Coming Home in May

Dear Family and Friends:

How are you? I hope this letter reaches you in good spirits.
Some of you might be surprised, but I am returning to the States at the beginning of May. Please don’t be concerned for me because I committed my life to Jesus a long time ago, and I will go wherever He sends me. I am pleased to be where He is. I have led a very blessed and satisfying life, and I am looking forward to what He has ahead for me. The Bible says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."
I served in Mozambique for a very fulfilling year, and there are going to be some things that will be very painful for me to leave behind. I am going to leave behind a dynamic Healing Place Church campus, friendships I’ve made with Mozambicans, and the simple, no fuss, no makeup lifestyle that I started getting use to. I was a part of something bigger than myself; “missionary” started rolling off the tongue pretty well.

I’ve grown so much during this time. Someone told me right before I left for Africa that God was going to teach me that things don’t have to go my way. I’ve known that truth only logically because I led such a disciplined life that I pretty much got the results I expected. Please don’t misunderstand me, I have not had an easy life, but I have had a blessed life because I applied the principles of God from childhood. And sure enough, none of it went my way. I was stretched beyond what I thought I could handle, but God is so very loving and gentle, I absolutely surrendered to His dealings with me. Romans 5:5, says that, “God has poured out his love into our hearts.” Andrew Murray, a South African minister in the late 1800’s, said it this way: “The love of God is always the love of God in its entirety, in its fullness as an indwelling power. It is a love of God to me that leaps back to Him in love, and overflows to my fellow-men in love.” When I couldn’t do it, God showed up and poured out His love into my heart. I would never trade that for sunburst or marble halls.

For my family and friends who are staying behind, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for every sweet word of encouragement you gave me to pursue God. You will never know how much you blessed me. Isaac and Carol, I love you; thank you for demonstrating a selfless life. Pastor Ben and Susan, thank you for waking up each day with such passion for the mission God gave you; Don and Diane, thank you for showing me that it’s never too late to do something crazy for Jesus, what commitment and faith; Jacci and Jessie, what can I say about you two, what gentle spirits, serving God without grasping for male companionship; Sandra what commitment to excellence. There are many more, Missy, Sarah, Zinty, and Janet. I am indebted to you all and I will take with me all the good memories I had with you.

How does this all fit with the rest of my life story? Well, only time will tell, but I believe this experience is a stepping stone for the next chapter of my life. My Portuguese has improved 100%, and now more than ever I realize that I am meant to work on an international level to some capacity. It’s no coincidence that I was born in Brazil, have an international face, and my heart yearns for the rest of the world. I plan on taking this to the next level. I want to learn more about helping people from other countries. How this will play out, I do not know, more schooling, an international company, I have no idea, but I am looking forward to finding out. In the end, my African experience has made me a better servant to the King and that is all that matters to me.

Thank You

I was able to raise enough funds to come back for 2 months. Thank you Jesus for any time I could spend in Mozambique with Your people. I do not take it lightly, I am priviledged to serve as a missionary. I don't have to understand everything, I am just grateful to be a part. Thank you all who supported me. Please pray that I can make the most of my time here with the Mozambicans.

Fundraising for 2010

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I left you to serve on the field in Mozambique. With all the preparation and prayer, I could not have anticipated how much this country would charm and break my heart. I am charmed by the little children who have nothing, but can still sing at the top of their lungs about the goodness of the Lord. I am charmed by the simplicity of life and the natural beauty of this tropical paradise. But a year later, my heart is broken because there are still so many people to be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My heart breaks because I feel too weak to do anything about the poverty and sickness. Mozambique is still struggling to rebuild after 16 years of civil war, and they must turn to God for the answers.
Romans 10: 14-15 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
And that is what you have done: you have sent me to bring the Good News to the people of Mozambique. Healing Place Church and Children’s Cup International Relief are still operating a CarePoint to reach the impoverished families of Nkobe, a village 20 minutes outside the capital city of Maputo. We provide free meals, medical care and education to about 300 children. We have given the people hope by planting a church that serves the community in the same style that Jesus did. God is moving in the hearts of the people. I feel honored to serve Campus Coordinators and Pastors Isaac and Carol Williams with the growing church by assisting them in reaching the lost and hurting in this area. I want to thank you for supporting me on this mission. Every soul I reached you reached. Every child I hugged you hugged. I could not have done any of this without your financial and prayer support. I am truly grateful, and I pray God’s wonderful blessings on your life. I pray you consider supporting me for this coming year. It can be a one time gift or monthly support, and all support is still sent to Healing Place Church 19202 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge, La, 70809. Make sure to designate it to Deborah Williams-Mozambique. And, please, if anything, I need your prayers. More than ever, I realize I can do nothing apart from Christ.

Visit to the States

I am having a wonderful time visiting with my family and friend back in the United States. I tell everyone who asks me what the most challenging part of being a missionary is being away from family and friends. I love the work and I enjoy helping people, but not having someone to talk to really takes a toll on me. However, I wouldn't trade it for the world. When I am most miserable I am most content. I don't understand it, but I think it has to do with discovering God is your all in all.

Fish

I really don't like fish. I like salmon and tuna, but that is about it. Mozambicans, on the other hand, love fish. Here are a few pictures of our Nkobe kids cleaning fish for the next day.

Family Visit, Culture Shock

Mom and Aunt Grace came for a visit. I enjoyed having them here. We spent a few days in Mozambique, but we spent most of our time in Cape Town. I realize now more than ever the importance of taking a break. Isaac told me that living one year in Africa is the equivalent of 3 years in the States. Time flies here, but it also feels like forever. And if you leave for any amount of time and come back, its culture shock all over again. When I arrived in January, I had no idea what I was getting into. Living in Mozambique is difficult--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When I travel outside of Mozambique and come back, its a challenge to come back because now I know. Missionary Morris Plotts says, "The greatest qualification to be a missionary is ignorance. If you knew what you were getting into, you wouldn't do it."

Devotional Reading

With my highly prized cup of coffee, I sit and think about the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Its good, but it doesn't really challenge me, and I am trying to figure out why. It talks about some intense stuff like, "It is vanity to wish for a long life, an to be careless about living a good and useful life." Book One 1:4. Another one, " A humble knowledge of yourself is a surer way to God than in involved intellectual search after learning." Book One 3:4b.

I guess I am not that into the style of the book. At least in the first book, it is broken down into small exerts, but they are ramdom, on various subjects. Its good, so I am determined to get through it, but I am having a difficult time making it apply to me. Or maybe a Kempis has not convinced me that it should apply to me.

I really enjoyed reading Real Christianity by William Wilberforce and Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. It challenged me so much, "devotional reading has more of the character of a spiritual awakening out of cultural sleep than it has the idea of improving existing attitudes... We readily "sleep" within our culture until we travel abroad and are surprised by how differently other societies live and behave...Often this requires a renewed brokenness of spirit, a new or deepened sense of sin, or a profound reevaluation of our priorities...We may need then to "travel abroad" as the Desert Fathers did when they left the cities of men. We may need to explore as the medival mystics explored, or suffer as the Puritans suffered, in order to learn how secular their contemporary species of Christianity really was, and ours is today."

Visitors

I have been here 7 1/2 months, and I am receiving family visiters for the first time. I had no idea I would miss my family so much. Things are settling in well. I feel great here, its lonely sometimes, but I really enjoy what I do. I love helping people and sharing the love of Jesus. Can't wait to post some pictures of my family. They are the best.

Man's Best Friend

I am getting a dog. Her name is Nicky, and I think she is a coton de tulear. If you want more information on the breed, check out: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cotondetulear.htm. I will post some pictures soon. Reasons for getting a dog: 1. I love dogs, I miss my cocker spaniel in the States. 2. I will be moving out to a little town called Nkobe in a couple of months, its rural and not the safest place in the world, she will be a watch dog.

Ramblings About Life as a Missionary

I confess that I do not faithfully read anyone's blog, and I forget that there are people who are interested in what I do as a missionary. Let me tell you upfront that being a missionary can be a "job" just like a job anywhere. Have you ever done social work in the inner cities? I have. It definetely prepared me for the work I do now, but being a missionary is a lifestyle. You can be a missionary in your own country. What makes a missionary a missionary is someone who is obedient to God and follows Him to the most uncomfortable places to share the love of God with the "least of these." If you think that I am oversimplifying this special calling, I apologize, but I can't help but notice a few things by being in Africa. Living in a developing country is uncomfortable unless you have money. Although an American missionary is not necessarily poor, they still have to learn how to live without many things. It is difficult. I can give you a whole list of reasons why this is so, but I do not need anyone's simpathy, just trying to make a point. I've learned that I don't need to have it all together to help, (this all together can be serveral things, depending on whatever idol we have propped up in our life: is this a little to forceful to write? My confession: my "all together"/idol was efficiency/progress/organization). I don't need to speak the language perfectly, I can just dive in and love people. Its uncomfortable, but at the end of the day I know that it was God, it was a miracle, I take no credit in it. Want to be a missionary. Ask yourself what is your most uncomfortable place? Once you figured that out, practice being a missionary by living there and learning to love people.

Hope in Jesus

I wish I could share with you all the wonderful things that happen when you serve God. I've met so many wonderful people, and I have done some really cool things, and I get to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the poor. Isaiah speaking about Jesus says, "Here is my servant I have chosen, the one I love in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will no snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope."
In his name the nations will put their hope. I get to see this coming to pass. Jesus answers prayers in Mozambique, and they are learning to put their hope in Him, as I do.

Missions Teams Arriving

I am so excited about going back to Mozambique. My time in Swaziland has been great. I have made really good friends, and I have learned a lot about Children's Cup and Mission of Mercy. I go back at an exciting time, the Hub [College and 20 Somethings] from Healing Place in Baton Rouge will be coming next week on a missions trip. Then, we will be back in Swaziland for a Pastors Conference. It is huge. There are about 80 Americans coming, but most importantly, there will be pastors from all over southern Africa. God is doing some amazing things over here.

Swaziland

I am so blessed to be here for two weeks. I am staying with great missionary friends, Jessie and Missy; I am hanging out with the best people, and learning more about how to serve the people of southern africa. We played the amazing race with the youth of HPC_Swaziland. They had a great time.

Servalution

We are sharing God's love and changing lives through simple acts of kindness. Here are some of the pictures of the volunteers at HPC_Mozambique.

Ever Seeing and only now Perceiving

God has grown my heart. I see what I did not see before. Let me preface this: I am a thinker, so I am constantly thinking of ideas, making conclusions about the world. I hardly notice details like what people are wearing, decorations, etc... In fact, my cousin Isaac, the Pastor at HPC here in Mozambique, thinks I am always daydreaming, but I am actually just thinking. He is always asking me if I see certain things on the side of the road, and I always have to tell him no. But something has changed. I see now.

Glamour

I don't have a glamorous job, but it sure is rewarding, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I feel like I am where I am supposed to be. I do feel homesick sometimes, it is no easy living in another country, but it feels awesome to be a part of what God is doing all over the world. The Gospel is being preached here in Mozambique. Please continue to pray for the work here. There is so much God wants to do with us here.

2nd Week in Nkobe

Things are starting to settle in. I am getting adjusted to the time change, the new foods, and the cold showers with little water pressure. I love it though. I've been given the responsibility to take over the youth group, and to help everyone with organizing. It almost overwhelmed me with all the things that need to be done. I will take it one day at a time, and do my best.

First Visit to Nkobe

I went to the Carepoint this morning. It took us 45 minutes to get there. There were sand roads, and pot holes the size of a small bathtub. Lots of great photo opportunities. Here are some of the pictures. If you are interested in seeing more pictures, you can check out my albums on facebook.

Pictures of the Apartment and some traveling

This is me in the apartment.

All of us in Joberg waiting for a "delayed indefinetly" plane.

I arrive in Maputo, Mozambique

So, I arrived Saturday morning at 2:30. I spent a total of 32 hours traveling. Its a completely different world down here. I love it though. No air conditioning, milk comes in a box, and everything sounds expensive. It costs 350 something for a pillow. Its like 15 bucks, I think. I will be posting pictures shortly.