As I am sitting here thinking over the few months since I last shared with you, I am contemplating the rhythm to this life as it ebbs and flows from one situation to another, always to bring us to the place where we know the blessing of the Father who loves and cares for us.
The floods are in the past now and the people have moved on. Homes have been repaired or rebuilt. Neighbours and friends are helping each other and new relationships are being formed. New babies are being born and life continues.
As I have been thinking about what to share with all of you, I am reminded of how Africa is a land of many contrasts and surprises. Sometimes they are good and are obvious moves of God, and at other times they can be so sad and devastating. These past months we have seen this in Pemba.
Here we are again. As I am taking some quiet time to reflect on all that has happened since my last update, I am amazed to consider all that God has been doing these last months.
Here it is, time again for another update on how the Father has been moving here in Pemba. Once again He has stretched me in the most uncomfortable and yet the most marvellous of ways.
"Where does the time go and how does it pass so quickly? It seems like only a month or so ago that I was writing an update, and here I am again. And once again I am here to tell you of how incredibly amazing our God is!
"Many things have taken place, but the most personal one was that I celebrated my 60th birthday here in Mozambique. It was such fun, and of course the children all laughed at how old I am…. After all, here 60 is considered to be ‘old’. The kids have told me that they would now have to call me ‘Vovo’ (grandmother), instead of Mama Linda.
“Once again it is time to reflect on the activities of the past several months here in Pemba of how God has moved in our midst, and look to his plans for the future months. This has been an incredibly busy time for me, as the missionary overseeing the kitchen. It has been a joy for me to assist and see some of my Mozambican brothers and sisters stepping out and trusting God as they take on new positions. There have also been some deep disappointments as others chose wrong paths. In it all I can see God moving, and I trust in his infinite goodness and wisdom.
I write this update on New Years Day. I am standing here and looking one way to the past year and then looking the other way towards this coming year, and realize even more how good and faithful our God is and how his tremendous love for us moves and transforms us into the children he planned for us to be all along (Jeremiah 29:11).
As I have been thinking about what to share with all of you, I am reminded of how Africa is a land of many contrasts and surprises. Sometimes they are good and are obvious moves of God, and at other times they can be so sad and devastating. These past months we have seen this in Pemba.