Food Aid Brings New Neighbors to Church in Mozambique

Sunday Worship at San Paulo in Villa de Sena (photo by Carlotta Cisternas Tiews)Drought had stricken Southeastern Africa. In Mozambique, God’s people in Villa de Sena cried out to their friends and partners with a request for food aid. In compassion, the partners of the Igreja Luterana da Concórdia em Moçambique (Lutheran Church of Concord in Mozambique)(especially the LCMS through a special project sent to Emergency and Relief Fund) responded in February 2016. With the food aid came an acknowledgment that although the provision was meager, the members of the church with whom rice had been shared were requested to also share with those in their communities. Pastor Mateus Sifa and his wife Angelina took up this opportunity to love their neighbor and shared with family of a hard working electrical and motorcycle mechanic, Domingos. Over the years, Domingos and his wife Beauty had a pleasant relationship with Pastor Mateus and Angelina but were not interested in the church. The gift of a bag of rice and 5 liters of cooking oil, though, piqued their interest - why would someone do such a thing, particularly in difficult and hungry times like these? Domingos and BeautyPastor Mateus appreciated the opportunity to talk about the love of Christ and how we are compelled to respond, even in love towards our literal neighbors. Domingos, hard working and well educated did what any reasonable person would do. Domingo searched Google for the Lutheran Church. He read about baptism. He read about the scope of the church - reaching across the world. As is often the case, Domingos’ research on the Lutheran Church raised even more questions. Meanwhile, Beauty had also been doing research of a different kind. As she visited in the home of Pastor Mateus and Angelina she was observing how they interacted with each other and with their children. That love, the living out of the testimony she heard, was compelling to her. But when Pastor Mateus and Angelina invited Domingos and Beauty to church to see for themselves, Domingos declined on behalf of the family.  But the next Sunday, when invited again, Beauty came with Domingos’ approval although he still would not join them for worship. Instead of attending church, though, Domingos is still biding his time but now eagerly and willingly spending time with the pastors and members of the church. The Church Secretary Reviews the Baptism List for Sunday's ServiceDomingos began to repair and provide routine maintenance for Pastor Mateus’ motorcycle. When the monthly church leadership meeting came around at the church office at Pastor Mateus’ home, Domingos brought out his tools and tuned up all their motorcycles. When the leadership of the church gather for a week and a half at Pousada Luterana guesthouse and training center seven kilometers from town, Domingos made himself available to provide on-site support for the electrical, solar, generator, and motorcycle repairs that would be necessary throughout the week. He spent a full week with those pastors, theology students, and visitors from South Africa, Brazil, and the United States. Some sense of fear, though, still keeps Domingos from attending worship - a fear, he thinks, that he might not like it. Domingos is still uncertain about coming to the church and hasn't yet stepped through the doors. But on Sunday, June 5, 2016, I baptized Domingo’s wife, Beauty. That Sunday, Beauty, along with 58 other men, women, and children, celebrated new life in the waters of baptism at São Paulo Lutheran Church in Villa de Sena. Praise the Lord for the faith he has worked in Beauty and the seeds of faith that are planted in the heart of Domingos.