Day 5: Open Hands
Today started with breakfast at Casa Koinonia (the mission home we're staying at in Maputo), followed by a team meeting and devotional. Ariana was the one who led this morning's devo, and she talked about how, "we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future." She reminded us that during this trip, and also throughout our lives, there will be times when we don’t know what comes next. But we know we can trust in the Lord because He has a plan for us.
After that, we headed to a school in the town of Marracuene to partner with Ambassadors Football, a global Christian soccer ministry that my dad, Pastor Valmir, serves with. We led a soccer clinic for the students before gathering them together to share the gospel. We had some time to introduce ourselves, and then we headed to the field, which was made entirely of sand.
We had drills prepared for the kids, and afterward we gathered everyone together to share the gospel with them. Seeing hundreds of kids stop, listen, and hear about Jesus was one of the highlights of the day. We were tired, dehydrated, and covered in sand, but we had so much fun with the kids.
Quick Pastor Chase interjection...
While the rest of the team was at the soccer clinic, Pastor Benedito, Mr. Gomez, and I made a supply run before we head to the villages tomorrow. We picked up toothbrushes and feminine hygiene products that, Lord willing, we'll also be taking to the prison later this week.
The traffic, was CRAZYYY.
This is my fourth trip to Mozambique, and I don't think I've ever seen it this bad. There was major road construction, and at times it felt like we weren't moving at all. Somehow, Pastor Benedito navigated through it like a seasoned race car driver. The highlight came when Mr. Gomez and I were waiting outside the store for Pastor Ben to bring the van around. A few minutes later, he suddenly appeared right in front of us as if he'd driven through walls.
We asked him how he got through the craziness. He just smiled and said, "This is Mozambique." It felt like something out of a movie.
Anyway, the traffic delayed us by nearly 90 minutes getting back to the rest of the team. We had all the water in the van, so they were definitely ready to see us.
It was another reminder that, here, ministry rarely runs on our schedule, but I won't go into detail about that because that's what Daniel is about to talk about.
While the rest of the team was at the soccer clinic, Pastor Benedito, Mr. Gomez, and I made a supply run before we head to the villages tomorrow. We picked up toothbrushes and feminine hygiene products that, Lord willing, we'll also be taking to the prison later this week.
The traffic, was CRAZYYY.
This is my fourth trip to Mozambique, and I don't think I've ever seen it this bad. There was major road construction, and at times it felt like we weren't moving at all. Somehow, Pastor Benedito navigated through it like a seasoned race car driver. The highlight came when Mr. Gomez and I were waiting outside the store for Pastor Ben to bring the van around. A few minutes later, he suddenly appeared right in front of us as if he'd driven through walls.
We asked him how he got through the craziness. He just smiled and said, "This is Mozambique." It felt like something out of a movie.
Anyway, the traffic delayed us by nearly 90 minutes getting back to the rest of the team. We had all the water in the van, so they were definitely ready to see us.
It was another reminder that, here, ministry rarely runs on our schedule, but I won't go into detail about that because that's what Daniel is about to talk about.
After our time with the kids, we left the school and were on our way to lunch when the leader of Ambassadors Football in Mozambique, Pastor Daniel Moiana, asked us to stop by his parents' house to pray for his mother, who was not feeling well. Even though it was unexpected, and we were about 90 minutes behind schedule, we went and prayed over her, and it was a blessing.
Then, after that, we went to lunch at a cafè that was run by Pastor Moiana's wife. After lunch, we had to hurry back to get cleaned up and changed because we were heading to a church service that evening.
The plan was to arrive a little before the service, which was scheduled to start around 5:00 p.m. As we left, we quickly realized that wasn't going to happen. Traffic came to a complete standstill, and what should have been a short drive turned into a very long one. Every few minutes we looked at the clock, realizing we were getting later and later. Five o'clock came and went. Then six o'clock. By the time we finally pulled into the church parking lot, it was just before 7:00 p.m.
We were nearly two hours late!
But instead of frustration, we were greeted to the sound of many voices singing. When the people at the church saw us, they welcomed us with great joy, all while continuing to sing. One man even had a trumpet, adding to the joyful noise being made to the Lord.
It all worked out well. The service was amazing.
My dad, preached in Portuguese about how, as Christians, we can either be distracted or committed, and that when we choose to be committed, our lives should reflect that through obedience and the bearing of fruit.
The message really tied in with what we had experienced throughout the day. It is much easier to feel discouraged and want the convenience of everything going according to plan, but it is much harder to stay committed and faithfully serve.
Before this trip even started, and even on previous trips to Mozambique, we've talked about the idea of serving with "open hands." Pastor Chase even puts a small graphic of open hands on all of our schedules and trip documents to remind us that we want to hold our plans, expectations, and schedules with open hands, trusting that God may have something different in mind.
One of the biggest ways that has been tested is with time. Back home, many of us are used to schedules, calendars, and arriving a few minutes early. Here, time often works differently. We may plan something for a certain time, but it rarely happens the way we expect. People here are unaffected by running late because they are doing something important and want to do it well or they are simply going with the flow. Neither way is right or wrong. It is simply a different culture. The way we do things back home is not automatically better, and the way things are done here is not automatically better either. But it does stretch us. I know it has stretched me. Even after multiple trips to Mozambique, Pastor Chase has said it still stretches him too.
Serving with open hands means choosing not to let our expectations become more important than the people we came to serve. It means trusting that God is just as present in the unexpected traffic delay as He is in the carefully planned schedule. Whether things go our way or not doesn't matter, because we are here to serve.
Today, a lot happened. We were able to do what we had initially planned, but because of the unexpected moments and delays, we were actually able to do even more. Learning to trust God and His plan, even when we don't know what tomorrow holds, is one of the greatest lessons we are learning together here in Mozambique.
Then, after that, we went to lunch at a cafè that was run by Pastor Moiana's wife. After lunch, we had to hurry back to get cleaned up and changed because we were heading to a church service that evening.
The plan was to arrive a little before the service, which was scheduled to start around 5:00 p.m. As we left, we quickly realized that wasn't going to happen. Traffic came to a complete standstill, and what should have been a short drive turned into a very long one. Every few minutes we looked at the clock, realizing we were getting later and later. Five o'clock came and went. Then six o'clock. By the time we finally pulled into the church parking lot, it was just before 7:00 p.m.
We were nearly two hours late!
But instead of frustration, we were greeted to the sound of many voices singing. When the people at the church saw us, they welcomed us with great joy, all while continuing to sing. One man even had a trumpet, adding to the joyful noise being made to the Lord.
It all worked out well. The service was amazing.
My dad, preached in Portuguese about how, as Christians, we can either be distracted or committed, and that when we choose to be committed, our lives should reflect that through obedience and the bearing of fruit.
The message really tied in with what we had experienced throughout the day. It is much easier to feel discouraged and want the convenience of everything going according to plan, but it is much harder to stay committed and faithfully serve.
Before this trip even started, and even on previous trips to Mozambique, we've talked about the idea of serving with "open hands." Pastor Chase even puts a small graphic of open hands on all of our schedules and trip documents to remind us that we want to hold our plans, expectations, and schedules with open hands, trusting that God may have something different in mind.
One of the biggest ways that has been tested is with time. Back home, many of us are used to schedules, calendars, and arriving a few minutes early. Here, time often works differently. We may plan something for a certain time, but it rarely happens the way we expect. People here are unaffected by running late because they are doing something important and want to do it well or they are simply going with the flow. Neither way is right or wrong. It is simply a different culture. The way we do things back home is not automatically better, and the way things are done here is not automatically better either. But it does stretch us. I know it has stretched me. Even after multiple trips to Mozambique, Pastor Chase has said it still stretches him too.
Serving with open hands means choosing not to let our expectations become more important than the people we came to serve. It means trusting that God is just as present in the unexpected traffic delay as He is in the carefully planned schedule. Whether things go our way or not doesn't matter, because we are here to serve.
Today, a lot happened. We were able to do what we had initially planned, but because of the unexpected moments and delays, we were actually able to do even more. Learning to trust God and His plan, even when we don't know what tomorrow holds, is one of the greatest lessons we are learning together here in Mozambique.
Scroll through some of the photos from the day below!
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
April
2025
2024
June
July
October
November
The Gift of Seeking and Finding RefugeNeeded RestThe Lord is NearLessons in the DarknessWe will not fearWhere is my identity?The Power Behind the Armor of GodBoasting in Christ AloneWhat Does It Mean To Serve?Dying to Christ DailyThe Blessing at the BottomDoing & FeelingBring Your Tears to the LordSitting in MessyCreated in Christ for Good WorksFaithful Love is God's Multitude of MerciesCan't Stop, Won't Stop
1 Comment
We so often hear how so much more is gained than what is given during mission trips. Following each of these daily blogs demonstrates this 1st hand in real time. The lessons you are sharing
nalong each of the big and small moments are beautiful and praiseworthy. Keep shining your light.