Almost Home!

Traveling the globe with these brothers and doing ministry together over the past 10 days has been an absolute privilege. Each member brought a unique skill set to our team that the Lord used to bring his Gospel forth in Mocimboa. Ron, the master mechanic himself facilitated a fantastic outboard clinic for the local mechanics and fishermen. He was also able to share multiple times at the end of the clinic each day and one of the guys who attended made a profession to follow the Lord. Kyler, spent a majority of his time discipling a local believer who will possibly lead the budding church in Mocimboa. I can’t think of a better person to learn under than Kyler. He was also able to lead all our teaching times on the porch, which was my favorite part of the trip. Coach Rhodes, could run a sports clinic in his sleep. Many times, we had over 80 kids attending our clinic in the evenings and things ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to coach’s leadership. However, the best part of the clinic was the one on one time Coach had with the other coaches and the Gospel presentations/conversations that took place at the end of each night. Brian Harrell, the jack of all trades on our trip, is a Gospel sharing machine. Many times, I would find him slipping away to share or pray under a shade tree as others shared. His meekness, humility, and boldness is something I long to imitate in my own life.

Thank you all for your prayers this week. The lord did amazing things through our team which is attributed to his faithfulness and your prayers. Please continue to pray for the Shelton’s and the Smith’s as they are on the front lines in Moicmboa each day sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We have one more flight left and should arrive in Charlotte around 3:00pm. 

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

Many times, this week our team has discussed the overwhelming lostness here in Mocimboa. Yesterday afternoon our team walked through the fish market. We were a sight to see for sure. Seven white guys all together, we stuck out like a sore thumb. As we walked through the crowds I could not help, but think about the overwhelming need for co-laborers here. 

The Lord is doing something special through the Smith's and Shelton's. They have counted the cost and found Christ worthy to serve here in Mocimboa​. I would ask that you pray earnestly for them, but maybe after reading about our time this week the Lord has called you to be sent out. I know that our prayer would be that all of us see people the way Christ sees them, with compassion for their spiritual condition. This compassion should then compel us to Gospel centered action and mission. 

*We make the five-hour drive to Pemba in the morning with both families. Please pray for a safe drive and flight as we make our way back home.  

Final Day of Mission

Today, we finished up our final mission projects. We wrapped up our outboard motor clinic with a day on the water. The guys loved it. For many of them this was their first time ever driving a boat. Once we got back to shore there was an impromptu motor carrying contest between Ronaldo and a guy in our class. The picture speaks for itself. 125lb motor and 120lb local, I’ll let you decide who did it better? Still very impressive on both their parts. We met on the porch again for a final time with the Jamati (Family). A few of the guys who we met through our clinics also joined us. It was a great time together, processing through Luke 15:1-8. We ended the night with our final sports clinic. The concrete had set up nicely and the 50 or so students received instruction on how to use the new apparatus. They loved it! Lastly, we ended with a film (Facing the Giants) and a Gospel presentation by Jason. 15 or so students responded to the Gospel for the first time. Pray that these students would truly walk with the Lord and genuinely understand the Gospel. Pray that the Gospel would take root in their heart and not be choked out (Luke 8). This morning we are resting for a bit and recharging before we head back to the states.

The Cost of Discipleship

Today was another full day of ministry, but for me personally the highlight of the day was our time on the porch with the new believers and those who are seeking. Pastor Kyler taught on the cost of following Christ, from Luke 14:25-33. Which is a very heavy text, but one that must be taught and explained in the Church. I must commend Jason and Anthony for their faithful discipleship of the believers here in Mocimboa. This is no fortune cookie discipleship program. It is rich with knowledge, yet not short on application. It's the real deal from the ground up. We have seen a few folks make professions to follow Christ this week and a few others that are interested in learning more. Please pray for them as well as the unbelievers here in Mocimboa. 

Today was amazing! Our team is absolutely spent physically, but it was a great day. We let the guys open up the outboard motor and they were thrilled. Three guys stayed behind to hear Ron and Anthony share after class. One of them asked for a Bible, which we will give him tomorrow. In the afternoon we installed the pull up/dip apparatus we finished building yesterday. This evening the floodgates opened up at our sports clinic. There were kids everywhere!!! Please be praying for tomorrow night and Friday as hopefully we will share with a large group of students each night. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Yesterday was a very busy day to say the least. So thankful for my team and their heart for people. These guys are selfless in every sense of the word and have a work ethic like none other. We started the day with outboard motor repair, where we had many of the same faces show back up and a few new guys as well. We demonstrated the basic oil change methods on outboards and shared the Gospel. We then finished wielding the pull up and dip apparatus for the school​ and built a few outboard stands to give away at the end of our clinic. Later in the evening we ended with our sports clinic. The Lord sent a great number of students and coaches to participate and hear the Gospel. Coach Rhodes did a fabulous job of leading as always. Incredibly thankful for Brian Harrell, Jason Smith, and Anthony Shelton for translating and allowing us to help partner with them here in Mocimboa. Continue to pray for our team and the guys coming to the outboard clinic and sports clinic.

Discipleship on the Porch

Yesterday afternoon, pastor Kyler taught a few of the Local Believers here in Mocimboa. Our time together was sweet and refreshing. The cost of discipleship here is high. Many of these brothers and sisters face significant persecution for following Isa (Jesus). They have been ostracized from their families and friends for their profession to follow Christ. We ended the night with a sports clinic, that led to multiple Gospel presentations and conversations. Coach Rhodes was in his element. I would ask that you pray for these sweet brothers and sisters and more opportunities to share.