Trip to Mozambique

Well, in a few short hours Pastor Steve and I will be heading to Mozambique. We are going to be there for a week exploring opportunities for our church to partner in the country to help reach the goals Mozambicans are striving for. This trip is one of learning and exploration: we want to talk with key people (in the church, government, and secular world) to find out what areas they are trying to improve, what triumphs and obstacles they have faced, and how we might be able to help them meet those goals.

It has been 7 years since I was last in the country. I lived there for a year and a half and got engaged there --the best thing I've ever done on a beach! Since Katherine and I have been married, we have tried several times to go back, but it has never worked out. If things go the way we think the Spirit is leading us now, this will not be my last trip there. Crossroads will build lasting relationships with Mozambicans through a steady stream of work trips tailored to meet the needs in Mozambique and the gifts of the people in our congregation. Exciting stuff!

I am very pleased to be able to meet with the people we will be talking with, including the United Methodist Bishop of the South Mozambique Conference (a personal hero of mine because of the key role he played in bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table during the Civil War in the 1980s and 90s), leaders in the government areas of education, health, and religion, and many pastors. I am very excited to get to re-connect with some of the young men whom I ministered alongside in my earlier time there. Several of them are now pastors and/or church planters seeing many people come to Christ while meeting the needs of their communities.

Here is a rough outline of where we will be and when, if you would join us in praying. My main request for this trip is that we will have "the right conversations with the right people." All in His timing:

Wed - Thurs.: flying: overnight in Johannesburg South Africa.
Friday morning: flight into Maputo, MZ; meet with United Methodist officials.
Saturday: a.m. meet with MZ church officials about their “Village Church Planting” model (which is rapidly growing in the north)
p.m. Meet with Christian Micro-Enterprise Development program leaders
Sunday: worshipping at MZ churches: I preach (in Portuguese!)
Monday: meeting with MZ pastor, and later with the MZ national governement Director of Relgious Affairs
Tuesday- Wed.: Chicuque (Methodist) Rural Hospital; follow up with any connections we discovered since arriving
Thursday - flying…. home Friday. If all the connections work, Steve will be preaching the next day at Crossroads.

It has been so encouraging to hear from so many people that they are praying for us. I really feel this can be a key point in the life of our congregation.

Well, so much for getting to bed early the night before the trip!