Darkness Did Not Win

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”  - Psalm‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬

If someone asked me to use a verse to describe the past couple of weeks, I would choose Psalm 9:1. The people of Mozambique are eager to praise the Lord in both their pain and their joy. They give thanks with their whole heart and consistently recount the wonderful deeds of the Lord.

Today was nothing short of a blessing. We started the day by sharing one last breakfast with our friends in the village of Gaza. As usual, the food was wonderful, and the people were even more incredible. After we had eaten and Laney had shared a devotional, the ladies who had been serving us blessed us with gifts and treasures to take home. We were each given a capulana (a type of a fabric worn primarily in Mozambique). They taught the ladies how to wear it as a skirt, and the men were encouraged to take the material home and make a shirt. Our hearts were extra full today as we reflected on the generosity and thoughtfulness of the women who selflessly cared for us during our time at the compound.

After saying farewell, we split into four groups and headed to church. Today, Pastor Chase, Pastor Valmir, and Josh Keyes all had the opportunity to preach at different churches. Not to brag or anything, but I had the chance to witness Josh Keyes preach for the very first time! Josh shared about Mark 5, which tells the story of Jesus healing a woman on His way to Jairus’s house to perform another miracle. (I highly recommend reading this today!)

When church ended in Macaluane, we met up with the rest of the team for the baptism celebration. We witnessed 34 individuals proclaim the name of Jesus through baptism. What a glorious day to get dunked! In the distance, you could hear the witch doctors beating their drums. The contrast of people singing praises to the Lord while hearing the sounds of those drums was very thought-provoking. It’s interesting to think about how the enemy's plan is to steal, kill, and destroy. Yet today, darkness did not win. We continued to celebrate the 34 individuals who have been raised to life. Amen!

The baptisms may have ended, but the celebration did not stop there. Pastor Benidito and his family graciously invited us into their home and provided lunch and more gifts for our entire team. It’s hard to put into words how grateful we are for their generosity. We have experienced an abundance of kindness during our time here in Mozambique. Hospitality and the willingness to serve are just two ways Pastor Benidito's family has exemplified the characteristics of Jesus. They are marked by their generosity.

The day continued to be full of fruitful conversations as we made our way back from Gaza to Maputo. We finished the night with dinner as a team. We hugged Adi and Michka a little extra tight as tonight was their last night with us. They both have been vital parts of our team over the last two weeks, and we praise the Lord for them. We have an early morning tomorrow, so we are headed to bed to get a few hours of sleep.

Thank you to those who have been praying for our team and the people of Mozambique. When reading Psalm 9:1, I continue to thank the Lord with my whole heart for you. Your prayers are felt and appreciated.

With love,  
Mic Jones