Pause... to pray for Mocambique

Greetings from Nelspruit... the place we do our laundry!

We have just returned from a very blessed, although short, trip to our ZEMA Home Office. While in the USA, we were also able to make contact with some of our support team and we want to THANK all who were able to fit us in ! The main purpose of our going was to participate in the annual ZEMA Banquet which once again proved to be a real blessing.

Please continue to be in prayer for our ZEMA Board based in Zion Illinois. We are in the process of dealing with unusual circumstances (circumstances which do not happen on a regular basis). Our Board needs wisdom and insight as they seek to lead the mission, and we do appreciate all that they and all of our support team do for the field.

Circumstances in Mocambique are also unusual. If you have been following the news you would know that as Mocambique faces local elections in November this year and national elections November next year, the peace accord signed after the civil war has been declared by the main opposition party as no longer in force following their base in Gorongosa being overrun by government forces. There had been sporadic outbreaks of political violence in Sofala for a while resulting in a military convoy being established for travellers, but the situation has apparently only got worse. Sadly gangster elements all over the country appear to be making use of the instability, and there have been random kidnappings of business people in and around Maputo.

We were due to spend the next 16 days in Mocambique visiting Maputo, Vilanculos, Casa Nova, and Machaze, but the last two venues are right in the troubled area, and they have asked us not to come as there could be a danger, not only on the road but a gathering of people also gets unwanted attention. PLEASE PRAY for the local people, who are right there where there is conflict. War HAS NOT broken out, but the situation is tense.

We have decided that Geraldine won't go on this trip, and that I won't take the camper, have taken off the roof top tent (so that we don't stand out as foreigners) and that the trip will only include Maputo and Vilanculos.

Please pray as we read in I Timothy 2:1-4. Peace really is a blessing from God and certainly makes the spread of the Gospel just that much easier.

FAMILYWISE: Christopher writes his final exam to qualify as a CA in about two weeks; Gregory has written his last exams at the Baptist College  and GRADUATES in three weeks, Naomi is smack in the middle of her year end exams (2nd year Pharmacy).

Please have our back in prayer,
Richard and Geraldine