Hearts for the Makua

2012-01-26T15:57:00.000-08:00

Blessings is the Name of Jesus

We (Daniel and Melissa) will soon be hurdling through space at 40,000 feet high! We fly back to Mozambique this Monday, January 30th.

Who is where?

We'll greatly miss our children and grandkids here. Elijah will stay here and continue working at Vetter's Collision Repair - Great Job! Esther will stay here continuing her music training with Phil Rogers Foundation for music (par excellance and Christian!), working part-time 4-6 days a week with Brown Button Estate Sales, and primarily helping Hannah with home and young ones (1 & 3yrs).

How is Hannah?

We praise the Lord that Hannah's Lupus is being contained and that she is off of kidney dialysis with 25% kidney function. Thank you so much for being behind us here during Hannah's health crisis. There is almost no way she could have made it through without all the extra support given in the home while she was down. It's been rough. It's been stressful many times. Thanks for holding us up with your prayers. She has made great progress, but still has a long ways to go - at least another year or more of Cell-Cept... Due to the immuno-suppressant drugs, she gets every cold and flu that comes along, with the ensuing sinus infections and fevers, and so has been in bed much of the time. She's better and up more today. Please pray she can come into a sick-free time and be able to get the consistent nutritional support to heal completely and to maintain good health.

Ready for Mozambique

Also while here, we've been able to continue language practice (Melissa-Portuguese & Daniel-Makua). Amazingly, the following resources were also completed: 1) The rest of the dialogue questions for the Bible storying from Exodus on through the life of Christ with the accompanying Makua Bible text for all verses! 2) Sixteen Bible Narrative lessons for new church plants and young Christians with beautiful Gospel pictures in an African context, and 3) several other smaller pieces. These are all in Portuguese. In the next months, pray we find all the help necessary to translate them into Makua and for more "laborers for the harvest" to spread the Word of Jesus.

We've been greatly encouraged by the book, "In Heaven! Experiencing the Throne of God" by Dean Braxton. As with any book, eat the meat and spit out the bones. After reading it, we see even more of God's grandeur in John's Revelation. While @#!*% is a reality, Jesus is actively sowing the 'Good News' of forgiveness of sins and a forever relationship of love with Him. He is AWESOME!

What Now?

Well, we're back to the land of heat, rats, spitting cobras, corruption, bribes, high inflation, thefts, harrasments, fewer resources, time in lines again and again, fears, confusion, hate, greed, much sickness, grinding poverty, demonic activity...

BUT where there are also beautiful sunsets, where _everyone_ is a beautiful creation of God...

AND the LOVE and GRACE of JESUS is covering us and bringing HIS PEOPLE through to streams of living water flowing from His throne.

(John 4:10-11; 7:38; Revelation 7:17)

Love you,

Daniel and Melissa Maddux

www.beatoday.org

913-871-6490 - You can call this Kansas phone number to ring on our computer in Mozambique and speak with us.

P.S. Melissa had a GREAT birthday Jan. 15th with her Dad and Mom and sisters from Iowa.

2011-11-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

Makua Update

Hello Dear Friends,

Here and HEAVEN: What a great God we have to gives us what we could never deserve - the breath of life, family and friends, and an eternal friendship with Him through Christ! I just read through '90 Minutes in Heaven' and am again amazed at how indescribable the simplest things in heaven are - pure radiant self-less love from everyone, bodily beautiful perfection, warm intense light - everywhere!, music from the heart by myriads of angels, humans, and heavenly beings, the heavenly city.... and then there is the ..... triune God! What a HOPE we have!

HANNAH'S Health: In light of that great hope, these "light and momentary afflictions" of accompanying Hannah through Lupus recovery are minor. She still has a VERY low immune system. (She caught shingles twice & has had several bacterial lung infections in the last couple months.) Besides her current extensive regimen of meds and dialysis, a doctor is going to look into her hormone levels. We also are trying some alternative things - low-dose naltrexone... Please pray we see much recovery before we head back Mozambique. Airfare has just been re-booked for January 30th.

SURPRISE Eye-wear: Before we left Mozambique in August, Antonio's (evangelist) wife, Rabia, came to visit Melissa and pray for her return to care for Hannah. Before Rabia left we shared a favorite verse with her and asked if she would like to read it in Makua. She tried but said it was much more difficult at night with indoor lighting. So, as an experiment, we pulled out a pair of +1.25 reading glasses. She couldn't believe the improvement! She read! Praise the Lord! Now she uses them all the time. On our return, we will be taking more reading glasses to share with the Makua believers as a gift from our dear brother optometrist, Tom Hobbs, and the Warrensburg Christian Church.

Blessings and have a happy day of Thanksgiving and also soon a wonderful time remembering Christ's Birth!!!

Daniel and Melissa Maddux

www.beatoday.org - Daniel and Melissa Maddux
c/o Thomas and Linda Ledford 31625 Summit Ridge Dr.
Crystal Lakes, MO 64024 816-630-0918

Daniel and Melissa Maddux

616 Walnut St., Leavenworth, KS 66048
Email: mission@beatoday.org - Ph: 913-240-1887

2011-09-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

Madduxes for the Makua

God has done amazingly!

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done! Ps 118:17. You've got to see the VIDEO Hannah put together!

http://youtu.be/DLufGUFWd5E

Today we saw Hannah's main doctor. He said he is very positive about her recovery, as all the health markers from labs are going in the right direction up or down. While in the hospital, her active lupus level indicator, which would read below 5 for a normal person, read 634! Today it is only 10! Because of the overall improvement, the doctor is lowering the dosage on some of her blood pressure pills and steroids (prednesone...). The $4000/IV rituxin(sp?), which she received twice by IV, is still coursing through her body continuing to work for another 6 months. She still will be on CellCept for a couple more years, helping control the Lupus autoimmune response. But, the doctor is also quite hopeful Hannah could be off of kidney dialysis within 6 months. She'll see the doctor again in two months. Thank you for your prayers! We praise our heavenly Father for watching over us!

So, how much longer will we be here in the U.S.? Elijah and Esther will stay this time. Elijah had quite a test, gearing up to go to Mozambique, selling and purchasing things, getting there and buying a motorcycle to get around the city and help others, then having to sell it for a much lower price to recoup some cash. Elijah will now stay here and continue to work at Vetter's Autobody where he is being trained - another PRAISE the LORD. Esther will stay on after we leave to help Hannah manage the household. We're grateful that, while we weren't long enough in Mozambique as planned to save up for Esther a car, the extra funds from you all will take care of this big need and enable Esther to be a great support to Hannah. We'll miss Elijah and Esther tremendously!!! God took them through a test, as they both on their own decided to return to Mozambique to serve, and yet, the Lord had other plans and it is obviously best they stay here now. Melissa right now is doing a phenomenal job helping Hannah around the house, as Hannah's energy level isn't fully back yet. We're enjoying the grandkids like never before!!! Melissa and I are considering returning to Mozambique in early January. By that time, Lord willing, Hannah will be much more able to take care of things.

Another piece of GOOD NEWS is that during this time Melissa and I are continuing language training. Each morning Melissa reads from her Portuguese Bible and I help her with pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar... She's progressing marvelously. I'm also studying Makua and loving it - just wish I could speak fluently! More GOOD NEWS is that each day I'm completing the Portuguese training resources we need for church planting/discipling and will have them translated once back in Mozambique. Among other things, I had previously completed all the questions in Portuguese and Makua for the key stories of Genesis. I'm 80% done with all the rest of the questions on into the life of Christ! By November, Melissa and I hope to be back working on the marriage training for the Makua, providing a simple way pastors can circulate this encouragement throughout the churches. So please pray for our spiritual vitality in the Lord as we pour over these things.

Finally, we thank God for His generosity through YOU. Extra beyond our airfare came in and has made it possible to cover all our other extra expenses in the U.S.!

Praising the Father for His Dear Son - our Lord Jesus!

Daniel and Melissa with Elijah and Esther

www.beatoday.org

Ph#: 913-240-1887 (U.S.)

Ph#: 913-871-6490 (U.S. & even Mozambique via internet Skype.)

Donations can be sent to:

B.E.A.

c/o Thomas and Linda Ledford

31625 Summit Ridge Dr.

Crystal Lakes, MO 64024

816-630-0918

Your prayers are a sweet incense rising to the throne of our awesome Father. May the Lord Jesus receive the Glory!

2011-08-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

God is Faithful and

Super Gracious!

The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works! Ps 145:13

People all over the world have been praying for our daughter Hannah - from the Makua Bush, to China, to Brazil, elsewhere, and all over the U.S. Thank You!

We are so grateful for each one of you who gave to Hannah while in the hospital. John and Carole Winter (Hannah's in-laws) have done a phenominal job taking care of theirs and our two grandchildren (Adonia and Creed), coordinating things for Hannah, keeping people updated... Amy Dickey accompanied Hannah through the myriad of things in the hospital... Melissa's sisters visited and her sister Amy stayed for days in Melissa's absence... Our church family are giving in so many ways... Flowers, cards, gifts, hugs, cheer, blessings, prayers... Thanks!

We've just landed at KCI today. Several churches substantially gave toward getting us back and it has sufficiently covered our airfare and lodging costs. So, we send you a big warm hug and thanks! We've also now been blessed to see our granddaughter, Shiloh Heston, born while we were in Mozambique.

The great news is - the doctors let Hannah out of the hospital yesterday! Her blood count went up to 9.7 yesterday (12-14 is normal). Yeah!!! Thank you Jesus! She has dialysis 3 days a week, where they'll also take blood samples to check her levels. She is still loosing a some blood and will probably need some transfusions. She has 20 different meds (about 40 pills) to take throughout the day. Five of them, alone, are treating blood pressure. We're so grateful she can be home again! Hannah has a special diet to minimize how much her kidneys have to process. For now, we'll be staying with them and helping her take care of herself and the family so that she can get her rest. Being the busy beaver Hannah normally is, we'll see how that goes.

God bless you all,

Daniel and Melissa with Elijah and Esther

www.beatoday.org

Coming Home Unexpectedly

2011-08-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Madduxes for the Makua

God is Good

All the time!

The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works! Ps 145:13

Thanks for all your prayers for our daughter Hannah Grace Winter. While the doctor said that he could get a call that Hannah is in ICU on life-support, they are hopeful her body will begin responding to one of the new treatments to stop her body from attacking and eliminating red blood cells/hemoglobin. Nothing has worked so far. Her kidneys are now at 10% and she is starting dialysis regularly. The doctor strongly urged us to return there for support and encouragement in her recovery. Daniel David, her husband, is doing an unbelieveable job, but can't take off work much. His parent's are an amazing help with the children, but his mom has some health concerns as well. Once Hannah is home, the doctors are saying her energy level for the first months will be low, much needing our help in their home.

After talking with the doctor today, knowing we needed to return, we noticed an e-mail from our home church saying they would fly Melissa and I back. Thank you Jesus!!! We also need to pay for Elijah and Esther's tickets. Airfare alone is $2676 per person along with other travel & lodging costs. With the blessing of 9 churches supporting us, we are asking and trusting the Lord through you to help cover these unexpected airfare expenses. Donations can be sent to the address below.

We will have extra expenses living in the U.S., and helping Hannah, while maintaining a home back here in Mozambique. In addition, we have been shocked with the marked increase here in Nampula in costs for food (butter-$8/lb, oats-$4 for 4 cups, hamburger-$4.50/lb), electricity (tripled), gasoline ($6/gal)... While we're certain God will always care for us and feed us, would you also prayerfully consider increasing your monthly support?

We're returning on the earliest flight we could get out of Nampula, leaving the 26th and arriving in Kansas City on the 28th. We booked the ticket for six months out but will be allowed to adjust that according to the need. God has really been blessing my vision and work here on the materials for the fledgling churches in the bush. The evangelists are excited about the gospel presentation/training being translated into Makua. Please pray with me, that I would continue to have some time to devote to writing more while in the U.S..

God is constantly testing us in trusting Him for His timing. We were overjoyed in having Elijah and Esther here with us, as they both came here to serve. Now it seems they may not return to Mozambique with us. What stories will they tell of God's faithfullness?

God bless you all,

Daniel and Melissa with Elijah and Esther

www.beatoday.org

Donations can be sent to:

B.E.A.

c/o Thomas and Linda Ledford

31625 Summit Ridge Dr.

Crystal Lakes, MO 64024

816-630-0918

Your prayers are a sweet incense rising to the throne of our awesome Father. May the Lord Jesus receive the Glory!

2011-08-12T08:43:00.001-07:00

Please Join in Prayer
Our hearts are burdened for our daughter Hannah

Our 2nd daughter, Hannah Grace, was admitted to the hospital Sunday night for severe high-blood pressure, swelling… The doctors just informed Daniel & Hannah that if Hannah had not come into ER last Sunday night, she would have died by Tuesday. They believe she has the worst kind of

Lupas for how aggressively it attacks the kidneys. The kidneys are functioning at only 40%. She has also been given blood several times because her autoimmune system is also attacking the blood and destroying it. Though she is not bleeding, this is a critical concern. The doctors are increasing her steroids even beyond the original amount in an attempt to stop or slow the autoimmune system from attacking the blood. We're keeping in touch with Daniel David and Jonathan and Chloe, and are prayerfully considering a trip to be with them there. (This would be an unexpected cost of over $11,000 for four round-trip flights.) Hannah may be in the hospital for an extend

ed time, so...

So please keep Hannah in your prayers for these four things: her body accepting/creating bloodcorrectly, her kidneys reviving and healing, wisdom for the doctors, and peace, joy and strength for all of us – including Adonia (2 yrs) and Creed (8 months).

THANKS for your PRAYERS!

Our trust is in the One Who said:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, ... Who is, Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

Trusting Jesus for His grace in healing and wisdom for the doctors,

Daniel & Melissa Maddux

with Elijah and Esther

P.S. Things are going well here - planted an inaugural bean crop to help 99% rural farmers who never plant this protein rich crop, translation started for our next training for church planters on what the gospel is, visa's are still processing, and made wonderful contact with a couple other churches. God is clarifying the vision for the work before us. Praise Him.

P.S.S. As you are led, please share the prayer request for Hannah with any of your prayer supporters. May Jesus be Greatly Glorified!

2011-07-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

We are doing well, readjusting, seeking how God wants us to love others. The Mozambican workers on our property (some believers) had a welcome back party for us on Friday. The two believers testified to God's loving care over them during this year. One worker's wife gave birth to their 8th child! He and his wife and baby look healthy. One of the part-time workers nearly died after being practically unconscious for five days in the hospital and receiving 8 pints of blood. Apparently he and his wife have AIDS. He's better for now, but needs prayer and attention. For our celebration meal, Melissa made brownies which they never get to eat and love, and the two believing families cooked noodles and in a separate dish goat meat in broth, and chicken in a broth and also separately rice. We sure enjoyed the goat meat! With the prices of beef and chicken being so expensive here we decided we want to get goat meat more often and croc-pot it. Yum! We also hope to see if our missionary colleagues traveling to South Africa can pick us up some less exhorbitantly expensive cheese blocks and a variety of beans we can't find here that we will pressure cook.

Our English worship service was canceled in it's normal location tonight, so Mom offered her place which has a little more room in the living room/dining. We've volunteered for and chosen the music and prepared for it, though the crowd will probably be much smaller. We will also together watch part of the Gospel of John movie (Excellent!) and get some of the message from the book of John. Jesus is awesome!

Another piece of good news is that Elijah and Esther are glad to be back. Esther the other day said, "Isn't it comforting to be back?" We are glad to be back. There is still a long list of things to take care of in transitioning back, both here (getting used to shopping for groceries in different places to get the best deals, new vehicle tires, a new roof for the house next door, car inspection with multiple trips to find it when the line is shorter, visiting some other ministries, ...) and there in the U.S. (confirming all services and utilities were in fact canceled or will transition as soon as our house is rented, order a few last things to be shipped...) So, may God grant the wisdom, peace, and renewed friendships.

You all are such a blessing!

Love you,
Daniel and Melissa
with Elijah and Esther

2011-07-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

Madduxes are Safefly in Nampula

Thanksgiving

* It meant so much to us for each of you blessing us to return here to Mozambique. It was just what we needed. Thank you so much!

* Our flights went well! Nothing in checked luggage was stolen.

* One trunk didn't make it through initially because of an air-soft gun in it. Yikes, it had all our toiletries thrown in too. But after security removed it, they sent the trunk on up. Yeah!

* Our missionary colleagues, Dan and Robin Been, helped us with meals and a few groceries to start out with. They even shared some of their cache of peperoni on pizza!

* Our Mozambican friends were very happy to see us here and we them! They're planning a reception party for us with some Mozambican foods. How generous!

* We're thankful for our good U.S. washer that is washing the mold out of many things stored over the last year. * We'll have to get new pillows, etc. but have a PEP store here.

* Elijah and Esther are glad to be here! Elijah enjoyed soccer today!

* 10 single missionaries we knew a year ago from this Nampula area in different missions are now mostly all engaged to be married soon. God is amazing!

* We now have internet! (though very slow an unstable by U.S. standards) You can contact us by e-mailing, or by skyping us at user id: heartransform, or calling the U.S. Kansas phone number 913-871-6490 which will ring on our computer wherever and whenever we're connected to the internet.

Prayer

* That our visa application will be accepted. Immigration said they no longer allow a person to be gone a year, so as we were waiting for my Mom's health to clear to travel, we are using that as the explanation for our "late" arrival. Please pray all the paperwork will be accepted to process through up here and that in the weeks ahead in the capital in the south it will also be accepted.

* Pray we can find a good car battery and tires. Most go to South Africa for quality items, but things a getting better here in Nampula, though prices are high.

* Pray God gives us wisdom for our finances. The cost of food and travel has greatly risen in the last year. We've enjoyed mostly a lot of good rice and beans these last few days. Reminds me of growing up in Brazil.

* Melissa is doing a little better today, but is still feeling achy and run down. She's doing a great job organizing the house.

Love you all,

Daniel and Melissa

with Elijah and Esther

2011-06-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

http://beatoday.org

Madduxes Flying to Africa

Looking forward to writing you from the field...

June 29th, 2011

We're flying out of KCI this Wednesday and on to Africa out of Atlanta in the evening. We arrive in Johannesburg Thursday late afternoon, then flying up to Nampula on Monday, July 4th. (Enjoy the fireworks for us!)

We praise God for each one of you and special time we've had to see you again. Thank you so much for your continued prayers.

We love you and will be remembering you as well.

Daniel and Melissa Maddux

with Elijah and Esther

mission@beatoday.org or Call (913) 871-6490

www.beatoday.org

2011-04-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

Click here for the Maddux Mozambique

2011-2012 Prayer Letter - (A printed will be mailed to each church.)

Additional News:

Hello dear friends and family! We had a special time of refreshment in Colorado during the 'Debriefing and Renewal` in March. Thank you so much for giving toward this to minister to us!

Surprise! Besides Esther returning to Mozambique with us, Elijah has also felt led to do so. He plans on volunteering at the Missionary Aviation Fellowship (M.A.F.) hangar in Nampula. They have too much to keep up with at times, and have welcomed him. He'll check out other opportunites upon arriving.

Esther also continues to improve in her piano playing and hopes to accompany some for the Sunday night English service.

And, can you believe it!? We are scheduled to fly out of KCI for Africa on June 29th. Our Mom, Pat Maddux, will also be with us. Please pray we can keep things in an eternal perspective, as we have much to do to get ready for this departure.

Love you all,

Daniel and Melissa with Elijah and Esther

2011-01-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

To better view and print this as a pdf, Click here.

Hello Dear Friends,

We are excited about what God is going to do in 2011 and our growing to be more like Christ - Whose majesty, power & name is above all names in this age and in the one to come. How we need and want to trust Him totally!

— LATEST NEWS & EVENTS —

Thyroid: Now, all the challenges in Mozambique seem to have thrown my (Daniel) thyroid off kelter and I'm seeing a doctor soon after blood results are in. Thyroid problems seem to run in my family. Melissa also needs a similar checkup. We are praying to be in good health by our return to Africa in June.

D.A.R.: We praise God that all the funds have come in that we needed for Melissa and I, Elijah and Esther to attend the 'Debriefing and Renewal' week for cross-cultural workers February 27th - March 4th in Colorado. Thank you for your generosity!

Good News! Esther will be returning with us to Mozambique!

Makua Freedom: You may remember that the last time we asked for prayer for the evangelist, Antonio. As he is planting churches based on storytelling a gospel of grace, the legalistic side of the denomination is very uneasy. The discussions at their monthly city-wide church conference brought peace for a time. He continues to ask for prayer about how to resolve this tension long term. Another factor is that that most of the churches in the denomination are part of a different culture and dialect, Lomwe, who only try to reach their own, while Antonio and others desire to see truly Makua churches who can experience the freedom they have in Christ.

Visiting You: We've had fun and been very blessed to have time with those at Milford Christian Church (pictured here) and others. We'd love to come see you and present the vision God is giving us for our return. So, we need to schedule a time to get with you all at: O'Fallon, Stockton, St. James, Northside in Warrensburg, & Mulvane (KS). The rest are scheduled. The dates we have open are: February 6th, 20th; March 27th thru May 15th. Can you please let us know within 2 weeks what would be a good date for you? You can e-mail or call 913-240-0433. Can't wait!

Vision: As you know, we've worked with several evangelists and rural churches planted, gaining needed experience. On our return, we are asking the Father's blessing to train a core group of evangelists (with additional involvement & help for their wives) in leading a team to see a village:
     Break Free from Spiritual Destitution to New Birth in Christ:
       * Storytelling the gospel from creation to Christ to plant Makua churches
       * Taking their 1st steps to growing in Christ and as a body of believers
     Break Free from Demonic Oppression of the Family to Oneness
       * Discovering God's beautiful design for marriage and family relationships.
     Break Free from Poverty to God's Abundance
       * By Farming with the best principles and methods God has given us.
        (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2028:23-29&version=NIV esp. vs 26 & 29)
           See a recent documentary:
               http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/11/preview-mozambiques-growth-not-benefitting-poorest.html

2011 - Give toward Spreading the Good News!

      In light of this, there are several key opportunities to give toward fulfilling this vision:
      $ 850     1 Pico-Projector w/extra battery... to show God's Story movies
      $1000    10 NTM laminated Bible story picture sets.
      $ 400    10 Portuguese NTM Firm Foundations books
      $ 350     2 sets of leather drums for evangelistic teams
      $ 300     Garden seeds subsidy for rural development
      $ 600     Point One Filters ($60/ea)   http://www.givecleanwater.org
      $ 500     Subsidy for Bibles at 1/2 price
      $ 300     1 Video Cam - for church trainings

Cost of Living and Ministering in Mozambique, Africa

The mission has a crucial need for $2500 by June to cover the cost of visa's which went up to $1000 per person, per year.
Along with this there are some budgetary needs to address. To see all this, click here. Our desire is to lay all this before you now for prayerful consideration, so we can focus on other things throughout the year.

What incredible opportunities we have to share in Mozambique!
Could you and your church prayerfully consider funding one or more of these?

We thank God for your faithfulness in giving. We are confident the Lord will abundantly provide for everything, for even the birds outside our window are being fed by our awesome God.

Grace and peace to all those who love our Lord with an undying love,

Daniel and Melissa Maddux
http://www.beatoday.org/
913-240-0433

Contributions may be sent to:
Brazilian Evangelism Association
c/o Tom and Linda Ledford
31625 Summit Ridge Dr.
Crystal Lakes, MO 64024
Phone: 816-630-0918
E-mail: mailto:thomasledford@sbcglobal.net

P.S. You may remember that our e-mail was hacked into in May, while in Mozambique. We recently discovered that the hacker changed the "Reply To" address so we were not able to receive any of your replies since the summer time. It has now been fixed. We apologize for this inconvenience. We feel badly for not receiving any letters you may have sent us in response to a newsletter during that time. Please feel free to respond now to either mailto: hearttransform@yahoo.com or mailto:mission@beatoday.org. We love hearing from you.

2010-12-03T15:37:00.001-08:00

Hello Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas! Christmas music via radio is fantastic! We missed it in Mozambique. We're looking forward to our first sledding event too, once we get our first big storm. We're looking forward to spending this season with our kids, with 2006 being our last Christmas together here.

As we're already planning for our return to Mozambique mid 2011, we have a specific need that we'd like you to pray about with us. Mission Training International is hosting a week-long 'Debriefing and Renewal' time for cross-cultural workers that we'd like to participate in. Read more about it at: http://www.mti.org/dar.htm. We believe this will greatly benefit our continuing ministry in Mozambique, as we've faced significant cross-cultural hurdles. One aspect of that is that Mozambique ranks 5th from the bottom of all 169 countries on the 'Human Development Index' - http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/. The debriefing and renewal is scheduled for the week of February 27th - March 4th near Colorado Springs, CO. If you are considering giving a Christmas gift, this is how we'd like to use it.

Also, please pray now for Antonio, the lead evangelist in Nampula. Within the 8 or so churches of Christ in Nampula, one fellow is doing everything to be the boss. He doesn't like the fact that Antonio is freely spreading the gospel of grace and planting rural churches not coming under his umbrella. He has ordered Antonio to stop this work and to pastor the church Antonio is a part of in the city. Antonio has explained that God has gifted him and called him to this work, but his answer is unacceptable to the leader, so they asked him to defend his case before at the upcoming monthly Sunday conference of the all the city churches. Please pray that God would give Antonio peace in his heart and courage to speak the truth in love.

For some time I've felt a great need to connect with other men for mutual prayer and personal encouragement. Last night, the Lord worked it out to get together with Greg Sarenson from our home church, and Dave Coleman & John McKnight from Wallula Christian Church near us. What a wonderful gift to be able to open up, share, and feel close to fellow warriors of Christ. How are you? Are you, by the grace of God, striving to be a light in this dark world? Certainly, and you're a target for the enemy. Who might God bless you to connect with today?

We're so thankful for you and your prayers!

May God bless you,

Daniel and Melissa & Esther Maddux

www.beatoday.org

913-240-0433

2010-10-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

We are now rushing up to Des Moines, Iowa, to be with family, as Melissa brother, Kem, just passed on this morning.

The rest of this was written a few days ago.

Thank you for praying for us in our time of setting up in our Leavenworth home. We are close to the end of major repairs and are so grateful for those who came to help in various ways.

What a treat to see the beautiful changing of the seasons while we are traveling to visit supporting churches.

People have asked us what it is like being back in the U.S. again. There are so many contrasts to the American and Mozambican culture that it is difficult to give a simple answer. One aspect that is so shockingly different is the easily accessible books and “knowledge” resources here, including our public library system, Christrian radio and book stores...

The Makua however have been struggling to educate their rural populations since their civil war ended in 1992. Most of students do not have access to a library and computer resources are few. Their lack of knowledge leaves them vulnerable to superstition.

Please pray that the knowledge of God would spread all over northern Mozambique through the Bible materials Daniel and others are preparing and teaching.

We pray that the church in the U.S. would boldly speak the Truth of the Gospel while there is still time to do so.

Hugs,

Daniel (913-240-0433) & Melissa (913-240-0448)

2010-09-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Friends,

Our missionary colleague, Don Hulsey, in the capital of Mozambique, just sent us this urgent request for prayer for the country. Also, catch other important news of ours at the end.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Don F. Hulsey
Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 1:29:28 AM
Subject: Riots in Mozambique
Urgent Prayer Request: Please pray for peace in Mozambique. By now
perhaps you have heard through CNN or another news agency that
Mozambique has had two days of protests against the rising cost of
living (bread, water, electricity, fuel, and basic food staples) that
turned violent and left more than a dozen dead and hundreds arrested
and injured, mass looting, burned vehicles, and general unrest.
Although the government called for peace and an end to the violence,
the words were not received well by the people as they heard no plan
of action to alleviate the current situation. Instead the government
has said that the price increases are irreversible.

We had heard rumors of potential protests Wednesday but were assured by
our embassy that the planned protests were postponed until next week.
So Wednesday I drove Aleta and Zac to school in Maputo city and it was
obvious from the lack of vehicles on the road that tension was in the
air and the public transport vehicles were for the most part staying
off the road. We began to hear of rioting in the outlying areas of
town and police shooting at protestors and decided to leave
immediately for home. As we drove home we did encounter two locations
where tires were being positioned in the roads to block traffic which
is then followed by rocks being thrown by any vehicles attempting to
continue forward. We also met a huge crowd of youth who were blocking
the road and forcing a public transport bus to back up. Fortunately
this blockade was coming at the place where we turned off the main
road to head home. Throughout the night we continued to hear gunfire
and shouting around our neighborhood which is located 10 miles outside
the capital city of Maputo.

We are safe. We have armed guards at our property. The gates are
locked and although more protests expected throughout the weekend,
currently we do not hear anything outside. We thank you for your
prayers and partnership in ministry. Mozambicans are loving and
generous people but as is true anywhere, there are opportunists who
will take advantage of unrest and use it as an excuse to rob and
commit acts of violence. The poverty is very real here and people are
barely surviving. The rising costs of basic essentials has led some
to acts of desperation, including rioting and stealing.

Together in Christ, Don

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daniel & Melissa continue...

We are SO grateful for God's provision for us these last three years. Our fellow colleagues in Mozambique recently informed us that the government is increasing the yearly visa renewal charge from $100 to $1000 per person. This increase as well as others is certainly affecting the missionaries in Mozambique and will be an additional cost we need to begin saving for. This exemplifies one of the reasons that we need to continue with God's truth in Mozambique - to break the spirit of dependency and poverty with the message of the abundance we have in Christ. Also, the foundations for farming is a practical way that they can see God's blessing on those who trust Him and take responsibility to put His ways into practice.

Love you all,

Daniel & Melissa and Esther Madux

913-240-0433 - Daniel

913-240-0448 - Melissa

2010-08-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Family... This is the latest newsletter we sent out to friends and supporters

We're back! We SURPRISED many with our early arrival for a family reunion. How wonderful it is to see family again and to hug and play with our granddaughter!

Now for another SURPRISE... After all the moving and fixing we did to transition to Mozambique and then much more in the country, we didn't realize how unsettling it would be to get back and not have a "home" to settle into. Not wanting to repeat that, along with house setup each time we return from Mozambique, we looked at over 30 homes in the Leavenworth, KS area where Daniel, Hannah, & Adonia live. God blessed us to find a house and to have the bid accepted! Originally listed at $59,900, we bid 50,000 and the next day the price dropped to 49,900. We left the bid as is to eliminate competition. The address is:

1003 N 8th St, Leavenworth, KS 66048:

This is the NW corner lot at Pawnee and N 8th St.: Show on Google Maps

See house pics if they're still showing from the agent:

http://listings.point2.com/1001576765/

We'll soon be looking on Craig's List for a myriad of things like furniture and appliances.

Pray that find good deals so as to minimize move-in expenses and that the upcoming inspection and appraisal will yield good results and allow us to move in.

While we'll be attending our home church, Hope Family Fellowship, we're excited that one of our main supporting churches is here near Leavenworth too - Wallula Christian Church. Wow! And we're very blessed for their VBS with matching funds to have raised $4700 to bring safe & clean water to Mozambicans.

If you would like to schedule a time for us to update you on the work in Mozambique, please request a date available in October on out. This is what we have so far:

October 10th - Milford

24th - Crocker

November 7th - Northland CC in KC, MO

January 9th - Forum

Thanksgiving!

* We're back and with family again.

* It appears god is blessing us with a house.

* For all our wonderful supporters and our home church!

Prayer for God's blessing:

* On our time with family

* On our time discussing and writing the training resources for church planters and pastors in Mozambique.

God bless you,

Daniel and Melissa & Esther Maddux

www.beatoday.org

913-240-0433 - Daniel mobile

913-240-0448 - Melissa mobile

2010-07-02T03:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.beatoday.org/

A few days ago we were abruptly awakened around four a.m. with the bellowing call from loud speakers for prayeres to Allah. Melissa and I were both moved to pray silently for the "lost sheep" in our neighborhood who hear these calls as well. And we marveled at GOD. Even this attempt the enemy made to spew his lies, produced glory to GOD through our prayeres. Beyond that, we know WHO wins. What a debt of gratitude we owe HIM!

Thank you again and again for your prayers and the Father's work here. We had an exciting and safe trip to the bush over the weekend along with the evangelist Antonio and his wife, Rabia, and Gito, a pastor & translator. How we wish each of you could have been there to see their excitement of GOD's Story and witness an early morning baptism of new believers. The good news is that you'll be able to hear a few of their testimonies for yourself when we visit you there soon, GOD willing.

Please pray for our safe passage back to K.C. And if you're wondering about what excitement awaits us, click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/user/thesqueegeboy#p/u/16/86Mbs2gu7b0

Hugs,
Daniel & Melissa & Esther

2010-05-25T04:33:00.000-07:00

Yippee Caiyeah! (Makua cowboy language for, "I'm really excited")
www.beatoday.org and photos at: www.beatoday.org/photos/2010/index.htm

Dear brothers and sisters,

A FIBER CUT in the Indian Ocean affected ALL of northern Mozambique for over TWO WEEKS! It put us out of internet usage, phone usage, and even ATM usage for international withdrawals for most of that time! Yesterday, for the first time in over a month, we had almost normal internet speed!

"The head of corn is full!" The farmers on the property who put God's farming wisdom into practice, harvested this month. They exclaimed that the corn is much better than most farmers around them. Praise God with us!

Elijah Graduated from High School May 15th! We missed being there with him. Thank you for remembering to pray for us while we are apart from our children during these special times of their life. God gives us the grace to pass through it but it is still difficult. Someone has said that our will is surrendered to God through our tears and that "God doesn't waste pain", so we wholeheartedly give ourselves to this incomprehensible LOVING God. He is GOOD!

Gito, who spends two afternoons a week here on our porch translating from Portuguese to Makua the materials Daniel is working on, recently told us,
   "When I am reading through the Bible stories, questions & application while translating, my thoughts and my heart are changing. I've wondered, 'What am I going to preach about? then I go back to what I'm learning here and share that. My sermons are awesome! I can see it in people's eyes. These are not just stories to us. They are life."
     "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness". (Mt. 5:6)

We Rejoice that:
* We've had encouraging marriage instruction through two seminars from missionaries here in Africa. We'll be celebrating our 25 years of our covenant relationship on July 20th. God is Faithful!
* The temps have dropped to "normal" and 82 feels a bit chilly to us. Yeah!
* I have begun discussing working with our wonderful brother from Brazil, Luis, who is training rural pastors.
* The "Foundations for Farming" training manual final revisions are being completed in Makua!

Things to pray about:
* Completion of training resources covering:
   - the rest of Bible story dialogue questions
   - Gospel presentation/summary
   - First steps with Christ
   - Marriage and Family
   - Youth preparations for adulthood
   - Leadership & Church Life
* Direction and opening of doors to train evangelist/pastor/farmers.

"May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ."
2 Thes 3:5
Daniel & Melissa & Esther

2010-03-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed, here on our farm, our 1st HARVEST PARTY in celebration to the Lord, and ate some yummy first fruits.

Hi Special Friends and Family,

Wow! Thank you for praying for my health. God blessed every word of encouragement you gave us via e-mail as Melissa read them for me. Melissa awesomely served. After 10 days of fever and vomiting, now on the 11th day I am finally fever free! A little weak, but doing great! God used this as a time of laying my sins before Him and being renewed. CD's like Fernando Ortega, and some church hymns (given to us by our friend Lane Scott), and a few others were wonderful in transporting me to see the glories of Jesus... our sweet Savior and King.

We're also very grateful for the new Monopoly card game we got to play, given by Stephen, Lissa, and Kaleigh Ryan in Sedalia. What a fun game!

We're also so grateful that God continually goes before us to provide for our ministry needs, as at one time or another each of you has been God-led to send a large gift. Wallula Christian Church gave a Love gift of $1000! This will go to two places. One to pay for a MUCH NEEDED motorcycle so an evangelist can not arrive late or miss trips out of town because of the regular public transportation (vans, trucks) not showing up. The churches being planted will now receive consistent visits and teaching. Praise God with us for this BIG change. The rest will go toward helping us fly back to the U.S.. Yes!

And you might wonder who we're missing? If you have a chance, check out our hyper granddaughter talking on the phone to her Dad at work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Mbs2gu7b0

Our Mom (Pat) just left Mozambique to Brazil to be with her daughter Angela. Angela will be going into surgery (biopsy) for some small lumps on her breast and remove something from her c-section scar area. Then mid-summer she hopes to go on furlough & accompany Davi (Brazilian husband), Angela, and Gracielle, as they move to the U.S..

We have the great privilege of attending our 1st yearly missionary conference of Good News for Africa and will be gone the 1st two weeks of April. What a refreshment that is certain to be!

So, we plan to be in touch with we you again at the end of April.

Until then, God bless you all!

Daniel & Melissa and Esther

www.beatoday.org

2010-02-27T01:04:00.000-08:00

God's mercies are new every morning, so we certainly have good things to report here from Mozambique. First of all, thank you so much for praying for us.

Furlough or "Home Assignment" - Schedule your church: Lord willing, we'll be in the U.S. from mid September (2010) to mid June (2011). CAN'T WAIT! We are available to speak at your church Sunday morning or evening, October 3 - November 7 and January 9 - May 8. Crocker Christian Church has already scheduled October 24th.

Ozark's Maddux Get-away: It will have been almost 3 years since we left for Brazil and so are wanting a retreat with our kids. If you are aware of a place of lodging for the weekend of September 24th - 27th, that would be available to us for a minimal cost, please let us know. Thanks!

Crops - God blessed Antonio and Agusto to have their corn and peanut crops planted in the back fields on time during December and January. We've had sufficient rains, and by them following 'Farming God's Way' composting and planting principles, it's looking green, Green, GREEN back there. God's wisdom is truly marvelous! Isaiah 28:23-29

The trainer's flip chart for farming is 99% completed in Portuguese and English! It's also now being translated into Makua.

As I continue to dialogue with Antonio, the Evangelist, he's very excited about this message of grace. He told me, "When I'm out there teaching, now I make sure they hear this clearly so they don't remain in dead religious works."

A very unusual situation occurred, only by God's Spirit, when a church leader came under great conviction of sin and stepped out of his role. This culture highly values position and recognition. No one else in the church could understand why he would give that up. God showed me what needed to be exposed and the scriptures to bring healing. In the end it became clear to himself and others that he is not biblically qualified at this time for leadership and needs to focus on caring for and discipling his family.

We have been quite healthy during this flu and malaria season!

Please pray that God would give me an undistracted environment in which to finish a Gospel & Growth presentation that targets many areas of deception among the Makua.

Daniel, Melissa, & Esther Maddux - Nampula, Mozambique, Africa

E-mail: mission@beatoday.org

Print for church bulletin: http://www.beatoday.org/Newsletters/2010/March2010.PDF

View newest photos at: http://photos.beatoday.org/2010/index.htm

View recent video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4pqtOTHYMo

2010-01-10T21:46:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine stepping out of your church into the church at Corinth before Paul wrote his letters...???

We're in a culture that has had...

Domination, Abuse, Slavery, Killing, Hate by the Portuguese

Civil War, Marxism, and mass starvation & killings 1975 - 1992

Centuries of Satan's lies,

Now years later they are scarred by their past, traumatized, trying to survive, prisoners of Satan, destroyed by the sin they live in - Romans 1:22-32.

Missionaries with experience here all say, "This is a country where things do not happen fast. Change... well... Transformation... comes slowly and only with a long term commitment over the long haul."

Pray for us. We're in over our heads. We have nothing of ourselves to offer. We need the grace of Christ in a most desperate measure to reach those dead and trapped in deceptions. They need Truth. They need Grace. They need the love of the crucified Savior and the power and wisdom of the Resurrected Christ.

Pray....

2010-01-02T08:23:00.001-08:00

(This went out via e-mail on December 5th.)

Dearest Family,

Surprise!

A couple weeks ago, Wallula Christian Church in Leavenworth (Kansas), asked if we could make a 3 – 4 minute video about the ministry here. As people come in this Sunday morning, they will show their missionaries’ videos. After returning from our latest trip to the bush churches, we threw things into high gear and … walaah!!! The Lord blessed us with a video. After the first minute of introductions we head out to the bush. Join us! This should give you a little taste of life and ministry here in Africa.

You can see it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4pqtOTHYMo

You may also download one of the following versions from our website. It’s only 4 minutes.

Larger Best DVD Quality at http://www.beatoday.org/videos/2009_Mozambique_Mission.mpg

Smaller MPEG-4 at http://www.beatoday.org/videos/2009_Mozambique_Mission_640x480.mp4

All Glory and Honor to our Blessed Savior!

Daniel, Melissa, Esther & Pat (Gramma) Maddux

Isaiah 9:6-7

www.beatoday.org

2009-11-19T04:36:00.000-08:00

Hello to you all who long for Jesus' coming!

Photos: You may remember our internet had been worse than dial-up. Now we have a faster connection so we've uploaded our pictures from July on out. Click here or on the link in the right margin of the site to see the pics. Hurray!

Discouragement and Prayer: Whew! It has been dry and hot. Many missionaries leave the HOT northern area during December to retreat to cooler climates. The combination of everything can be discouraging. Last week, Melissa and I especially felt a dark cloud hanging over us. It seemed so thick I began to wonder if part of it was of demonic origin. After asking our sons and daughters in the U.S. for prayer, the very next morning we were breathing fresh air again! Thank you Jesus! In addition, the Lord also blessed us with an unexpected rain and a few cooler days! Thank you for your continued prayers!

Health Seminar: This month I (Daniel) attended a two day ANAMED training for how Mozambicans without access to clinics or hospitals can treat various common illnesses here with medicines they can make from tree leaves, roots, etc... Some are very effective. It opened my eyes to what kind of training we want to provide the people here via the church planters. Pat Maddux (my Mom) is working primarily in the area of growing the key plants they'll need to treat themselves.

Melissa's work at home: Speaking of health, our daugther Chloe has encouraged us to have more veggies and fruit in our diet so Melissa has been making regular visits to the outdoor market where they are much cheaper than at the "supermarket" in town. Also, yogurt is expensive here but needed for a good digestive system since there are so many stomach infecting microbes around. Melissa and Esther just made their first home-made batch today so I can't wait to try it out. Melissa is hostessing a large gathering here for Thanksgiving and coordinating a Christmas service for the international English speaking Sunday night church. Esther and I will be joining in the fun and learning our parts to the Christmas hymns.

Trainer's Flip Chart: Our Amazing God has blessed me to have completed the translation of a 46 page Farming God's Way trainer's flip chart. It's full of excellently drawn pictures contrasting typical African practices to God's wisdom in farming along with several other pages that I added on worm banks and Bible verses on stewardship. Mike, the main trainer here from Zimbabwe with 30 years farming experience, and I are reviewing it and adding other necessary subject material such as how to do vegetable gardening for better nutrition. Lord willing it will be ready to print by the end of January or sooner.

Wonderful Truth: I discovered some incredible verses on this subject while reading the Bible the other morning. Isaiah 28:23-29, shows that _everything_ done in agriculture (or any other field for that matter) that is actually working, is so only because GOD has taught man the best way - "For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him... This also comes from the LORD of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom."

Touching People: We also hope to translate it into Makua. Gito, our translator, after correcting the Portuguese, wrote me a special note thanking me for this work and expressing the dire need for these things to be taught. He is SOOO excited to see God's ways touching this people, casting out the spiritual darkness, and relieving the poverty.

Antonio, the faithful evangelist: While attending a city-wide meeting of Church of Christ pastors, Antonio had a conversation with a fellow church planter. The fellow lamented that all the people in the church he helped start still went to the grave-sites to perform rituals to the ancestors - offering prayers, food, clothing, ect. Antonio showed him the dialogue questions we've written to accompany the Bible stories, especially the one dealing with this topic that goes to the heart of their culture. The man asked Antonio where in the world did he get those!? Antonio explained the vision God is giving us. The fellow then pleaded with Antonio to go back there and straighten things out for him. Antonio said, "No, you started it, so you're the one that needs to do this. I have other places God is calling me to."

UPCOMING TRIP TO CHURCHES IN THE BUSH!

Please especially be in prayer for this. Thanksgiving weekend we are headed to an area where several years ago God lit a spark with the stories of the Bible. The fifth church is now being planted and they'll be have a large baptism of new believers. We plan on showing them the Makua version of the video 'God's Story', review how their farming is going, and launch the 1st phase of a discipleship for the young churches using the dialogue questions that have been translated in MAKUA! for each key story. Praise God with us for this. Also be praying for the young convert's growth in the grace of the Lord and abundant rains for their crops.

Grace and peace,

Daniel and Melissa & Esther

Isaiah 46:10 - God's purpose will stand and He will do all that He pleases.

2009-09-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

For Church Bulletin Boards, the pdf is available for printing - Click Here.

God is giving us a vision that every story-teller will also train communities how to Farm God’s Way. The mission property has at least 2 ½ acres to farm. Corn yields per acre for the average farmer are 400 lbs or less! (8-9 bushels) Learning how to do everything God’s way: With Excellence, On Time, Without Waste, and with Joy, is bringing yields in Africa up to 5,000 lbs (105 bushels) per acre within just a few years! This year they will plant corn, beans, peanuts, & veggies here.

The goal is that this will be a training center and an example of many possibilities, and done by the Makua themselves!

See: www.farming-gods-way.org

Superstition is powerful and often leads people to the witchdoctor for a solution. The father of our worker Antonio, told him as a boy that if he EVER saw a beautiful white-stripped rare snake, to know that soon a very bad thing would happen, likely even death! Last week as he walked home, he saw this type of snake for the second time in his life! Now knowing Jesus, he took his machete and said, “In the Name of Jesus, I kill you!” Here are the snake’s remains.

“Did Noah deserve to be saved by God?”, we asked during our Bible storying. They answered, “Yes!” Wow! Turning to my fellow teacher, I said, “Even after all the beginning stories, do you see why it is so important to ask this again?” Works salvation is running through their bloodstream. The stories continue and God is working in their hearts.

We have the dialogue questions for 16 stories in Portuguese and have now begun translation into Makua. Yahoo!!! Our goal is to complete 30 stories by January when we hope to begin training more story-tellers.

Yesterday we went out of town to buy grass to protect the soil from the sun. Those who sold us the grass stalks, begged the Story Teller to come teach them the Bible. He’s praying about the timing. The fields are ripe for HARVEST. Pray for many faithful laborers.

If you desire to designate additional funds to a certain area, here are some possibilities:

Farm Well at Training Center - Already Rec`d $3000 of $5000 - Thanks!
Laminated Bible Story Pictures - Large - $125/set; Small - $50/set
Makua Bibles - $10 each
Makua Audio New Testament Players - $50 each

God bless you!

Daniel, Melissa & Esther

www.beatoday.org

2009-07-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

Check out our photos! (Click the added links in this msg and in the top right margin.)

First! What a wonderful mother and wife Melissa is! She is always thinking of others - giving away food, clothing, and other items to Mozambicans who need it more. It's amazing how the house is cleaner and more organized without that extra stuff around. (I guess I didn't really need that extra shirt..:) We're glad she is feeling better after having some kind of flue, as today she and Esther are planning a very exciting sleep over party for some single missionary women (school teachers) here in Nampula. She is also a wonderful prayer partner and supplier of wisdom for the ministry!

Blessed Repairs: We're also very excited that most of the repairs on our house are done - a very leaky roof, cracked walls, screened in porch to protect from mosquitoes during Macua language lessons, false ceiling in our bedroom to protect from the vicious summer heat, new paint, more re-bar on windows for security... What a relief and blessing!!!

Psalm 125:1-2

Cancer: Please pray for our forwarding agents, Tom and Linda Ledford, as Linda is undergoing cancer treatment. They are so faithful and giving, serving our Lord Jesus!

Greenhouse: In addition to her outdoor herbal garden, Mom/Grandma Pat has completed her screened in greenhouse. This is an important step to getting preventative health to the villages. The challenge now is to get all her fruit and plant seedlings to grow, especially Artemesia. Artemesia has the proven drug to combat Malaria. She will also be writting materials to standardize training for clean water, sanitation, nutrition, and preventative health which will be combined with our training of bible story tellers.

Conference and Farming God's Way Training: Thanks for your prayers! The training went very well and we hear that the churches are already implementing it! Their first large compost piles are complete. Click here to see the Macua/Portuguese steps. We've also started the large task of implementing this on our property, with about 2 1/2 acres to farm by hand. The brothers are overjoyed about this better feeding their own families and also serving to train others. The principles of "Farming God's Way" (see site) are to do everything 1) With Excellence, 2) On Time, 3) Without Waste, & 4) With Joy. Sounds simple, but you'd be amazed at how much discipling is needed in each of those areas. I was surprised to find out that the three families who will farm this land don't even have a calendar at home, so this morning when we measured out the land for each, I supplied them with a calendar so that everything can be scheduled and done *On Time*. They were so enthusiastic about just having a color printed picture of themselves.

Well, Well!: We really need a well on this property to make the Community Health Evangelism and Farming God's Way trainings what they need to be on this farm. This will get us through the very dry periods and times when the city lacks water. We estimate we need about $5,000 to do this. Just designate checks as "Farm Well" to give toward this project. Praise God!

Storying Dialogue: Please pray for Antonio's and my ongoing work of preparing dialog questions for each of the key evangelistic and discipling bible stories. Each time we teach these lessons we are amazed at how God opens hearts! We hope to have the 1st draft completed by the end this year.

We belong to such an amazing God!

Daniel & Melissa with Esther (we're missing you - Elijah!)

2009-06-05T14:35:00.001-07:00

Beloved,

As always, your prayers are vital to this ministry to the Makua people. This next week, Tuesday afternoon through Friday (9th - 12th), there is a marriage conference here in Nampula for pastors and their wives. The two main speakers are Wayne Mack and his wife and a Brazilian missionary. We are helping to host 20 people from out in the villages. They have never been exposed to such rich teaching from God's Word. Please pray for their spiritual growth, comprehension of the messages, health, and safe travel.

We are also launching the a training for 'Farming God's Way' shortly after they arrive on Monday. (There will be more on this in our next update.) Please pray that all will go well for that. Also, a hardened and unbelieving government official for our neighborhood may be observing this initial training. Please pray that God softens his heart toward us and our presence here.

Your servants,

Daniel & Melissa Maddux

Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it. (Isaiah 60: 21-22)

2009-05-13T03:03:00.000-07:00

Tune in to some amazing tales of God's grace in Mozambique...

Thief #1: Augusto, one of our workers who is part of the Church of Christ that meets on this property, forgot to lock the door of his humble clay-brick house. His cell phone and 1/2 of his monthly salary were in his pants on top of the TV. A thief entered that night. A neighbor woman saw the robber, but fearing her own safety, she alerted noone. The next day Augusto requested us to pray for him as he felt a great temptation to call a witch-doctor to curse the thief. He notified his wife, Gracinda, to return home from their small farm out in the country. When his wife returned, she brought a "healer" witch-doctor with his magic potion of leaves to put in the house and a guarantee that the stolen goods would be returned in a couple days. (This is a common practice here.) By the fifth day, Augusto threw the potion out of the house, but sat with his secret. In March, he confessed what his wife had done, without taking responsibility for his own part in it, so we had a chance to share some of the Gospel with him. Recently, he and his wife finally came to a church leader & I, convicted of his false profession of faith and now really wanting to hear God's message. His wife, while she attends church with him, is still very stuck in her beliefs. She has much to loose if she becomes a Christian. Her mother won't get a proper burial to send her successfully "into the invisible world of ancestors who live among us and who would then persecute her by causing a myriad of worse things to happen." Now that Augusto is eager to hear God's message; we're praying that Gracinda will be also . These opportunities in the city help us better prepare our training for rural church leaders.

Thief #2: A sneaky thief cut a hole through the thick and thorny brush fence in the back of this 5+ acre property a few weeks ago and targeted the missionary's home next to ours. He reached through a window and stole two laptops and a camera. Yikes!!! Our dogs did bark and alert the guard but the thief must have stayed hiding in the grass. We have realized our vulnerablility and are adding more re bar to windows, lights around the houses, and hoping to buy a German Shepherd puppy to train as another guard dog. How relieved we all were that no one was hurt.

Plethora of Thieves: After 35+ years as a missionary in Brazil, Mom is quite a trooper here in Mozambique. She recently had both side mirrors stolen off her truck and this weekend at the city market, her cell phone disappeared. Every time we get groceries, many crowd around wanting to "help" unload the food into the car, but Mom has learned not to allow this, as she has had bags of food disappear. We also keep very alert to make sure they don't re-open our car doors to take food. We do praise God that there are some very honest people in this country! (We just haven't met them yet. Just kidding!) May they reach the rest...

A new season for Elijah: We knew in coming here, we would have some sadness in being separated from our kids. We hadn't anticipated it coming so soon for Elijah. He experienced two severe cases of malaria in the month of April, along with a whopper flu virus. He became anemic and lost over 10 pounds, leaving him very weak. He is seriously considering enlistment in the Marine Corps. Becoming ill again could make his goal impossible. Therefore, God willing, Elijah will be returning to the U.S. before the end of the month. Initially, he'll be spending time with his married sisters, then moving in with a family from our home church in Kansas City where he'll complete his homeschooling studies. It feels like a cannonball wound to our hearts. It's gaping...but we know our son is in the hands of the great I AM, so we have nothing to fear. Elijah's strength is slowly resuming and for this we are truly thankful.

Thank you for your prayers,

Daniel & Melissa with Elijah & Esther

www.beatoday.org

He is risen. He is risen indeed!!!

2009-04-11T02:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Resurrection Day to each of you.

From Melissa - Macua Language Training Shift

These last couple months have been quite difficult but we are learning a lot. Five weeks into the Macua language course at Anchilo it became quite obvious that it was time for a change. The intense pace was not allowing our family's needs to be met; in particular, I did not have time to devote to Elijah & Esther's homeschooling. So, we have transitioned back here to our Nampula home. We are taking some time to reflect and pray about our goals. We plan to continue learning Macua with Gito (who was my Portuguese teacher) tutoring us. We are so grateful for your continued prayers as we have sensed "the cloud" lifting and God leading our way (Numbers 10:34).

Malaria, Flu & Overnight "Hospital" stay

These last several weeks we have experienced a severe flu virus that put each of us down (Esther was spared). Elijah contracted Malaria at the same time so he was feeling pretty bad on the inside (homesick) as well as on the outside. Daniel has done a fantastic job keeping us stocked with medicines and taking us for Malaria tests at the first signs. Daniel's Mom (Pat) caught the flu this week, along with asthma. She was having difficulty breathing so Daniel took her to the clinic and stayed with her overnight. He slept on the floor under her bed because that's about all the room you pay for (a little cubby). I took them water, food, kleenex's... not provided there. It was another cultural experience that made us so grateful and more aware of needs here.

Daniel - Return to Nampula Mission

Now that we are back in Nampula, please pray for God's leading as we continue language training, and as I seek to develop training for rural church leaders. In a new area, a group of 65 people are now asking to hear the stories of the Bible. How exciting to see what God is doing.

Enjoy more news in our pictures! (see the link on the top right side)

Praise

- We believers are receiving the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

- This month we celebrate God's grace, completing our first year here.

- God has provided sufficient rains and the Mozambicans are now enjoying their harvest.

- Our family is in good health once again.

- Simple joys, like getting to wear long sleeve shirts. "Winter" has set in here now and we are rarely sweating in the 75-85 degree weather.

Prayer Requests

- Wisdom and direction for the church that meets on the front of this large GNFA property. Moniz & Antonio ( 2 of our property workers) are leading it but see the legalism and lack of commitment, many of whom are probably not born again.

- Wisdom for our family as we pray about our goals and plans for the next 2 years (before our furlough in mid 2011).

- God's Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of the villagers of their sins, making them hungry and prepared for the Glorious Gospel of the One and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

Because He Lives,

Daniel & Melissa

with Elijah and Esther

2009-02-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

Just before we move out to the language training place in a couple hours, we wanted to let you know some great news! After several Sunday messages and visits in homes, several families are seeing more of the light of the good news! One pastor, near and dear to us, has had a wife who has been pretty resistant. Missionaries have worked with them over the years but to little avail. This is the Moniz who along with Antonio planted 1 rural church that planted another and now 5 churches have resulted. The wife comes to church but has had a wall up to any real conversation. She grew up with a mother who was a witch-doctor and as a young woman had many problems with spiritual attacks and threats. God tremendously blessed the messages. Most believe they are a Christian but are not. She wanted to hear more. Melissa and I met with both of them, yet the wall was still up. Enough had been given for her to understand that there would be no way for her to understand Christ's great love for her on the cross until she understand her sin - the reason he had to died. We prayed and prayed. One morning they called us to come talk with them. Wow! That morning I had awakened with an accusatory dream where pastor Jeff Klick of our home church was questioning me as to who I thought I was to be helping them. So, I started to praying for them. When we met, they said she had had a bad dream of being taken to prison which scared her and that they had been up for hours talking about her condition before God and the good news through various Bible stories. They both also confessed a sin they had committed together that made them feel as guilty as a criminal. After hours of conversation with her, she understood, turned from sin, and trusted Christ! She and her husband thought it best for her to be re-baptized, since the one 12 years ago only had been with no understanding and just to follow the group. What a change we see in her! Now she is not afraid to have eye contact with us. She is joyful. She is asking questions about the Bible now for the first time. The Light is on inside! She's free. Now, there are more families where the same gospel needs to be presented, either personally or in a group (teaching chronologically through). Our time is very short, being here only partially on the weekends, so please pray for God's wisdom on how to proceed, and pray for a continued harvest! Thank you for your prayers,

2009-01-08T08:24:00.001-08:00

We’re so glad we’re able to get our December update out on time - Mozambican time, that is!

First of all, our deepest gratitude to you for your sentiments and blessings that made our holiday season so memorable. You are our joy! Some of you may have tried to call us over the holiday season on our skype-in phone number 913-871-6490. Thanks! We apologize that our internet service is often unreliable or unavailable. We'll be traveling out of town to see some missionaries next week; otherwise, feel free to call us this month. The best time to reach us from Missouri/Kansas is between 9 a.m. and noon your time.

*** Check out our pictures with captions via the link in the right margin. They almost say it all!

Also, check out The Times December 27^th article (http://tinyurl.com/8awby2), titled: As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

Elijah: Tuesday, I was sitting at the computer when I realized a storm had moved in. Lightning hit quite closely twice and the third one was a biggie. It came through my ear-bud that was blown out of my ear, making my whole body jolt. Thankfully my guts didn’t blow out. I checked under my shirt and all was ok! Whew!!! That same day I fell out of a mango tree (Ouch!) but landed on my feet.

Right now I’m enjoying exercising, memorizing 1 Peter, practicing the drums, and hanging out with MK buddies. Miss everybody!

Esther: I miss my family in the U.S.!...

We have a huge mango tree here I love to climb. Also, I’ve been playing the piano a lot!

Melissa: I appreciate your prayers so very much! God is giving us peace in the midst of our challenges. I’ve had a few “doozie” days when I submitted myself to the family for counseling. Of course, God has refreshed me from His Word and communication from some of you, our loved ones. I sure do miss you and am so thankful for you.

Daniel: I have been working on a series of three messages in Portuguese, giving the second one this coming Sunday to a nearby church. Friday and Saturday, I’ll be visiting some of them in their homes to be a friend and to better understand where they’re coming from. Most believe they are saved because they’ve done the right religious things and are leading a good/friendly life. Pray that the conviction of sin and the Glory of Christ would break through to their hearts.

I’m also very excited that the first week of February I may be able to attend a “world-view” shifting seminar by a missionary and cognitive anthropologist who has lived for decades here in Africa. I’m praying this will also help us bridge the gap from Christ to their culture.

Starting Macua Training – Disappearing for awhile!: On February 8^th, we begin the Macua language training course – full time! We uproot here and move to a nearby village into a true dorm/camp house. This training is Monday through Friday. Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m.. Classes go from 8:00 to Noon, and 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., with supper at 7:00 p.m. As you can understand, with all the things we still need to take care when we return each weekend to our home here, we will as much time for correspondence, as we attempt to put our focus on getting the most out of this language training. There is a three week Easter break in April when we will brief you on our progress for the first quarter. This course will end August 21^st. At that time we will continue language learning through private tutors in our home.

Please pray for Elijah and Esther during this time of significant isolation. Pray they’d be able to maintain a sense of focus in their independent studies.

2008-11-28T02:52:00.000-08:00

Koxukurella! This is Makua for "Thank you very much!"

We practiced saying this many times during our last trip to the bush.
Click here to check out our November photos online!

We're so thankful for...

Your generosity which enabled us to take costly well-digging tools two new churches. All their life they've had to walk over 1 to 2 miles to get water. This water often makes them sick because it's bacteria/parasite laden dirty ground water which other animals also drink. Their view of God's goodness and greatness continues to change!
Witnessed the beginning of a new church in the Namicuco area this last Sunday with over 40 baptisms. They had covered the key stories of the Bible from Genesis to Christ.
We're finally getting to take the vacation trip into Malawi as a family. A number of trips have been cancelled, including the time we were getting into the car to head out, when a call came to rescue my mother from the bush by towing her car many hours back into Nampula. Please pray all goes well at the border with our car documents as we have not yet been able to change the title into our name.
Our very encouraging movie, "The Gospel of John", (one of Melissa's all-time favorites!) from the Visual Bible Series. This would make a great Christmas gift for a friend or family.
Being able to get our roof sealed in a million places so mosquitos, bugs, rats, and rain don't get in.
God's provisions of the first rains for planting the harvest. A tremendous refreshment during this very hot period of November/December. January to March brings the big thunderstorms.

Please pray with us for...

Wisdom and patience in teaching a different culture
Good progress in creating dialog questions in Makua for all the key evangelistic Bible stories. We're 1/10th of the way through. This will greatly help the message be more clear and will keep it consistent with each new church plant.
Timing... We're very excited about starting a Makua literacy program next year in new churches in oral communities. Many Makua primers will need printed, chalk boards and chalk provided, along with teacher instruction. As a reward for all their study, we'd like to make a Bible very affordable to every new reader. A recent love offering from Wallula Christian Church will get us off to a great start with this literacy project.

Koxukurella for joining us in the eternal venture!

We love you,

Daniel and Melissa

with Elijah and Esther

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P.S.

Since some have asked...

Personal gifts can be mailed to our daughter who will deposit it into our account:

Daniel & Hannah Winter

1209 E Westerfield Pl

Olathe, KS 66061

Tax-deductible gifts for the mission can be sent to our forwarding agents:

Tom & Linda Ledford

31625 Summit Ridge Dr

Crystal Lakes, MO 64024

Letters or Packaged gifts can be mailed directly to us at:

C.P. 688

Nampula, Mozambique, Africa

(There is no zip. List our Ph# 82-403-1184)

Calls: At little cost to you, call our Kansas Ph# 913-871-6490 which will route over Skype and ring on our computer here. If we're gone, leave us a message. Thanks!

Website: www.beatoday.org

E-mail: mission@beatoday.org

2008-10-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Prayer Warriors,

(See www.beatoday.org for this news and updated pics to be there by Sunday.)

My wallet disappeared last night with bank cards and $200. I couldn't remember any time I had laid it down in the house anywhere. The only thing I could remember is that I had been to a meeting at the "Mustard Seed Training Center" here in town and on my exit, outside the building, I had someone pass by very close to me. I asked a friend to check the building today. He returned with my wallet! He found it thrown into the entry way looking like it had received a good scuff in the throw. We had prayed it would show up! It had $200 missing from it (we have to operate on cash here, not debit cards...) and all my credit cards were removed from the pockets but together in the money section! We had one attempt on one credit card to withdraw money. It'll be a task to get them replaced from here in Mozambique. We praise God the wallet was found.

Now, we have a special prayer request. In May we started the process to get our car documents in the capital, Maputo. I have to travel with them, always... We took a great risk and made the trip up here in May to Nampula without these documents in hand because we had the pressure to get the required Visa's by our presence in Nampula. Well, now after 5 months, the documents are still not being produced by the goverment in Maputo! The missionary there can hardly afford any more time chasing the documents for us and is asking that we come down to Maputo and personally put pressure on the government by our daily presence in their office. This would cost us over $1000 in car fuel alone to make this trip, plus housing costs down there, and most importantly, stalling some great advancements that are occuring the furtherance of the gospel here. It might be that we'd have to stay there from 2 weeks to 2 months. So, please pray that there can be a breakthrough. Thanks!

More Good News! A couple guys came my Mom's way who work in ANA-MED, an international organization that trains people how to do community health and agricultural training. These fellows are from a religious church but have very little knowledge of God's Word and have many questions. They also realize that the Good News would also open closed doors to their training and they want to know how to convey the gospel. They themselves have many questions and aren't saved at this point. I am working with Antonio, a Makua Christian "king", to get all the key dialog questions to cover for the storytelling starting in Genesis. We make the 1st list of questions in Makua for Genesis 1 and 2. This is VERY Big, because at the most, a few things are in Portuguese, but that is not their heart language, so getting it in Makua for future generations of Christians and church planters will be a HUGE advancement. We met the first time today to start in Genesis 1 with four men plus Antonio and I. Wow, it's amazing how many strange ideas people have about God, this world, etc. But the men were grateful to have some direction. If we have to go to Maputo, this will slow our progress in getting the questions into Makua and also accompanying the Bible storytelling and discussions. Rejoice with us and pray for God's deliverance.

Now for more GOOD NEWS. At the beginning of October I (Daniel) made a trip out of town with two families to new works. These new churches are growing. We took them bibles and did some teaching. It was quite a cultural experience eating out of same bowl with them every day with our hands instead of silverware. Their physical poverty is extreme. Their biggest need is for water. The women have to walk over 1 1/2 miles there and again back to haul daily water in containers on their heads. Especially during the dry time during November and December, when the water is scarce, animals are also drinking from the same water, etc., they get very sick! We praise God they we have researched how to help them build a good water well and how to bring this gift to others. They are so enslaved to think they can do nothing but now they are being freed even more to bless themselves and others. This will also help the gospel spread to the spiritually and physically thirsty! Our next trip is set for November 7th and 8th to get them trained and started on the wells.

More Praises To our Lord:

* His greatest gift. Jesus bore all our sins on the cross. We are completely forgiven!

*** Our daughter Hannah gave birth to Adonia October 17th! They're doing very well. (see pics online soon)

* We have been able to start painting projects in Elijah & Esther's bedrooms and so are feelilng more "at home".

* For the idea God gave us that if we just think of our living curcumstances here like that of being "at camp" then we can accept them with (greater) ease. Esther made a sign for the bathroom door as a cheeful reminder. It reads "Camp Mozy Bathroom."

* Mom/Grandma (Pat Maddux) has been blessed in doing a training on health and herbal medicines people can use here. She is leaving for the U.S. this coming week to raise funds for a bore well here and to go to Brazil to see her daughter Angela give birth to her first daughter.

God hears,

Daniel & Melissa with Elijah and Esther

September Update

2008-10-02T23:51:00.000-07:00

Praise!
* Hope Family Fellowship provided Daniel & Hannah with funds for camcorder so we can enjoy watching our granddaughter grow up!
* Your faithfulness to lift us up in prayer before the Father
* $ for Makua Bibles and Bible Story Books - Elijah is helping give and sell these.
* Elijah spared from severe head injury while helping put up a water tower. He had a blow to top back right side of his head by a metal platform for the tank and suffered hearing loss and sense of touch on right side of face, but is now almost completely better.
* Church planting workshop went well.

Prayer
* Homesickness more acute as:
   - Hannah nears her Nov 7th due date with our first grandchild (Little Princess)
   - U.S. holiday season approaches
   - our six month mark is coming up quickly when, as we have been told, a new missionary family senses "the honeymoon is over" and can feel drawn back to their country of birth.
* Strength, encouragement, and wisdom as we deal with:
   - the daily physical difficulties (water pressure for only a couple hours at night, rats in the cabinets, our camera memory card broke and challenge to replace here so getting by on little 32MB card, etc.)
   - the sad part of life here... Our dear brother, Lazaro, who worked honestly and diligently in our home these past months one day per week died Sunday morning from an illness his body could not fight because of AIDS. Our family grieves for him but we are quite certain it will be the first of many such loses here. His funeral was held in a small chapel area near the morgue at the hospital. When Daniel was asked to speak at the graveside, he reminded the believers of Jesus' resurrection and His power over sin and death.
* Completion of water tower project
* Daniel will be traveling with Antonio and Moniz and their wives to two villages on October 7-11th. They will need wisdom to discern the spiritual needs of the people and what Bible stories would best address those areas of need.

Love you all,
Daniel & Melissa, Elijah, & Esther Maddux

2008-09-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Fellow Prayer Warriors,

We praise God that we can kneel together with you, thanking and requesting our heavenly Father for this upcoming training. This is for church planting, discipleship, and leadership training through storytelling. What a blessing that God has enabled me to finish translating the video text and written materials into Portuguese and to have made one revision! This is the initial training and is with two Christian men who work for us here and with who I am developing a close friendship. They are Antonio & Moniz, who started a church together several years ago. Their wives and Melissa will also be attending. The training is planned to be from 8 am - Noon, Monday through Thursday, including breakfast, a snack, and lunch. This is laying the groundwork for training of a larger group I hope to give in January. Please pray for the spiritual protection of all involved in this training. The wife of one has been having nightmares lately - she grew up with a mother who is a witch-doctor. Peace in relationships has been threatened. We do sense the battle around us! May we be victorious warriors. As a followup to the training, from October 7 - 11, some of us plan on visiting a couple remote churches that have been started similarly and are expanding, to see what the Lord might want done to strengthen them and to spur on church planting efforts. Please pray for physical strength, for wisdom in all relationships, insight into God's Word and Ways in a different culture, and that people see Christ through us.

Hugs,
Daniel & Melissa
with Elijah & Esther

Isaiah 45:23-24a I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.'

2008-09-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

August/September Newsletter
Thanks so much for thinking of us here and praying for us!

How are we? A missionary asked me that question the other day and I said, "Divorce is never an option." He knew what I meant, having lived here longer. It is hard adjusting in many areas, but we are trusting God, our Fountain of Living Water, the Source of all we need to be like Him and accomplish what He purposes.

We're very grateful that Elijah and Esther have made friends here among the missionary community. It is a little harder to establish African friends with language and cultural differences. Each week the missionary kids join together for a Bible study time that is encouraging for them. Several weeks ago Elijah asked me (Daniel, Elijah’s proud Daddy) to help him put together some things he wanted to share with the youth from the Bible and life. We worked on it together and Esther reported that God used it to spur on so much good conversation that they didn’t have much time for games afterward. They really enjoyed their trip to Beira and worked very hard with the group putting up a church structure. Thank you so much for your prayers as God protected them when on the ride home the Land Rover Elijah was riding in went off the road at a high speed and was miraculously spared when the driver woke up from a doze and was able to navigate back onto the highway. Elijah was riding shotgun and said he was sure he was going home to be with Jesus. There were youths from 3 different families represented in the vehicle and we thank God for His mighty angels who serve Him.

Wow... What major cultural differences we are encountering! I wish I could give you a book to read that would give you a taste of it. I don't even know where to begin. It seems like every day it's something new regarding the way Africans think about God, communication, possessions, relationships, jobs, finances, conflict resolution, marriage...

Makua Marriage Culture –
Soon after puberty very commonly a girl, 14 to 16 years old, seeks to secure a guy a little older. In short, boy meets girl, boy asks girl’s parents if he can marry, they work out details. If yes, two days later the boy moves in with the girl’s family. The boy lives there until he can build a house for himself. He is on probation until a child is born. If his wife does not get pregnant after several months of marriage, the wife may be advised to divorce him for a more “fruitful” partner. The girl is instructed from her puberty initiation rites and her culture that just as a woman who is cooking puts three rocks under the pot to hold it up, so she should have three or more men in her life (to give her clothes, food, sex,…) The extreme poverty drives MANY women to prostitute themselves for food money.
During a recent Sunday meeting the church had a discussion on marriage relationships. The Makua believers explained that man treats the woman as a tool or slave. If she complains or tries to boss him around he demands, "Did you marry me? No, I went to your father and married you!" In other words, “ I got you. Now you're mine to do whatever I command ”. At the root of the marriage relationships we see a lot of insecurity, jealousy, manipulation, and fear. Most of the families still have clan property outside the city where they grow some food to supplement their poor diet. If the husband and wife travel together, the man will carry his radio while his wife carries their child wrapped with a cloth on her back, and also the hoe, the husband’s machete, and other belongings on her head. On the way back she will carry the baby on her back, the harvested food in one hand, the tools in another, and firewood on her head. (They are pro's at carrying things on their head. We see it every day.) So, while the men do work, they have no sense of compassion or real love for their wives. In fact when they "marry" the husband is not considered part of the wife's family. He is from another family and is mainly there only to bear children for the wife’s family. Usually the children take on the mother’s last name rather than their father’s. The men usually come home from work and are served their food away from their wife and children. They are very disconnected. The Good News of Jesus is here to enter into the sin and muck of their lives to restore their relationship with Him, family, and others.

September marks the beginning of the hot months here in Mozambique. It will be extremely dry until the rains start in mid to late December. For a city of over half a million, Nampula is not adequately equipped to provide for the growing demand for water. Besides, two of their four pumps are broken with no promise of being replaced. We live on a four+ acre property with three other families. It is common to daily not have water for hours at a time and the pressure isn’t strong enough many times for use of the shower, washing machine, and sometimes the bathroom sink. Elijah and a couple of his friends have started the process of digging a hole for a reservoir and we plan to have a water tower up within the next couple weeks. Please pray for us to have wisdom and lots of grace in our relationships as we deal with these types of character building events, as we tend to get stressed at times, a bit discouraged and sometimes sin by complaining. Our Lord Jesus, the Faithful One always takes care of everything and we are truly overjoyed to serve the Wonderful Master.

How can you best pray for us?
- We need wisdom to understand the Mozambicans and how to express honor to them
- Safety from thieves
-That God will somehow provide for us a long term water solution (ie, a bore well)

Rejoice with us about…
-God providing Gito to teach Melissa Portuguese a couple times a week
-Overall good health in our family and Daniel’s back is much better
-Trust that is building in Daniel’s relationship with Moniz and Antonio, Christian brothers we employ
-The gratitude of the people here as we share some food, clothing, anything with them
-Our dogs, Roxy and Tipper, that add such joy to our days! (And protect us from harm)

Love you all,
Daniel & Melissa
with Elijah & Esther

P.S. We pray for you and would love to hear how you are if you have the opportunity to write. Thanks you so much for those who have written!

2008-08-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

Culture: Thank you for your prayers regarding the Makua’s understanding of God versus witchcraft. A seminar will be held this month to help the church here. The Makua view sickness as always caused by some spiritual reality. For instance, I might explain that malaria is transmitted from person to person by a malaria-infected mosquito. But they will always then ask, “But, WHY did the mosquito bite the infected person and then bite me?” The reasons could be varied. Either someone doesn’t like me and wants to bring me down, or I violated some ancestral tradition, or I have been cursed, etc. If the sickness is serious, a “healer” or “witch doctor” will be sought. Even if a Christian has the confidence to not do this, their non-Christian family may pressure them to go. The witch doctor will seek to divine the cause of the sickness and then prescribe the “medicine” to take. They don’t as much believe the power is in the therapeutic value of the concoction of leaves, roots, chicken feet..., but in the spiritual power of the witch doctor derived from the spirits or ancestors they invoke. There are various levels of witch doctors, the most highly instructed who at the start disappear into the jungle for months and then re-appear having been personally trained by what they call “evil spirits”. These kinds are especially sought out for the hard cases of getting healing or casting a curse on another. Others are trained through other kinds of spirits. Others still are trained by their ancestors through the spirit world, and other just learn the trade from another witch doctor / healer. We’re praying for God’s wisdom to know which specific Bible stories will prepare the soil for the gospel and reshape their worldview.

God brought our container from Kansas City all the way to our home in Nampula safe and sound. While our “stuff” has been boxed up for nine months, Jesus has given us a greater sense of His warning, “be on your guard against every form of greed.” (Luke 12:15 and remember Achan in Joshua 7) and we don’t want our hearts drawn away from things above. A great little book on this topic is The Treasure Principle (by Randy Alcorn) that we read aloud as a family.

We have visited different congregations and are exploring ministry possibilities until we start Makua language training in February. (Sorry I didn’t get some pictures at these churches. One even served a lunch of grilled fish! One fellow wouldn’t eat it because it had seen the fish in the market covered with flies.) We’re benefiting a lot from wise input and ideas of others who have worked among these people even as far back as shortly after the civil war ended here in 1992. There is much to learn!

FYI - It looks like we’re going to get our first little break and go to the ocean together with Pat Maddux (Grandma!).

Thank you for your prayers. We remember you too and are anticipating with you how God will continue to glorify Himself in this place.

Please pray for:
* Wisdom & the Holy Spirit’s guidance as to we build relationships and learn about what Bible stories best help change their worldview.
* Elijah & Esther’s opportunities to assists a group constructing a church building (August 15th – 26th) in Beira (a coastal city 2 days travel from here).
* Daniel's bad back which needs to heal and which prevented him from going on a trip out of town this last week to visit a couple church plantings through Bible storying.

Praise God with us for:
* The sweet fellowship & encouragement we have with other missionaries
* We are getting more settled into our home and Daniel’s friendship with our Christian workers grows stronger

(Check out our latest pictures online.)

2008-07-02T22:46:00.000-07:00

You can click here to go to this newsletter in a pdf format you can put on the church bulletin board.

Help! We're in Culture Shock!

Last week I was called by our fellow missionary, Dan Been, to help mediate in a scandal that sent shock waves through the church here in Nampula. It happened that one of the most respected native leaders, while having been married for 14 years, had hidden affairs that occurred during 2003-2004 with three sisters of another family. Two of the sisters as well as their dad have been ill for some time. One of them went to a witch-doctor with her mother-in-law and was told that she was sick because she had slept with the man her sisters had also slept with. When all this became known to the family, several church leaders became involved, and under pressure to solve the family crisis agreed to call in a traditional “healer” (witch-doctor) who would mix up something for them all to drink. They believe a special kind of sickness would result from one man having slept with three sisters of the same family (versus women from separate families). This is superstition. This is not purely an herbalist, but one who requests the ancestors for their blessing of protection during their journey and for a cure of the sick person. At the door of the sick family’s house, this “healer” had brewed a concoction of special leaves, part of a chicken’s foot, and other things. They all drank it but did not improve. It was at this point that our fellow missionary was finally notified.

A meeting was called of the pastors of the city. The leader committing adultery agreed to the discipline of not being able to teach for a period of time. But, all the leaders still maintained that the “healer” was only using an herbal remedy from their traditional medicine.

Witch-craft and Cowardice Exposed. The next night I was able to sit down with two leaders and step them through some scriptural principles to discern where and how healing takes place for the spirit, soul, and body. I even mentioned the superstition of the 1700’s that most likely killed George Washington, that of bleeding the patient to let the sickness out. After reading Revelation 21:8 – “but the cowards…”, they began to question if in fact they hadn’t given in to superstition and brought in one who in fact requests demonic powers for the cure versus them seeking God in first place (Is 8:19). They also came to see they had acted out of cowardice when no one spoke to question the witch-doctor idea to begin with.

Discipline. At a later meeting, the leaders decided to be disciplined by stepping out of leadership for one month. This is very important as almost all so called Christians in this culture will run to a “healer” as a last resort, bringing themselves under demonic powers and usually not getting well. Later we met with some city pastors who also recognized and turned from the previous claim that the witch-doctor was simply an herbalist. Other meetings set up by Dan Been were held to bring spiritual healing and to reconcile the relationships broken by adultery.

Public Repentance. In the end, the adulterer and the ones who called the “healer” all participated in a public repentance in the Sunday meeting according to Paul’s instruction in 1 Timothy 5:20 – “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.” Dan Been and I were asked to preach at the Sunday meeting and to aid the Mozambicans in steering this. This is one of the first times a public repentance and discipline like this has ever occurred here. Please pray with us that God will continue to purify His Bride here and that strong churches be planted.

The president of Good News for Africa (our mission agency) recently wrote us saying: “I still hear the words of a veteran missionary who advised me after hearing of all my plans for the next few years. He said, ‘On your first term don’t worry about getting a lot done, just get yourself situated to a point where you can work well on your second term.’ Wise words! I didn’t exactly heed them and as a result produced a lot of expectations and stress on myself because I was unrealistic. Get to know the lay of the land – physically and spiritually and develop some good friendships…”

Some missionaries have commented that this is one of the most difficult place to live in and to minister to spiritually. We thank God He has allowed us to enter this place. It is now even more evident how important it will be for us to start learning the Makua language. In February through July of 2009 we plan on relocating temporarily where Melissa and I will study full-time in a course designed to teach us Makua culture and language.

Thanks for your prayers and partnership in the work here among the Makua,
Hugs from the Madduxes.

2008-06-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Friends,

God is blessing us to adjust to new conditions and to make friends here.

Please check out our new photo gallery to get the rest of the story. A caption is at the bottom of each picture. The link to the pictures is on the top right hand margin or go to http://photos.beatoday.org/index.htm Also note our mailing address here.

I, Daniel, have been having some good conversations and relationship building times with a Christian here. Antonio is a "king" of his small clan (about 87 people). He is one of the night guards the previous missionary's established for this property we live on that has 2 other houses. Most kings have 50 - 300 people they're in charge of. They are not officially recognized by the government but they are by the people, as they typically lead the ceremonies of satanic origin in funerals, births, etc. making sacrifices to appease the departed spirits. He, of course, no longer does this as a Christian even though 95% of professing Christians participate in these. As a king he has the respect of other kings and is in a place of much influence. He has led in planting two churches, which is a great story in itself and due to the work of God through our fellow missionary Shawn Gardner. Relationships of trust take a loooonnng time to establish here so we praise God that we already have a good start.

Please pray for...
* Our container to arrive safely sometime around the end of June.
* God to show Elijah and Esther the unique ways they can serve while they are here.
* Melissa and the kids continuing to learn Portuguese.

We praise God for...
* How great a help our fellow team members Dan and Robin Been have been to us!
* Our home here on a large mission's property with a spacious yard we're all enjoying.
* You - our prayer partners in the U.S. and Brazil - engaged in the battle for Truth.

Love you,
Daniel & Melissa
with Elijah and Esther

Wedded

2008-04-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

We praise God our daughter Chloe married a godly man this last Saturday. Everything was "out of the box" yet drenched with the dew of heaven. Except the blessing from the two families, Jonathan and Chloe wrote everything to be in the wedding including their vows. Awesome music, choreography, content, and example of purity and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is truly a joy to us to see God provide husbands for our daughters as we leave for Mozambique.

Melissa's last days in Brazil brought many opportunities to practice Portuguese. Once at a nearby backery she asked for "egg juice" instead of "grape juice" and another time asked for "black cheese" instead of "plate cheese". She's having fun laughing with others over these things. While we're on the food subject, Melissa had a biblical insight to share. It seems that Tuesday must be the best/most important day of creation (3rd day) as it is the day God created chocolate (plants)! Lord willing Mozambique will have some good chocolate!

Please pray for the following:
- That we'll be able to get everything on the container to Moz this Friday
- Blessings in speaking at a church in Stoctkon, MO (Sunday 13th), final time with our home church (20th), and time with family before departure.
- Safe and Healthy travel to Mozambique and then 3-4 days via car from the capital to Nampula.
- That we'll quickly be able to find my mother a pickup truck in the capital so that we can make it up to Nampula in time to start our government paperwork there within 30 days of entering the country.

We're looking forward to getting setup in Nampula by the end of May and communicating with you all then, if not earlier.

God bless you!
Daniel & Melissa Maddux with Elijah and Esther.

2008-02-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

Would you believe that God answered all of our prayers this month in an incredible way?

Vehicle 4x4: First of all Jehovah Jireh has provided us a vehicle in Mozambique. We no longer need to raise more funds for a reliable 4x4 because a missionary couple returning to the U.S. Is selling their 1996 Diesel Toyota Hilux Surf to us for $12k. What a tremendous relief to have reliable transportation ready for us when we arrive.

Portuguese: Secondly, we see that God has accomplished His work in us here in Brazil, equipping us for life in Africa. He has amazed us by enablish Daniel to translate much of the “Bible Story Telling” materials he will be teaching to the Makua people. He has also purchased some useful teaching materials in Portuguese. Melissa now has a good foundation in the Portuguese language and we all will continue to focus on it for the rest of '08. God has knit our hearts together as a family for the purpose He has called us to in Nampula. Though we falter at times, the path is clear with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Glorious One.

Wedding: Lastly, dearly beloved, we're anxious to boast about the Lord's work in our daughter, Chloe Elizabeth, and her soon to be husband, Jonathan Heston. They are being blessed by all the appeals to God for their purity, waiting in animated ankissapation for their April 5th marriage festivities. May God be praised.

Packing: What extraordinary months lie ahead of us. Easter Sunday will find us back in Kansas City, God willing, and smothered with the affection of our dearest Chloe & Hannah. For four and a half pleasurable weeks we'll be celebrating life with some of you while packing for our April 24^th migratory flight to the dark continent. Please pray for peace and health for us in the next few weeks as we return to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Thanks for remembering us in the midst of your daily bustling and know that we think of you and pray for you too.

Elijah Exercising ------------ Esther's Birthday ----- Daniel's catch of the day

(Thank you everyone who sent cards and presents for Esther's Birthday!!!)

2008-01-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

C O U N T Y O U R B L E S S I N G S !

Singing this rich hymn and many others recently has been really been effective medicine for our spirits. Esther noted that this past week was our half-way mark for our stay here in Brazil - she’s actually counting the days. We’ve been feeling the culture-shock and homesickness most acutely these past couple weeks. What joy to focus on these musical messages for our souls…

O To Be Like Thee!
Hallelujah, What A Savior!
Sound the Battle Cry
One Day!

Daily Life Here: Your prayers are tremendously appreciated. Our time here would not be the blessing it is without you interceding for us. We did not move from the apartment here as we thought we would. Instead, God is teaching us much about contentment in this setting. Some of the aspects of life we are beginning to get used to include:

doing our laundry by hand (wringing is the hardest part, but getting them to dry during the rainy season has proven to be a bit tricky!) - see 1st video below.
living out of our suitcases (there are no dressers or closets to use here)
no water heater (i.e. cold showers and heating water from the bathroom sink—there is no kitchen sink-- on the stove to wash dishes and clothes)
having ants everywhere! (so the sugar is in the frig)
taking a bus or walking to get around town
taking our umbrella with us each time we go out
sleeping with mosquito nets over our beds
crying out to our loving Jesus for comfort when our hearts ache from missing Chloe and Hannah and our other family and friends in the U.S.
thanking!! God for the receptive hearts and attitudes Elijah & Esther have had about being a part of our lives as missionaries and thanking God for our afternoon of relaxation at the Amazon River beach (see 2nd video below).

Temptations for Men: A few weeks ago we realized Elijah was acting unusually stir-crazy and needing to get out of our apartment more. Several times when we were heading out for groceries or running errands he did not want to go with us. Elijah, whose name means ‘Jehovah is God’ said “Brazil is not a place for boys or men. You can’t hardly look anywhere without seeing women or pictures of them immorally dressed.” We praise God for Elijah’s desire to be pure and choosing to not expose himself to unnecessary temptation.

True Love: Have you heard a really good love story lately? Now then, Daniel and Esther were participants in the wedding of one such couple this month. Daniel had the privilege of giving his 29 year old sister, Angela, in marriage to the Brazilian, Davi Marcos Siqueira, 31 years old.

A wealthy Christian friend of the groom’s family offered to host the wedding ceremony and festivities at his countryside estate. His generosity seemed too much to believe. “Absolutely!”, he said, “I would certainly do this and more for two virgins.” God’s power has been shown in Davi’s and Angela’s lives as they have both grown up in this very adulterous Brazilian culture.

Blessing the Little Ones: While visiting São Paulo for the wedding, we were able to meet with a brother in Christ, Dirceu, who has a church and ministry among one of the poorest slums in Brazil. He was only allowed into the neighborhood because the drug-lord of the area gave him permission to start helping the neglected children of prostitutes and poor families. This same drug lord hires hit-men to protect his territory from policemen. God has given Dirceu favor in the enemy’s territory. As he passed the street corners where the hit-men were posted, they asked him to pray for them. As he did, they lowered their weapons, took off their hats, and many times God softened their hearts to tears. Five of these men so far have left that job for an honest wage with Dirceu’s help. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…” (Luke 4:18)

The Father’s Financial Provision: We’re grateful that the Father has already provided 85% of our minimum budgeted goal and all the regular setup costs! Our Faithful God will certainly provide, as He wills,for the remaining $20,000 for a vehicle and for the rest of the monthly needs. Our estimated time of departure for Mozambique is no later than April 24^th.

Birthday: 450 – 405 = Melissa’s age. Yep, she turned 45 this month. Thank you so much to all of you who sent cards and e-mails that brought great delight to her middle-aged heart!!! We enjoyed sharing a box of Brazilian chocolates after breakfast as part of our celebration.

Language Study: We wish you all could meet our Brazilian jewel, Joelsila, who comes to teach us Portuguese three times a week. She makes learning a lot of fun and begins each lesson with Melissa, Elijah, and Esther with prayer. (Believe me, we need it!) Joelsila expressed excitement about Melissa’s progress because she’s not afraid to practice and make mistakes.

Translation: I (Daniel) am so encouraged that God is providing beyond what I imagined. Even though it was more difficult than I expected to get back into Portuguese, God is helping me translate the 200+ pages of video text, handbooks, and charts for the “Communication Bridges to Oral Cultures”. This is from the training I received from the group I met at the National Missionary Convention. I am especially grateful for our Portuguese teacher who is correcting the translation. This material will greatly aid in training grassroots story-tellers to take God’s story to their non-literate Makua communities. Please pray with us for God to continue to raise up laborers for the harvest! (Luke 10:1-2; Mt 9:36-37)

Abraços (Portuguese for ‘Hugs’),

Daniel, Melissa, Elijah and Esther Maddux

2007-12-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Feliz Natal (Merry Christmas!)

God is really helping us to cry out to Him and be strengthen in the midst of some of our “missionary adventures”. For example, Saturday night we arrived home by bus (which is a bit like riding in the Indy 500). We were all exhausted from a long day out doing laundry and visiting friends. As we approached the front gate we realized that we had left our backpack with our backup set of keys at our friends home. There are three doors to unlock to get into our apartment (on the floor above the church meeting place). Elijah, praise God, had a set of keys but could only get us inside the main church building but not into our rooms. We were all hungry (it was about 7:00 p.m. And we hadn't eaten since lunch) and we didn't want to take the half an hour bus ride back to where the keys were so.... we prayed, “Lord, You know about all these things. What should we do?” There was a handmade ladder in the hallway... God's provision. We carried the ladder outside and propped it against the wall where we each climbed up and hoisted our bags of laundry (still wet and needing to be hung up inside to dry) over the balcony (a little tricky for Melissa in her long skirt). Daniel unlocked the iron gate on the balcony going into Elijah's room and ... we were in! We enjoyed a late supper, hung the wet laundry up to dry, and laughed about our adventure. God is so good. (Someone came Sunday morning with the other keys to unlock the front door.) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Cor 1:3-4

We've been keenly aware living here how the U.S. is the land of the plentiful. Even in little things like the tea bags we notice such a superior standard of quality in the U.S. (4 Brazilian tea bags = 1 U.S. Tea bag) In almost everything (except the tapioca ice cream and delicious tropical fruits) it is cheaper more abundant, and better quality in the U.S.. A 17 year old came up to us in the mall because he wanted to practice his English. He said his dream and the dream of many people here is to one day go to the United States. Wow! What a sobering thought of stewardship. “To Him who has much much will be required.”

We've enjoyed the church here at Mauriti. Melissa and Esther enjoyed a baby shower with Wednesday before last, a brother came to the front and in tears thanked people by name for trying to stay in touch with him even though he had been running from God. He also asked forgiveness for each of those he felt he had wronged and expressed gratefulness for God powerfully drawing him back. The church here is quite strong in many ways relationally, prayerfully, in the Word... It's the 3^rd and last church Dad & Mom planted. God was honoring my His work done here through them when a brother stated, “Where would all of us be if your parents had not come here? We'd be lost!”

A dear friend, Ricardo Marques, has invited us to come to stay in his home this Saturday until around January 9^th while his family is away for the holidays. It will be a swell situation for us in many ways. First of all, we'll be refreshed with Ricardo's fellowship until he leaves Christmas day. We'll also enjoy waking up to birds singing instead of loud traffic. Elijah and Esther can pay a small fee to swim in the pool near his house and we won't have to transport our laundry by bus each week. Ricardo's home is on the A.V.A. (Amazon Valley Academy) complex where Daniel and his siblings went to school while growing up. Elijah will have lots of area to run and he plans to join the Saturday soccer game on the A.V.A. Field. He played last week and almost had a heat stroke. (He misses the mid-west snow storms.) Our goal is to have more time to focus on our Portuguese study and less on housekeeping.

Esther is much better from her fever and Elijah is over his stomach aches. Esther entertained herself with finger puppets while sick (see pic). They are especially grateful for our friendly allies, the cute lizards who roam the walls here and regularly feast on mosquitoes. The kids are so looking forward to a trip to the beach but we don't know when we'll fit that in. Joelsila teaches us Portuguese Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the afternoons. Elijah and Esther are cruising in their “Teaching Textbooks” math book and are enjoying some musty smelling but wonderful classics we're borrowing from David and Carol Bayless, a dear missionary couple who have helped us so much in our time here.

We've also really been challenged and encouraged each morning with the teaching from “Victorious Christian Living International”. We're in the first booklets on “My Relationship with God.”

We are sure missing all of you, our treasured family, friends, fellow servants of High King Jesus. Chloe and Hannah and their sweethearts are thriving in their relationships and we couldn't be happier about it. Tom and Linda Ledford, our forwarding agents are keeping us propped up here. We especially miss our Hope (church) family. Thank you for your love and prayers!

If you'd like to mail a Christmas card to us (hint, hint:)), mail it to our Brazil address shown in the right margin (this is actually David & Carol Bayless' address). The postage for a card/letter is about two 1^st class stamps and it takes about a week to get here.

Our phone numbers:
011-55-91-8835-5053 – Daniel's mobile
011-55-91-8835-5046 – Melissa mobile
011-55-91-3235-3788 – From December 15^th – January 8^th, Ricardo's land line
913-871-6490 – Call us for free on our Skype-In # if we have a good internet connection.

We're sending you our love and the merriest Christmas greeting. We especially thank those of you who have already sent some Christmas money - totally unexpected!

Growing in God's Wonderful Grace –
The Madduxes
Daniel & Melissa, Elijah & Esther

Elijah and Esther

2007-12-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Today we had our first Portuguese lesson with Joelsila, an older Brazilian woman. Esther wasn't feeling well (flu-like) so she will hopefully participate on Wednesday and Friday when we meet again. We're not sure what Esther is sick with but her Daddy has her on Olive Leaf Extract so she'll certainly be well soon. Hopefully it's nothing related to a mosquito bite, although she has counted over 60 bites on herself in the 1st several days. A few men in the church are going to come and put screens on the windows for us. She has also been surprised with all the places where the ants come marching into our apartment.
We sure miss Chloe and Hannah so much! Elijah has taken up the slack as Mr. Stand-Up comedian and has us belly laughing several times a day. After being here in northern Brazil for only a week, Elijah concluded, "The United States really is like heaven, but the people here are great!" The people are fairly poor but we were very warmly received by the Christians yesterday at church. The young men promised to teach Elijah soccer if he will teach them American football. Yes, he even packed a football in his trunk!
We praise God for some good memories for Elijah and Esther in Brazil.

Hugs,
Daniel & Melissa

Arrival in Brazil

2007-11-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Family,

Praise God we've arrive safely in Brazil and slept a little.

The last church that my parents planted in down-town Belem stayed up all night making the last preparations for our arrival. They did a fantastic job setting us up. It's more like a church camp setting but very livable - little refrigerator, stove, water dispenser, & a fan in each room... There is no kitchen sink, so we'll do the dishes in the bathroom sink. We're so thankful we have so much. We're down the street from the place in a "cyber cafe".

Abrãços, (The Brazilians end their letters and phone calls this way and that word (abrassoos) means "Hugs!")
Daniel, Melissa, Elijah, & Esther

Hope Family Fellowship Send-off to Brazil

2007-11-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much Hope Family Fellowship for the loving send-off to Brazil - with many joining in prayer around us and later the fun memories and tears shared. We thank each one of you in all the churches undergirding this work of the Lord which is just beginning.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL ! ! !

Pray for Melissa and the kids as they continue to learn Portuguese. Pray for me (Daniel) as I begin translating materials for storytelling the gospel among the Makua from www.siutraining.org