Olá! Fala Inglês? These days I've been learning a little bit of Portuguese to prepare for our church's (Wellspring) fourth trip to Africa. A team of eight of us will be trekking to S. Africa and then onwards to Moz this fall from Sept. 9-27, 2008.
Masoyi Home-Based Care (S. Africa) – We will spend about a week in White River, S. Africa where we will visit the Lula Center and K2 (the orphan and youth day care centers run by volunteers from Masoyi). This time at Masoyi will also allow the team to capture a "big picture" of the work that Hands at Work is supporting to care for orphans and those dying of AIDs and HIV in Africa.
This will be a return visit for me, so I am hoping to meet up with some of the people (Ma Beaute, Cindy, Innocent, Sekile, Pauline) whom I met last summer. Please pray that this time would be God-ordained and that I may bring encouragement through the Word.
Rubatano Home-Based Care (Mozambique) – For the second half of the trip, our team will travel to Chimoio, Moz to join Carlos Giua, a local pastor, and his volunteers at Rubatano. Supported by Hands at Work, Pastor Carlos began working in the Gondola area in 2003 to care for the orphans, sick, and dying in central Moz.
Ministry Opportunities – Our team will be serving alongside Carlos and the volunteers through a "fun day" of games and activities for the children, home visits to the patients, meal preparations for the children/youth, medical clinic work, and construction. In particular, Carlos has asked the Wellspring Team to provide biblical encouragement to the volunteers and caregivers at Rubatano. Can you imagine what it might be like to care for 500 orphans and 150 patients on a daily basis, week after week? Please pray that we may provide words that give life and remind them of God's goodness through His precious Word.
Because of the LORD... – The overall situation in Moz and Africa may appear overwhelming and daunting, especially considering the statistic that there will be 40 million orphans in Africa by 2,010. As I reflect upon this reality, I am reminded of the story of Gideon in Judges 7 where God reduced the army of Israel from 32,000 to 300 fighting men. God wanted Israel to know that it was because of the LORD that they had victory against their enemy and not by their own might, lest they boast. In a similar vein, my prayer is that as our team brings the Good News of the Gospel, esp. in a foreign tongue, that we would humbly rely upon the Lord to be our Helper and Strength. May His great Name be glorified!
