Raley Family Blog: 2012 Mozambique Annual Pastors Conference

2012 Attendees

First of all this is a lengthy post but I wanted to write about the conference and share lots of photos.

November 5^th – 9^th we were in Dumela, Mozambique for our Annual Mozambique Pastors Conference. After we went through the border we stopped to have lunch under some nice shade trees right by the Limpopo River. After lunch we headed across the river and onto Dumela. When we arrived there were already a few leaders and women waiting for us. They helped us unload the trailer and then we relaxed in the shade for several hours. Alicia went with William and several of the leaders to the well to collect water for the conference. Due to temperatures well over 40C (over 100F) we did not set up tents until the sun was setting. Monday and Tuesday were the hottest days there and we were glad when a storm came through at 3 am Thursday morning and brought with it much cooler temperatures for the rest of the week.

lunch at the river

The guys went to check out the river before crossing

There had been a lot of rain the last few weeks and was too high to cross. Over the last several days the river had gone back down and we were able to make it to Dumela. Our "Plan B" was Mbuzi if the river was too high to cross.

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Debbie had "Flat Stanley" along for the journey

unloading

Member was a little hot!

Derrick sharing water with Pastor Highway

Debbie and I are relaxing in the shade with the ladies

Pastor Simon from Zimbabwe

at the well getting water on Monday ... see the monkey?


So excited to see this taxi from the Xicumbane hub

Member showing off his bare feet

Nehemiah had to sit in the taxi

checking out the taxi

Mark and Dough setting up the showers

pitching the "kitchen" tent for extra shade

Debbie and I putting up our tent ... we did it!!!

Wednesday late afternoon and early evening the wind was so bad that we had to use extra ropes to tie down some of our tents and we tied the shower tents to the trailer. We also moved the bakkies around to help create a wind block. As we went to bed we were being blasted with sand through the cracks in our windows. I do have to tell you that it is amazing waking up in the middle of the night to the thunder in the distance and seeing lightening. Mark and I got up and made sure things around our camp were secure and then we went back in our tent and watched the storm move in. As I sat there watching the lightening (that was striking cloud to ground) move closer, I couldn’t help but think about what a MIGHTY GOD we serve!

Ok, on to the highlights from the week. There were 49 people who attended the conference. The pastors and leaders came from 11 villages in Mozambique: Dumela, Xicumbane, Chowe, Ngala, Matsilele, Machaila, Panhame, Mabuzane, Tchale, Chicualacuala, and Kunguma, as well as Zimbabwe. One of the Mozambique leaders traveled 200 km and the Zimbabwe leaders traveled from 25 to 100 km to attend the conference. Some walked, rode bikes and a few took a taxi.

A few months ago the leaders were asked what topics they would like to have at the conference. They had suggested backsliders, marriage and children’s ministry.

Each day consisted of devo, 3 sessions and an evening service.

Tuesday
Devo – Mark taught on The Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13

Mark with Nehemiah translating

Session One: Sean taught
Define what is black-sliding
The issue of back-sliding
Losing your salvation

Sean started his session telling the leaders that in order to discuss back-sliding we have to look at the doctrine of sin and the doctrine of salvation. He stressed that we must have a clear understanding of salvation.

Sean teaching and Derrick translating

Session Two: Charlie taught
How to bring back-sliders back

Charlie shared that back-sliders are blinded by sin and they are in need the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. He boldly addressed the fact that in the African culture they don’t address sin one on one.

Charlie teaching and Derrick translating

Session Three: Sean taught
Q & A on back-sliding
How to avoid back-sliding

At the end of his session Sean asked the question “Can you lose your salvation?” Two of the leaders from Zimbabwe raised their hands. Sean took them back to scripture and challenged them that if they think they can sin and lose their salvation then they are basing in on works. This lead to more discussion and ended with one of the leaders expressing his gratitude for the training.

Sean teaching and Derrick translating

Wednesday
Devo – Doug taught on The Greatest Commandment … the Shema

Doug teaching and Nehemiah translating

Session One and Two: Joseph taught
Husbands in the Home
Wives in the Home

Joseph focused on the role of the wife … “submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” Ephesians 5:22 and for husbands to “love your wives, as Christ loved the church … ” Ephesians 5: 26. He spent a great deal of time dealing with submission, what that means and what that looks like in marriage. He also spent a long time challenging the men to be “a lover to your wife” He asked the men “does your wife see you as a lover? Does she long for you?” He challenged them to be a leader, a learner and a lover in their marriage. He addressed some very sensitive issues in marriages such as sex. This is one session that no one fell asleep! He also challenged the men to sit by their wives, which is something that is culturally not done. Joseph handled this teaching so well. We praise the Lord for how it was received and pray for the leaders as they go home and live out Ephesians 5.

They were challenged on the fact that it is difficult to have a God glorifying marriage if they are not in a God glorifying church.

Joseph with Member translating

Joseph also speaks Shangaan and during the discussion on sex, if Member didn't translate exactly, Joseph would stop and look at Member and say "that is not what I said!" He would make sure Member got the point across exactly how it needed to be. :)

notice the men sitting by their wives

Session Three: Charlie taught

Father’s and Mother’s relationship with children in the home and in the church

Charlie did a great job speaking to them about their relationship with their children and the children in the church. He challenged the men to be the fathers that God has called them to be.

Pastor Robert with his son Joshua

Thursday
Devo – Mark taught on Romans 12: 1-2

(Thursday was a rainy day so all the teaching took place inside. We were all so happy to have cooler weather!)

Mark teaching and Nehemiah translating

Debbie and Alicia helping Jane and Nomathemba with breakfast

breakfast and tea time

Session One and Two: William taught
What is Children’s Ministry?
What is the church’s responsibility to children?
How to implement Children’s Ministry.

William spent most of the night before he taught very sick with a stomach bug. The Lord gave him the strength to get through the day teaching both sessions and leading the last planning session. William taught on the importance of children in the home and in the church. He challenged them with the question “How important are children to you?” Once again the teaching was challenging to the men and we pray that they will go home and implement what they have learned during this conference.

William teaching and Derrick translating

How important are children to you?

Session Three: Planning session for 2013

The last session was spent discussing plans for 2013. One of the things discussed was the possibility of having extending the monthly trainings from 2 days of teaching to 3 days to also allow more time to spend with the leasers and local churches. The leaders will discuss that and get back with us.

William also challenged the leaders now that the conference has ended and they were getting ready to head back home. He spoke boldly to them about the fact that they are responsible for taking what they have heard and learned and applying it in their lives.

Thank you for making it to the end of this LONG post. I thought it was important to share with you as much as we could from the conference this past week in Mozambique. Please join us in praying for these leaders as they return home and live out what they have been taught this week. Pray that they will stand strong even when it means going against culture to stand up for the TRUTH of the Gospel!

More photos ...

Evening service - song item by the men

I have no clue who this sweet little girl is. Wednesday evening she came over to me while I was standing in the door during the beginning of the service. We were called up to the front to sing a song and she went and sat down. When we finished she followed me back to my seat. After about 10 minutes she fell fast asleep. When the service was over none of the leaders new who she was. Apparently she was one of the local children from Dumela and Masango took her to find who she belonged to. I did see her on Thursday morning and she smiled and waved at me as we passed her house on the way to the well.

The dog was hot and found water to stand in.

Each day water would need to be collected for the conference. We would load all the containers in the bakkie and head to the well. Over 700 L of water was pumped each day. We were all thankful for those who helped us. Sure makes me appreciate my tap at home more. Notice our little helper, Collony. He was so cute and always ready to help.

Mark kept busy bringing broken bricks over to help create a place to stand so people wouldn't have to be in the mud while getting water. He had a little help from Collony.

Doug taking a break to read for Seminary

That's a lot of water!

Pastor Pedro and Jeremiah from Panhame

My friends Regina and Rosita from Matsilele

Debbie telling Fetima good-bye

Doug and Collony

Mark and Collony waving bye to the taxi

Alicia and Emmalina from Tchale

Derrick is taking this group to Mabuzane to save them a little walk

Mark and Pastor Highway from Tchale

Pastor Zabbeth telling Mark thank you and good-bye

Mark and I took Pastor Virgilio and two church members back to Kunguma. Member and Debbie decided to ride with us. (an hour drive in the back of the bakkie)