Pastors Hike to Remote Semu: Families Saved
MOZAMBIQUE – Our conference in Mozambique is dedicated to bringing much-needed encouragement to each church, even to the most remote villages. Several attempts to minister to the mountain village churches of Semu and Chulu have been put on hold due to the rainy season. Roads have washed out, making them impassable even for a motorbike. It would be a good excuse for most of us to remain at home, but for our brethren in Mozambique the heavy rains merely mean a delay. On Saturday March 5, 25 men and women hiked mountainous paths for the five-hour trek, carrying their respective overnight bedding and clothes on their heads and backs until they finally arrived at the village of Semu. They were greeted with much gladness and curiosity. It is uncommon for the villagers to see any visitors at all, so a delegation of this size brings the greatest show in town. Virtually everyone came out of their huts to see what the excitement was all about. Conference President Samuel Kasakatira seized the opportunity and the singing began, followed by the preaching of the Word. The reward was in seeing three families in Semu surrender their lives to the Lord Jesus.
The entourage spent the night there (Where? Sleeping on the ground, of course!) and continued on Sunday to Chulu where they found a church building blown to the ground by fierce winds. The lack of a building does not stop the church from being the church. They worshiped and ministered the Word of God to one another as the Holy Spirit brought to the church at Chulu the assurance that they are part of something bigger than themselves. “Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country” (Proverbs 25:25). The travelers had no tools nor time to assist with reconstruction, but what they could offer was the promise of prayer. Let’s join with them and pray for continued encouragement, reconstruction and that God would continue to build his church.
