We have been extremely blessed to have the opportunity to pour into the lives of the people here in Mozambique. Several months ago Eric and I had the opportunity to begin talking with a young man who grew up here at the center about the characteristics of Godly leadership in the church. This young man was actively participating as a worship leader at our church on Sunday mornings as well as helping with some translation during our evangelism outreaches. He was faithfully attending the services but at home his lifestyle was not a pure reflection of the standard of leadership the bible speaks about. He has been “married” to a young woman whom he has a beautiful baby girl with, unfortunately here in Mozambique “married” doesn't mean the same as it does in the west. All you have to do is get permission from the parents and begin living with one another to call yourselves a married couple. Many times this is placed upon young people because the woman will end up pregnant and then the man is “stuck with her” in the eyes of her parents. We encouraged him to have a marriage ceremony in the church and make things right in the sight of God, and to step down from his leadership role until things were settled biblicaly. After some time he and his girlfriend came wanting to get married (for real) and they would do it at the church in a small ceremony during Sunday service, this kind of wedding is not common here, the smaller the wedding the less serious it shows that you are about the relationship, much money goes into elaborate weddings and food just to appease and satisfy family and the community. Eric and I agreed to move forward with the wedding ceremony but they two would need to meet with us a few times before we would preform the ceremony, we really wanted to make sure that their hearts were in it for the marriage not a leadership role (which is very important among the people, position is what matters in many areas of their culture). The first night that we met with them we shared what the difference between lust and love is, that lust is only in it for what you can personally gain from the other person and when they are not “preforming” to your standard you simply leave, but love is something that is selfless you are in it to give what you can to the other person with out expecting anything in return. We also discussed friendship, which is so important in a marriage, we asked simple questions and gave biblical advice. During the second meeting the young man discussed how he would get so frustrated when his girlfriend wouldn't have the house in order or meals prepared when he came home from work and how she would disrespect him and call him names in front of his friends. We gave some advice and asked a simple but controversial question “When was the last time that you coked dinner for her?” All we got at first was a laugh, but we were serious. He laughed because that is a “woman's job” and if he did that his friends would laugh at him, and heaven forbid what if his neighbors saw him doing this? We asked his girlfriend “what would you think if he made dinner for you one night?” she smiled and said “ that would make me so happy”, even in that moment you could see a bit of joy in her heart. We met a couple more times after that just discussing what they have learned and what they are changing in their home. A few days after our second meeting the young man came to our house and said that the night we talked about him cooking dinner he actually went home and started to cook dinner for her, (the first time in the 5 years they have been together) and through his laughter he said that while he was trying to light the charcoal stove that the two of them laughed because it was so awkward and really for the first time were friends and they were enjoying one another. Another time he said that she went into the city with the baby and he cleaned the house and dishes and made lunch so that when she returned home it would be finished, and the neighbors actually came over and asked if she left him because why else would he be doing these things? On March 29, we preformed our first wedding ceremony here in Mozambique to the happiest young couple we have seen. It was small with no fancy dresses or cakes, but as Eric had them say their vows the young man stood on the stage with tears running down his face and through a huge smile he said “ this is making me so happy right now”. Since the first meeting with us their entire home environment had changed, they have been reading the bible together daily and they are helping each other with day to day tasks around the house, not only has their home become a peaceful place but he also received an internship with the cities electrical department and their corn selling business is booming! We have shown him that if you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness ALL things will be added to you. God is so faithful and a small step of obedience has gained this young man and his new wife a huge amount of favor and blessing. To top it all off, he came to us just a few days ago and told us this story: For many years him and his wife would fight a lot, and I do not mean argue I mean FIGHT, fists flying in the air, their house was actually known by the neighbors as “casa de loucos” the house of crazy people, but since our meetings it has been a peaceful place full of laughter. He said there has been many rumors going around their neighborhood about them, finally one day a woman had the courage to come and ask about it. She said that everyone is talking about them because they went from crazy to calm in a short time, she said that her husband is mean and that he spends all of his money on alcohol and never helps with their children, that when she is sick he just says “ that's your problem” but when he is sick he expects her to serve him. She wanted to know what witch doctor he went to and if he could take her there so that her husband would be a better person. The young man said, well my witch doctor isn't a witch doctor, I received advice from some missionary friends, she asked if she could meet with us sometime he said yes but he also said, the main reason that I am different and the only way your home can be better is if you have Jesus in your heart. He and his wife meet at their home regularly now reading the bible and teaching her about the love of Jesus!! A small act of love is changing the community around them, while the neighbors and friends laugh at him while he cooks dinner, there are some waiting to find what they have. Jesus and intimacy.
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