July 2010
We are well behind in putting out a monthly newsletter – apologies, many times it just feels like there are not enough hours in the day - so many needs, but we love seeing His hand at work! What a privilege to wake up every day in this beautiful land and absolutely love what we are doing and know that He has called us here. We are together working with Him and are passionate that those He has called us to serve would know His love and care. God has surely been busy with us these past 2 months!
Here’s a taste…From taking on the responsibility of administering IV antibiotics to a sick 5 year old last month to being told she could possibly have leukaemia and amazingly and with relief being told that all her exam results appear to be perfectly normal - thank you Jesus!; to celebrating Children’s Day
(June 1st, a holiday like Christmas for the children in Mozambique); to completing a new phase in the I.T. area by installing a new widerange network across the whole base providing wireless access for people to connect to the outside world wherever they are; to admitting healthy 2 month old twin girls to the nursery; to diagnosing Bell’s Palsy in one of our 10 year olds; to struggling with the ½ megabyte speed internet connection shared between 35 missionaries and then finally having the internet company come out here and provide a new modem that picks up at times more than double the speed we have been fighting with – a large victory; to praying and asking for wisdom in treating a 9 month old who seems to have chronic asthma and frequent exacerbations with chest infections and finally getting in to see the only pediatric pulmonologist in the nation and as a result seeing this baby turn the corner in just 2 days!!; to admitting a beautiful 16 month old weighing 5.4kg with severe marasmus-kwashiorkor malnutrition as well as a haemoglobin of 2.4 into our nursery and then very speedily taking him to hospital for proper IV antibiotics, blood tranfusion & care (he came home last week!); to having our first internet teaching session for the children during a lunch break (in the computer room consisting of thirteen computers which have just recently been connected to the internet). The students were asked to find out details about Mozambique such as: What is the population of Mozambique? What’s the ratio between Male/Female? etc… For many of them this was the very first time they had ever used the internet!; to celebrating our 3-year anniversary during a 5-day rest in South Africa where Matthew got to attend a World Cup Soccer game (Australia vs. Serbia) and we got to explore the beauty of SA; to currently dealing with a mumps outbreak in the baby house (9 very miserable babies have been affected so far this week)
– These months have been non-stop and God has been amazing giving us the strength and desire to see His hand in each and every situation…God has surely been teaching us to rely completely upon Him- and in this we see His reward; answered prayers, wisdom that comes, children who were very sick yet now their smiles light up rooms because of the love that fills them & the health they walk in, missionaries who are happy because even though the distance is very far, they feel nearer to their families at home because of easy contact via internet. And here we come back to that same word from our last newsletter which He is teaching us…”but let [us] ask in faith, with no doubting.” And the verse before that in James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
I think each and every one of us fears stepping out into the unknown, fearing failure and making a mistake. Matthew and I have had our moments, and during every week, every day, we face situations that are beyond us and this is when we have a choice; to lean on Him, or our own understanding (and our own understanding brings us nothing but doubt in these situations). It is only during these times when we don’t know what’s coming, when we don’t have the answers or the knowledge to solve the problems facing us, when we know that by our own strength we cannot do it, that we can go deeper in our relationship with the Lord. God Himself proves always faithful, always ready to step in if only we would humble ourselves and let Him…He is called our "very present-help in times of trouble". God we are very grateful to You and for You as You are always our present-help!! And we thank you as our friends and family for upholding us in prayer and thought and support. We could not do this without you and so desire you to know that you share in our ministry – our testimonies are also your testimonies.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Below are 2 articles we read this week on BBC that we have personally felt to be answers to prayer as steps forward in the areas we are passionate about – breakthroughs in health and seeing the children raised up throughout the world!
** Using computers to teach children with no teachers **
** Malaria-proof mosquito engineered **
So much love from us here in Mozambique,
Matthew & Sheri Steer
