IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ONE YEAR

About a year ago, we left the U.S. and arrived in Africa, to become full-time overseas missionaries. The Lord has done so much in our lives, it seems like we have been overseas for a much longer time. We are more thrilled than ever, and are enjoying the Lord and His work here in Lichinga.

It’s the end of May, and while it’s getting warmer where we were from in the U.S. (I hope), it’s becoming quite chilly here. During June and July it will get a lot cooler (“cold”), 50’s and even 40s during the night. Many locals here are wearing huge winter coats during the evening and the early mornings. Others wrap themselves in extra material.

GRADUATION!!
On May 23, Amerel graduated from 2nd grade! Isaiah graduated from Kindergarten for 4 year olds. We use Abeka’s curriculum. My wife has been doing a wonderful job teaching them, and it shows in how they’ve grown and what they are learning.

CITY MINISTRY

During ministry yesterday, the Lord brought several people to Christ. Among them was a man who I ran into for the 3rd time in a few days. When he saw me, He waited for me as I parked my motorbike at the market. But after greeting one another he had nothing to say. He just stood there. The Holy Spirit had arranged this meeting. After a short time, he gave his life to Jesus, and committed himself to following the Lord. The man actually goes to a church, but never understood that He had to ask Jesus to be His Savior. Victor and I also spent some time ministering to a lot of children and adults in the market who already know the Lord.

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for a man whose name (I was told is something like) Atori. He is the man who walks around the city streets acting crazy, is half dressed, and screams and shouts. He is the same man that came to me one day, and stood in front of me just for a hug (it had been in my heart to hug him). The Lord has given me brief times with him in his sanity, where I was able to tell him about Jesus. He needs to be delivered from devils and he also needs to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

As we are staying focused on the presence of the Lord, we are experiencing so much more of His Spirit in our personal times of worship, ministry at the center, in the village and in the city. We feel and see the kingdom breaking into Lichinga in a greater measure. It’s like the seal of a package is being broken, and we are just hearing the sound of the package being torn open and only experiencing the initial aroma of the substance that is about to be poured out. But, what’s inside the package is so much greater that it can’t be compared to anything we are experiencing now. The Lord is doing wonderful things in our lives and in Lichinga. We are remaining low and in awe of Him alone.

We are blessed, and so thankful to be here growing in love with the Lord, and taking part in His work in Mozambique.

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

An Afternoon Of Children's Ministry In Asumani

The workers at our site prayed over Victor and I during the lunch time worship and prayer. Then we went off to Asumani Village to minister to the children. We walked through parts of the village, singing praises to the Lord as the children joined in and followed along. Suddenly, everything stopped as a little girl called to everyone to help her chase a huge rat. They crowded around the rat, kicked it and stomped it with their bare feet until they thought it was dead. Then, they ran back to us dancing and praising the Lord as though they hadn’t stopped.

When we arrived at our usual place in the village, we began worshipping Jesus. Then for some reason, most of the children began to walk away. Others were laughing and playing. Another lay on the ground crying, refusing to stop. I picked him up, held him closely, and continued worshipping the Lord. Only a very few were being attentive. This was very unusual behavior, and it was obvious that something was distracting the children. But Victor kept on worshipping the Lord. We continued to encourage the few remaining children to focus on Jesus. Worship was a little different on this day. On one hand it felt as though this was resistance, and on the other hand, it was as though we were worshipping the Lord Who “actually appeared” among us instead of worshipping in songs with just a “knowledge” of being in His presence. We taught on living surrendered lives unto the Lord. At the end several children accepted Jesus as their only Savior. Hallelujah!!! As usual, we asked if anyone needed prayer. After praying for a little boy wearing a cast (he fell off of a bicycle), another little boy (who’s saved) asked us to pray for the healing of his stomach ache. The Lord instantly took away part of the pain. His side still hurt a little so we prayed again, and the Lord removed all of the pain. His friend (who’s also a Christian) quickly stepped forward and asked us to pray for his little toe that was hurting. So, we asked the boy who was just healed of his stomach ache to lay hands on his friend and pray with us. The Lord instantly took away the pain from the boy’s little toe. These children were so excited (so were we).

Around this time, many of the other children started returning. The two boys gladly testified to the other children about how Jesus healed them. All of the children listened intently. Then, we used this healing as an example to teach them about the Kingdom of God and having the Father’s heart. We also couldn’t help but spend more time worshipping the Lord, focusing on one thing – the presence of the Lord. After we all prayed together, we encouraged the children to pray for unsaved family members who live with them. Then, as we began to leave, a bunch of children walked with us singing a song in their Jao Language: “I love Jesus, I love Jesus, I love Jesus. What about you? YES!!!”

Please pray that:
- Children will live faith-filled lives for Jesus even though they may live with Muslim and other unsaved family members who haven't accepted Jesus as their only Savior.
- The Lord protect them from others wanting to take them to witch doctors or traditional activities that don’t glorify the Lord.

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

MINISTERING TOGETHER

Recently a man came to church one Sunday with his wife. He is blind. I was called up with several other people to pray for him. I knew better, so I turned around and called my wife (I know how the Lord uses her in certain areas). As several of us prayed for him, the Lord told Tiffany to pray for his leg instead of his eyes, and also for fear. A week a later, the man came back to church testifying that it was his first week in almost of year that he stopped taking medicine for his leg. The Lord is also taking away his fear. The Lord has been changing the man’s life so much that his wife stood up and testified that her husband is a new man. He doesn’t lay in bed all day anymore, his faith is increasing, and even though his sight is not restored yet, he’ll walk around and do things. She’s almost more excited than him. Our church continues to pray for them. This man firmly believes that the Lord will restore his sight. We also believe he will see again.

My wife spends a lot of time, most of her time, indoors teaching Amerel and Isaiah. But it is often very obvious that her ministry extends well beyond the school room (sometimes even she doesn’t see it). The first Sunday in May she taught an awesome word during church service.

Often I, Tyren, am off in the city or in the village ministering, or running errands and shopping. My wife, like many of you, is praying for me (yet even more) and opening up amazing opportunities for the kingdom to go forth. It’s easy to focus on the part of the flowering part of a plant (like the one that gets to go out the house the most), but we usually don’t focus on the parts that hold up the actual flower. Yet, it’s all one. Here in Lichinga, my wife and I are one. Most of the time, we do different activities, but its one and the same ministry. We work together, seeing eye to eye, as Hearts are being harvested for the glory of the Lord. The Lord upholds all parts of us as we minister in homeschool, church, within the children’s center, the village and the city.

THE HOUSE

The “House for the Pleasure of God” continues to be built. The workers work hard, but recently I had to ask all the workers at the center to stop, so we can spend time worshipping and setting the focus on the real work that the Lord is doing here - building the real house, a dwelling place for the presence of the Lord. The head builder of our house is off for 2 weeks visiting his family in Malawi. During this time, 2 of the workers will be digging a septic tank, clearing the land around “Dancing hill” (the small hill behind the shed), and breaking huge rocks into smaller pieces to use for the flooring inside the house.

Thank you for all of your prayers. It’s impossible for you to know the full extent of your prayers. So many times we see physical evidence of the Lord protecting us, we experience sudden waves of glory in the village, and the Lord continues to bring our own hearts into lower places, into the secret place of His holiness. Hallelujah! The Lord is with you and with us as we harvest hearts. We know He is pleased.

Bringing in the harvest together with you,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

Extending the Kingdom In The City And Village

Monday, 5/5, we were supposed to go to Asumani Village to minister to the children. But, the Lord had other plans. While Victor and I were in the city, we saw a man selling hand-made straw stands. I’ve seen people selling them often, but this day I decided to buy one. Then, Victor, my translator, decided to preach to Him. The man went to a certain church but never received Jesus as His Lord and Savior. He accepted Jesus that day, and was so eager to learn more that He paid very little attention to the people inquiring about His baskets.

By this time, it was too late to go to the village of Asumani, so I went to buy bread before heading home. We were about to leave the bread shop when suddenly a little boy appeared and sat across from my motorbike. I looked at him and knew it was time to “stop for the one”. He received Jesus that day. He’s the first in his immediate family to receive Jesus. Please pray for the little boy (especially because his family could be Muslim). Also, his eyes were a little cloudy and he can’t focus them well. We prayed for him, but saw no immediate results in his eyes. I’m longing for the day when the glory of God comes into Lichinga and people are healed in the streets. I just want Jesus! Pray for us.

On 5/7 we went to Asumani Village to minister to the children. We are focusing on ministering in a specific area of the village in order to begin more in depth teaching about Jesus and salvation, and have times of worshipping in song. Jesus wants to bring in His harvest. The harvest is more than leading children to receive salvation. The harvest looks like full hearted-worshippers, who have the Father’s heart, and who will live for Jesus above, beyond and besides all other things. This is one of the things God told my wife and I to do before coming to Mozambique. The Lord showed me that as we worship with the children and teach them about Himself and His Kingdom, He will bring in His harvest. He will give them the fire within His heart, so they can desire and love Him like He desires and loves them.

A few weeks ago while praying late at night, the Lord showed me a vision. I saw and heard a man singing a new song in the local Jao language. Yesterday for the first time, Victor and I sung this song in the village. Although we had been worshipping the Lord through another song, when we sung this song the Lord sent many more children and adults over. We taught them the meaning of the song, and then we continued to worship. Several new children gave their lives to the Lord. Among them was Mwemani, a girl, who didn’t mind us praying for her in front of many of the other children who were laughing.

Here, when people are singled out for something considered different or new, others laugh at them. Usually, the adults feel uncomfortable (or ashamed as they say here) and will avoid prayer or walk away if you ask them if they want to receive Jesus. They are too concerned at what their friends may think or say about them. Yesterday, one adult stood with several children to receive salvation and then literally ran away into her house because of her friends who were watching her from a distance. But, many children have been entering the kingdom, and are not turning back.

Continue to pray for the advance of the Kingdom, the pouring out of the glory of God in this place, and that the people receiving Jesus would remain faithful and participate in the advancedment of the kingdom of God.

Love,Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

Changing Pace: A Week With The Children

Tiffany flew to Beira, Mozambique and was there from 4/22 – 4/29 to attend a woman’s conference at Peniel Worship Center (a church with whom the leader’s at our center are in relationship with). She had a wonderful time.

Amerel (7) and Isaiah (4) loved the time they had with daddy, especially because I had to take them on the motorbike everywhere I went. So, I didn’t get to check email and use the internet last week. Besides running errands for the house we are building, I had to lay everything down and just relax and spend time with them. The Lord protected us when the rear tire of the motorbike got a flat while riding to the hardware store one day. While the tube was being replaced, I took Amerel and Isaiah to the bakery for juice and “sweet bread”. During the week with my children, the Lord showed me that He had given me so much treasure that it had to be poured out into the lives of my children (the next generation). I’m so thankful for the wonderful worship, gifting and times of prayer I had with my children that I usually don’t experience because I’m out during the day. The Lord used this week where I had to change my focus and my pace, to break “good” habits and transition my heart to a whole new level of dependence on Him, resting in Him and hearing his voice.

Salvation in the City

While taking Amerel and Isaiah to a different bakery shop last week, we stopped to buy bread for a hungry little boy. I usually buy bread for the really poor adults and hungry children that are in the city. Usually the children are in the city waiting to carry bags so they can get a few cents. Because I was eager to get back home, I almost missed the opportunity to love on one child whose name was something like Jorje (I’m still getting used to Portuguese names). Right after I gave him bread, the Holy Spirit insisted that I tell him about Jesus (in Portuguese, of course). He said he attends a church but never received Jesus. Well, with much help from the Holy Spirit, I led my first person to Jesus (by myself-without an interpreter!) in Portuguese. Hallelujah!!!

Building The House for God’s Pleasure

For us, building a “house for God’s pleasure” is ministry. Our burdens are upon the Lord and there’s so much delight, peace and rest in the midst of all the work that’s involved. The joy of the Lord is our strength. In the beginning I told the workers that if they wanted to work, they’d have to do it as servants of the Lord ministering to His heart. If they only worked for money, it would show in their attitude and behavior, and I’d have to let them go. They truly love the Lord and choose to work unto the Lord. On 4/30, the foundation was completed (in 6 days) and on 5/2 we will start building the walls.

Pray With Us For Water

Please pray with us concerning our water situation. We are praying for a bore hole in order to always ample clean water. Currently there is one manually dug well in the center with cloudy white water that isn’t drinkable. The water is only used for building and washing. The only drinking water is where we’re temporarily staying (the well at the white house) which is about a 5 minute walk down the hill. Our first option is to wait until September/October to dig a well at the end of dry season when the water table is the lowest. But, the water would be of the same quality. We’d love to have a bore hole (40 – 50 meters deep which is the standard for all of the town of Lichinga). This would always provide clean drinking water even in the dry season. The cost is about ~$4000 U.S. which includes a pump and water tank which we’d use to supply water for our house.

Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for us as we build our house, and continue to harvest hearts in the villages and the city for the glory of God.