If you can't go to the city - go to the "bush, bush".

The latest lockdown in Mozambique began two weeks ago, to everyone’s dismay.  But our seminar teachers responded enthusiastically with, “We want to still continue!  The people are hungry for the Word and want to still gather together! We will go to the far out-lying areas where the government is not patrolling.”  We weren’t sure about their safety, but chose to honor their courage and determination.  Here are some pictures of one of last week’s seminar gatherings in the “bush bush.”  

Interview from Mozambique

Praise God our team in Nampula, Mozambique is equipped with a truck, supplies, and permission from the governing officials to once again start giving out relief to the refugees! They’ve been directed to help the most needy - 1,000 newly arrived families who have escaped from the northern region where insurgents continue to rampage the area.  We have enough funds to help around 750 families so far, giving each one a hoe to start a vegetable garden, soap, rice, beans, oil, spices, pan, plates, cups, and a bucket to fetch water.  We are also in process of finding gospel tracts in their languages.  The president has called for another lockdown, stricter than ever, but because we are giving relief, the team is allowed to be out helping the people and sharing the gospel!  Last weekend was the first of 17 distributions, as each one can only have 60 families maximum.  

Personal Encouragement

It appears that when we get a revelation of God’s love for us, we are then motivated and able to share His love and “be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God…able to accomplish more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”  Hallelujah! 

I encourage you to meditate on these verses - maybe check it out in several translations.  I’m particularly enjoying this in the New Living Translation.  They are so rich and life-giving.  Enjoy!

Eph. 3:16-20, “I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  Your brothers and sisters in Mozambique thank you too.  

Much Love,

Lorena and Brian

Japan for Jesus

Our daughter and son-in-law, Danielle and Cody, are currently missionaries in Japan.  We are so proud of them, leaving the States to go to one of the most difficult mission fields and learning one of the most difficult languages in the world.  This month, they will complete the 5th quarter of their intensely challenging, 2-year language school. Recently, Cody was given the honor of sharing the meaning of Christmas to their entire school and staff of around eighty people, completely in Japanese! Many had never heard the name “Jesus.” 

It hasn’t been easy. Cody has been working full-time remotely while attending language school with Danielle. Studying the language has taken a majority of their time, typically 8 hours a day of class time, commute and homework.  Danielle and Cody are now able to read and write a certain amount and manage basic life skills like shopping, paying bills, and getting around town - all in Japanese!  

 

As Japan is one of the most expensive and difficult places for missionaries, they wanted to first financially invest in themselves before asking others to do so. However, Cody’s remote job is now no longer available.  

 

Cody and Danielle have a vision to reach the youth and business community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A Scottish missionary who died of malaria serving in an Arab country wrote, “I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.” With similar hearts, Cody and Danielle have a passion for Japan. As one of the most unreached nations in the world, it is steeped in the darkness of depression, suicide and hopelessness.  In order to reach these amazing people with the love of Jesus, these serious issues must be addressed.  They are currently developing an evangelistic strategic to restore families, build healthy marriages, and rescue those on  the verge suicide.  

Also on their hearts is a vision to be a part of a missions movement to Japan by building an infrastructure to help a multitude of missionaries enter the country. Read about their process and plans in their own words at codyanddanielle.org.

We would love to see Cody and Danielle be full-time missionaries with the freedom to commit all their time to missions work and language learning. Unfortunately, due to Covid-related border restrictions, they are unable to return to the States to raise support.  As they step out in faith, trusting the Lord to provide for their needs, we invite you to join us in supporting them this new year of 2021.  If any of our friends and family would like to contribute monthly or with a one-time gift, we have listed ways to give at 

https://transforminglivesministry.org/services/

Also if you would like to receive their newsletters, you can request them directly by writing them at codyanddanielle@gmail.com.

Pastor Tanueque has massive stroke; refugee relief delayed!

Distribution of food and supplies to the refugees in Mozambique was going well until our beloved leader in Nampula, Pastor Tanueque, had a massive stroke.  (He and his family were essentially the distribution team.) We were heart broken.  Pastor Tanueque is in his seventies but has always been a go getter.  The first pictures we saw of him showed Pastor Tanueque almost completely paralyzed, needing help to sit up. 

Later, we received a video from his son showing how well he was doing (after 4 days).  Tanueque’s left side was still partially paralyzed but he was speaking and eating!  He and his family are very encouraged.  We are amazed and thankful for how fast he is recovering!  Thank you Jesus!  Pastor Taneuque is now getting physical therapy in a private hospital.  Please pray with us for a complete recovery!

You can see this video at https://youtu.be/wQ8iO9mQTm4

Typhoon Relief in the Philippines under way!

We are so blessed the way people have responded to the needs in Mozambique and the Philippines!  We sent $1,000.00 to the Philippines, which was all we had in our account.  Since that time people have given and pledged over a thousand more.  The first funds we will use for immediate relief and future funds we send will be for repairing our two churches that were damaged by the typhoon.  

Helping Mozambican churches open up

Many of our churches in Mozambique remain closed because they cannot afford to meet the government requirements for reopening.  The main obstacle that most churches have is they cannot afford a forehead thermometer.  Thank you to those who knew of this need and helped us buy enough thermometers to give to all the district churches in 7 provinces (55 thermometers).  They are now on their way to opening up!  The churches have been shut down now for 8 months, with strict punishment for disobeying.  Currently, however, we are organizing a 5-day conference with all the district and provincial pastors.  This will take place the beginning of January.  Brian will have his newest discipleship booklet available for the seminar teachers at this time.  Please pray with us for a huge outpouring of the Holy Spirit, refreshment in the Word of God, encouragement and wonderful much needed fellowship between these pastors, and a fruitful time of planning for next year’s seminar schedule. 

Prayer Requests

 PRAYER REQUEST

On November 11, 2020, Typhoon Vamco devastated parts of the Philippines. The Typhoon had sustained winds of 90 miles per hour. It caused 100,000 evacuations, and killed at least six people. Two of our churches were severely damaged as well as the crops and homes of many of our church members. We will be sending out a thousand dollars this week to help and plan to send more in the next couple of weeks. Pastor Ramboyong, who leads the churches in the Philippines wrote, “The church building in Canaman partly collapsed. …the super typhoon caused water flooding both in Magarao and Canaman and most of the church members are in need of food and medicine. Their crops are totally destroyed.” If you would like to help with this need please go to our donate page. 

Donations https://transforminglivesministry.org/services/ 

CLOSED WITHOUT THERMOMETERs

Most of our churches in Mozambique will be closed until they can comply with government Covid-19 regulations.  They have been closed now for 8 months.  Every church needs a non-contact thermometer, bucket, disinfectant soap, and masks in order to open.  Heavy fines and even imprisonment can result from not complying and receiving a document from the government certifying that these items are on hand.  Most of our fellowships cannot afford the $35.00 thermometer, since their average offering is under $10.  Our goal is to buy a thermometer and supplies for as many of our churches as possible, targeting about 100 district churches, which are over the “local” fellowships.  (This amounts to hundreds of churches.) Once these are open, we can resume our discipleship/training seminars in 7 provinces with our 5 Mozambican discipleship teams!  These believers desperately need encouragement and fellowship.