house. We will also be showing the Jesus film and Ladies ministry.
A couple has arrived from the UK and they will be joining us for the two weeks. The Outreach group will be leaving on the 11th July and Toni arriving in Mozambique for her holiday at the same time. She is flying to Beira-no more Harare at this stage!The weekend of the 18-20th we will be meeting up with fellow colleagues for a time of fellowship, fun and relaxation at the beach. THEN, back here to work.

Praise: We give thanks for:
*The Lord’s daily provision/protection in our lives and our good health,
*Toni coming home and the completion of another year,
*For the support and encouragement of those involved with the Outreach.
*For YOU and others who make it possible for us to be here- with prayer and financial.
*And for the contributions received towards the vehicle fund.

Prayer requests:
*Please pray for the traveling of the group to Moz and back again.
*For the planting of the new Church at Mupengo and for Oliver as the leader.
*For all the various ministries taking place during this time.
*And that we can have good quality time with Toni
*Lastly, please continue to keep our neighbors, Zim in your prayers.

June Newsletter

Bush Telegraph
What’s happening over the next month?
By Dawn

This month is going to be an exciting, busy, hectic time!
The Outreach group from SA will be leaving on the evening of the 28th June and will be traveling up via Maputo- they should be here by the 30th. After one day of preparing, we get them on the road again to a place called Mupengo where we will plant a new Church. The leader of this new Church is called Oliver. We will be spending three days there, building the Church, doing ladies/children ministries and be showing the Jesus film.

Thereafter, the idea is to come home, do washing, refresh and off again to Bunga for three days.
Bunga was one of the first Churches that the Outreach team helped build. As the church is already built but is being made bigger, we will be focusing on teaching and showing the Jesus film.

The rest of the time we will spend here in Espungabera working at the Church and around the house. We will also be showing the Jesus film and Ladies ministry.
A couple has arrived from the UK and they will be joining us for the two weeks. The Outreach group will be leaving on the 11th July and Toni arriving in Mozambique for her holiday at the same time. She is flying Nairobi/Pemba/Nampula/Beira. No more Harare at this stage!
The weekend of the 18-20th we will be meeting up with fellow colleagues for a time of fellowship, fun and relaxation at the beach. THEN, back here and to work.

Praise and Prayer
Praise: We give thanks for:
*The Lord’s daily provision/protection in our lives and our good health,
*Toni coming home and the completion of another year,
*For the support and encouragement of those involved with the Outreach.
*For YOU and others who make it possible for us to be here- with prayer and financial.
*And for the contributions received towards the vehicle fund.

Prayer requests:
*Please pray for the traveling of the group to Moz and back again.
*For the planting of the new Church at Mupengo and for Oliver as the leader.
*For all the various ministries taking place during this time.
*And that we can have good quality time with Toni
*Lastly, please continue to keep our neighbors, Zim in your prayers.

Take care and God Bless,
Jinx, Dawn and Toni

PRAISE

We want to give praise & thanks. Our work permits have been renewed and we have them is our hot little hands. We are now legal for the next year. Thanks for praying with us.

Latest newsletter

JESUS came to save
the LOST,
the LAST,
and the LEAST.

How time flies! Another month gone and it is nearly the middle of the year– before we know it Christmas will be here again.
You’re probably wondering what the photo and the “party” was about. Of late we have been dwindling in numbers for the Ladies Bible Study on Thursdays with several excuses being given for not coming. Katherine was doing the study on this particular day and between the two of us we made the ’goodies’ for the feast and she taught Luke 14:16-23. It was very effective and those who came got the message. Please pray for the ladies (Espungabera) to be more committed in getting to know God.

With the access to e-mail and internet we have been able to keep up with what is going on in the rest of the world. Every day we hear about the difficulties all over the world- one of them being the ever increases in fuel prices. Gone are the days when we bought diesel cars because the fuel was cheaper. In-fact diesel is more expensive than petrol, wow! When we first arrived in Mozambique in 2002 diesel was 8 Meticais per liter and now it steadily risen to 41 Meticais per liter & is set to go up again. With an exchange rate of 2.8Mt = R1 makes it R14.64 per liter. We know that all of you are feeling the pinch as well and our prayer request is for all missionaries that their support will not be affected by the sky rocketing prices.

Talking about Internet… we have a “blog”! Never to old to learn. Please visit our blog and read what is happening and also see photo’s. We will be updating it all the time so you can log in any time you want to. Our blog address is: jinxdawn.blogspot.com

Many of you know that our vehicle broke down in Pretoria and we need to start working towards replacing it. We have registered a Vehicle Replacement Fund with our AIM office in Cape Town. Should you feel led to contribute please contact Jill by email-finance.sa@aimint.net or by phone on 021-7615917 for banking details.

This week Jinx and Alberto are out at the Bible School. The Ladies ministries are going well. They are all taking their “projects” very seriously. Mukulyane is knitting, Tsitsamma, Bunga and Mukumba are all sewing. Here, we are sewing and also selling popcorn. Wonderful news!- the uniforms for the 12 ladies going to conference have been made.-black skirts, white shirts and white hats. Please continue to keep them in prayer.

On the home front– we are all fine. Toni is doing well at school and her mid term is coming up soon. Water and electricity still the same– practically non existent. We thank the Lord for our good health.
We are expecting the outreach group around the 28th June. We are so exited and are happy that a member and her son will also be coming from our home church! Please keep the outreach n your prayers with the last preparations and for their traveling up through Maputo.

Take care and God Bless
Jinx and Dawn

Vehicle replacement progress

Hi to all again,
You will have noticed a big themometer on the right. We have had such a terrible time with second hand vehicles that we have had to register a replacement fund. It shows the progress in US$ towards a new vehicle. Big price tag items are normally paid for in US$ in Mozambique but if you would like to contribute, any currency is fine. But please contact Jill at AIM on the email or phone for banking detail. finance.sa@aimint.net (0027) 21 761 5917

To all those who know us a huge big HI!

This is a wonderful new tool to us, not just this blog site but in many ways the internet as a whole. Being as it were isolated in Espungabera and until recently without communication of any sort, to now have email and internet at home. Well we are just very grateful.

We will be updating this page regularly so please check it out to see what's going on in this neck of the woods.

We would also like to keep you informed about new things we have planned. 2008 has thrown us a few curved balls this year already but we have also seen God's hand guiding those "curved balls".

Please pray for:

We have just recently applied for our work permits to be renewed on 28/04/08 and are hoping all going well, that they will be ready to be picked up on about the 15th May.

Newsletter

Dear All,

So much has happened since the last newsletter went out! We were blessed to have visitors - the Douma’s from our home church in Pietermaritzburg together with Learnmore the one weekend and then the our Mozambique unit leader from Beira the following weekend. And Toni is home from school!

Due to the uncertainty in Zimbabwe, Toni will not be flying from Harare on the 21st April but from Jo’burg. We thank the Lord for the people that were instrumental in helping to change her ticket.

Contrary to what the builder told us- the house is not finished yet. The bulk of what he has done so far is satisfactory but a lot still needs to be completed. Please pray that he can finish up as my folks are feeling a bit frustrated at not having a proper home. We thank the Lord that my Dad is okay after suffering a heart attack.

We have a hectic schedule over the next couple of months. From the 23rd-28th April the American Board Church are having their yearly conference in Beira. Jinx will be taking the leaders of the churches we work with to attend. Please could you keep them in prayer for the week and for travel mercies.

EXCITING NEWS! Jinx is going to be starting a new project - “Youth Teaching.” It is going to be an eight week course which is going to be done in ‘two week blocks’- starting the 5th May-16th May. It is specifically geared to the ages of 18-25. The main aim is to produce potential new leaders that can reach other people in their areas. Please pray that the youth who attend are led by God and for Jinx as he prepares his material and his ‘camping out’ for three weeks of the month. (One for Bible School and two for the youth.)

The Ladies Conference is in September and all the churches are trying to raise funds for some of them to attend. The Espungabera ladies have planted their beans and are also planning to sell popcorn. The ladies of Mukulyane have knitted layettes which they are going to sell and the ladies from Tsitsamma are sewing various items. We thank the Lord for their enthusiasm to get involved in raising funds.

We have some more wonderful news! Last month when we were in SA we bought a VSAT Broadband and are now up and running. We can now send and receive emails so please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish-ANYTIME!

It’s so funny how we can start to appreciate the small things in life! After six months we now have water in town again and while the elections were on in Zimbabwe we had electricity for four days solidly. We don’t take anything for granted anymore and thank the Lord daily for the blessings He gives us.

We are still learning the local language of Ndau. Please could you continue to keep us in your prayers that we may master the language. We thank the Lord that we have a wonderful teacher who knows the grammar side of Ndau as well.

I’m so happy! We are now the proud owners of four kittens- the rats were starting to takeover. I don’t think we will ever be rid of the rats completely but at least we can contain them. In the first week they caught a couple! Didn’t I mention that small things can make us happy?

Thank you all for being part of a team in bringing the Gospel to the Ndau in Mozambique!

Take care and God Bless
Jinx and Dawn


Postal address: P.O. Box 190, Mount Selinda, Zimbabwe
Email address :jdreyneke@aimint.net OR
reinike@mwebafrica.com