Trip to Visit Rural Churches, Part 2

Sunday October 23, 2011
Bathed, broke camp and left at 6:30 am. Six and a half hours of bad road (210 km of dirt). Got to church in Tete as they were taking the Lord's Supper. On the way Mica (the regular preacher) asked me to preach, on the subject of giving. Started the lesson with God as giver because of his love, with application to us imitating God.

Tete is HOT! (It sits in a river valley shaped like a bowl.) Ate lunch at a Lebanese cafe – roasted chicken and french fries. 300 km to Mutarara. 200 of it on really bad dirt road (some dirt roads are not that bad). We had two flat tires – at the same time, and only one spare. We changed one tire, and Dionisio took off running down the road – we were in the middle of nowhere. A couple of kilometers down the road he found some people, and about 45 minutes later here he came on the back of a bicycle, with a bicycle pump. We pumped up the 2^nd tire and prayed we would make it to the next town (35 km away). We arrived there about dark, roused the local tire repairman (he had a hammer and a couple of crowbars, and some patching material) and 3 hours later we were on our way.

Arrived 11 pm in Mutarara (supposed to have arrived for evening service), to about 100 children and adults singing in Senna “Welcome missionary friends, you have arrived.” They escorted us the last mile to the preachers house, showering us with bougainvillea flower petals and singing all the while. Jacob set up the Jesus Film, which finished about 1:30 am. They served us dinner (around midnight) of rice, millet and fish. The only light in the house was one small flashlight mounted on the ceiling rafters.



Monday October 24, 2011
Woke up to sound of kids. Bathed, broke camp and packed car. They served us breakfast of bread (rolls), scrambled eggs and tea. Sweating like a pig! 8:30 am.

Drove 26 km from Mutarara to Bompoma (not a town – just the name of the rural area where the church is located. Same with all the stops today. In each place, the church building is located on the property of either the preacher or one of the members, who served as our hosts.) Greeted with singing. Preached on 1 Cor 12 – one body, many members, then Matthew 20 and Philippians 2 on serving one another. Jacob translated into Portuguese then Pedro into Senna. Jacob interpreted my intent as needed while he translated, then Pedro elaborated as he felt led, so I don't know what they really heard! Seemed to be well received. About 60 people present, with 3 pastors from other churches. The evening service had about 200 in attendance.

After a long lunch break, we had another session (from about 4 – 5:30 pm). Jacob and Dionisio preached. One of the things Jacob talked about was how to study the Bible. (My question is, how do you study the Bible when very few people have Bibles, and most cannot read? My suggestion was that they spend time in their assemblies letting the congregation memorize passages as they are read.) After dark, they watched the Jesus Film – two times. To bed about 10:30. The wind had been blowing hard all afternoon and evening. There is no grass around here – just plowed fields and dirt. It was like being in a dust storm until sometime during the night, when the wind died down.

Lunch was rice and goat parts (organs). I ate the liver, because I could identify it. Dinner – cheema (she ma) and goat parts. Because it was dark I figured what I couldn't see wouldn't hurt me, so I don't know what I ate.

Story of the Bompoma church – a preacher in the Union of the Harvest Church in another area had a strong disagreement with his church leaders, who began to persecute him. He left the area, went to Mutarara, and met Pedro, who encouraged him to go to Bompoma and start a church. Began with two people a couple of years ago. Now they have 60+ members.

One thing I have observed is that people are the same everywhere. We have the same needs, the same underlying problems, the same fears, and the good news of Jesus meets the deepest needs of us all.