Here is the latest news from Radio Nuru:
“‘It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”-Romans 9:26
Mwani men gather around playing a game
We have used the above verse as the opener for this update, asking you to remember back ten years ago, when national believers from other existing tribes in Mozambique told our team of missionaries in Pangane that they didn’t know why we were attempting to bring the Gospel to the most stubborn, resistant group of people (the Mwani); they failed to see the possibilities then and continue to lack vision now, but now it seems that their murmuring may be in the process of being quieted. The sadness is that when the Mwani fields begin to be harvested, the fruit may not be able to be joyfully brought in to the local church, but may have to be stored to the side in scepticism and prejudice. Muchante, Abdul, their wives and we all agree that God is being honored through Radio NURU and that His Word is bringing change, hope, light, and truth to the homes of many people. Yesterday morning, a young Mwani man named Musa got on his knees in Muchante’s home to accept Christ as his Savior, and another neighbor named Assane joined the prayer time. He says he “isn’t far behind in line to do the same.” Today a small home with a grass roof was purchased in a neighboring village called Xinavane so that Muchante and Abdul can have a meeting place for new believers and seekers who need prayer and encouragement. Pray that Muchante and Abdul, ‘good seeds’ according to Jesus’ parable, will multiply sixty, seventy fold and more! There are many stories of how God is showing folks His power and love. We are constantly being encouraged through our weekly survey/interview trips to outlying villages.”
Here are some more praise points and encouragements from the station:
A new antenna has been bought, enabling Radio Nuru to broadcast all the way to Mocimboa-da-Praia where the Mwani TIMO Team is working!
The new couple working at the radio station are settling in really well. Thank you for praying.
The video entitled “The Hope” has been completed in Kimwani! This one and a half hour production explains God’s story chronologically, using some powerful graphics and the heart language of the Mwani. They are being distributed now. Pray that God will also use this as a means to reach out to His newfound “sons and daughters.”
The interesting and challenging questions just keep on coming! Pray for great wisdom for Brother Muchante as he tries to give feedback with a kernel of truth from God’s Word, mixed with grace and love.
The TIMO team in Mocimboa-da-Praia write with exciting news:
“1. Pray for Zaina…a young lady who has AIDS and who has gone through turmoil of recurring sickness and pain. The Mwani solution has always been to negotiate with the demons in a twisted ceremony called a “pungay”. You might remember a while back how Zaina and three others came to Jesus through the relationship of our teammate, Ana. Zaina continues to listen to Bible stories on the little pre-programmed recorder, but she is so afraid. She has no house of her own, her husband is basically never around, and there is tremendous family pressure to conform to the “Mwani way of life”. Please pray for Zaina and her relatives who also came to Jesus: Sifa, Sara, and Zura!
2. The other day, our team meeting was interrupted with the intrusion of three police - complete with AK-47 Machine Guns—escorting a sheepish victim, none other than our Mzee Momade [a Mwani believer, but not the same Momade who we were praying for last year when his wife died.] Turns out they suspect Momade of being both a thief (for having the pre-programmed Scriptures player) and an “unregistered witchdoctor” (for having some roots, plants and bones in his backpack). According to them, “this is exactly the kind of person who transforms into an elephant and kills people at night.” Not exactly the kind of evidence that we’d admit into a Western court of law, but this is rural Africa. Extraordinary events are blamed on the spirit world. Well, after refusing to offer them any bribes, but rather choosing the path of being VERY hospitable (“would you like a cold coke? how about some cake?”)…..they left without any formal charges. Now, onto teaching Momade about the power of God over dependency on charms, amulets, etc. We used the David-Goliath story last week in the Mwani Fellowship, and will follow up with some personal discussions this coming week.
3. Please pray for another friend, Abdule, a team member’s Sunday guard. Abdule’s dad has never been a part of his life and even publicly disowned him last year. His mom died of AIDS while we were in the states in 2009. Everyone struck Abdule off as “bad”, “headed for trouble,” etc. He’s certainly a kid who is full of mischief and fun, but recently began showing a serious side, too. Abdule started coming to our Mwani Fellowships and after the last one this past week, he came in the morning to say that he believes and wants to become a “nfulati wa Insa” (Follower of Jesus). It was a privilege to witness the occasion and to see Abdule step out in faith. His biggest concern now is his family who has already threatened him: “If you join the “nzungu’s” (white man’s) religion, you won’t eat or sleep in our house anymore. Would you pray for protection and growth in Abdule’s faith? ”
Do keep on praying for these precious individuals!
PRAYER POINTS
- Pray for the building of the new Radio NURU antenna and for Muchante’s, Abdul’s and the other workers’ ministry there.
- Pray for Momade—that God would continue to sanctify him and make him more like Jesus. Pray for wisdom for the believers there as they minister to him.
- Keep on praying for our sisters Zaina, Sifa, Sara and Zura. Ask the Lord for his strength for them to be able to stand up to the pressure they are under from family and community, and for joy in their walk with him.
- Keep our new brother Abdule in your prayers.
- Ask God for more Mwani converts and praise him for the amazing stories we are hearing about them in these days.