We are Missionaries!
We have received so many notes and e-mails telling us what we are doing here is so amazing or what we have given up is so incredible and that we are serving as such an encouragement to so many. I can honestly say that not until this week did I really understand all of this. I want to share a few, "We are Missionaries" moments with you.
This past week we had to go to South Africa again for more documentation to get our DIRE's (Mozambican green cards). There is a Mozambican consulate there and they have to issue the work and residency visas. Anyway, Monday afternoon after a meeting with our old landlord and frantically paying all of our last bills for that house we packed into the car and headed off on our three hour journey to RSA. Cue the Gilligan island theme song.
After dinner we went to the local mall to see if we could spend some money on things that we really did not need and it dawned on me that I needed to get Rand to pay for the Visas the next day. I stopped at the ATM and punched in my code and the system reset itself and a very nice message popped up to say that my card had been retained and that I needed to call customer service to talk to someone about it. I tried and tried, but my phone does not really work in RSA. We really were fairly patient and went to the guest house where we would be staying that night. The lady was very helpful and let me use her phone to call again. After talking to the agent he assured me that I could just swing by in the morning show my passport and retrieve my card. I will get back to this story in a minute.
The next morning we awoke feeling refreshed and ready to enter the world of a Mozambican government building. I decided to leave Sarah and the kids at the lodge and try to get the documents without them. I walked through the door at 8:00 am sharp and was greeted by the nicest, most competent and pleasant person imaginable. Her name is Sandra. More on her to come as well. I proceeded to get the proper paperwok filled out and gave her our passports and so forth and she asked for the R2200 ($367 USD). I tried to explain what had happened the night before and to see if there were any other options to pay. She politely said no but told me where 2 ATMS were. I left and tried both machines and 2 different cards. Needless to say, I did not get the money. Truthfully I did not get frustrated, but instead I prayed. I prayed, "Lord I know that you are in control and that this paperwork is important for us to continue on in Mozambique. Please provide a way for me to get this money this morning." I kid you not that 2 seconds later I saw a car that I thought was a dad from Kaleb's school drive by. I laughed out loud in the middle of the street. I quickly grabbed my cell phone and tried to call this dad. It turns out that I ran out of minutes on my phone and the call could not be placed. So I prayed again, "Lord help me find him." Then I got into the car and started driving around in parking lots and at restaurants and sure enough I found the car. Still not sure if it was him I went from store to store looking. At last it was him and I told him what had happened and asked if I could borrow the money and he said yes. I went to the consulate, paid for the papers and was able to tell Sandra the story of how God provided. I had to come back in 2 hours to get the paperwork so I decided to go to the bank and try and get my credit card back.
To make a long story short they had had my card, but had cut it up. I was getting a little angry to be honest and explained the concept that I am from America and Mozambique does not have a mail system and it would be impossible for me to get a replacement card and so on. The manager was very nice and was trying to help the situation when she handed me the phone. "Its Visa", she said. I was told that they cancelled my cards and replacements would be sent within 4 days. I told the lady that I live in Mozambique and that we don't have a mail system. She unknowingly said well they will be waiting for you when you get back from your trip. I said this is not a trip we live here. She then asked if I was in Chicago on October 24-27. I said no we have been in Mozambique since July 28th. You guessed it, someone had been using our card in Chicago.
Here is the point. If my card does not get stuck in the machine I would have missed the opportunity to have God provide for me. I also would never have found out about the credit theft happening with our card.
As for Sandra she asked who I worked for. I told her and asked why? "I need a job" she said. I had met Sandra one other time and commented to Sarah that I wanted to ask her if she would come work with us. We are interviewing her for a position in our office on Monday.
What I want to say is that I am convinced more than ever of our calling to be here and I am excited to see the other small ways that God will reveal Himself to us. I also want to encourage all of you to see God providing for you. I have realized how easy it is in the states to not really need God. I know we do when our kids are sick or when a job situation is difficult, but when was the last time that you allowed Him to provide something small for you?
Ephesians 1:17 says, "I keep asking the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we can know him better." Ask Him and He will show you. Come to Him and He will show you. Believe in Him and He will show you.
We love and miss you all. God bless you.
Separado Mas Junto
Steve
This past week we had to go to South Africa again for more documentation to get our DIRE's (Mozambican green cards). There is a Mozambican consulate there and they have to issue the work and residency visas. Anyway, Monday afternoon after a meeting with our old landlord and frantically paying all of our last bills for that house we packed into the car and headed off on our three hour journey to RSA. Cue the Gilligan island theme song.
After dinner we went to the local mall to see if we could spend some money on things that we really did not need and it dawned on me that I needed to get Rand to pay for the Visas the next day. I stopped at the ATM and punched in my code and the system reset itself and a very nice message popped up to say that my card had been retained and that I needed to call customer service to talk to someone about it. I tried and tried, but my phone does not really work in RSA. We really were fairly patient and went to the guest house where we would be staying that night. The lady was very helpful and let me use her phone to call again. After talking to the agent he assured me that I could just swing by in the morning show my passport and retrieve my card. I will get back to this story in a minute.
The next morning we awoke feeling refreshed and ready to enter the world of a Mozambican government building. I decided to leave Sarah and the kids at the lodge and try to get the documents without them. I walked through the door at 8:00 am sharp and was greeted by the nicest, most competent and pleasant person imaginable. Her name is Sandra. More on her to come as well. I proceeded to get the proper paperwok filled out and gave her our passports and so forth and she asked for the R2200 ($367 USD). I tried to explain what had happened the night before and to see if there were any other options to pay. She politely said no but told me where 2 ATMS were. I left and tried both machines and 2 different cards. Needless to say, I did not get the money. Truthfully I did not get frustrated, but instead I prayed. I prayed, "Lord I know that you are in control and that this paperwork is important for us to continue on in Mozambique. Please provide a way for me to get this money this morning." I kid you not that 2 seconds later I saw a car that I thought was a dad from Kaleb's school drive by. I laughed out loud in the middle of the street. I quickly grabbed my cell phone and tried to call this dad. It turns out that I ran out of minutes on my phone and the call could not be placed. So I prayed again, "Lord help me find him." Then I got into the car and started driving around in parking lots and at restaurants and sure enough I found the car. Still not sure if it was him I went from store to store looking. At last it was him and I told him what had happened and asked if I could borrow the money and he said yes. I went to the consulate, paid for the papers and was able to tell Sandra the story of how God provided. I had to come back in 2 hours to get the paperwork so I decided to go to the bank and try and get my credit card back.
To make a long story short they had had my card, but had cut it up. I was getting a little angry to be honest and explained the concept that I am from America and Mozambique does not have a mail system and it would be impossible for me to get a replacement card and so on. The manager was very nice and was trying to help the situation when she handed me the phone. "Its Visa", she said. I was told that they cancelled my cards and replacements would be sent within 4 days. I told the lady that I live in Mozambique and that we don't have a mail system. She unknowingly said well they will be waiting for you when you get back from your trip. I said this is not a trip we live here. She then asked if I was in Chicago on October 24-27. I said no we have been in Mozambique since July 28th. You guessed it, someone had been using our card in Chicago.
Here is the point. If my card does not get stuck in the machine I would have missed the opportunity to have God provide for me. I also would never have found out about the credit theft happening with our card.
As for Sandra she asked who I worked for. I told her and asked why? "I need a job" she said. I had met Sandra one other time and commented to Sarah that I wanted to ask her if she would come work with us. We are interviewing her for a position in our office on Monday.
What I want to say is that I am convinced more than ever of our calling to be here and I am excited to see the other small ways that God will reveal Himself to us. I also want to encourage all of you to see God providing for you. I have realized how easy it is in the states to not really need God. I know we do when our kids are sick or when a job situation is difficult, but when was the last time that you allowed Him to provide something small for you?
Ephesians 1:17 says, "I keep asking the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we can know him better." Ask Him and He will show you. Come to Him and He will show you. Believe in Him and He will show you.
We love and miss you all. God bless you.
Separado Mas Junto
Steve
posted by Sniders in Africa at 11/05/2005 08:02:00 AM
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