Charis Update February 2024
'Make this valley full of ditches. For the Lord says: You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet this valley shall be filled with water..' (2 Kings 3:16-17)
The bible tells us: always be ready! To be ready to give a reason for the hope we have in Jesus. To be ready to help anyone we come across in need. To be ready to hear and obey God's voice. To be ready to resist when temptation comes. To be ready for Jesus' return.
Recently God has been whispering these words into our hearts and into our context: Get ready. Be prepared. Dig ditches that I will fill.
And so this year we want to get ready for God to pour out His Spirit among us in greater measure.
With our vision ever before us:
We are preparing for the Life Centre in Mozambique to be established as an intercultural, interdenominational place of anointed worship, prayer and training for transforming mission. A place where Jesus is at the centre of everything, and where alongside us we welcome teachers and trainers from around the globe to share their biblical knowledge and spiritual understanding among the poorly resourced. To equip, envision, and prepare them to become transformers of people and communities by the power of Gods Spirit. We thank God for those who have given in faith to this vision. Once the national association is registered (it is in process!) we will move forward with the building. Please pray with us that this will happen soon. We thank God that we have already had 2 bible teachers offering to come this year! One from the UK and one from India.
We are praying and standing upon God's Word that says: 'They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.' Because we believe compassion to the poor is true righteousness and that in God's kingdom justice is central, we are believing God for an abundance of provision that we can use to bring food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, homes to the homeless and hope to the despairing in both Mozambique and Ethiopia, where the poorest of the poor continue to struggle daily with basic needs.
Elizabeth continues to visit the poorest of the poor in Nekemte bringing them food, clothes, medical care, encouragement and prayer. The conflict is bringing much suffering: shops are closing, transport is difficult to find, prices have rocketed and many are fleeing the area. The other week, 3 of Aregash's grandchildren fled the shooting in their area and have not been seen since. It is believed they are now in a refugee camp outside Nekemte.
Please pray for them and for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia.
We are praying for a maturing and strengthening of our faith; a deepening of our love for God and each other; and an increase in our compassion for the weak and vulnerable among the poorest of the poor.
Florinda's family of 6 in a village near Vilanculos were living in such poverty (on the left) when the team visited. They now have a new house, new pans, mats and water buckets. Praise God! And we thank God we have been able to equip 22 schoolkids again at the start of a new year in Mozambique.
We believe consistent prayer and fasting and studying God's word is crucial to being ready. We will be restarting our monthly Charis in-person and zoom prayer with the teams and this is open to all our supporters. Mel is preparing a study on Colossians for the teams and anyone else interested.
Mel and Mandy will be visiting Ethiopia and Mozambique this year to bring encouragement, oversight and teaching. A short trip to Adis Ababa to meet with Elizabeth late April and then Mozambique perhaps in July, but the timing depends on what happens with the registration of the National Association.
Stop press!
We have had news this week from Bandua, Mozambique, that many people are hungry, because the crops are dying due to pitiful rainfall. Many people are afraid that their crops will completely fail and they have no other source of food. Charis has been asked for help to to provide many food kits. Please pray with us for God's abundance so that we can respond in mercy.
Bandua remains an area of real poverty where whole communities struggle to survive. We recently provided 2 of our local volunteers in Bandua with micro-loans - Joaquim to rear cows and Maparrari for a large farm (with a bike).
'Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us., to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.' (Ephesians 3:20-21).
(If you wish to donate: Barclays Bank: Charis Ministries. Sort Code: 20-09-72
Account Number: 63652572 or contact Mel - melwel72003@yahoo.co.uk)
www.charisafrica.com
Registered charity: 1138859