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.)