FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA” DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2014
SUNDAY MINISTRY ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL
Last Sunday, I was leaving for the Rovuma Church service, when Pastor Joaquim called to tell me that one of the children in the church had just died. It was Meheto (Mee hey too), the little 4 year old boy that always danced to the Lord with me at the front of the church. This hit me like a bomb, as he was one of those boys who was always wearing super dirty torn clothing, but would show up for church with a big smile and a warm hug.
He suffered from a testicular hernia, but his parents didn’t believe in hospitals, so they refused to have anything done about it.
His parents said he began having intense abdominal pain in the middle of the night, and passed away just after dawn. Church was cancelled, as all the members went to help the family organize the funeral.
As I walked the dirt path to the family’s mud hut with Youth Leaders, Carlitos and Nelson (our graduating orphan, 17 years old), I told them I knew the Lord could resurrect Meheto, and we would ask the Lord to do just that. They readily agreed. I’ve personally seen 2 people (1 adult and 1 child) resurrected from the dead while working in Mozambique, so my faith in this area is very strong.
When we got to the mud hut, there was already a 100 people sitting around, mostly muslims.
The women were wailing, as they do in this culture, with the men sitting under the grass roof of another mud hut in total silence.
We asked the women to be silent, and for all to leave the mud hut where Meheto was wrapped in a burial cloth and laying on a woven rope bed made from dried tree limbs.
DOING WHAT JESUS DID IN THE BIBLE, I wanted no unbelievers in the room.
We knelt next to the bed, laid our hands on his body, and began to pray. But as we prayed, the Lord sent a clear message to several of us, that this little one would stay with Him in heaven.
I totally understood and accepted this since his earthly life had been one of neglect and much suffering.
I was upset, but had to admit it wasn’t fair to bring him back, as he was having such a great time dancing before the Lord.
That little boy truly loved to dance. We explained to the family that Meheto was happy to be with Jesus, and would continue to dance in heaven.
I’ve spoken to many who are terrified of death, and for the unbeliever, this is very true situation, as HELL is more horrible than we can even imagine.
But not so for a person who has given their life to Jesus as little Meheto had done even at the tender age of 4. There is no fear of death when one knows the type of “life after death” that Jesus had prepared for us in heaven.
MEHETO’S GRADUATION TO HEAVEN PROVIDED 300+ LOST PEOPLE WITH THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS.
MEHETO SAVED HIS LITTLE BROTHER’S LIFE, as he became very ill 2 days later.
Our truck was in Rovuma dropping off brick layers to repair the church, when the family came running with Meheto’s 2 year old brother, begging a ride to the hospital. We gladly took them and I was thrilled to know that their hearts were now open to receiving medical help for their children.
We expect that more “fruit” will be coming forth very soon from those who heard the gospel for the first time last Sunday.
MANGO TREE CHURCH PASTOR MEETS 6 FOOT PYTHON!
Pastor Bilali and Carlitos Jorge proudly show off Carlitos Jorge’s new motorbike. This photo was taken on a calmer day last summer. We are using this photo because no Pythons were available to pose. PTL.
Pastor Bilali, the new Youth Director at the Mango Tree Church, was returning home last Monday on his bicycle via a remote, narrow bike trail after doing an AWANA program in a distant village.
A large python (estimate 6 foot or 1.75 meters,) rose up and struck at this leg (they have vicious teeth), but missed, hitting the rear spokes of his bicycle. The bike flipped as the snake’s body jammed the spokes, but the Pastor was thrown clear with only a few scrapes.
Bilali said he jumped up and ran a good distance, waiting to see what the snake did, as he had no weapon to kill it with. Sad, but this snake lived to strike another day, for after clearing himself of the bike wheel, he slithered off into the woods, seemingly unharmed. Needless to say, the bike’s back wheel was demolished, but we were thrilled that Bilali was unharmed.
It was a long walk home carrying his bike on his shoulder, but he was happy to be alive.
Bilali’s courage and determination to spread the gospel were evident when he walked the 11 miles (18Km) to my house on Tuesday, to tell me the story and ask for money to repair his bicycle.
He was in no way “scared to return” to that area, just angry that his brand new bike had been so badly damaged.
We gladly gave him the $25 needed to fix the bicycle!
SIDE NOTE: Just a few months ago, a 7 year old boy was killed by a python in this very area. Seems him and a friend were walking this same path when one of the boys needed to go to the bathroom. The snake got him when he went into the woods. Africa is an unforgiving environment, and it is only safe to venture into its interior when your faith is strong and Jesus’ angels are at your side.
SUPER SLIDE’S FINAL TOUCHES DELAYED
Manuel, the main fence builder, must still mount the chain link “safety fence” on the 2nd story this week.
Manuel, who is also my main driver and mechanic, returned very sick from our Meluco orphanage on Tuesday with resistant malaria. He was hospitalized in Balama and receive IV treatments for 5 days.
He is now home, but still on treatment till Sunday. He told me today that he expects to finish the slide by Wed. this week.
Blessings from all of us in Balama!
Bush Bunny Brenda Lange Balama Blazers: Katie Polcyn Ashlynn Grabill