I just returned from a trip to Mozambique for two weeks. The first week was scheduled for an intensive training time with the SBF monitors. Pastors Tom Flaherty and Chris Lanser from City Church in Madison WI arrived at the same time to be the lead speakers at the training. The trip seemed like a microcosm of life in Mozambique (where the constant challenges and changes arrived like a drumbeat).

We started with a great church service in Guru where the Spirit of God was present and at work. The following day we had the opportunity to meet with the high school students. To watch them transform from typical teenagers to amazing prayer warriors in a matter of minutes was a testament to them, those who guide them and to God's work in their lives.

Towards the end of the training, we were able to visit the primary school for the dedication of the new pre-school building. The building was dedicated to Rui, who passed away last year at 10 years of age. His parents attended, and the grief at his passing was still evident and poignant even a year later. Just prior to the opening, Pastor Tom gave opportunity to open the door of your heart to Jesus. Prior to departing after the dedication, Rui's dad let us know that this day he had opened his heart to God. Watching the school kids celebrate with dance and singing was marvelous in itself, but to see the tears on Rui's mom's face turn to an expression of joy was overwhelming.

At the end of the SBF training (literally within 5 minutes) the sky opened up, and the torrents came down. The next morning as Pastors Tom and Chris were flying to Beira, a group of us were headed to the "Stone Bridge" to assess the damage from the rains. By the grace of God even though the waters had crested at least 3 feet above the deck of the bridge it stood strong but needed repair work on the approaches. Several days later, many tons of rock, and after much manual labor, access to the primary school and the communities nearby had been restored.

We were able to visit the health posts and witness caring support for communities as well as the nearly completed Chinjuju school. As much as we have followed the work of the mission through the website and the Facebook page, to see it in person provided so much more. To be able to connect with all that is happening in the physical, the temporal, the emotional and the spiritual dimensions impacts everything about your life and perspective.

Where constant challenges and changes arrived like a drumbeat! by Dwayne Lagore

John Cleveland’s Testimonial