26 Sept 2005, Vermooten Praise n Prayer

This past week has been a week of diversity - disappointments and
excitement, lots of ceremonies, and even some rain!

A friend of Esté's was murdered on Friday night. They, along with 38 other
teens, were training as part of the "13th Floor" evangelistic performing
arts group about to go on tour in the United States. He was browsing the
internet on Friday night in the computer room on their campus north of
Pretoria, when robbers entered to steal computers. Esté and the others are
still in a state of shock.

Praise the Lord for Adriaan's safe arrival. His plane landed earlier than
expected, so we couldn't do the waving/shouting/crying-thing when he got off
the plane! When we got to the airport, everyone was already waiting for
their luggage. Adriaan was standing there, looking a bit, well, dejected . .
. oh, what a letdown. BUT, he is here and we are having a GOOD time! We are
so thankful that we can have this time with him; it is a short holiday, so
we are really trying to do a month's worth of talking in two weeks - almost
like talking 'fast-forwarded'!

Ramadan is almost on us and the Mwanis are having ceremonies almost every
second day, because they're not allowed to have any ceremonies during the
fasting month of Ramadan. So, all the weddings and initiation ceremonies and
what-not are being held now. All the Bible lessons of the womens' groups
have been postponed, because it is mostly the women who attend the
ceremonies. Please pray for continuity, and that they will return for the
lessons. Please pray specifically for Sifa, Zainaba, Rosa and Ainsha.

Ipopo, the young guy who has been faithfully attending the lessons with
Hendrik has finished the Old Testament teachings and is very eager to do the
New Testament lessons as well. They started TODAY (Monday 26 September)!
Pray that he will come to know the truth, and that the truth will set him
free. (John 8:32)

We have started training the people in the groups to retell the stories to
others. Some struggle and some are natural storytellers. This is a key in
our strategy of starting a church planting movement - we tell the stories to
some, and they retell it to as many as possible. In this way the gospel will
spread in a natural and uninhibited way. Please pray that the Lord will show
us the key storytellers, and that they will come to know Him as their
Saviour. Then Jesus told them many things in parables . . . (Matt 13:3)

Celestino (Hendrik's ex-language helper) arrived in Maputo and started with
his police training. Keep on praying for him and Cecilia, his wife that they
will decide to become followers of Jesus. They already know and understand
the truth, they just need to take a stand.

Lastly, praise the Lord because the fighting in the Mwani town Moçimboa da
Praia has calmed down. At least 12 people were killed and 100+ injured, and
98 houses were burned down. We are so thankful that our friends (and also
missionaries to the Mwani) Steve and Sharon Entwistle and their three kids
were able to escape from the town unscathed. Pray for them for wisdom and
emotional strength, as they decide about their future in Moçimboa.

Keep on praying!

Bets Vermooten