The Kingdom of God Revealed through Floorball



The beauty of Lake Nissa in Metangula, Mozambique

  I drove 100 km (62 miles) outside of Lichinga to Metangula, a town that is situated on Lake Niassa. The main floorball coaches and Claude, the young man from Switzerland who has been training them and discipling them, were meeting at the lake to celebrate Claude’s last few weeks with them. They slept in tents on the beach within a lodge’s property. I slept in my car on the same beach close by them. There was a guard nearby, but when I asked him how well he had slept, he said he slept well through the night. I thought that would be the case, so I slept in my car :)


These young Mozambican youth are special treasures. Many are called into something much greater than what they ever expected - Floorball, a vehicle through which Jesus Christ wants to reveal His glory into the sports arena; Floorball, a dream that God has given to Mozambique with little Lichinga being the only place in all of Mozambique that has this sport. When one government official, who travels all over Mozambique, requested a special meeting to see them practice, he saw them praying together before practicing. He remarked on how different these youth were, and how their faith in God was a good thing in sports.


Hanging out before Dinner

As I spent time with them on the beach, my heart silently ached and was in prayer for these young men. I wondered if they were really prepared to walk with God in His dream for Floorball. I pray for them because I know the glory of God only remains in low and broken vessels, and because I long for them all to have a relationship with God that is fully dependent upon intimate experiences that only Jesus can bring to lives abandoned in His presence.
 

We had fun burying coaches

The Lord taught me so much more while sitting on the beach and playing with these young men. I would have chosen certain things to happen on that day at the beach. But, the Lord is a great teacher and He opened my heart to what He prepared in the midst of my longing for my friends to experience more of Him. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (and only in the Holy Spirit). We experienced the kingdom all day long. One of the coaches took it upon Himself to cook for all the rest. He did it without complaining. That’s peace. We had more than enough spaghetti, and these young men could have eaten all of it. Instead, we saved a bunch and shared it with some very hungry children that were staring at us, but not asking for anything. Those children were so happy. The peace and joy of God was operating in our midst. One of the coaches joined me as we talked to them about Jesus. After eating, the children washed out the basin and returned it and also filled it with water from the lake (this was to wash our plates in). At another time, there were a few other children who wanted to hang around the coaches. They wouldn’t leave. This was a God moment. So, Felix, one of the coaches, translated for me as I explained to them about the salvation of Jesus Christ. Two of the three little boys gave their lives to Jesus with joy on their faces. The third boy prayed with us also, but since his main language was Makua, and not Portuguese or Nanja, I’m not sure how well he understood. Righteousness came in this moment as we experienced His kingdom yet again. 

Please join me, join us all, in believing God and asking Christ Jesus to consume all of these young men’s hearts, and for the glory of God to fill Floorball like never before. During the time at the lake, I learned that in His own way, the Lord is fulfilling His purposes in this Floorball team.  If we trust God and if we live utterly dependent upon Him alone, His dream for Floorball will become a reality. Your kingdom come and will be done, oh Lord!

Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes





Entering the New Year 2011

We are sure many of you are excited and in great anticipation about year 2011. There are so many wonderful things that the Lord is revealing. For us, it feels like the Lord is opening to us a whole new time full of opportunities, and walking us through a ripe garden giving us glimpses of things He has for us. Rather than sharing some of the things we are planning this year, we’ll just talk about the goodness of God that is abounding at the start of this New Year. The Lord’s goodness is a way that He allows us to experience deeper depths of His heart in such a way that we choose to look away from our own abilities, longings and needs to revel in the sufficiency of who He is. May this year be a year in which the people of God be in expectancy of the Lord’s greatness, and abound in His awesome goodness.

A Day of Many Surprises
Last Saturday, 5 of the hockey coaches, Claude (young man from Switzerland who is training them for a year) and I went to Lake Niassa for the day. On the way, the Lord told us that He would give us surprises. During the 1 ½ hour trip to the lake, we saw two groups of wild monkeys. We tried to feed the second large group we saw, but they backed further away from the car when we got out. Then, two of the hockey coaches that couldn’t swim learned how to swim in what seemed to be about 15 minutes. One of the coaches, Focas, was sick with a fever, and just lay down on the beach without playing or talking much. The Lord gave us another surprise, and shortly after Focas was prayed for, he began to run on the hot, sunny beach and swim in the lake – totally healed. Then there was some kind of bird that would fly, suddenly hover in mid-air for a while, and then quickly dive into the lake for a catch. It was so close to us, and we all watched it in awe. The Lord is good. As the other coaches were walking along the beach, Claude and I were given a special time together, praying and getting “lost” in the presence of God and worshipping our precious Jesus.


Chayah’s Healing
Also, last Saturday, our little Chayah had a fever, stopped playing, walking and talking much, and barely ate for 4 days. She pretty much stayed in mommy’s arms all day long. We usually just write about happy days and great things the Lord is doing. We will continue to do so. But, know that we (just like you) do go through days of hardships, great trials followed by greater trials, and there have been times when we just felt like crying as we still chose to worship our beautiful Jesus. On Tuesday, during a unique time of worship, Amerel exclaimed, “Daddy, Chayah is taking bites of Mommy’s sandwich!”. I hardly took notice as the Lord had so captured my heart, that the only priority and focus was worshipping Him. It did not matter if Chayah was healed at that moment or not because at that moment I was doing what was most important to Jesus. His priorities prioritize everything else and set the stage for every good thing according to His own perfect understanding (Romans 8:28, 31). The Lord is only good, and it is never wrong to always put Him first.

Continue to pray for Mozambique and Lichinga. Believe God to bring in souls, draw people closer to Him, change the atmosphere over areas, and strengthen the believers who are confessing the name of Jesus Christ. This is another great year for the Lord’s Harvest. We believe and desire to be among those who will experience the new and greater things of the kingdom that Jesus Christ desires to bring forth in the earth.

Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes
Lichinga, Mozambique

Jesus! Lets Play Floorball!!!

For months I knew that the team of 12 Christian Swiss floorball trainers were coming and what they were going to do. But, after one week, I’m still in awe at the workings of God that are unfolding before my eyes. His creative strategies are too beautiful to capture with words, and only daily experiences can partially suffice. The coaches are receiving advanced trainings in floorball, being showered with love and teaching from the word of God, and in the midst, the Lord is establishing a group of handpicked coaches who will advance the kingdom of God in local villages and districts outside of Lichinga through floorball. We all know that after the Swiss team leaves, there will still be a lot of work to do to continue to prepare and support the coaches. Celio, the head coach, and myself trust the Lord to strengthen us and continue to be faithful with what He started, and with what only He can fulfill.

This week on Wednesday we'll be having "fun" floorball trainings in the villages of Namacula and Sanjala; on Thursday there we'll be a tournament in the city for youth, followed by an outreach in Namacula village on Saturday.

Below are several pictures to give you a glimpse of some things that have been happening.

Swiss and Mozambicans working together to make a goal

Teaching the Parable of the Lost Sheep

A team was started for girls

Our floorball camp was aired on national radio and TV (Celio being interviewed by the radio station)

Handing out diplomas for completing the Floorball Camp (2nd from the right: Director of Sports for the Province of Niassa, Mozambique. He is also in the first photo on top)

Please continue to pray for God's prescence to be upon the Floorball activities and that we will all encounter Him in life changing ways.

Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes