missionary update

From:Brenda Lange
Date: September 17, 2011
Subject: Blog, Sept. 17, 2011

MORE New Regulations for Orphan Homes sets off wave of mass construction. Praise the Lord that these new rules do not affect our 20 mud brick homes hosting widowed grandmothers who are raising their orphaned grandchildren.But the new rules specify that orphans living in “Foster Homes” (because they have no family at all), must be housed in CONCRETE BRICK homes.

It affects 5 of our homes hosting 15 orphans and 2 foster mothers (as well as our teenage boy’s dorm).The construction must be finished by Dec. 2012.Sounds like a long way off, but Dec. to April is the rainy season making construction very difficult. Currently, I’m supervising the construction of the new dorm for orphan boys ages 11 to 18.

Our construction teams consist of 3 brick laying teams, one roofing crew, an 11 man rock breaking crew, and 1 carpentry team making doors and windows.Out here if you need something, you make it yourself.

This is what it takes to build something in our area:Our carpenters contracted wood cutters to cut 4X4 beams and boards in the bush. We transport them to our warehouse, where the carpenters turn them into roofs, doors, windows, and tables for the kids.

The brick layers have to have certain size rocks for the foundations of the homes, so 11 men sit all day in a shaded area breaking rocks with hammers.The only thing we buy ready-made is nails, tin roofing sheets, and bags of cement. All that has to be hauled in from 30 miles away.In fact, our 6 ton truck took a load of food to Meluco’s orphans yesterday, and on their return will buy 5 tons of cement that must be unloaded this afternoon into our warehouse.

Nothing comes easy out here.Once the dorm is finished we will have to start building the 5 new foster homes.I’ll tell you more about that once the dorm construction is completed.

SECOND REGULATION: Each large orphan program must hire a graduate of the Social Service School in Maputo to help supervise the orphans. Nilza, our 21 year old new graduate will be arriving TONIGHT from Maputo.

Capena, my office manager, left at 4:30a.m. today to fetch her at the Pemba airport.We are currently organizing a house for her too. In the meantime, she will stay with Dominica, our Woman’s Pastor.Going from Maputo city to a mud hut will be a culture shock for her.We all hope she can make the adjustments.

CHURCH UPDATE:1. ROOF COMPLETED for Kopweeto Church (donated by Rebecca Harris’ and supporters from Rock Island, TX area).

THANK YOU to all who supported Rebecca and helped her make this roof possible. The church members are VERY excited to have a good roof to protect the new church they built.

2. DONOR of Kwe Kwe church walls, Bette Everett, of Cypress, TX. THANK YOU for making it possible for these new Christians to have “strong walls” for their church. Pastor Alberto went to Kwe Kwe today on his motorbike to teach God’s Word and organize a brick layer to finish the church walls this week. I just received the 4X4 roofing beams yesterday, so our carpenter team will be going out by the end of Sept. to put on the roof.

3. Pequaria, the little church I personally disciple, is hard at work making bricks so they can build a small church. The old building we meet in will not last through this rainy season as the roof is already “swayback”, and is being held up by one tree trunk. The walls are full of termites, as they ate the bamboo and fence posts used to hold up the mud plaster. I’ve convinced them that it is better to meet in the shade outside their present church for now.

4. Naccaca Church has hit persecution from the village chief who stopped a meeting last week claiming we are illegally there. Religious Affairs has been notified and this should be cleared up this week. The government recognizes us as a registered church and will send the police if necessary to inform the village leaders of this fact, as they are in the wrong trying to stop us from meeting in their village.

MIRACULOUS RECOVERY FROM MALARIA!Sam Lyles started with a high fever on Wed. evening followed by all the other symptoms of malaria.Prayer followed immediately by treatment was the course of action.Malaria is usually quite draining the first time someone has it, which was the case the first 24 hours with Sam.Sam’s words were, “I feel like I was hit by a truck.” (which is exactly what it feels like). You become weak as a new born kitten, no appetite, and have a severe headache if you sit up at all.Yet 24 hours after the onset, Sam is out of bed, walks the 100 yards to my house, and EATS with us.THAT, my friends is the power of Jesus’ healing power, cause it is NOT ORDINARY.We PTL for Sam’s quick recovery.

The Lord’s Blessings on all you put your hands too in the week ahead.

Love in Christ,
Bush Bunny Brenda and the Balama Team