October 18, 2005 | Update
Well, we needed more fansĶ And that was all it took; I was off to Nampula, a nice five-hour drive south with my friend, Herb. As we get closer to summer it is getting hotter and hotter. Today I left my set of keys in my living room. On my keychain is a little thermometer (thanks Tom M.); it was reading just a hair under 100 degrees. It is getting hotter as each day passes and we are loving it. It is funny how our bodies are adapting to life here; we would have never thought that 90 would be a nice cool shade.
Musy stayed back at home as my friend and I drove south. I have done this trip a few times before, and it is a blessing to get off the base and see Mozambique. This is all part of being a missionary here for Iris. We have the meetings and church three times a week. Every week there are outreaches, salvations and healings which are incredible and are one of the main reasons we are here. But when the base needs 12 new high output fans we hit the road. Not only does this shopping trip get me a chance to buy fans, but also I get to grab a few personal things for our house.
Currently there is a drought in our Province and there is barely any running water. Normally we are supposed to have running water twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Each time the water only runs for 15 minutes. When I say runs I mean it is more of a fast trickle. We have learned to be sweaty and a little smelly. It is nothing a little deodorant can't cover up.
On this trip, I get some supplies to build a water tank in order to create a reserve off our house, with a pump to get it to the two most important places: the bathroom and kitchen. This trip went a lot smoother than the last. During our last stay in Nampula our truck was broken into while Musy and two younger girls were in it. All that was taken was a cell phone. Nampula is dangerous but it is also the place where Iris is seeing the greatest miracles.
Enough of that; here is some incredible new news. Musy and I are planning on going to the Congo with Iris!!! We are still working out the details but I talked with Heidi a few weeks ago, and she was delighted that we offered to go. Right now this is just a short trip (one to two months), and we are still not sure of the departure dates. We were planning on leaving sooner but things have changed because of Heidi¬¼s sickness.
We will help with the building and setting up with a church and a small children¬¼s center, as well as traveling all over and preaching. This will not be a glamorous trip. Most likely we will be staying in a pastor's house, sleeping on a dirt floor and in sleeping bags. This is also going to be a dangerous trip because this is a persecuted nation. (don¬¼t worry mom)
A few nights ago we were able to sit down and discuss this trip with Rolland over dinner. He had just been to the Congo with Surprise (Iris Co Director); Rolland said the Congo has the strongest hunger for God than any other place he had ever seen. That means a lot coming from Rolland. That was all it took. We have already started planning, looking at tickets and trying to get some of the logistics in place. As I entered into prayer about this, the Lord spoke some things to me. He spoke to me about my fear and our purpose here at Iris. I felt Jesus asking me why we came not to Iris, but why we came to Africa.
When I first arrived at Iris, Heidi was quick to ask me what I wanted to do here. I replied, "I want to serve Iris and whatever you guys need, I will do whatever I can to jump in and help." Before I could finish my sentence she interrupted me and said you have been serving people for six years. What is it that you want to do now; it is time to stop doing what other people want.
Even though Heidi had asked me that question I feel like it came directly from the Lord. Right now, Musy and I feel like we need to go to the Congo for a short time, and the Lord is saying, sure whatever you want. True life in Christ is understanding this life is not our own. I felt the Lord speak this over me the night as I was laying in bed praying about the Congo. This life is not my own, and in this place there is perfect peace, rest, and joy. In this place I am willing to lay my life down for Him.
I have never thought about this before. Living in America, I have never been in the place where I have had to face death every day. Here it is a different story. There is death all around us. The people are dying of every disease and sickness under the sun. The Muslims are dying and they don't even know it.
In the middle of all of this death, here we are, in one of the greatest moves of God. Even now as I am writing this, two hundred pastors-in-training are being filled by the Holy Spirit. I can hear all of them through my window screaming and crying out to God for more of His spirit for their lives and for Mozambique. They understand that this life is not their own. Now theirs is a laid down life, solely with the purpose on spreading His life.
Would you keep Musy and I in prayer as we prepare to leave? I saw Heidi yesterday at church, and she prayed and prophesied over me. I have not had a touch from God that strong in over a year. There is an excitement in our spirits about this, that we will see this great revival fire spread across the Congo.
Blessings, Will and Musy