In Mozambique, people camp a lot, but not like we are used to experiencing in Brazil, in a suitable location or sometimes with air-conditioned rooms. Here, they usually camp in a completely inhospitable place, sleeping in tents surrounded only by vacant land or on the beach. They bathe using mugs and buckets filled with water heated over the fire, and sometimes they don’t even have soap. They create toilets by digging a hole in the ground and placing straw all around. They cook with firewood in the open air, sometimes under a drizzle, or in the cold.

Julio, the Bible worker David and Edie Hicks trained while working here, has been working in a very difficult area called Mabil and having a hard time preaching the gospel.

Difficulties with Mabil arose while trying to purchase land for a church. Neighborhood leaders (local authorities) were not interested in agreeing to the purchase authorization. Since then, many brothers and sisters have united in prayer for this purchase to be successful.

Since people here love camping and evangelism, we decided to support Julio by holding an evangelism camp meeting in Mabil.

We planned everything with the local pastor, and on Saturday, June 8th, we began two weeks of evangelism in the Mabil district. But many spiritual struggles ensued.

A few days before the evangelism started, Julio was returning home on his motorcycle when an assailant tried to knock him off the bike. We thank God he managed to escape unharmed.

Once the campaign started, neighborhood leaders began visiting house by house, telling people not to welcome into their homes the young people camped nearby, not to study the Bible with them, and not to attend the lectures. Again, many gathered in prayer for the evangelism to continue.

Soon, the weather became an issue. The constant rain made cooking in open spaces difficult, and cold temperatures made campers sick. One of the youth developed foot paralysis. Others got the flu and had stomach aches and fever, but they did not give up. They recovered.

The missionary pairs continued going to the houses to study the Bible with people. Then neighborhood leaders came with the police to halt the evangelism. They met with the pastor and Bible workers and said they would hold a meeting in the following days to determine if the evangelism could continue.

Many gathered for two days of fasting and prayer. When the pastor came forward to speak at the meeting, he was told he had their permission. We were elated. God had solved our problem.

The pastor lectured at night, sometimes to only two or three people. At other times, only he and the evangelism team were present.

During the final week, everyone hoped that there would be baptisms, so we made an improvised baptismal tank. A hole was dug in the ground about 2.5 meters long (8.2 feet), 1.3 meters wide (4.3 feet) and 1 meter deep (3.3 feet). Then, using wooden planks, we formed stairs that led into the hole. Finally, we laid a large waterproof tent canvas on the ground, working it into the cavity, creating our baptismal tank.

Another problem arose. Although the neighbor next to our site ran a hose from his house to provide water to fill a large container we could draw from for cooking, bathing and drinking, his supply was dry for four days. Again, the church prayed for Mabil, and the Friday before the evangelism ended, around 10:00 a.m., rains came, and we were able to fill the tank.

On Friday afternoon, Daniele worried that the rain and cold weather might prevent the baptisms the next day. She prayed tirelessly, asking God to send the sun and good weather for Sabbath. God delivered!

Though one apparent setback after another surfaced to disturb and prevent evangelism, God continued supporting the Bible workers, strengthening the missionary pairs and encouraging the pastor to continue preaching. 

On that final Sabbath, 22 people, including a witch doctor who decided to abandon everything, went down into the baptismal waters and gave their lives to Jesus.

After the baptism, we held a ceremony to burn the materials the witch doctor used to perform rituals. Then, we all had lunch under the mango tree and spent Sabbath afternoon worshiping God and fellowshipping with our new brothers and sisters in the faith.

Satan strikes very hard and visibly here in Mozambique. Please pray for Mabil. We need a place in that region where we can build a church so these new brothers and sisters can congregate. The neighborhood authorities are trying to prevent it at all costs, so please pray for us. We want to see you in heaven soon.

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