![[Ashlee Cladek Blog]](http://www.andrelefebvre.net/ashleeblog.jpg)
Saturday, 20 Aug 2005
Just got back from five days in the bush. The outreach went so well. As usual we rode in the back of Iris' big flatbed trucks for many hours before we reached our destination. The places we saw were like pictures that you would see in National Geographic - absolutely stunning and amazing to see how beautiful God's handy work is here on earth. The ride was very bumpy as usual and felt many times like I was being body slammed by the pounding of my body weight hitting the truck floor as we quickly rode on the rough African terrain.
The views were beautiful! The first place we stopped was at a missionary couples house in Nampula (different province in Mozambique than Cabo Delgado which is where Pemba is). This would be a place for us to stop over for a time so we could go out each day and do outreaches into other villages. This missionary couple were in the process of starting a chicken farm where they could influence the economy by bringing in much needed work - their vision and goal was outstanding. Their home was on many, many acres of land which were tucked up next to some "mountains" - it was absolutely stunning and so peaceful there. They had horses that ran free throughout their land and we were allowed to ride them as we wanted...it was a great place of refuge. While we were there I was able to see one of the pastors I had met when first arriving in Pemba. How wonderful to see him! When he saw me he was delighted and quickly showed me where I had written my name in his journal. It was really beautiful as I was able to spend some time with him hearing the vision of what God had put in his heart and his cry for help as he asked me to please come back and help them there in Nampula as it is so desperately needed.
Before leaving this place of refuge in Nampula on Friday I went for a walk with two other girls into a near by village. As we walked we saw and spoke with the beautiful people we passed by. One place we stopped was at a house where a man by the name of Mario and his wife and children lived. It was here that I gave one of the man's wife a powerband, the little band with the salvation message in colored beads. As I was speaking with his beautiful children the husband and wife went into the house and brought out two chairs for us to sit on and peanuts for us to eat. His wife had been peeling peas which she had picked from their garden so we sat and helped her. It was such a beautiful moment as we sat there peeling these peas and loving on them - there was much joy of laughter. When it was time to leave Mario went over and knocked down papayas from his tree and put it into a bag with the peanuts. This is the only food for his family. His clothes were as rags that we would throw away yet he gave to us. They would give you everything though they may have nothing. What selfless love. I so much see the reflection of Jesus. They are so giving. I am overwhelmed by their love, by their giving out of nothing. We had the wonderful opportunity to pray for Mario and his family before we left and Jesus was so present there with us - How I glory in the Lord for He is so good.
The next day we drove deeper into the bush arriving at a little village. I hadn't thought of bringing any money. There was a little shop there. One of the village people asked me if I was going to buy something. I told him I didn't have any money. He sent one of the boys to buy me something. He came back with a cookie. They are so giving. They can be hungry yet they will still give you part of what they have.
During the meetings we play the Jesus Film for the people. I was so tired from the travel. During the film I fell asleep sitting on the ground with my head in my lap. When I woke up the film was most of the way through. The people come from all over to watch the film. At first there were only 20 people then the crowd grew and grew to about 200 people. After the film was completed I was able to pray for many people. Many accepted Jesus.
During the drive to our next place some of us girls needed to go to the bathroom. In Mozambique the bathroom is the bushes to the side of the road. So we had stopped by the side of the road and walked into the bush. When we came back our legs were burning so bad! We didn't know what we had gotten into! We saw some water and tried washing our legs to stop the burning. It was terrible! Some of the guys went to go into the bushes for the same reason and one of the pastors stopped them saying don't go into the bushes. He bent over and showed us these little plants that were like peapods and said they would burn you - One of those learning experiences.
The next day we drove and drove again getting to our place late at night. The people at this place were deep into poverty. They live off the land surviving from whatever they could gleam.
When we were ministering to the people everyone accepted Jesus! I watch the planting of a church. It was so exciting! After the people accepted Jesus they asked if someone would want to lead the people. A man raised his hand. Then they asked if someone would be the secretary. Another said yes. They asked the people if they would accept these two and the people clapped and yelled yes. It was so awesome, so beautiful. A church was started. These two will now come to Pemba to school for three months and be taught the word of God. They will then return to this place and lead the people.
We prayed for a child who was unable to speak. He began to speak saying, Jesus, Mama. Jesus is so wonderful to answer our prayers. The people are changed.
Again back on the road. As we travel we sing and sing and pray. This time it was a bit different. One of the pastors began weeping and weeping and praising God. The Presence was flooding the truck! So so so powerful. The person next to me was taken in vision to the door of heaven and shown them many things. Among the things they were shown the Lord told them He was so delighted we had come. Jesus was laughing with joy. The vision was very powerful and life changing for this person.
It is so simple! So simple! So simple! We in America make it so difficult! It is so simple!
We went to many villages and many places just loving on people. People were running up to us with bananas, chickens, and other fruits. One guy had a bird on his finger and wanted money so he would let it go.
When we ask a person if they would like us to pray for them the people usually say, I am well. (Just like they do at home.) We still are able to pray for them. They now say walking with Jesus is good!
I have such an intense love for these people. They are so beautiful so beautiful. At one point I couldn't take much more and crumpled in tears knowing I was leaving so soon. I love these people so much. It is so beautiful so beautiful.
On the travel I was with mostly Western people this time. These were the students who had stayed at the college site. There were eleven of us that stayed with the main base living with the pastors and children. It seemed strange to be with so many Westerns after being with the people. It was really strange to see the difference of how we have come to be. Our experience has been very different then theirs. They still had much of the Western mind on some things and we that had stayed at the base with the children found we had changed in much of our thinking.
It has been such an adventure, a wonderful adventure.
The pastors who had been here with us during this time all left on Sunday night. On the trip we were able to see one of them. It was really cool to see where he lived. To see his village and meet his family. To see him in his environment.
When we arrived back in Pemba it was so quiet. 25 new children had come in this week. Many of the students had left and all the pastors had left going back to their homes to continue the church that had been started. Today I am packing and organizing and getting last tidbits together. It is so hard to leave but I know I will be back.
Oh! We went to an authentic Mozambique restaurant. One of the guys had contacted the restaurant before hand and asked if they made certain different foods. When we got there we thought we would order a simple meal. To our surprise when we got there the owner had fixed everything the guy had asked about! It was a feast! Wow!
Went to the airport to check on our tickets. The airport people were there but they had decided not to work that day. This is the usual in Pemba. They can be there but decide they are not working so you can't get any information. They don't work on Sunday. Some of the students have had problems with luggage when they left.
Please hold us in prayer as we leave. Our group of five will fly out of Pemba at noon our time on Sunday, this is 2 AM Saturday night your time. We will be home Tuesday afternoon.
Blessings - Mozambique style.
See you soon,
Ashlee
The views were beautiful! The first place we stopped was at a missionary couples house in Nampula (different province in Mozambique than Cabo Delgado which is where Pemba is). This would be a place for us to stop over for a time so we could go out each day and do outreaches into other villages. This missionary couple were in the process of starting a chicken farm where they could influence the economy by bringing in much needed work - their vision and goal was outstanding. Their home was on many, many acres of land which were tucked up next to some "mountains" - it was absolutely stunning and so peaceful there. They had horses that ran free throughout their land and we were allowed to ride them as we wanted...it was a great place of refuge. While we were there I was able to see one of the pastors I had met when first arriving in Pemba. How wonderful to see him! When he saw me he was delighted and quickly showed me where I had written my name in his journal. It was really beautiful as I was able to spend some time with him hearing the vision of what God had put in his heart and his cry for help as he asked me to please come back and help them there in Nampula as it is so desperately needed.
Before leaving this place of refuge in Nampula on Friday I went for a walk with two other girls into a near by village. As we walked we saw and spoke with the beautiful people we passed by. One place we stopped was at a house where a man by the name of Mario and his wife and children lived. It was here that I gave one of the man's wife a powerband, the little band with the salvation message in colored beads. As I was speaking with his beautiful children the husband and wife went into the house and brought out two chairs for us to sit on and peanuts for us to eat. His wife had been peeling peas which she had picked from their garden so we sat and helped her. It was such a beautiful moment as we sat there peeling these peas and loving on them - there was much joy of laughter. When it was time to leave Mario went over and knocked down papayas from his tree and put it into a bag with the peanuts. This is the only food for his family. His clothes were as rags that we would throw away yet he gave to us. They would give you everything though they may have nothing. What selfless love. I so much see the reflection of Jesus. They are so giving. I am overwhelmed by their love, by their giving out of nothing. We had the wonderful opportunity to pray for Mario and his family before we left and Jesus was so present there with us - How I glory in the Lord for He is so good.
The next day we drove deeper into the bush arriving at a little village. I hadn't thought of bringing any money. There was a little shop there. One of the village people asked me if I was going to buy something. I told him I didn't have any money. He sent one of the boys to buy me something. He came back with a cookie. They are so giving. They can be hungry yet they will still give you part of what they have.
During the meetings we play the Jesus Film for the people. I was so tired from the travel. During the film I fell asleep sitting on the ground with my head in my lap. When I woke up the film was most of the way through. The people come from all over to watch the film. At first there were only 20 people then the crowd grew and grew to about 200 people. After the film was completed I was able to pray for many people. Many accepted Jesus.
During the drive to our next place some of us girls needed to go to the bathroom. In Mozambique the bathroom is the bushes to the side of the road. So we had stopped by the side of the road and walked into the bush. When we came back our legs were burning so bad! We didn't know what we had gotten into! We saw some water and tried washing our legs to stop the burning. It was terrible! Some of the guys went to go into the bushes for the same reason and one of the pastors stopped them saying don't go into the bushes. He bent over and showed us these little plants that were like peapods and said they would burn you - One of those learning experiences.
The next day we drove and drove again getting to our place late at night. The people at this place were deep into poverty. They live off the land surviving from whatever they could gleam.
When we were ministering to the people everyone accepted Jesus! I watch the planting of a church. It was so exciting! After the people accepted Jesus they asked if someone would want to lead the people. A man raised his hand. Then they asked if someone would be the secretary. Another said yes. They asked the people if they would accept these two and the people clapped and yelled yes. It was so awesome, so beautiful. A church was started. These two will now come to Pemba to school for three months and be taught the word of God. They will then return to this place and lead the people.
We prayed for a child who was unable to speak. He began to speak saying, Jesus, Mama. Jesus is so wonderful to answer our prayers. The people are changed.
Again back on the road. As we travel we sing and sing and pray. This time it was a bit different. One of the pastors began weeping and weeping and praising God. The Presence was flooding the truck! So so so powerful. The person next to me was taken in vision to the door of heaven and shown them many things. Among the things they were shown the Lord told them He was so delighted we had come. Jesus was laughing with joy. The vision was very powerful and life changing for this person.
It is so simple! So simple! So simple! We in America make it so difficult! It is so simple!
We went to many villages and many places just loving on people. People were running up to us with bananas, chickens, and other fruits. One guy had a bird on his finger and wanted money so he would let it go.
When we ask a person if they would like us to pray for them the people usually say, I am well. (Just like they do at home.) We still are able to pray for them. They now say walking with Jesus is good!
I have such an intense love for these people. They are so beautiful so beautiful. At one point I couldn't take much more and crumpled in tears knowing I was leaving so soon. I love these people so much. It is so beautiful so beautiful.
On the travel I was with mostly Western people this time. These were the students who had stayed at the college site. There were eleven of us that stayed with the main base living with the pastors and children. It seemed strange to be with so many Westerns after being with the people. It was really strange to see the difference of how we have come to be. Our experience has been very different then theirs. They still had much of the Western mind on some things and we that had stayed at the base with the children found we had changed in much of our thinking.
It has been such an adventure, a wonderful adventure.
The pastors who had been here with us during this time all left on Sunday night. On the trip we were able to see one of them. It was really cool to see where he lived. To see his village and meet his family. To see him in his environment.
When we arrived back in Pemba it was so quiet. 25 new children had come in this week. Many of the students had left and all the pastors had left going back to their homes to continue the church that had been started. Today I am packing and organizing and getting last tidbits together. It is so hard to leave but I know I will be back.
Oh! We went to an authentic Mozambique restaurant. One of the guys had contacted the restaurant before hand and asked if they made certain different foods. When we got there we thought we would order a simple meal. To our surprise when we got there the owner had fixed everything the guy had asked about! It was a feast! Wow!
Went to the airport to check on our tickets. The airport people were there but they had decided not to work that day. This is the usual in Pemba. They can be there but decide they are not working so you can't get any information. They don't work on Sunday. Some of the students have had problems with luggage when they left.
Please hold us in prayer as we leave. Our group of five will fly out of Pemba at noon our time on Sunday, this is 2 AM Saturday night your time. We will be home Tuesday afternoon.
Blessings - Mozambique style.
See you soon,
Ashlee
posted by Andre at 10:22 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home