Thankful in midst of hard time

I am writing this prayer with a mix of feelings, as we faced two different moment since my last update and I have seen God working in my life and bringing hope to my family, as we struggled with a health issue in the begin of March. All my family had an eye infection, known as conjunctivitis, which was quickly spreading in our city and many people were infected, and this was a sad moment which we faced as family. However, I praise the Lord that He healed us from this disease.

Despite of this sad moment which we faced in our family, I was able to see good things that God is doing in people lives, as part of my work and ministry in local Church. On 24th March during the celebration of Palms Sunday, I testified the baptism of 25 new believers in our small congregation in a rural area, of whom 3 were elder women, 1 elder man and 21 youth (girls and boys). It was a great joy to see people committing their lives to Jesus Christ and declare their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (see picture). Also I have been involved in a continued CCM (Church and Community Mobilization) facilitation in Bible studies to a group of 4 congregation leadership in Nhamatanda District, about 100 km from Beira, where 18 people attended it, of whom 8 men and 10 women. These Bible studies are being a good opportunity for many of them to learnt the Bible and apply the learnings in their lives, as they never had an opportunity of having a Bible study training in their communities. For me, it is great joy to share with them and to see how they are committed to learn Bible. Thank you for your prayers for us here.

The farmers in Chassimba community faced a challenge of drought this year, as there was no regular rain because of climate changes which affected the central region of our country and they are expecting to struggle with food insecurity this year. Our encouragement to them is that they can launch again the seed for second season which start next month of April and also grow up vegetables to reduce food insecurity in their families. Please remember them in prayers that God will send the rain for their land and they can grow up crops in this second season.

As a family we thank God for healing us from eyes' infection during the month of March. It was a sad time which we faced, as we stayed at home for more than 3 days without going out to work or to school, because we were unable to see clearly anything in front of us and we were felling a hard pain in our eyes, like someone put sand on it.

Despite of this situation, we have a great joy in our lives because God is doing many things in people lives through our lives in the Church's ministry, as we are seeing it to grow each day and people are becoming Christians, giving their lives to Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. Our children are having a good achievement in their studies at school and are growing in their faith in Jesus Christ. Our first born is finishing his studies at University at the end of June. We praise the Lord for this achievement in his life.

While, I facilitate the Bible studies, the participants shares with me their feelings and bellow are some of their feelings:

"I thank God for this Bible studies, because it help me to understand what God wants me to do in my local Churches and community" - Jacob Maite.

"This Bible study is very good and important for me as it helps me to grow up in my faith in Jesus Christ and to be an agent of change in my community. So, do not stop teaching us" - Pedro Nota.

While I am facilitating Bible studies with the congregations' Leadership, the challenge I face is the Language barriers, as many of them are not confident in speaking and understanding Portuguese language. So, to make sure that all of them are understanding what I share with them, I try to speak in their mother Language which I understand, but is not easier and I am not confident to speak it. However, the Holy Spirit of God helps me to share with them what they want to know and grow up in their faith in Christ. From them, I learnt that speaking in their mother language is a good way to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, and is very helpful for them to grow up in their faith in God. Please, pray for me that I can learn more and be confident on speaking in their local Sena mother Language as I facilitate the Bible studies.

Please, join me in prayers for:

1. Eyes' infection (conjunctivitis) that God heal our country from this disease;

2. Presidential, Parliament and Provincial elections which will be held in next October that will be peaceful.

3. My Theological studies, that God give me wisdom.

4. Thank God for the 25 news believers who were baptised that they will stand firm in their faith in God.

Thank you for reading this prayer letter and I wish all of you a Happy Easter.

With love

Carlos Jone