Momming in Moz

Being a mom in Mozambique is the strangest thing I have ever done, and I hear regular momming is pretty crazy. I REALLY don't know what I am doing half the time, ok, ok, most of the time...ALL OF THE TIME. I am being dramatic, but here's the deal, what's weird about it is doing something I have never done outside of the context I have always seen it done in. There are some days I don't know any different, but then there are days I go cold at the thought of his grandparents not squishing his little checks, or get frustrated that there are no restrooms for diaper changes, or panic on Sunday's because I have to hold my in-desperate-need-of-a-nap babe through a 3 and half hour 95 degree church service, or feel suffocated by not being able to go anywhere safely without Matt... It all seems so hard in the moment, but then I realize how trivial it all is. ALL. OF. IT. While there is a learning curve, and sometimes I fail miserably (below you will find a clip with a little description of what happened afterwards. Hilarious!) in our time here with Cedar, God has really put his finger on areas where I am selfish, insecure, and just plain silly. Happiness is not a babysitter on Saturday night or stroller worthy sidewalks. Happiness is, after putting a tired boy down, walking into a living room full of college students singing praises. Happiness is a sweat dabbled baby getting loved on by countless people every Sunday. Happiness is your babe smiling and waving at the "least of these" without judgement and with all the acceptance in the world. Happiness is being in God's will, and for me, that is momming in Moz. 

(To set you up, we have never been to this church before and this is a VERY special event where Matt is presenting the campus ministry movement.) So, what you can't see is that behind me are 35+ elders on the stage, and I don’t know if you noticed the 10ish kids at my feet…because of Cedar. Right as I stop recording Cedar starts screaming, and he won't stop. Obvious solution, a lady comes up from behind me and runs, yes runs, out of a side door on the opposite side of the stage. You guessed it, Cedar starts whaling. I have two choices. One, pretend I don’t hear anything coming from ALL the open doors and windows. Two, get up and walk across the platform in front of Matt as he is speaking and rescue my tired, sweaty, and hungry babe. After about a minute, I look over to see a lady waving her arms at me to come outside. I am trying to politely be the BIGGEST distraction ever when I hear, in Portuguese, the pastor stop the presses to ask me to say something to the congregation. So, I literally spin on my heel and say something (probably a very confusing something) then scamper off to get my boy. You can laugh. Matt and I did, but we waited a couple of weeks. ;) PURE Moz momming. 

Seeing Fruit

A couple of years ago God began to grow a vision in our hearts, one of a redeemed Africa through transformed cities, realized in the lives of renewed university students. The road so far has been difficult at times, and complicated, but thoroughly satisfying. Nevertheless, my greatest joy yet happened a few days ago. I was sitting across from Bonomar, one of our committed leaders, and we were discussing how things were going. His eyes were on fire, and with passion in his voice, he described our movement from his perspective. It was like looking into a mirror and seeing the deep desires of my heart, as if God had transplanted what is inside of me to the depths of him. His excitement for what God is doing is contagious. Lives are being changed, the lost are coming to follow Jesus, and believers are hungrier for his presence.

The ministry here is comprised of groups that meet on the various universities. Made up of around 8-12 people, they are focused on creating spaces where discussions about scripture and Jesus take place. Through a facilitated conversation, the groups discover together the truth that's in specific passages, and then together find ways in which they can be obedient to those truths. There are many reasons God has led us to use this method, but one is that a lot of people who wouldn't normally come to a seemingly "churchy" thing, are participating, and being transformed. Our groups have succeeded in eliminating some of the traditional barriers that have kept this generation from encountering our living Jesus.

One of the many incredible stories from our groups is about Edson, a guy with whom the leader of the group, Carlos, has a lot of history. Carlos had tried, in semesters past, to share the gospel with him, and talk about the things of God, but Edson didn't want anything to do with it. He was convinced that Jesus was a fraud, and wouldn't even allow Carlos to talk, as he would berate him with arguments and accusations. Fast forward to this semester, and Carlos starts one of our bible studies. He invited Edson, not thinking much about it, but to Carlos' surprise he accepted. Carlos was worried as he didn't want Edson to come in to the discussion and dominate it with irrelevant arguments, and distractions, but he trusted God. Edson came to the group, and praise God, he participated in the conversation about the scripture, and experienced the love of God as he was welcomed into family. He was able to see Jesus with fresh eyes, and experience him truly for the first time!

We are convinced that there is no person who, given the ability to see Jesus for who he truly is,  would reject the Lord. That's why the scripture says that "every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God," because on that day everyone will see God for who he truly is (Rom 14:11). Jesus is giving our community here in Mozambique fresh eyes. Please pray that more Edson's are found, and brought in to discover their identity as sons of God, and culture shapers of Mozambique.