Children's Day (take one)

It's almost children's day. It's a day where Mozambique comes together to celebrate children. It's a great and special and fun day.
Have been collecting a few special surprises for Issachar and Paulina and I'm so excited and can't wait to give them tomorrow and to watch their faces light up in amazement and joy.

Exciting times and exhausting times

We are having a blast with the world race team.
Yesterday was their fun day and they decided to jump in with me and head to town. Getting fifteen people out of the house was no easy task.
First it was to stop off at local supermarket and ATM then head to the capaulana shop. Which caused quite a stir with such a large group choosing and buying. Then a yummy lunch and off to the ever exciting and great bargains at the craft market.
All vendors ran to meet us and wanting to give a good price were willing to barter (which is always an experience). The team got what they wanted and made new friends.
The boys have been visiting our young neighbor Ivan and his family and over the course of a week, Ivan and four of his friends have played basketball, received Jesus in their hearts and baptized. It really is such a joy to see people come to know their maker and king.
Felito left for the USA last week to minister.

It's busy

Well, after a great six weeks in Brazil, it's quite a shock to the system with all the madness and busyness the last few weeks.
We have another World Race team. This does create more work but it's so much fun. Already they are learning the word flexibility. They have endured five nights in the bush which was supposed to be only one night. Though stretching hurts and is uncomfortable the outcome is always God ordained.
We have an outreach this week in intaka in Maputo and we ask that you keep us and the team in your prayers! we want God to be glorified!

Back in Africa! (Almost home)

Hello Family and Friends

We are back in AFRICA!! It feels so great to be back and almost into a normal routine.

We had a blast in Brazil visiting friends, making new friends, drinking coffee, learning about the discipleship programme and also ministering. Every church which hosted us, welcome us with open arms with a cup of coffee!!  It was such an honour to minister and meet some very on fire people. God really ministered in peoples hearts. We want to thank you all for your emails and prayers for while we were away. We ask for prayer as we cross the border into Mozambique early next week, as the church in Brazil give us secondhand clothes to be donated and sometimes this can be tricky at the border. We have all the documents but believing for a simple crossing.

Issachar is a star and travelled so well!! He loves being on a plane and chats to anyone who will chat to him! He is not afraid to ask questions or chat to the person standing inline or next to him or simply walking past.  I think he is like his Dad - a passion for people and a passion to see them walking with Jesus. It was great to see him grow spiritually and learn to pray boldly while we were in Brazil. He loves to pray for the sick and uses his simple prayer...in Jesus name, no more owie, in Jesus name amen! Its so innocent and cute and brings a smile to me all the time. God answered every time he prayed and he is learning that God answers prayer too. So exciting seeing him encouraged!!

We are in Johannesburg this week, catching up on some much needed sleep and ministering in the church in Palm Ridge. Once we arrive back in Mozambique its all go. We have a team arriving in two weeks from the WorldRace which we are very excited about. They will be with us for a month. They will minister in the church in Khongolote and in Chibuto as well on outreaches once a week and our new church plant in Inhabane. While the team is with us, we will be starting the discipleship programme with a few people within the groups from the men, women, youth and children. We are very excited to start and to see their lives change and simply grow in their walk with Jesus.

Felitos laptop crashed in Brazil and we are trying to get that fixed while we are in Johannesburg, so we do apologize if our contact is not as often, but we are believing it will be fixed and working, as we wouldn't be able to survive without a laptop.

(please see my facebook page for photos)

Thanks for all your prayers and support! Without them we wouldn't be here!!

Love and Blessings
Anna, Felito and Issachar

Photo Time

Below are some photos of our time in Brazil...for more please go to our facebook page

Issachar all buckled in for the long road-trip

A view on the roadtrip - it was truley beautiful

A quick stop at a market

This really took me by surprise...seeing mud huts in Brazil!

This is us on the beach in Salvador

Two youths with Issachar after their milatry school parade

Standing in one of the look-outs at an old fort in Salvador

Felito and Issachar with Marcelo. His family hosted us while we stayed in Natal

Brazilian Time

We have been in Salvador, Brazil now for three weeks. The time has gone so fast. In just under two weeks we will be heading home to Mozambique.

We have enjoyed our time here. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. Hospitality is a strong; if you ever come to Brazil we have a bunch of friends who would welcome you with open arms.

The purpose of this trip was to come and learn about the Discipleship programme and also to rest. Our timetable is basically after breakfast we had one of the senior leaders (who was our main host - Eduardo) teach us about the discipleship programme, have an amazing lunch, rest and then late afternoon the discipleship programme begins and finishes late and then snack and sleep (this happens about five nights a week). Each leaders house is occupied with all various groups etc and everyone is eager to learn, coming with bibles and notebooks and an open heart. Eduardo and his wife have been involved for over 20 years. We meet Eduardo and his wife in Mozambique and they are very passionate for God. Felito had been praying for a while about a discipleship programme but just didn't know which one etc. As we sat with Eduardo and his wife shared their testimony about the discipleship programme and other testimonies of others who are now involved. We were greatly encouraged and inspired. After emails and a few skype conversations we were packing for Brazil. It was such a miracle and all happened so fast. Felito got his visa approved in less than a week. We knew it was God!

Must admit I was really nervous, having never been to Brazil, I had some pretty werid presumptions about Brazil but within the first week they were all burned and made friends fast.

Issachar travels incredibly well!! I am amazed and so thankful. He is loving his time here and has made lots of friends. He is packing on the weight with the delicious food and his Portuguese has increased greatly! I know when we return, he will miss Brazil and his friends a lot.

We really have been blessed by our time here and has been such an awesome experience. We are excited about the discipleship programme. We ask that you keep us in your prayers as return in early May and want to start as soon as we can.

We went on a big road trip. When we first found out our first day was going to be 12 hours in a car! My mouth dropped. I packed grudgingly. But within an hour and on the city the limits, I was amazed. Brazil is stunning! It has little country towns and lots of old buildings, people riding in horse and cart and donkeys everywhere. The cows were massive and healthy. It was green and covered with flowers. I cried in some parts…Gods creation is simply stunning!! We drove through little towns and big cities. Some were rich and others were just like being in Mozambique with bamboo and mud houses. The houses we stopped in, some were simple and others were extravagant. But everyone we met LOVED the Lord!! During the road trip we stopped at various churches and house-churches and disciples to share our vision and heart for Chibuto. It was again so encouraging to be received and prayed over.

Unfortunately the road trip didn't finish the way we envisioned. After a few days Felito became ill and we had to stop. After a few tests and rough night, he had malaria. Thankfully he brought meds with him and in Natal a family opened their home to us for five days while Felito rested. This bought of malaria really knocked him and we thank every one for your prayers.

We are looking forward to our last two weeks in Brazil but almost ready to be back in Mozambique.

Thank you for your hearts and prayers and support!! Without you, we couldn't do the job!

Blessings and Love

The Utuie Family - Felito, Anna and Issachar

A long weekend

This weekend Felito has been away on outreach. I stayed behind with the kids. It's always tiring with the kids, but I love them. Though this weekend has been great. I experimented with some new recipes. The kids always watch in awe and make comments, but I always know when they approve is when they ask for seconds!! We have been teaching Issachar about prayer for the last week. He know what it is and he loves praying! It's encouraging as a parent to hear your child pray. Its just comes straight from the heart!