Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The past month in Chiconono has been a memorable time for so many reason's. It started off with me getting Malaria again, which once again was very unpleasant. This time though I had Mills in the house to look after me. But two days later when I just started to recover Mills got the Malaria too. So we where both very sick guys trying to look after each other.
Then shortly after our Malaria we were presented with a fine for our Radio Station of 29 314 Meticas (approximately R8200). The Mozambiquen labor office fined us this sum of money because we have volunteer workers and their labor laws do not believe in such a thing as volunteer work. So they fined us for disobeying their laws as well as for exploiting the Mozambiquen locals (our volunteers). This is in many ways a very difficult situation for the Radio Station as everything about Radio Chiuanjota
is based on volunteer work and a work for the surrounding communities. We have tried explain that the Radio Station is non-profit in every way possible and that we don't even have sufficient funds to be on air properly. So to pay the fine and to have to start paying our presenters salaries is a huge impossibility at the moment. But as to this date they will not annul the fine and we have until the 13th of September to pay it. Please pray with us for God's Guidance and Wisdom and that through this
fine people will see Jesus through our lives in the way we approach this whole situation.
Already through this trial we have seen God's plan, because as a group of Christian's we are having to unite in many ways that maybe would not be happen if we weren't going through this trial. Importantly we are also looking to God and not letting circumstances get us down, there are times when we are frustrated because we are trying to do a good work for the Yao communities in North Mozambique. And we are rewarded with a fine from their own Government.
A verse that has been true to me at this time is from 2 Timothy 2 :8-9 "Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and I have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained."
I definitely don't think our fine is as much of a hardship as Paul's, he suffered and was chained like a criminal for preaching the Gospel. But what encourages me are these word; "BUT THE WORDS OF GOD CANNOT BE CHAINED." The Gospel message is going out through this radio station, and hardships will come because of that. But it is encouraging to know that the words of God will not stop reaching out even if the radio station was to close down. The words of God will still reach out, trials might hinder
our work as humans but God always has a greater plan and works trials out for his good work.
One of my greatest African experiences took place the other day when Mills and myself had to return from to Chiconono from Lichinga. We got a lift to Lichinga with Theo a fellow missionary but had to return to Chiconono by local transport. Mills and myself arrived at the truck/taxi rank early to ensure us a good seat or rather just 'a seat'. When we arrived there we were warmly welcomed by the driver of the truck and some of the passengers. They grabbed our bags and quickly put them on the truck.
We waited two & a half hours before the truck started, by this time we had a load of 45 people, crates of coke, cases of Black Label Beer, containers of local beer made from sugar cane, bags of maze, containers of Diesel, bags, fresh fish and even a chicken. We were packed tight and set for the road, the truck had a flat bed that was 3 meters long and 2.2 meters wide. Picture 45 of us on the truck along with all that cargo/luggage. I was sitting near the front with my legs hanging over the end and
holding on for dear life. Mills sat near the back with his legs getting crushed with bodies all over it. The truck was so packed with bodies that I could not see Mills whilst we were driving. And when we started to drive we still picked up a few more passengers as the rule in Mozambique is; always space for one more!
When we set off we took all the back roads, bouncy and slow was our drive until the truck stopped and the driver got out and we all hopped off the truck. At first Mills and myself didn't know what was gong on with our limited communication, we were guessing there were traffic cops up ahead. Our guess was right, so we had to sit and bask in the sun until the cops left. With very little water and food it was a long wait in the sun, we waited 5 hours in total. In these five hours our driver started
drinking the Black Labels from the truck, so five hours later he was not talking the gibberish I was used to he had a bit of a slur and a continuous grin. But the time came when the cops left and we could return on our journey, everyone managed to squeeze into their original seating place and off we set.
When we got to the tar road I was worried as I didn't know how straight our driver would drive. And as my head was pushed down by all the arms and hands holding onto the Cab of the truck behind my head I had no choice but to look at the tar road or bushes racing past me. Whilst our driver was driving he continued to drink his Black Label Beers, I don't think there was a moment in the entire trip where his hand might have been without a tin of Beer with beer in it.
Our drive home was 105km long and took us 11 hours in total including the the long stop in the sun, even though our driver had at least 11 afri-can tins (450 ml) of beer he got us home safely. Mills and myself both had too much sun and got home with red arms, red necks, red faces and red knees. We enjoyed the drive and made friends with many people on the back of the truck, for many if not for all of them it was the first time white men had traveled home the way the have to.
The memories in Chiconono continue in the past eventful month as no longer were we where home in our village when a fire broke out. It was a Sunday morning and by far one of the windiest mornings we have had when two boy's in the far off village set the grass/brush on flames. We thought that we were to be ok because the fire had a river to cross, but with the grass being so dry and the wind being so strong it was moments after church when we all had to work together to protect the thatched roofed
homes in the village. We worked hard and breathed in a lot of smoke, but as a community/village we worked together and protected the homes. For Mills and myself it was adventurous and exciting to a degree, but for the locals it happens once a year although some did say that this year was one of the worst.
During all this we have continued to try get the fine annulled but without any success, but to make things worse. On a beautiful Tuesday night whilst Mills and myself were sleeping some people got onto the roof of the Radio Station and stole five of the Radio Station's Solar Panels. The Solar Panels were very valuable to the radio station but now unfortunately have new owners. So please pray for us that we might find these thieves, that we will continue to love them and also that we will become the
righteous owners of our Solar Panels again.
This is my last month here in Chiconono until Mills and myself start our journey home, the month already feels like it is almost over and that the Saindons are almost here. It hard to believe that I have spent 6 months here already, but they say time fly's when you are having fun. My time here has been awesome and through everything it has been a time for me see how intimate God is when you look to him for much needed intimacy.
During the first week of October Mills and myself will be helping out at the SIM Spiritual Life Camp for all the SIM missionaries in Mozambique. Mills and myself will be helping with the missionary kids, we will be having times of spiritual input, games and activities with the kids. Please pray for wisdom for Mills and myself that we will be used by God to impact their life's.
Thank you for all your ongoing prayers and support. Thank you also for emails which really lighten up my days to hear news from home.
God Bless
From Gabriel
