I’ve just said goodbye to a great group (Taberna Dei, Polokwane, RSA) of people visiting the mission base in central Mozambique.  As I am writing this they have already reached their destinations and have been re-united with their families and loved ones.  When I work with amazing teams like these, I always have to ask myself the question whether it was worthwhile.  There’s a lot of preparation that goes into an outreach like this.  The people making the trip are investing huge amounts of money, time and effort and when they leave they want to know that they have made a difference.

There’s a number of arguments against short-term outreaches.  Why go to a far-off country if there is so much need right where you are?  And this is indeed a very valid argument.  A few things can be said about this.  It’s never one or the other.  Do what God wants you to do, whether it’s close or far.  The downside of this argument (and the most people using this argument, in my experience, fall into this category) is that people are actually saying:  If you get involved in another place, you make me feel guilty.

Somebody has to take care of the local needs and if you’re not here to do it, then who will?  So rather remain behind, take care of the local needs and I can go on with my life.  Or something to that effect.  If someone goes on a missionary trip to avoid getting involved locally, then that is wrong.  But the reality is that many people return from a mission trip abroad and get more involved in the local community because often people undergo a heart change while on a mission trip.

The other argument is that the money could rather have been sent to the country where the outreach would have taken place.  This sounds logical.  Unfortunately it won’t happen.  We need to see and feel and smell and taste the needs of people, before we will really get involved with this.  And, in any case, for too long have we seen people writing out cheques while relaxing in front of their TV’s, believing that they have then fulfilled their mission obligation.  Obviously not everybody can go on a short-term outreach.

But those who do, need to go back to their own communities and become advocates for the cause to which they were exposed, wherever that may be.

I have seen the positive effects of short-term outreaches.  When done in the right way, with the right attitude, with a teachable spirit, focused on building relationships rather than just solving problems, short-term outreaches can possibly become the greatest learning school that any Christian can be exposed to.

In the next few postings I will prove just how true these words are.  Happy reading my friends – and by the way …. thanks for visiting this blog.  We truly love ya!

DAY 1:  BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING … and more work!

At last …. painting has started on the Women training center.

Our bush school is hidden deep into the jungle – I guess that’s why we call it a bush school.  The visiting group brought great surprises with them (but we’ll keep that surprise for a later article).

Dishing up from our bush kitchen for the nearly 300 kids awaiting their meal for the day.  We are currently experiencing a very hungry time due to failed crops.  This would probably be the only meal our school kids will get for the day.

A new day …. on our way to Sussendenga for an outreach to the local people.  We were called by several people in the area to help.  Witch-doctors in the area brings fear to many of the people.

We had to cross many bridges to get to our destination.

It’s ALWAYS about PEOPLE!  Reaching out and bringing Good News to the people of Sussendanga.  We work closely with local leaders.  It was amazing when almost everyone there asked for prayer because they ‘feared and had bad dreams’.  God did great miracles the evening.

Three prized gentleman and great friends of mine for many years.  They are all interpreters and from left to right:  Past. Zarco Kwaramba (as close as a brother), Mathew Hurekure (my right and left and …. and my tongue) and Prosper Fernando (interpreter).