Has it really only been a week since we updated on here?
I feel like so much has happened since we last “talked”. I have some good news and some sad news. I’ll start with the sad, so that we can end positively…
Our new friend at the hospital Joaquim lost his life Thursday morning. We knew it was coming. Everyone did. Death loomed over him for about two days. Each hour he lived we felt like a miracle had happened.
He was fine. He was laughing and having spirited conversations with Jon just one week earlier. But then it seemed like we came in one day and he had taken a turn for the worse. Two days later he died. It was a blow.
I have never been involved in ministry like this. Watching people die. Loosing people so regularly. It is changing me. I cannot pinpoint exactly how, but I feel it; I know it is happening. Lord, you must know what you are doing. ..
I wrote a bit more about Joaquim at www.africangypsy.blogspot.com
And for the good news. The Angola news. That’s right, Angola news again! Thank you for your prayers. You have been a part of all of this!
Jon and I needed to head to South Africa this week to reset our Mozambican visas, and as I told you a couple weeks ago we had and interview with a potential ministry to partner with for Angola. Well after 11 hours of travel south, we had the interview, and it went really well!
The couple we met with have a really neat heart for the Lord and His work. Their views and approach to ministry seems to line up well with what we believe. This was important for us to feel connected in this area! They have been in Angola since 1996 and have established relationships with the government and people. (Huge advantage!)
The organization is call “Operation Mobilization”. Many of you may have heard about them. They have a small team working up in Luanda and then do work part of the year in a town called Menongue, however there are no permanent missionaries there. If we begin working with them, we would be permanently in Menongue (pronounced maNONgay). You may remember us talking about the town of Namibe, where we originally wanted to work. After talking and praying we feel a release and peace about changing locations in our hearts if all were to work out.
Our hearts remain focused on the orphaned and vulnerable children, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS. Their ministry has already started construction for a children’s center in Menongue, but it has yet to be completed, and they have no one to run it. We are praying about being the ones to do just that.
Here is the approach we would like to take towards pursuing this:
We would like to get a temporary visa (3 month) and do a bit of a trial run with them. We would go visit both the Menongue site and the one in Luanda. We could get a feel for the town and the local people. We would work out all details and get all questions answered. (One meeting over lunch is hardly enough time!) If we can, Lord willing the paperwork can get processed quick enough, we would like to meet them in Menongue, Angola on February 20th.
If paperwork does not work out, we would push that date back until May, when the couple would return to Menongue.
From there, if we receive confirmation from the Lord and things work out, we would be required to leave Angola until our work permits could be processed. That could could take about 3 months to 6 months. During that time it is yet to be decided what we would do. One possibility is that we would return to Mozambique and continue working here while maintaining our Portuguese.
Here are ways you can pray for us:
- That our paperwork for a short-term visa would be processed quickly
- That the Lord would continue to speak to our hearts and confirm His plan for us
- Wisdom and discernment
We welcome advice or thoughts on any of this! Thanks for your constant love and support. We could feel the prayers during our travels to South Africa and on the day of our meeting. We love you!
Enjoying Tiramisu coffee and a Hazelnut/Caramel coffee!
(This is the only coffee shop we know of in all of southern Africa that has flavored coffee. Yum! )
Layne I am so sorry to hear about the death of your new friend. Sometimes knowing that someone is now free of pain is only a small comfort when you so badly wanted them to be free of that pain in this physical world. Yes, God is changing you, how could he not, when he has put this continent and its people so on your heart? I am amazed by your and Jon’s strength, just know that tears are okay, sometimes the strength comes through the tears. And a secret I will share with you – you never get dehydrated! Once you think that you have quite possibly cried all the tears out of your whole body, he gives us more. There must be a spiritual significance in our tears, a cleansing, a healing, and maybe even a refreshing? I will be continuing to pray for you and Jon and your journey to Angola – may God’s clarity reign bright.
Praying my friends. Kevin read part of one of your emails at church today. So many people love you here!!
God is changing you both and all of us through you, thank you. I am so thankful to God for already this possible move to Angola!!! You’ve got our prayers and love as well:)
I am sorry for the loss of your friend. It seems there are many losses and sad news in this world, but thank God we know the Good News. That even after the sadness and loss we know that person is definitely in a better place and that brings joy. Pray for Mariah she can’t keep any food or water down and was in Hosp. last week came home and now may go back tomorrow. We did find out she is having a boy and all are very excited although we don’t know what to do with a boy. With all our girls we are uneducated in boys but we’ll learn. I will be praying for you and know the Lord will send you where He needs you. Luv, Jonna
Sorry about the loss of your friend, but God has put him in a better place and free of pain. I am praying for you guys and thank you for the updates.. God couldn’t have picked a better couple to do this love of work that both of you have within your hearts..God Bless you both for the wonderful work that you guys are doing for the people in Africa and making new family and friends.. Thank you from the bottom of my heart…Love and Hugs…Take care..Annmarie
SO THRILLED for ya’ll. Praying and rejoicing for the little things and little steps being made. God is good ALL the time :)
Love the map you put, helps me see where you’ll are! I like the name of that town Namibe, cute. Love and prayers
I’m sorry to hear about Joaquim.
I’m praying for you brother and sister. I’m excited to visit you someday!
Thanks for the specific prayer requests….we’re on it ;)
So exciting!! Love you both!!
Hi Jon & Layne. Read about the possible opportunity with OM! Cool! Let us know how that progresses. It is SO great to know that even when we do not know – HE KNOWS! He knows the plans He has for you. He is not wondering, “hmmm….. what should they do now?….” He is our dream giver and dream fulfiller. I really identified with you when you were talking about your friend that died. When we went to Uganda in 1991 – I remember being so overwhelmed by the death around us everyday!! That is when I wrote my SECOND song – Jesus Is Our Hope! I realized, “Lord, you have to be our bottom line! You must be our foundation! You are our HOPE”. The chorus of that old song goes, “There is hope in His sacrifice, for that’s where we get our cleansing. And there is hope in His death, for that’s where we get our life. There is hope for tomorrow, when things don’t work out right. Because Jesus is alive – and He’s our hope.” Love you guys! Not so great internet in our new house…but today I have it! xoxox