Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Healing, Miracles and House Testimony

Healing
During an evangelism outreach in Asumani, I asked a group of children to pray for all the other sick children around them. Some of the sick children had headaches and stomach aches. When we began to worship, several of the children started pushing and shoving one another (it turned into “holy chaos” as some people call it here). But in the midst of this we continued to worship, and when the children prayed for the other ones, Jesus healed ALL of the sick children.

Miracles
A woman in our church tried several times to plant corn in her garden. Each time the bugs ate everything. If people don’t have successful crops, their families can go hungry. They also will not be able to sell extra food and will therefore suffer financially as well. Finally, this woman planted seed again and this time she cried out to the Lord. Then next time she went to check on her garden, she found that all of her corn was growing and that none of it was being eaten by bugs.
Tyren’s cell phone was low on battery power one morning. He went into the city that morning and then had to his phone to call and talk to two people. He expected the phone to run out of battery power. But when he looked at his phone, he saw that it was recharged. The Lord recharged the phone supernaturally.

Prayer for the Ministry of Building the “House for God’s Pleasure”A lot is being done on the house even though it looks similar to the last picture we sent. Cement plastering (to cover the cement blocks and make smooth walls) is being done in the inside and outside of our house. We continue to contend for the testimony of the Lord in building this house for God’s pleasure. Since we began building, cement prices have gone up, the price of roofing has literally doubled and the builder explained to me that his charge to build the house was really a charge to only build part of the house, and all the other needful parts would be extra. But since April, I had his written and signed quote to build the “whole house”. Well, I know it’s just a misunderstanding due to the way things are done here. Jesus met me in a most wonderful
way that I could no longer see the problems. I only saw Jesus and could literally do nothing but worship Him. People have misunderstood Him, too. He let me know that since He suffered for us, I am always able to see Him and meet with Him in situation I encounter. I never have to lose my focus on Him, nor leave that wonderful place of rest. Now I laugh, even with my builder. Actually, every issue we’re having is looking like an exciting opportunity to see the greatness of God! Things look different when you only see Jesus. Oh, we’re still praying that all will work-out well.
But our focus is on contending only to know Him, that we may lay a foundation in men’s hearts through the testimony that is being made known through the house we are building for God’s pleasure. (This is the pleasure God longs to know (experience) as He intimately experiences the people He created in His image). We know in whom we have believed, and know He is faithful with what He promised us. The call of God for our lives is one of God’s promises to us for what He has delightfully committed Himself to be and do in our lives as we yield and work together with Him. Our focus is on Him. Amen.
We walk through fire and are not burned, through rivers and they do not overwhelm us. In our humility we are accounted as poor. But, in this poverty of Christ-like humility, we being poor are possessing all things for His glory. (Isaiah 43:2; 2 Corinthians 6:10)
In Christ. There is no other “place” to be.
Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Pressing In For More of Him

For some reason, the last few blogs we created in July are missing from our blog site. You should have received emails with our latest new though. We’ve updated our blog with the new posting below, and will try to re-post the deleted ones as soon as possible.

A lot has been going on with house construction and our builders so we weren’t able to update the blog last week. Here’s an update on house construction and the new Saturday meetings in the city.


House Construction
House construction is going well (with much prayer) and we pray that we’ll be able to move in during August. We had to postpone putting on the roof but are continuing with other areas. Please pray that everything needed for the house will be supplied. On the other hand, the presence of the Lord is increasing during our lunch time worship and teaching, and everyone is being impacted with a greater hunger and thirst for the Lord, and living in holiness. One of the workers, James, who is 22 can neither read nor write. One afternoon, Jesus touched his heart and he asked me to give him scriptures so his wife can read the Bible to Him (this was a BIG step for James. Hallelujah!). We are praying that either his wife or someone else can teach him to read and write.



Saturday Meetings In The City
Two Saturdays ago we started our Saturday evening meetings in the city. If you remember, this was planned to start about 3 to 4 months ago but was postponed due to not having a vehicle to transport the ministry team. Now, most people will walk and ride bikes to the city church. Instead of meeting in the evening, the event starts and ends in the afternoon while it is still light.


While we were meeting in the church, a man came in and requested that someone from the church come quickly. Up the street from the church, a 22 year old man named Arlindo had been standing still in the road for some time without moving. According to some people in the village, it had been from anywhere between 1.5 to 3 hours. His eyes were open, but I don’t remember them blinking at all. He didn’t move, didn’t respond to touching or questions, and he didn’t talk. His body was very stiff (rigid). This was obviously the effect of evil spirits. His mother requested that we pray for him in the church. His whole body remained stiff while he was carried to the church. While praying for the man and worshipping the Lord, his whole body became limp and he appeared to be dead. His eyes closed and for a few minutes a few of us couldn’t feel his pulse in his wrist or his neck. (Personally, I believe he was alive but that he only appeared as dead). The whole situation reminded me of the boy in Mark 9:18,20 and 26. Later some men in our ministry team took turns carrying him to his house that was about a 20 minute walk away. When we arrived at the house, the mother gave her life to Jesus. Two days later we received a message from the mom. For the first time in about a year, the man ate food and took a bath by himself. She said that he was starting to act like a normal person again. We continue to pray for Arlindo though because he doesn’t talk and according to his family, he hasn’t received Jesus as his Savior. A few days later, Victor and I ministered to him at his house, but he didn’t talk or respond to anything we said or did.

May the Lord continue to bless you all! For some time, we’ve been feeling that the Lord has given us a double, open door to come and abide in His presence. We know we are always welcome, but there seems to a special beckoning from the Lord that is releasing our hearts from all distractions. It’s as though He’s pursing us in relentless love and passion to ensure we don’t miss this opportunity to know Him more than we’ve ever imagined. Abiding in Him all day is worth everything.

In love with Jesus,
Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Fresh (New) Works Of The Lord

When Victor and I went to the city to check on the cement bricks for my house, we had an opportunity to share the gospel with the owner of the business. Suddenly he had an emergency, and had to leave quickly. I was going to leave because I didn't want to preach at the business without the owner's consent (but the Holy Spirit was nudging me to share the gospel). Then the Holy Spirit said to me, 'Don't cheat Me'. I knew what that meant. So, we preached to all the workers. One, a muslim, walked away, but the other 6 gave their lives to Jesus. Another started laughing while he and others were praying to commit their lives to Jesus. We rebuked him, and told him that if he doesn’t repent of the wickedness in his heart, he’ll have no part in heaven or the kingdom. One of the men that just got saved looked at him and said, “He has an evil spirit, he didn’t mean what he prayed. He doesn't want to receive Jesus”. Then, we worshiped right there and ministered to the new believers. After, we found out that the workers stopped working that day because they hadn’t gotten paid in a while. Victor and I took the opportunity to teach them about being servants of God (and about loving one another). We worked with one of the other workers to do their job of shoveling all of the sand out of the sand truck. The sand is used to make the cement blocks. (At our center things work differently. The workers keep working when the finances aren’t there on paydays and even many days after. The workers at our center are Christians, with hearts for the Lord and His work, so they continue to work as “volunteers in the day of His power”. It’s a whole different mindset and heart attitude but the workers at our center are true servants of God).

Last Friday, a small team of us rode bicycles to Utimuile Village. Coming back it’s nearly a 45 minute ride mostly up hill. Many children gave their lives to Jesus (that was exciting). The Lord did something new in that we spent most of our time in people’s homes. A lady, whom the Lord healed of pain two weeks ago, took us to her house. There we prayed for her mother, who was unsaved and frequented witchdoctors for back pains. The mother was never healed by their witchcraft. Many women have back pains from carrying heavy loads. But, this is how they get water, food and wood to survive. To tell them not to carry heavy things is like telling you not to work and use automobiles, trains, etc. When the team prayed, the Lord took away nearly all the pain in the mother’s back. The team was encouraged since two weeks ago, people were healed of other things but no one was healed of back pain. The mother gave her life to Jesus. After that, another lady gave her life to the Lord. And then, another. As we were trying to leave the village, a few people stopped us to ask us pray for them because they heard there were people in their village that pray for people. We were called to pray for a blind lady who believed in Jesus. Her healing didn’t manifest right then, but we were encouraged to seek the Lord more and ask for Him to make His glory and truth known in the village of Utimuile.

I enjoyed watching the rest of the team of locals such as Foster, Victor and Fiel minister to people at their homes. The Lord is definitely spreading a passion for His presence in our hearts, and it’s being seen as we minister out of a love for Jesus. Just a note: As a team, we focus on the presence of the Lord and drawing people’s hearts to their First Love. But, in having His heart we contend to see His will done in signs, wonders, healings and miracles.

I also thank the Lord because in different areas many muslims are being saved. Many politely listen but refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior, but even these groups have been at peace with us. In other areas of Mozambique, there are adverse responses when Christ is continually preached in mainly muslim communities.
Continue to pray with us that the glory of God comes heavily upon Lichinga, and that believers will rise up to do the work of the Lord in Lichinga.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Bring Forth The Gospel With Joy

When you have the joy of the Lord, “FUN” is a big part of evangelism. Friday, evangelism in Asumani was fun. We know Jesus wants us to walk in the joy He is bringing to the villages. Our team danced before the Lord in worship forgetting about where we were (we focused on who we were with –Jesus). Gazani preached while Victor translated into the local Jao language. At the end, we spent time just talking to people. Of course, I couldn’t speak Jao to the children, but the Holy Spirit helped me communicate His heart to them. Suddenly a strong desire to pray for the children burst forth in my heart. I hugged on them and prayed for them. I called over another missionary and just said, “pray, the Lord is moving.” Before I could say anything else, she began to pray the same thing that was in my heart, that the fire of God would overtake them. After praying, all I could do was worship in a song I learned in Jao which says “You are worthy Jesus, You gave me my life”. Again, the presence of the Lord was there captivating the children’s hearts, as some joined in worshipping the Lord. Suddenly I began shouting, “Hallelujah!”, and they all spontaneously praised God, shouting and lifting their hands with me.
Yesterday, Victor and I went to the city to spend time with Jesus and to see what He wanted to do. The fun continued in the city. For the first time that we entered the market, we saw a group of Christian ladies who sell produce lined up outside. Before we realized what was happening, we were encouraging them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit. We shouted Hallelujah and lifted our hands praising God right there in the central market. The Lord sparked something in them, and they kept thanking us for preaching to them. Then, Victor led two men to the Lord. It is great seeing Victor, my translator and preaching buddy, grow in his gifting. He sees people in the market, stops to tell them about Jesus and they get saved. At first, one of the men who had been hearing us preach at other times was trying to be very quiet as he gave his life to Jesus. “If you want Jesus you can’t be ashamed,” I told him, speaking loudly. “No, no,” he said, “I want Jesus.” “Good!” I shouted, “You just gave your life to Jesus! I love Jesus and I’m not afraid to let people know it right here in the market.” Right then, I just “broke out” shouting and praising God on the street at the side gate of the market. Shame and caring about what others think is a big issue and hindrance here. When people give their lives to Jesus, they have to be willing to stand for Him right there no matter who is around.
Christiana truly gave her life to Jesus several weeks ago. The Holy Spirit led me to ask her about the name of the church she was attending. Then we learned she was still going to the mosque! (Here if you ask people if they go to church, some muslims will actually call the mosque their church). We spent some time explaining some things to her. She firmly confessed her commitment to believe in and live for Jesus Christ. Christiana’s family is not saved and she admitted being concerned about their questioning her about no longer going to the mosque. Please pray that Christiana (see photo) will not be afraid to start going to a Christian church this Sunday, and that the Holy Spirit will protect her heart, and help her be a witness for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to her entire family.
Pray with us that the people of Lichinga will see the power and truth of Jesus Christ, and that they will leave witchcraft behind to serve the only true and living God and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Love,
Tyren and Tiffany Haynes