Labor of Love Newsletter - May 2017

   Labor of Love May 2017 by Stephanie Williams on Scribd

Short-Term Missions 2016

Amy Brewer from Texas

This year God has blessed us with some amazing short-term visitors. As I look back, I see such extraordinary people that God called to work alongside us.

In February, a loving nurse named Amy joined us. She is American and came for three months. She served faithfully in the clinic, helping with the day to day running of the clinic. Her help and impact on the patients cannot be understated. She was a blessing and I’m thankful she was able to come.

Gerrit and Herma from the Netherlands

In April, a couple named Gerrit and Herma came out do a vision tour of the work at the clinic and at Maforga as a whole. They run a wonderful ministry called Follow Ministries which serves to equip and encourage medical charity ministries such as ours. We had an amazing time getting to know each other and planned how and when they would return with a larger missions team later in the year.

Marilize Jordaan from S. Africa

In July, a sweet friend named Marilize joined us for several weeks. She was hoping to help with the clinic but by that time we had already temporarily closed. So instead we spent our time preparing the clinic for re-opening, chasing down paperwork, cleaning, organizing, and learning the guitar. She was a joy to have and came at such an important time for us, encouraging us in the work. I cannot wait to have her back!

In August, my nephew from the States came for several weeks. His name is Luis and is studying to be a physical therapist. Originally he hoped to help out with the clinic but again things were stalled in the re-opening of the clinic. So instead he became my personal assistant making even the smallest of tasks easier. I loved having him here and hope he can return.

Luis Hafen-Lopez from Texas

In September, a construction crew of two joined us for several weeks. Rudy and Dave are from Calvary Chapel Johannesburg. They brought us so many blessings, but the biggest blessings were the repairs they did on the clinic. They helped solve our leaky roof issues and exercised the electrical demons in the clinic. The most amazing of course what the fact they were able to give us running water at the clinic for the first time in a year and a half. What a blessing they were!

Dave and Rudy from South Africa

In October, a Dutch construction team came through and did a whirlwind of building and fixing, teaching and loving! These eleven men and women had such a beautiful impact on us. It was so hard putting them back on the plane. I seriously wanted them all to stay. I look forward to when they can return!

Look for a blog post about them in the near future.

Maforga Christmas Play

Christmas is quite the tradition here at Maforga! Each year a Christmas play is written and produced by someone new... and this year Jose, one of the older orphans, chose to do it. (You can see Jose holding the papers behind the red chair in the photo above. He was narrator to this year's play.)

Above you see the angels singing before the creation of the world, then there was the story of Adam and Eve's fall in the garden... and how sin entered the world.

 Afterwards, Isaiah (as seen in blue above) prophesied of the coming Messiah.

Then the story of Mary's visit from Gabriel, the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, and Jesus' birth! When He was born (someone handed our youngest orphan, Abraham, through the back of the curtain and a huge cheer rippled through the spectators. So fun!)

Then Joseph and Mary presented Jesus in the temple. Aren't they adorable? During this dedication of Jesus, they hear the prophesies and worship of Simeon and Anna in the temple. (Don't mind the fact this is out of order. :- )

Next the shepherds come to worship and they do so to rap music and break dancing! Oh, how I love watching little boys flip through the air and do robot jerks! Too fun!

 After the shepherds worship and the angles sing (above), Jesus is visited by another group. Yep... the Star(s) of Bethlehem (below).

 As the stars entered the scene, they twirled and danced in a shining line... much like a streak.

 Following the stars were three very lavishly dressed Wise Men holding telescopes to their eyes.

 First the Wise Men go to the King in Jerusalem. Then they head to Bethlehem and offer the gifts to Jesus and this parents... who then run off to Egypt to flee the coming massacre.

Once safely away, the whole production came to dance and dance... and dance some more in celebration of the Lowly King's birth!

 

This year.... baby Abraham played Jesus. Surprisingly, he slept through it all. All the cheers. All the dancing. All the waving him about. It was so fun to see him so clueless... and so peaceful! 

 The next day, for Christmas, we all (meaning staff, over 100 orphans, and various friends) gathered to celebrate the day with a huge feast, futbol, and more dancing at Maforga's annual "Maforga's Got Talent" show.

 Futbol galore!

 For the talent show we had poetry reading, dancing, and more dancing! So fun!

 We also started dinner (like most African feasts) with dessert first! Ha ha! Yummy!

 

Some of the missionary kids growing up at the orphanage. 

 

Many of the orphans enjoying Christmas dinner. Wow was the roasted lamb good!

I pray all of you had a wonderful Christmas! Love from all of us at Maforga!

Wintering in

Winter is starting here and I’m kicking myself for not bringing warmer clothes. I foolishly thought I’d be fine with just a few light jackets.
    --What was I thinking?

It’s been rainy and cold --gusty and damp-- but at least the trees are still green, right? Soon winter will wither the grasses and strip the trees and this magical land of cool lushness will fade into browns, charcoal grays, and black.
   --Sigh. I’m not looking forward to that.

Interior view of my cottage

The small cottage I call home lets in the draft but up until last week my heater was working just fine. However, it is now wonky... so I’m back to lots of layers and warm slippers for my feet.

It is hard to imagine how those without windows keep out the cold.

Anyway... this past month I’ve spent quite a lot of time organizing my house and furnishing it --tables, curtains, kitchen pots, towels.

View from my back door. Beautiful!

It’s surprising all it takes to make a four walls a "home".
 
   --But I’m happy to. So happy!

This is the first time in 7 years I’ve had the privilege of hanging pictures and arranging flowers. I dreamed of this day for so long!

   --What a blessing!

My cottage is a one bedroom en suite with a living room and kitchen. It’s cramped for entertaining... but certainly ideal for just me! I love it!

There are a number of things I still have to work out of course --hot water heater, electrical shorts in the wiring, more furniture, flooring, kitchen sink, etc.

Nevertheless, I feel blessed to call it home.

Video: Mozambican Vision

Video: Clinic & Chicken Project

Video: Maforga's Orphans

Video: Compound and Missionaries

Video: Church in Moz

Children’s Church!

The church at Maforga is made up of missionaries and orphans. Several workers and local residents come as well, but it’s predominantly orphans. As such, it is more like children’s church thank anything else.

We typically start at 10 am to allow everyone time to come. Brightly colored children who just hours before were hauling water from the nearby pump, are now clean and pressed and ready to sing.

And oh do they sing!

The first hour or two is spent doing just that. Forget about singing just one or two songs! No. Here they clap and dance and sway to their tiny heart’s desire. And often anyone is allowed to pick the next song.

Once one praise song is over, another happy, warbling soprano from the back of the room pipes up. I often turn to see who this tiny voice belongs to, only to discover a pint sized orphan in braids. 

She sings the first line of the song in a strained high-pitched melody, then the rest of the room booms in a raucous echo. A new song has begun.

Mostly they sing in Portuguese, but sometimes they belt out praise in Shona (or Chitewe... I’m not sure yet). Every now and again, they’ll switch to English.

And when they do... familiar songs rattle about my ears with surprising freshness. It’s startling to find the song reinterpreted with African rhythms. I like it.



After the singing comes the testimonies and prayer. This is when anyone with a burden on their heart stands before the church to share what God has done for them this week... or informs the church about important prayers.

One week little Carolina (a girl of about 7 or 8) stood before us saying, “I was very sick last week with malaria. We almost had to send me to Zimbabwe. But you prayed and I am now well. Thank you Jesus!” Then she sang a song of praise in a haunting voice that stirred our hearts and silenced the room.

Wow.

After the testimonies the tithe is taken by placing a grass woven basket in the front of the room. Those who have a heart to give, do so with joy.

Last week, instead of money one of the local women offered a large sac of ground millet as her offering. It was so heavy she hefted it up slowly to bring it forward, then propped it next to the basket as we sang.

Once the offering has been taken, someone preaches. So far it has been one of three different men --all of whom speak fluent Portuguese. Nevertheless, there is always an English translator for visitors like me.

We are typically finished by around 1 pm. We say our goodbyes, then head off in our various directions for lunch.

After one service, there was such a joyous Spirit that no one wanted to go home. Many stayed to dance and sing some more. I caught a little of it on video. Enjoy!

(Note: video to come shortly if I can get youtube to work.)