Mozambique update- June 24

From Ben Bartlett:

Greetings from Mozambique. Thanks for your continued prayers. They are much needed for us and for the food for the hungry team and for the people here in Africa.

We had another great day today. We started the day by going to a devotion with the local food for the hungry staff. It was a great chance to share some time in worship and for them to share some more about some of their programs. This was also the time where we were able to present some of the stuff we brought to donate to the area ministries. We brought soccer balls, volleyballs and nets, jumpropes, washcloths, and lots of medical supplies. The staff was very grateful. After this time of devotion, the team split up. Neil and Kelsie had a chance to go the local hospital here in Gorongosa. The rest of us went again to the village of Nhuranga. While there, one of the local teachers showed us the plans that they had developed for the school they are hoping to build. Then we helped them clear out some weeds/shrubs in their town meeting space. The locals showed us how to use their tools - and then gave them to us to use. When they saw us trying to use their tools, they started laughing hysterically at us. It was pretty funny. Also - Dave chopped off his finger with a machette and Neil had to sew it back on.

In the afternoon, I (Ben B) had a chance to go visit my sponsored child. This was an amazing experience. It was so good to meet the kid I have been seeing pictures of. It was also sad - my child's father and mother are both dead, and he lives with his grandma, who has no males in her household to help her. The grandma was very thankful for our support and very glad that we could visit. At one point she said something like this, "I never expected God to provide a brother to help me raise Mauricio." I found this to be an amazing statement. She sees me as a brother and a partner in her doing her job of raising her grandson.

There is still much need in the village of Machico (the village where my sponsord child lives.) According to the food for the hungry staff, there are 205 kids registered to be supported in this village, but only 67 sponsors. But God is definitely at work here. We see him working in amazing ways every day. On the way home from the village, Kelsie's chicken pooped on my jacket. Unfortunately, I have come down with a bad case of criptosporosis.

2 of the details in this email may not be entirely true.

Again - thanks for the prayers. See you all in about a week.

Sincerely ,
Ben B. and the Mozambique team