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Here's a photo from a hike we recently took up in the mountains. This area is known for its incredible beauty and as you can see, the view was stunning.

I’ve started a quarterly newsletter that will be just about Christian fiction and updates on my books. There will be drawings for free copies of books for those who are signed up so take a few minutes to sign up and you will automatically be entered in the first drawing. Three winners will receive a copy of Tara’s Gold on July 1st with more drawings to come! You can sign up through this link, or the permanent one on my blog’s front page.

Update from the clinic: With communication at a minimum, details are scarce. Janelle received a text message from Allen this morning. Both Scott and Allen are very tired after all the extra hours of work they have put into make this clinic work, but the good news is that the doctors are making rounds at the hospital today, so this is an answer to prayer. I’m not sure whether or not the official approval has come through enabling them to run the clinic the way they had planned. Please continue to pray for both their strength and energy, and for those they come in contact with this week.

Blessings,

Lisa

Update

“Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19




The rollercoaster continues. As of Friday, approval for the doctors still hadn’t come. The dentist received approval--that he was a dentist, that is, not the final signature--but his papers were lost between the medical school the the last office. Still, we believe that everything will come through today or tomorrow which means that the clinic will still run for most of the week. Please pray for the final steps of the process.

The group from Houston arrived Saturday in Inhambane. Scott and the doctor and his wife from South Africa arrived shortly after. I received a text message from Scott yesterday and he told me that Sunday was incredible. They divided into four groups. Scott met at one of the new churches where a witch doctor accepted Christ. She will be burning her magic charms this week. Had another exiting event take place when a snake fell from the ceiling and onto a table while the group was meeting. Nothing like a little drama to keep everyone on their toes. It took a few moments for anyone to react, but they were finally able to take care of it. I understand that no one is complaining about mosquito nets tonight. They might be just as good for creepy crawlers as well.

Thanks for your prayers,

Lisa

Brief Update

Just as the railroad tracks in this photo are filled with weeds, we often stubble across many roadblocks as we strive to follow God's calling. The clinic that has been planned for almost a year now is scheduled to begin on Monday with three doctors and a dozen-plus workers and translators. At this point, we are still waiting for approval from the government for the doctors to be able to work in the hospital during this time.

Only God knows what will happen, but there is something we DO know. No matter what the status of the clinic, God can still work this time for His good among the people. If the work in the hospital does fall through, workers will spend their time prayer walking in the streets, encouraging the two churches, discipling new Christians and other seekers, and making contacts in the communities.

Specific requests:

1. The team from Houston leaves Thursday. Please pray for their safe journey to Inhambane.
2. Scott and Allen, as they continue to do the leg work to the different offices in Maputo for all the last minute requested documents.
3. Bia and Gustavo as they continue to work with the new Christians and make new contacts in Maxixe and Inhambane.
4. That the eyes of the Tonga people will be opened and that they will turn from darkness to light.

Blessings,

Lisa

Urgent Prayers Needed

We have just come across yet another bureaucratic roadblock from the Mozambique government as we prepare for the upcoming Medical/Dental clinic next week. Without intense prayer and the power of God directly intervening, we will not be able to conduct the clinic. Scott is enroute to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, for an unsceduled trip to talk directly with the Minister of Health, Education, and Foreign Affairs. Without their final permission, the doctors will not be able to treat people.

Please pray that God would grant us favor and allow the evangelistic medical/dental clinic to happen. May the Clinic be used by God to bring many to a saving relationship with Christ, heal many from the strongholds of the spirit world, and begin a mighty wave of God's glory as His church multiplies throughout the region.

Please pray to for the team from Houston who will be departing Thursday May 24. The clinic is sceduled to begin on Monday May 28.

Below is a short video with some recent footage from Mozambique.

Blessings,

Lisa

Magic Charms take two. . .

If you read my post yesterday you might have wondered what happened to the photo. Since it didn't show up, I'm posting again today.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa

Magic Charms

God continues to work things out for the upcoming clinic in more ways than we could ever imagine. The opportunity to use the hospital facilities is a true blessing. There are still a number of things that have to be worked out, but we are trusting in God’s faithfulness.

Scott took this picture in Inhambane on one of his recent trips. Most of the stores had these leaves hanging in the doorways. They are there as magic charms to keep away evil from the businesses. It is a vivid reminder of how much work there is to do.

Blessings,

Lisa

Netball Fever

Yes, netball season has arrived! The only problem is, as an American, the game is completely new to me. So when Mariah began playing on a team this year, I decided it was time for me to find out a few of the ins and outs of the sport.

This information was gathered off the internet, so I make no claims that all of it is completely accurate, though I’ve been chatting to friends about the sport to learn from them so hopefully most of it is right.

Netball is a team sport that originally derived from basketball. In fact, it was once known in the United States as women’s basketball. Normally the game is played on a hard court with hoops on both ends, but here the younger school children play on grass courts. With seven players on each team, each must wear bibs that are abbreviations indicating their position. It’s important not to play “offside” but only in their allowed area of the court. This too depends on your position.

Positions are Goal Shooter, Goal Attack, Wing Attack, Centre, Wing Defense, Goal Defense, and Goal Keeper. Only the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter can score goals directly. Another interesting fact about the game is that players are not aloud to take more than one step while in holding the ball. In order to move the ball toward the goal, the player has to throw the ball to a team mate. The ball can also not be held for more than three seconds.

One of the reasons for the lack of running and dribbling is due to the fact that the game was invented back in the late nineteenth century where their clothing hindered such movements. Here in South Africa, the game is very popular among school children beginning as early as kindergarten as far an aid for motor skills.

I've posted some photos of Mariah playing one of her first games.

Enjoy!

Lisa

Mother’s Day marked one of many scheduled power outages, so we spent the afternoon grilling chicken and potatoes outside while enjoying Allen and Janelle’s company. Mother’s Day also marked seven baptisms in Mozambique. Scott had just returned a couple days previous with a very good report from his working with Bia and Gustavo. They are meeting with three groups who are being taught and discipled.

The medical clinic is scheduled for the last week in May and things are slowly progressing. While the government continues to want addition paperwork, we are excited about the doors God has opened up. Thirteen people are coming from Texas including one doctor and one dentist. Also working at the clinic will be a South African doctor and his wife. Another blessing of the clinic has been the opportunity to start a study at the hospital. Please pray for the clinic and for many open hearts!

Be blessed today!

Lisa

TAG, you're it!

Tammy Alexander tagged me to play this blog game! And when you're done here, check out her website to win a copy of her latest relaase, Remembered, from Tammy's best-selling Fountain Creek Chronicles series!

Eight Random Things About Me

1. I’ve worked in a bank, a daycare, a hotel headquarters, the telephone company (delivering the yellow pages door to door with a severely injured ankle), as a banquet waitress, and at a fast food restaurant.

2. I once skied in the French Alps. (This disaster story might make it into a book one day!)

3. The only thing I’ve ever collected is books by Victoria Holt. Because of her influence, when I was thirteen, I wrote in my diary that one day I’d write a gothic romance. (Which I’ve done!)

4. I once cooked over a fire for fifty people for a week. (Personal reminder: Never to volunteer to do this again)

5. I’ve been offered chicken ovaries, clabbered milk, mopane worms, pizza with bananas, and fish heads. (Note: I didn’t say I’d eaten all of them!)

6. I’ve lived in eight states and four countries. (And have been blessed to visit many more than that).

7. I only drink water and occasionally juice and milk. On a very rare occasion I drink tea or coffee. (Coffee in France is a must! Don’t ask me why.)

8. I once spent eight hours making one liter of red palm oil from palm fruit. (Don’t try this at home!)

Here's who I've tagged to play next: Ronie, Patty, Beth, Lynette, and Dana.

Have fun!

Lisa

Prayer Update

Scott is doing well in Mozambique as God continues to open doors. The clinic will be held at a Methodist Hospital instead of a separate location. This will give our dentist a chance to work in the hospital's dentist office--an office that is currently closed. Those not working directly with patients will have the opportunity to minister to both patients our doctors see and patients throughout the hospital. There is currently no outreach being done in the hospital and the administration is very open to this!

I spent all of yesterday morning at a hospital about fifteen minutes from home where Rosie was seen by a hearing specialist. Unfortunately, the hospital doesn’t have the correct machines to check her hearing properly. The doctor is arranging for Rosie to see a colleague of hers at another hospital where she can be tested. This doctor isn’t convinced that Rosie has a hearing problem, but this of course will have to be ruled out.

In the meantime, I’ve talked to Rosie’s parents about some ways to work with Rosie through communicating to her, reading to her, and playing games with her. They have been very receptive of this. In fact, this morning I heard David working with Rosie while he worked in the garden. I’m thrilled that they are making the effort to do all they can to help her.

On our way home from the hospital, I took them to see the largest Baobab tree in the world. It’s located just off the road we were on, a short drive from our house. This tree has a circumference of 46.8 meters (about 153’ 6”) and is thought to be 6000 years old. There is a cavity inside the tree that used to be used as a pub which could accommodate fifteen people.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Lisa

Update from Mozambique

First I want to share a photo of Gabriel, Dillan and Mariah in their sports uniforms. Mariah participated in her first net ball game today and did fantastic. Gabriel played a soccer match and as always loves playing the sport. Dillan, one of his friends, came home with us afterward to spend the night.

As for Mozambique, I’m anxious for Scott to return to hear more about the work there as communication between us is very limited. We are able to send text messages and have received one email from him. Internet access is also very limited and difficult to access.

He’s been involved in two things primarily. Helping to set up things for the upcoming medical clinic and participating in discipleship classes that are being held throughout the week through new contacts in Maxixe and Inhambane. We are excited to see that God is opening doors with people and softening their hearts. The Tonga are known to be a resistant people to the gospel, but God is moving!

Here is a short excerpt from his letter.

“We found out about a Bible club that meets on campus. One of our contacts, Manuel, introduced us to the club leader, Sergio. He is a quiet young man, but really a nice guy who loves the Lord. He says they have been given a “blank check” to do things on campus and have even been given a room to meet in. We will spend time with him on Saturday as he will come over to attend some of the discipleship classes the Fuentes are teaching. He could be an incredible open door to the campus.”

Another visit was made to the minister of Education who is interested in us holding an English camp. Some ideas discussed were using materials like Lets Start Talking, the use of Bible/Christian videos, group mixers and games in English. Relationships and evangelism will happen in the small groups as the doors open.

I'll share more about the discipling when he returns and I have better information. Please continue to pray for Scott, Gustavo, and Bia as they reach into the lives of the people.

Blessings,

Lisa

Prayers

Emily, David, and Rosie have become a part of our family the past two years. Both David and Emily became Christians about eighteen months ago and since then have been a part of leading several more to the Lord. David is from Mozambique and has already gone with Scott on one trip. We are excited to see how God will use David as he continues to grow in his faith.

Yesterday we took Rosie, their daughter, to Dr. Middleton, a good friend of ours who is also a part of the upcoming medical work in Mozambique. Rosie will be three in June, but stopped talking a few months ago. The doctor confirmed to us that during the visit that she has some degree of hearing loss, possibly severe. He has refered us to a specialist who we will see on Monday. This will let us know the extent of her hearing loss.

Please pray for this family. They have already had lots of pressure from extended family to participate in various traditional practices to appease the spririts. We know that God is the only one they need to seek. Please pray for their spiritual strength and that God will work mightily in their lives during this time. Pray also that God will give us wisdom in the situation.

Scott is still in Mozambique. I will have more to report on his time when he returns as we can only send text messages for now. Things seem to be going well.

Blessings,

Lisa

Expired!

I've shared on several posts of the difficulties the people in Zimbabwe are facing. One of the factors that makes things difficult is the currency issue. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw one a Zimbabwe dollar with an expiration date!

"Pay the bearer on demand FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS on or before 31st July 2007."

After that, the money isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Inflation since January of this year was about 2,200%, said to be the highest in the world. The exchange rate continue to fluctuate dramatically, but is currently around 15,000 Zim dollars to one US dollar (bank exchange) On the streets the exchange is a bit higher.

Scott has some Zimbabwean friends he often stays with while working with the churches in Bulawayo. They told him, for example, that they used to go out to eat with friends once a week. Then, because of the financial crisis they started going out only twice a month. Then it was down to once a month. Today, they can't afford to go out to eat at all.

Teachers are quitting because the cost of transport to get to the school is more than their salary. School fees are becoming out of reach for many. Doctors and other professionals are leaving the country leaving behind inadequate medical care. Every person has been affected.

Please pray for the people of Zimbabwe and especially the churches we are working with there. May they be a light for Christ during this difficult time!

Blessings,

Lisa