Seen any ostriches lately?
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Super Sunday in Mutare
Dear All,
Sunday’s Bottom Line:
The service at Pastor Rose’s church on Sunday morning was powerful. Scott got to meet the folks in her disciple-makers group. He’ll have a planning (and maybe rest?) day on Monday.
Sunday’s Prayer Requests:
1. God to motivate specific pastors to attend Scott’s next seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday.
2. Wisdom and creativity as Pastor Rose, her leaders, and Scott plan how to effectively expand the disciple-makers network in the Mutare area.
3. Scott to be refreshed, spirit, soul, and body.
Sunday’s Details:
About the Sunday morning service at Pastor Rose’s church, Scott said, “It was such a powerful service. The presence of God was very strong and I believe several people truly surrendered to His will. Afterwards we had an impromptu fellowship time with Pastor Rose’s disciples. It was deep.”
Pastor Rose (third from left) and her disciple-makers group
They went to Pastor Rose’s house for Sunday afternoon tea.
Pastor Rose’s home
Even though it was about 90 degrees in Mutare this afternoon, this looks like a truly lovely setting for tea. = )
This mission trip has been going very well, praise God! Scott said to tell all of you thank you for your prayers. Knowing you “have his back” is a great encouragement to him, and he’s seeing the results of your faithful prayers each day. Thank you!
Blessings,
Patty
A Princess, an injustice, and some Shona
Dear All,
Saturday’s Bottom Line:
Scott is jazzed that so many Mutare area pastors are interested in being in a disciple-makers group and that today’s Better Together marriage seminar went really well. He will be preaching at Pastor Rose’s church on Sunday morning (~1:00 AM Sunday MO time).
Sunday’s Prayer Requests:
1. The people at church to be greatly encouraged by Scott’s message (“The Place Called Best”).
2. God to advocate and fight for Pastor Rose concerning her deceased husband’s business. (please see details below **)
3. Sound sleep and good rest for Scott and his jet lag to resolve.
Saturday’s Details:
On this trip, Scott will present eight two-day seminars. He just completed his first one and was amazed that already 25 people grasped the concept of Raising Disciple-Makers and want to be in a DM group. After seven more seminars, he may need lots of people to help lead groups! This is a good problem to have. = )
At his Better Together marriage seminar, Scott hosts a little competition for the husbands to share why their wives are their princesses and for the wives to share why their husbands are their heroes. I’m not sure how the judging goes, but the winning “princess” and winning “hero” are awarded prizes. All the couples are also invited to have their picture taken with the hero goggles, princess tiara, and Scott’s “Better Together” plaque. Here’s one of today’s couples.
Happy couple
And this lovely lady was the winning princess! Her husband is down on his knees honoring her. They have been married for FORTY-NINE years!!! Scott was truly impressed by them; by their evident love and respect for each other as well as the length of their marriage. What a great example they are for all married couples.
What a princess she must be!
** Concerning the prayer request above for Pastor Rose, here’s the situation. Pastor Rose’s husband died of COVID in late 2020. He co-owned a hardware business which has now passed to Pastor Rose. Shortly before his death, his business partner, Gary, purchased a large inventory and sold it to him. Two weeks after his death, Gary quit the business and demanded payment for all that inventory. It seems that Gary is not on the “up and up” and is trying to take advantage of Pastor Rose. Her husband was about Scott’s age and their oldest child is the same age as ours, all of which brings this seeming injustice really close to Scott’s heart. He is asking us to pray for God to fight for this godly widow, pastor, mother, and businesswoman. She is God’s precious child, and she needs an Advocate in this very difficult situation.
Finally, Scott told me he’s learning a few words in the local Shona language. Can you guess what “Zvakanaka kuva pamwe chete” means? It’s “Better Together” in Shona! And in his Better Together seminars, Scott always teaches about “The Ten Most Powerful Words,” which in English are “I was wrong. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?”
In Shona they are only six words. Feel free to try them out the next time you hurt someone else. = )
“Ndakatadza
Ndine urombo
Ungandi regererewo here?”
Note: that last word is not “here.” It’s pronounced “HAIR-ay.” And no, I don’t know how to say any of the rest of it. Neither does Scott, but he’s trying. = )
Thank you for praying for Scott today!
Blessings,
Patty
Bad news and good news
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Important Thursday prayer requests
Dear All,
Thursday’s Bottom Line:
Scott is in Mutare (“moo-TAR-ay”) now and will begin his first seminar there Friday morning (~1:00 AM Friday MO time). Clearly our enemy is not pleased, as challenges have already arisen. Please join us in praying now for Rose and her family, for Pastor Lovemore and his wife, and for Friday’s Raising Disciple-Makers seminar.
Thursday’s Prayer Requests:
1. Peace, comfort, and great grace for Pastor Rose, Scott’s coordinator in Zimbabwe, who has had a death in her family.
2. God to make a way for Pastor Lovemore and his wife from Mozambique to cross into Zimbabwe and attend this first RDM seminar.
3. The Holy Spirit to make a powerful connection between Scott and the pastors during his Friday/Saturday seminar.
Thursday’s Details:
On Thursday morning Scott traveled four hours from Harare to Mutare, where he was able to meet with his Zimbabwe coordinator, Pastor Rose, and some bishops (church overseers) in that area. Goals for Thursday’s meetings were for the bishops to meet Scott (and be encouraged to come to the seminar and bring the pastors they oversee) and for Scott and Pastor Rose to nail down any final details for Friday’s RDM seminar. Pastor Rose has been very proactive in inviting pastors to this seminar in Mutare and to the one next Tuesday in nearby Dangamvura.
Scott said, “Pastor Rose has had a death in the family tonight [Thursday night] and has had to leave home at 9:30 PM. Please pray for her as we prepare for our first RDM seminar tomorrow morning.” A death in Pastor Rose’s family is tragic, and I don’t know if or how it will impact her participation on Friday. But God knows and he is good.
Scott continued, “My host family for my time in Mutare is Pastor Phillip, his wife Doreen, and their 9 yo son Abraham. They are absolutely awesome and so is their home. I am so excited about these next two sets of seminars in Mutare [and Dangamvura]. Pastor Rose has done an amazing job (or so it appears). The folks in Harare have not done nearly so well (but that’s okay), so they make Rose really shine.”
I assume that most of the pastors signed up for this first seminar live in Zimbabwe, but one of them is coming from neighboring Mozambique (the two countries share a border). He has been a member of Scott’s online Africa Disciple-Makers group in recent months.
Scott wrote, “Prayer request: Pastor Lovemore and his wife from Mozambique traveled 6 hours to attend tomorrow’s seminar only to be turned away at the border because they did not have the right papers and had not had a PCR covid test. Please pray that God will give them favor so they can cross in the morning and attend the seminars.”
I assured Scott we will be praying for these requests. Thank you for joining your faith with ours for all things to go WELL on Friday!
Blessings,
Patty