August 2008 Update

Hi Friends and Family

Thank you so much for your prayers over the past month… We have seen God move and protect us incredibly over this time.

At the beginning of August Felito, Anna and I went back to Mozambique to pay for the 10 hectare land, but it turned out that the land was already owned by another person, and that the people who showed it to us were going to take the money and disappear! Thank God that He brought their plans into the light!

A friend of Felito’s from Xai-Xai (pronounced shy-shy) showed us a number of pieces of land, and a rural village called Chizivanae, which is north of Xai-Xai. The land is very fertile, and everything they plant grows there (corn, citrus fruits, cashew nuts, mangos, avocados, passion-fruits etc). We went into the village to visit a number of the family homes there. From talking to the people we found that they have no village well, so they rely on rain for their water. So if it doesn’t rain they have no water. The people are dying from simple preventable problems like drinking unclean water and malaria. As we visited the families, we prayed for a few of them. One woman we prayed for was 102 and had been involved in a bus accident and had resulting lower back problems. Even so, she oozed joy, didn’t look a day over 80, still had all of her teeth, and was working in the field! We believe that this village is where God is calling us to base the ministry from. We heard today that the chief has set aside a couple of pieces of land for us to look at possibly purchasing. We are excited about bringing Jesus to the poorest of the poor!

A couple of days prior to this, Anna and I spent a day in Mazivilla with the woman learning how to make xima (like mashed potato but made from corn). We spent the whole day making one meal! From peeling the dried corn, pounding it, separating and sifting it, mixed it with water and then ground it in a ceramic pot for over 3 hours! We are real Mozambiquan muscle women now!

There are a team of Brazillian pastors here to do outreaches with us for two weeks. On Friday (22^nd) we head to Giyani - by the Zimbabwe border until the 24^th when we go to Mozambique for another 10 days. We will be staying in the villages in tents, and are looking forward to seeing the available land.

Praise reports from the prayer points in the last update:

Praise God the trailer is finished! We picked it up today, just in time for outreach! (Pictures to follow after outreach)
Felito’s brother (Joao) is doing much better and able to work part time again.
God has been providing divine connections for outreaches and for the land especially in Xai-Xai.

Prayer points:

- For God’s continued presence and protection especially during the outreaches.
- That Anna and I will continue to learn Portuguese quickly (essential in Mozambique).
- That during the outreaches God will move mightily with people coming into relationship with Him and their lives transformed.
- That God will clearly show us the exact land He wants us to base the ministry from.
- That God would go before us and prepare the way, and that we would walk in it with His wisdom and discernment, showing His love.

We pray everything is going well for you all,
Love and Blessings,
Felito, Anna and Bronie :)

July Update

Hello prayer partners

What a welcome back. It was straight back into it. We arrived early on Tuesday morning and that night a team of four from the USA arrived to join us for our first South Africa outreach.

We had two days to recover from the flying, then it was up to the Limpopo province (6 hours drive by the Mozambique boarder) to begin our first outreach. The village was rural and very simple living, but no one could escape its beauty.

The next week we returned to Palmridge with the team for two 3-day conferences, which both turned out to be a liberating time of truth, and freedom for the people.

Last week we headed up to Giyani, to a small village 6 hours away, near the Zimbabwe boarder. This outreach was an incredible witness to God’s power and healing. The building was packed with standing room only and people were even lined up outside! God moved powerfully in this village and a large number of people were saved (including the village chief)! God healed people left, right and centre; of blindness, deafness, joint/back problems, acute/chronic illnesses, and mental health problems etc. Our God is so good!

While we were up the top of South Africa, we took the opportunity to visit Kruger Wildlife Park, which was an amazing experience. We saw giraffes, zebras, elephants, buffalos, hippos, leopards and a huge range of God’s creation.

Over the past few weeks we have been looking for a house to live in here in South Africa. We have been unsuccessful in securing a home so far. After praying we feel that God is calling us back to Mozambique. Felito is currently in Mozambique looking for land, which we could purchase and build a house and base our ministry from. We would still be very involved with the church in Palmridge, commuting monthly.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support,
Lots of Love and blessings, Felito, Anna and Bronie

PRAYER POINTS
• That God will show us the land He wants us to buy
• That the trailer would be finished before we move to Mozambique
• That Felito’s older brother (João) will be healed from his sicknesses including tuberculosis
• That God would provide us with divine connections for outreaches
• That God would go before us and prepare that way, and that we would walk in it with His wisdom and discernment.

The Lord is my ROCK....in whom I will TRUST.

PSALMS 18:2
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.”

These last couple of months have been such a trying time and at times it felt as if Felito and I were on a roller-coaster, powerless to control anything expect just to sit and ride the highs and lows, but our God is so very faithful, His love truly knows no boundries. Without Him, we just wouldn’t have survived the lows. He is our rock and our strength, in whom we choose to trust.

Felito and I would like to thank ALL of those who have supported us, prayed for us while we were back in NZ, following the death of our little Joanna Grace. Thank you all for your kind words, loving hugs and understanding ears. It really warmed our hearts and made us feel very loved during this sad time. THANK YOU!!

We are just so excited, ready to jump and dance around for what God is doing in South Africa. We are experiencing change!! Very encouraging things are happening, but most of all the presence of God is becoming more and more evident every Sunday.

THANK YOU

We want to take this time to thank all our family, friends, prayer partners and supporters. We just wouldnt have been able to survive this last weeks without you. Thank you for hearts, hugs, extra tissues and smiles and the warm cuppas and understanding eyes (and the beautiful flowers).

God has just surrounded us and engulfed us with his peace and love and comforting arms. It has really lifted a huge burden from our hearts and minds knowing that our little Joanna Grace is in the arms of her loving heavenly daddy and we are looking forward to one day being in heaven to see our daughter. It has also helped us when releasing our feelings and emotions just knowing that she is ok and safe up there. So a huge thank you for your prayers and kindness....

We have also learnt about God's incredible faithfulness. His love is so unfailing and totally unconditional and really loves us. He has never left us during this time and has been such a constant steady in this time of a major down. So God, we thank you for being so faithful and never leaving us and simply just being with us....we wouldn't be here today without you!!

Thank you again.
God BLess

Anna & Felito

It Is Well With My Soul

On Sunday while attending church, they shared about this hymn, It is well with my soul. As they showed the short video the tears rolled down my face and my heart was racing. Not only do I understand what Mr Spafford went through after we lost our little Joanna Grace, but the peace and love that God sent and showered us with is inderscribable which is evident as you hear the words of this hymn. This hymn was heaven sent to Mr Spafford and it really does speak of hope that all of us have as believers, no matter what the pain and grief become us, God's love and peace are given and freeily. Hope you are blessed as much as I was.

Mr Spafford wrote this in 1871. He had lost his only son, then shortly after his son's death he lost everything in the great Chicago fire. So he decided to send his 4 daughters and wife on a holiday, as they were in a ship in the Atlantic their ship collied with another and sank. His wife was one of the only 12 survivours. He lost all his 4 daugthers. As he went to bring his wife home and his boat sailed past the area of where the ship had gone down with his daughters, the Holy Spirit fell on him in power and he wrote the incredible words to "It is well with my Soul".


IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Thinking of Joanna Grace Utuie

A tiny flower

Lent not given

To bud on earth

And bloom in heaven

~Author Unknown~

I found this quote in a pamphlet given to us by the SANDS in NZ
and thought it just said everything we felt

A Poem - Our LIttle One

♥ Joanna Grace Utuie ♥

Our little one, our beautiful one
Forever in our hearts
Forever Our little one, forever in our mind
Forever our little one
Forever our love for you
♥
Daddy’s little girl,
A twinkle in your mother’s eye
And a smile in our hearts
A butterfly, you are so free
Forever our little one
Forever our love for you
♥
Dancing with the angels
Safe in Daddy’s arms are you
Forever, forever our little one

Love always,
Daddy & Mummy

© Anna Utuie March 2007