Easter! We were brought for love!

Walking around Maputo it was hard to imagine that Easter was coming. There weren't too many adds for chocolate, let alone easter eggs, marshmallows. As having grown up in NZ, I do miss the traditional chocolate marshmallows filled eggs and even the creme egg, so not seeing them really does my head in.

I know that chocolate isn't the real meaning of easter, don't even know how the egg and chocolate idea came about. But I do know that I am forever grateful for what Jesus did for me and for everyone else.

This year, we drove down to Johannesburg to hold a seminar at the PalmRidge church over the long weekend. They had a rough beginning to to year, when their sound-system was stolen and really needing some encouragement.

Winter is on its way to Africa, the nights seem longer the birds don't sing as loud in the mornings. Even though the sun is shining, the breeze is chilly! It can look deceptive when looking out of a window. With winter brings the dry, dusty season, usually no rain! Which means building, more outreaches and house visits and lots of cuppas with family and friends.

The border crossing into South Africa can be hectic and stressful and at other times you can pass with very little trouble, it just depends. This Easter the que was long, thankfully it wasn't raining nor was the sun beating down in full strength. We got our stamps and we were off. The trip is about six to eight hours. We are so grateful for our new mazda, as it makes the long trip comfortable!

The people came out on Friday morning, walking from all round the township. Wrapped in their warm winter clothes. The kids bounced, the youth waved and the women hugged! Felito ministered, Jesus came, there were tears as hearts were being mended, forgiveness flowed and the Holy Spirit worked in their lives.
Saturday was a day of worship and fellowship. Lots of dancing to warm the body from the chilly winds and kids playing with each other and as usual the hospitality of the church with warm food to fill the hungry.
Sunday was the day, the day our King arose! Today the atmosphere was filled with hope. Felito spoke again, reminding everyone of the truth and simplicity of Easter. Not to get caught up in the trails of life, but to be thankful and remember it was for love we were brought and for love we now have a new life! We are encouraging them to have a one on one relationship with Jesus and its so much fun hearing testimonies of those that are grasping the concept. 

Issachar with cousins in Johannesburg

Its Malaria Again

Asking for PRAYER. Some of our workers have come down with malaria. Malaria this time of year is unusual as its cooler weather and no rain.

Also two of them have been on quinine as the malaria is resistant to treatment. Quinine is rough going. 

As you all know December was a hard month for us with our whole family getting malaria and half of our visiting team and workers as well. So really need Gods supernatural protection.

Really need God to move and wipe out these malaria mosquitos and full healing and restoration for those with malaria.

Bittersweet Memories: Joanna Grace - born on earth but breathing in heaven

Today is filled with memories, that bring both a smile to my face and tears to my eyes and a whole in my heart which will never heal - Its bittersweet. Today five years ago, my first little angel was born sleeping!

Joanna Grace was a gift from heaven and just shy of 29 weeks when she went to dance with the angels.

I remember the day she was born like it happened yesterday and the day the doctor told me my little one wouldn't cry or laugh. I was devastated, just so so sad but not angry. Even though I was sick for most of the pregnancy, I enjoyed it, I adored it when she danced and moved around.

The doctor in Africa didn't realize I was so sick with toxemia and it eventually made my little Joanna Grace sick and she just wasn't strong enough to make it all the way back to NZ for better medical care. We did everything we could: researched, drank lots of water, rested, took medication and prayed our hearts out and for a reason beyond our understanding my heavenly Father decided Joanna Grace was to breath in heaven and not on earth.

The day she was born, was a strange one. Felito arrived a few nights before. We prayed, we cried and the cycle repeated until we slept. We picked out clothes for our little one, not knowing if it was a he or she, but in my heart I knew it was a girl. (I had had a dream when I was just over 20weeks along and in it I had a girl). Chose our names and waited for the sun to come up. During the night, I had asked God to be with me even more and ranted off a little list, that I thought would help us cope and he reminded me of the dream again, he said he would be with me, just like Mary of old and this peace engulfed us and never left. Everything I had prayed the previous night, God answered, it blessed me and sent comfort to my saddened and broken heart but it also spoke of the love and compassion our heavenly Father had for us and his nearness the whole time. Joanna Grace was born on earth, but breathed in heaven, it was a hard day, birthing a child, that wouldn't grow in your arms, but in your heart. To leave the maternity ward with empty arms, is not easy to describe other than heartbreaking, and don't wish that kind of pain upon my enemy. Every midwife came into the room and hugged us, it was so sweet, but the peace in the room was indescribable. I knew my Lord and King was with us that day, even today he is with me and holding my now little girl!

Five years on: It still hurts and stings, but I will boldly and proudly carry the whole in my heart! God filled us with His love and peace and sent his healing power only He can minister with.

Issachar knows that his eldest sister lives in heaven.

One thing that has greatly ministered to me, is now I can minister to other women who have had the same experience and I can share the love of Christ and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. Its been honor to hold and share with the women who have allowed me to that.

There are days that I cry and others I manage to get through. One thing that pulled me through was that my ever faithful saviours love for me and that He never left my side and my little one, my Joanna Grace is in heaven dancing with the angels, and one day soon, we will stand together as a whole family and sing as loud as we can Holy is the Lord God Almighty!!

The Poem I wrote for Joanna Grace which was read out at her funeral.

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

Johannesburg: a lesson on prayer

Last weekend we had the chance to go down to Johannesburg in South Africa for a short break and buy much needed supplies for outreach and evangelism. Which includes more tents, camping gear, parts for the sound-system etc..

Even though it was a busy four days going from shop to shop pricing and buying the supplies needed it was a great time! We also got to squeeze a visit into the Johannesburg Zoo in for the kids!

We all had a blast at the zoo. It was pouring with rain the day we wanted to go, so in keeping with wanting to teach the kids and disciple them, we told them to pray. It was the sweetest thing to hear the kids pray so sweetly, honestly in the back of the car. When we arrived at the zoo the pouring rain was just spitting and by the time we had paid for our tickets, we could see blue sky! We walked around zoo for hours enjoying Gods creativeness of animals! It was awesome to see the kids smile and enjoy themselves. We said our prayers of thankfulness to our big God who stopped the rain and the kids were all fast asleep before we left the carpark on the way home.

Outreach in Chokwe at Flood Refugees Camp - Day One

As usual time is not our friend and loading the large sound-system always takes longer to load than planned.
After several stops and pushing cars and trucks out of the soft sand we were off!
With each dusty KM driven the excitement was building! We were ecstatic at this opportunity to minister and love on the people at one of the many camps for the flood victims.
It was only a few hours drive from Maputo to Chokwe, but once we passed from Maputo province into Gaza province the evidence of a bad flood was still around and much of the farm land was still covered in muddy stagnant water or just thick gooey mud! The smell and flies were strong.

We have heard many stories of the people at the camps, have lost homes, farm land, everything they own, some even have lost family and friends.

As we got closer, the camps came into view. it was really a sight, one which stay in our memory! Its one thing to hear on radio or see on news on TV but to see over 100,000 people in one camp alone, is a sight to behold. As we drove for a few KM with tents on either side, i couldn't help but wonder about Moses and what it was like to be a leader to the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt. Just the share amount of people, not including their belongings, its a lot. And messes with my brain, let alone the logistics of food, sanitation and then dealing with issues, like crime and sickness etc. I have a new found respect for Moses and what God called him and the fact that he accomplished it.

Outreach Time!

We are just so excited and have spent over a week preparing!
AOF was granted permission to do a three day outreach in the flood camps!
We have a team of about 12 people coming with us to help minister along side. We are taking the WHOLE sound system and also a huge trailer full of more donated goods.
Please keep us all in your prayers this weekend as we go out and bless and love on these dear people!

Chokwe Visit

Felito and the AOF team are visiting Chokwe and if the roads permit a village where one of our churches are. They are going loaded with gifts, mainly clothes which were brought from a donation from an awesome church in Ohio.
The team will be handing out the clothes, praying and encouraging those affected by the floods.
Please keep the team in prayer.

Below are some of the photos of the large bags of clothes to given to the people. We had a blast sorting through them and putting them in bags to be handed out.