Graduation Day and A New Beginning

Graduation Day was very exciting! Some activities we didnÕt expect. It started with an 8:30 A.M. meeting followed by some of us sweeping and mopping the cafeteria, some cleaning the latrines (holes in the dirt enclosed by walls of bamboo and mud) with sticks and small boxes, while still others of us carried chairs from the storage area to the tent where the graduation ceremony was to be held. The actual graduation activities started at 11:30 (lunch) and lasted until around 6:30. We worshipped, sang and danced with the Mozambican Pastors who were also graduating at the same time. All of these pastors voluntarily left their families, lands and/or houses behind for 3 months in order to pursue the call of God on their lives. Leaving home is no small ordeal. Many of them at some time or another had at least one child that had died, most had at least one person in their family die of starvation, others werenÕt sure of how their families would fare while they were away, and still others werenÕt sure it they would still have their land when they returned. Graduation is a very important event for the Pastors, and on that day we all thanked and celebrated the Lord for all He accomplished in our lives.

Also for us, graduation wasn't about successfully completing 10 weeks of the Holy Given International School of Missions. We encountered the Lord, we were transformed, and most importantly we have the Father's heart Ð His passion Ð for the people He will send us to next. We are thrilled with how the Lord will use us to be incarnational love to the children and adults in Africa.What's next?

Next week we will be moving east to our new home in the town of Lichinga in the Mozambican province of Niassa. Mozambique will be home until the Lord sends us elsewhere! When we initially left the U.S many people were very eager to help in some way. When we get settled in Lichinga, and see what the Lord places on our hearts, weÕll send out a blog entry with more specific opportunities for people who would like to help us impact the lives of the local people.

For now, we're seeking God's heart, enjoying a time of rest, and are taking the time to learn more Portuguese using our Rosetta Stone software. This is only the beginning for us, and we rejoice in the freedom we have to lay down our lives for the love of the Lamb, and go with Him as He searches for hearts to harvest among the nations.