Simple obedience

My first night in the bush was peaceful.  I shared a large tent with two women from Austria, only one of whom knew English.  Oh how I love languages!  I wish I knew all of them so I could speak with anyone in the world.  There we were in Mozambique, each speaking a different language, yet brought together by God.  I heard Macua, English, German and Portuguese being spoken as people settled in for the night in their tents.  Then the snoring came, but fortunately I had brought earplugs with me so I blocked out the world for a few hours and drifted off to sleep.

We woke up to the low hum of people chattering around the village and hot water boiling over a fire in preparation for our breakfast- a roll and tea or coffee.  This was one of the treats of being on outreach because tea and coffee are not served on the base.  I never truly knew what to expect each day and was at the mercy of those in charge.  I remember being thrilled to know there was actually something to eat and drink.  Suddenly, people began moving toward the truck.  I finally heard the leader say it was time for baptisms.  What!?  My first thought was, "what about breakfast?".  Fortunately, I have a filter and didn't say this out loud.  Some thoughts you just keep to yourself, especially in a country where people go without water to drink, much less a cup of Joe.

So we all piled in the truck with those who had accepted Jesus the night before and wanted to be baptized.  We pulled over on the side of the road and everyone got out.  A man began chopping a trail down the embankment using a machete.  The Mozambicans moved without concern through the reeds and into the murky water.  The rest of us sheepishly made our way down the hill to the tiny pond.  I watched intently, prayed for protection for everyone against snakes and disease and marveled at the demonstration of faith in front of me.  The pastors did the baptisms and we formed a line to pray over the people who had just made this powerful declaration that would transform them eternally.

I was amazed to watch these men, women and children as they took such bold steps of faith.  The atmosphere was calm, yet there was an underlying sense of joy and hope.  It was surprisingly simple and yet perfectly biblical.  I think we tend to overcomplicate things that were meant to be pure and literal.  That weekend the gospel was shared, people responded and water baptism followed.  

In order to have a lasting impact and provide long term support to the villages, Iris identifies men who want to become pastors in each of these villages.  They leave everything behind for 3 months at a time and are trained in the Bible School in Pemba.  Churches are established, pastors are trained and people are discipled in villages all across the nation as a result of these weekend outreaches.  

One thing that we were not able to do was provide Bibles to the people.  There is an urgent need to get the Bible translated into Macua.  I had the privilege of meeting a woman this summer whose family is moving to Mozambique to do just that, through Wycliffe Bible Translators.  Click here to find out their story: The Richards'

I want to keep my life and my theology as simple as it was intended to be.  We are called to love.  Love God.  Love people.  Simple obedience.