MozOvos

I have been so excited about Ihla de Mocambique, that I have forgotten to tell you about another cool piece of the adventure in Mozambique. Rodger and Lynne Schmidt have been burdened by two ideas: 1) that the church here must be developed by a community of people, not as lone rangers, and 2) that very few Mozambique churches have been able to support a full-time pastor.

To address these issues, Rodger and Lynne have developed a unique ministry plan here in Maputo. They have invited eight young men to join their team as interns. These men have come from various churches around Maputo, and one even as far away as Tanzania. Yesterday morning Scott Hanson and I had a chance to meet with these young men. They are eager students of Jesus and his church, and I believe they will become a great team of evangelists and pastors who will be able, someday, to shape this country in the name of Jesus.

But they have few resources. So the second half of the Schmidts' plan has been activated. Namely, we are building an egg farm called MozOvos (Mozambique Eggs). (I say "we" because Lakeside Church is involved through our Lakeside on Mission funds.) The idea goes like this: Maputo consumes 800,000 eggs every day. Almost all of them are imported from South Africa. So the goal is that MozOvos will be an egg farm with 5,000 chickens, or "layers," as we experts call them. They will lay about 4000 eggs per day! By providing for this very practical need, the farm will provide the interns a specific way to earn money while they are studying and preparing for ministry. It will also help train them to run a microbusiness of their own when they become pastors and church leaders. The proceeds from the farm will allow Rodger's vision to be multiplied in other regions of Mozambique, including the area around Mozambique Island! It is a fresh, "Kreative" way to advance the kingdom of Jesus!

I am so pleased with the ministry of Jesus in this place through Rodger and Lynne. They are doing a great job here. Please pray for them and this unique ministry they are leading.

Monday we're taking a break--this is a sabbatical, remember? We're heading into South Africa for a safari!

Hakuna Matata!
Brad