Saturday 26 July 2014

MOZAMBIQUE 2014 - II - THE SUNDAY

 I went to Igreja Luterana São Paulo, Sena, for the Service on Sunday morning, where I preached and performed baptisms and Holy Communion. Mateus Domingos Sifa, one of the TEE students, is in charge of this congregation.
 On the way walking to the church with Mateus, I saw an advertisement: “Traditional Doctor… heals every kind of illness… expels demons… helps to get job…” – The Old Testament reading for that Sunday was from Isaiah 55:6-13: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon…” After the reading by a layman, I asked if I could say a few words (it was not the sermon). I used this text of the OT to call people back to the True God, and not to the spirits of their ancestors, following traditional doctors and witches. Our God is the Only One who forgives our sins and who loves us.  People should not go back to the evil ways of their forefathers, but God is near and invites to come to Him by faith in Jesus. – People clapped hands several times while I was speaking and agreed that they had left the work of darkness and are now walking in the light of Jesus.
 The youth group performed very nice songs during the Service…
 ...and they had a nice moment of prayers.
 16 children were brought to the Holy Baptism.
 Parents are waiting eagerly for an ordained pastor to come and to baptize their children.
 The eight future pastors received a Certificate of Deacons of the Lutheran Church Mozambique this year and are now authorized to perform the Baptism. (Read more in the Newsletter).
 God works in marvellous ways in Mozambique!
 After the Service, the mothers with their baptized children posed for a picture in front of the church.   
 
 Pastor André went this same Sunday to Kapasseni. He got a lift by motorcycle with Manuel Jone Jambo, one of the TEE students.
 They passed through the village of Mpango, where a new church has been built and should be ready this year.
 Paulo Ernesto Mineses, one of the TEE students, is the leader of this church.
 Kapasseni is where Pastor Alfazema was born in 1950, and where he began the mission of the Lutheran Church in 2006.
 The boy and the drum: this is the common instrument played at the churches.
 They also mark the rhythm of the songs with two pieces of wood, which makes a loud clap sound.
 Dancing while singing is a “must”. They cannot sing without dancing… and this is their way to praise the Lord!
 Baptisms were performed in Kapasseni as well and the Lord’s Supper was offered to the communicants.
 After the Service, they went a little further to visit the village of Zambezi. This is the church that was built last year, and they desperately need a better church to worship during the rainy season (summer).
 Julio Mineses Nhapigode (Jolinho) is the TEE student in charge of this congregation.
 Pastor Alfazema preached in Chemba this Sunday morning. He performed Baptisms and Holy Communion, and also gave a wedding blessing to Júlio Albano Castomo and his wife, and to João Luis Nota and his wife, two of the TEE students who have already finished their documents and are now legally married (and not only according to the tribe tradition). (Just to remind you: Brazil sent a special donation last year for the wedding expenses of the eight students.)
 In the afternoon, Pastor Alfazema and his wife visited the church in Sena. The whole congregation came together again and the church was packed. All were happy to see their first spiritual leader again.
Mrs. Perpétua Marcos Alfazema spoke to the people as well. They are loved by their fellow Mozambique people!

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