Day 5: Part I—A Deep Subject

It is hard to convey how well the team has been able to leverage individual talents in showing compassion and testifying by word and example. Kara seems to have a special connection with young children and women at every place we visit (see photo below). Jordan comes up with beautiful photos of the events, many of which I have used on the blog. Jeremy introduces himself as being 203 centimeters tall, and immediately gets laughs and a roar from the crowd—he too has a special relationship with the kids. George was called upon to pray over the well today and did a fantastic job—then, he pumped water for one of the high-ranking elders, which earned the team a lot of “service points” in the Mozambique community.

Then, there’s Dennis who seems to come up with just the right thing to say and do at every occasion. He is quick to admit that he has no idea what he is going to say ahead of time—it just happens. I on the other hand suspect some divine inspiration. For example, today he pulled out Daniel (our driver, interpreter and cattle project supervisor for World Hope) in front of the crowd to explain the name of our church. When he got to the part of the twelve stones in Joshua 4:20-24, signifying what the Lord God had done to dry up the Jordan River and protect his people, Dennis turned and pointed to the new well. He said that from now on every time the community looks upon that well, they should remember that it is not just 12Stone or World Hope but that same God who is providing for and protecting His people.

After eating lunch and playing games with the children we left to go visit a drilling site in operation. This was particularly thrilling because the whole community seemed to be involved with the project. They were pumping water down the hole simultaneously while operating the drill and sinking pipe. When the water gushed back up, it carried mud and debris, which had to be screened out by hand, shovel, and netting before circulating back down the well. This made the drilling much easier. Of course, we all had to take turns with the various screenings. At just under 60 meters the African World Hope supervisors decided that based on the soil samples they had drilled enough. Tomorrow we return to watch them submerge the water pipes with filters at the right depths to clean out and finish the well.

Day 5: Part II—Gotta Dance!

I can’t pass up this opportunity to tell you about the importance of dance—individually and as a group we participated with the Mozambicans at every single event in this form of celebration. And I don’t mind saying that we seem to be getting better at it! Ok, maybe we’re just enjoying it more. At any rate, it is an important part of African celebration, and “when in Mozambique….”

For those who see a problem with our “boogying down,” I would like to point out that King David himself danced before the Lord with all his might when the ark was brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). I believe no other action, word or deed on this trip has communicated our joy, compassion, and brotherhood with the people of Mozambique than our celebratory dancing with them.

Dance on, George—get down with it, Jeremy!

Alive in the Lord,

bill