Charis Easter 2023 Update
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.'
Happy Easter!
As we approach Easter we reflect on the amazing love and mercy of God! How amazing is it that Jesus chose to leave his beautiful holy heavenly home and incarnate himself as a humble man in a broken world. How amazing that he chose to live in the world that he had created with the breath of his mouth, and reveal His glory to the sick, the weak, the downcast, the unclean, the poor, the harassed crowds, the oppressed and oppressors. How amazing that he ultimately allowed himself to be mocked, spat upon, whipped and beaten and crucified by evil men! How amazing that he did all that for me and you, that we might be reconciled to God and receive the gift of eternal life. How else can we respond, but in worship and thankfulness to Jesus and offer our bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to Him.
Mozambique Trip April-May
We are excited that on the 18th April we will be travelling to Vilanculos for 6 weeks to reunite with our team and faithful friends. Our schedule will be packed and busy and will include bible training, prayer and worship and envisioning with the team, overseeing the progress of the Life Centre building, visiting Bandua and Charis projects there and discussing future projects, and visiting and ministering in the Vilanculos villages. Please pray for safe journeys (last time if you remember we were stuck in SA for a week!) and a blessed and fruitful time together.
Cyclone Freddy crisis relief- house building in Mozambique
In February a tropical cyclone hit Mozambique bringing torrential rains and strong gales. Vilanculos was at the epicentre of the storm and many houses were damaged or destroyed especially in the villages. Our Centre suffered some damage to the roofs and the houses of our team were also battered and suffered damage. We thank God that we are able to help in rebuilding. Sebastiao is a local Church leader with whom we have worked for years. His house was destroyed and it has been a joy to be able to bless him with a new house.
The team are continuing to be a blessing to so many and are presently in the villages building more houses. We thank God for Sergio, Bento, Orlando and Ezekiel for their faithful service to God. The people are so thankful to God for this miracle provision.
Bandua Sesame Project
We thank God that despite the torrential flooding that came with Storm Freddy and as a result the Sesame crop being underwater for some days, it has survived and is doing well. We are praying for a good harvest in July so that the profits will generate funds for the ministry. There are still many people in Bandua, who live in makeshift shelters and in need of good houses. We will be visiting and with the team assessing, who are the most needy and how many we can help.
Life Centre - Wall
The building of the Life Centre has begun and the perimeter wall is well on its way to completion! We thank God for our coordinator, Sergio, who is doing a brilliant job of overseeing the project. The vision for the Centre (as we shared more fully in our last update) is to be a place of God's presence, worship and prayer, a place of equipping, empowerment and transformation of next generation Christians, who will become transformers for Jesus in their communities and beyond. We are praying for a revival that will spread out to the east, west, north and south!
Ethiopia - Good Samaritan ministry
Elizabeth continues to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the 33 weak and vulnerable on her care list. Her compassionate ministry is a shining light in the darkness of the ongoing war in Oromia, and the empty religion of the churches, which ignore the Lazarus' at their gates. Elizabeth passionately believes that true faith must be seen and felt on the margins of life, where there are so many who are suffering with sickness, disabilities, living in dire conditions, victims of the war, who are alone, without family to help and care. She believes as Christ's representatives we are to bring practical love and relief and so see God's kingdom of restoration and justice come in power. Amen!
Abdi is doing so well. He and his grandmother love to pray and give thanks with Elizabeth and Zenabu. Elizabeth tells us he is the top of his class and his dream of becoming a doctor is on track:). This is only possible because Elizabeth responded in compassion to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and reached out to an old lady and young boy sitting under a tree, displaced and disabled by the war, with no place to lay their heads. Then Jesus showed up:) She asks for prayer because the war is still continuing and she frequently hears gunfire from her house and the war continues to drive up prices of food and transport.
We want to you thank you all for your partnership in our ministry to the weak and vulnerable and our ongoing vision to see holistic transformation of lives by word and action in Mozambique and Ethiopia.
May the Holy Spirit continue to reveal Jesus in us all, and may we spur one another on to love and good deeds. Lord send us out in power and love to shine your light in the nations.
Love and God Bless,
Mel & Mandy xxx
(If you wish to donate: Barclays Bank: Charis Ministries. Sort Code: 20-09-72
Account Number: 63652572)
www.charisafrica.com
Registered charity: 1138859
