Delight Yourself in the Lord!

"Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret - it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth"

PSALM 37: 3-9

Many friends have been wondering where we've been and have been concerned as the last posts referred to the riots - We're sorry -  everything has settled down - it's been so peaceful one almost forgets that they occurred. We are thankful for this, but it also leaves questions in our minds.


Matthew's parents were here towards the end of September, & left us the beginning of October and ever since then it has been go, go, GO!!

Having Matthew's parents here was such a rare treat for us!! I (Sheri) was able to get enough nursing coverage during their visit that I was able to spend the majority of my time enjoying their company and showing them our beautiful children & country(ies - as we spent some time in SA with them as well). They shared some very "Mozambican" experiences with us (and fortunately did not, but almost consisted of the Mozambican Olympic sport called car pushing - we think the Mozambicans would win a gold for their country if this really became an Olympic sport).

We explored the worlds of Iris (Zimpeto & Machava), Catembe, Kruger National Park (& the big 5 - YAY!) & the Mpumalanga region of South Africa. All very beautiful in all their unique ways! And it all felt so natural to have them here with us that it was difficult to say goodbye come the beginning of October!


As we said goodbye - busyness overtook us once again - but with hope & a future!! 
2 new nurses arrived from Russia & America individually towards the end of October. To help them settle in & become independent & competent Sheri put together a 1-week training & orientation course. Please continue to pray for Sveta (from Russia) & Rebecca (from America) who are amazing nurses who have been called by God to love & care for our children during such a time as this. Please continue to pray for Meghann, Jannie (& me, Sheri, of course ;-D) - our Western Medical team.  Please pray for wisdom, understanding, love and unity as our medical team, Mozambican and Western come together from different cultures, different languages & different training to care for these children together. We love how God takes what seems impossible and makes out of it a beautiful tapestry of love & unity!
We just had an overwhelming outbreak of Varicella in our babyhouse where 35 babies over a stretch of 3 weeks had chicken pox...not such an innocent childhood illness as many think - but through the grace of God and amazing hard work of our medical team every baby has bounced back fully!
Matthew has been busy enjoying training up some of our older boys in an advanced computer course every week. Teaching them how to prepare & present power point presentations and so much more. The boys eyes are being opened  to possibilities they've never known.
Matthew is constantly trying to improve the overall network connection on base - which often times is out of his hands. We've been waiting for months for a new aerial to come in the mail which will help amplify a stronger network signal across the base.
And there are always broken machines (laptops and computers alike) to fix -  we're now dealing with the problem of machines overheating.

Two weeks ago, due to the generosity of some discerning friends back in England, Matthew & I were able to afford a 5-day break in which we chose to explore some coastal areas north of where we are in Mozambique. We traveled 9 hours north to Vilanculos with the intent of specifically seeing the Bazaruto islands. It was a gorgeous time - full of more Mozambican experiences of which you would only understand if you came and visited. ;-P

Back at the centre it's getting very hot and humid. Summer weather is kicking in which means we're all moving a bit more sluggishly. It's terribly hot and humid by 0600 which means no chance of sleeping in even if we had the time to do so.
These are some of our gorgeous babies (of whom I call "mine" - at least for the moment).
Alberto to the left is still struggling with severe asthma at times. We're trying new medicines which may be making a difference. His father desires to have him back at home with him so we are praying for miraculous & complete healing of his reactive lungs so he can be at home with his Daddy! If you desire to contribute to the cost of his asthma medicines which are expensive (Seretide inhaler & Singulair pills) please contact us (sheristeer@gmail.com). You'll remember Manuel to the right who is thriving and cheeky as ever - not  malnourished any longer, but chubby & healthy now, & a bit of a bully - but still cute as ever!
We're loving this! What a privilege to be loving on His beloved children!! And seeing such tangible transformation in everything He has us put our hands to.

Last night we celebrated Thanksgiving for the sake of us Americans who treasure this holiday as a special tradition! About 15 of us missionaries had a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship together, sharing how thankful we are for what the Lord is constantly doing in and through us. His provision and love and grace and mercy are deeper than any of us can even fathom and we relish and benefit from this with every breath that we breathe!

I read this recent Iris Newsletter written by the founders/directors of all of Iris Ministries.We continue to be touched by & benefit from the perspective, heart and vision that our dear directors run with.

Enjoying our God!
Rolland and Heidi Baker

Iris Ministries

Pemba, Mozambique

8 May 2010

"The Westminster Shorter Catechism, written in the 1640s by English and Scottish divines to educate lay persons in matters of belief, is part of the grandest doctrinal statements to come out of the English Reformation. It is composed of 107 questions and answers, and the most famous is the first:

Q. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

After thirty years of missionary work, Heidi and I understand more than ever that God wants to be our greatest pleasure. He is most pleased with us when we are most pleased with Him! And when He is pleased with us, He grants us the desires of our heart (Ps. 37:4).

Our whole aim as Christians, and as Iris missionaries, is to glorify God by everything we think, feel, say and do. For us this finds expression particularly through ministry to the poor, and to "the least of these." By giving the cup of cold water, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, inviting the stranger in, healing the sick and visiting those in prison we love and serve Jesus Himself (Matt. 25).

But there is more. We do this through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. And here begins the controversy. There is an attitude that sees fiery revival and a life of miracles as the rare exception, not to be expected in normal Christian living. The idea is that most of what God does in the world is done in a natural way through the holy virtues of dedication, hard work, faithful endurance, sacrifice, generosity and compassion, etc. We should learn to live most of the time without the miraculous, overpowering intervention of God, and prove our love for God by our quality of character…" 

(if you would like to read more of this exerpt go to www.irismin.org and check out past newsletters)

But we all know we would not last here if it were just to do with our quality of character. Rolland is saying just this - There HAS to be so much more! What is it that strengthens, encourages and motivates us to press forward especially when it seems there is no way forward?

It's His Holy Spirit manifested on earth that guides, strengthens and encourages us. His word says "we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony" - the blood of the lamb cleanses us, sets us free and puts us in right relationship with God our Father; the word of our testimony - these testimonies that we have the privilege to witness and live through daily, speak constantly of His faithfulness. These testimonies are tangible God - meaning, these babies that we care for on a daily basis, those who were never supposed to make it and are now thriving - they are God's love tangibly expressed - we get to live these testimonies day in, day out and therefore we will never grow weary of doing good!

"We hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23)- and this is not just a hope but a daily reality for us. We pray that you would be encouraged by our daily walk, but that you also would have an opportunity to see God tangibly at work in your life and that you would delight yourself in the Lord!
With all our love and His blessings on your lives. We love you and miss you so much!

Sheri & Matthew Steer

Resolution

Riots in Mozambique - The angry poor; Why Mozambicans took to the streets

http://www.economist.com/node/16996835?story_id=16996835&fsrc=rss


Dearest friends and family,
All appears to have returned to normal here in the land of Mozambique. Except for the heavy police presence evident on the streets, everyone is operating as if there was no conflict. At the beginning of this week the government backed down; bread prices returned to what they were, water prices were diminished and the cost of a bag of rice was decreased. The people have backed off and we are guessing that means they are content with this resolution.
We thank you for your attention and prayers in response to our blog postings during this time and will continue to communicate with you in regards to our experiences here in Mozambique and what God is up to.


Yesterday we had a bit of a play day. We were able to take a group of boys to the beach in Maputo and they just LOVED it!!! How freeing it is to watch children abandon all and just play, relishing every moment as giggles burst out and smiles touch each and every face! It's so fantastic to see!  Matthew played soccer with the boys and I waded in the water as each boy wanted  Mana Sheri to watch them do their tricks. It was a beautiful afternoon escape. We SO thank the Lord for those kind of days! (pictures to come ;-D)


We are very excited as in less than 2 weeks time, Matthew's parents will arrive for a visit. How very welcome that visit will be!! They are the first visitors we've ever had here in Moz and we cannot wait to show them all that we have the privilege of taking part in on a daily basis - I can now understand how very proud parents feel as we will be introducing them to "our gorgeous children."


We pray that each and every one of you are well and ask that you would please write us e-mails and tell us what is going on in your lives. We are not too busy to listen and pray.


So much love and appreciation from us,


Matthew & Sheri Steer

Quiet before the Storm?

Friday it was a bit calmer and quieter in the city of Maputo, there were some small pockets of unrest, but basically the unrest moved further North and more deaths ensued. A total of 10 they say.

The weekend has been quiet, almost too quiet...Matthew was able to get out of the centre on Saturday & and pick up a few food items. The foodstore was out of many items, most notably bread. It's been peaceful, but there are many rumours and texts going around that the riots will start again tomorrow. Please pray that there will be resolution soon!

I think it goes to show that we have taken the peace in Mozambique for granted. I've only ever known it to be peaceful here, unpredictable for sure, this IS AFRICA, but the peace was at least predictable. It's been a week now that there has been unrest and I find myself getting agitated and wishing things would return as they were - predictable, that is. But we learn as in most situations in life, life is not predictable, nor is any thing for sure - except for His faithfulness to us - His love which is steadfast and never turning. But most of what is SURE is not physical and yet we are such physical beings. So what do we do during these times when what we knew is no longer? What do we do when we no longer know what tomorrow will bring? What will all of this rioting mean for the stability of this nation? What of the freedom we have known? What does the future hold? 

We cannot know and really we should not be surprised by any of this. All we can do is press into the one sure ONE - the One who holds the answers and holds us in the palm of His hands.

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered...

...And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:22-28

with love and appreciation,

Sheri & Matthew 

continued chaos

We would appreciate your continued prayers. We found out that 6 people (2 children) were killed in the rioting yesterday. Today we all remain once again inside our gates, but we can hear constant loud gun fire throughout the day, and it's often very close. The rioting continues in the streets and it seems the police have stepped up their action. The people are building barricades and looting and burning anything they can get their hands on. Highly costly damage and vandalism is occurring and most concerning is the deaths. Please continue to cover us in prayer. As it is unsafe to leave the centre another prayer concern is our food supplies. I have been told by some workers on the outside that nobody is selling anything on the streets, food included. There's only so long that can go on. But we are so thankful that God is our provider!! We will continue to keep you informed.
Always trusting in Him!
Sheri & Matthew

Riots

There have been extreme rises in the cost of all the essentials for surviving in Mozambique. Obviously the poorest of the poor have been affected badly by this. Bread, milk, oil, sugar, petrol, charpas (public transportation) etc. have shot up in price and the people are very unhappy. What happens in Mozambique when a large group of people are unhappy is they come together and organize a strike. But these strikes are not peaceful and they're not quiet. They are riots that have the potential to get violent and aggressive and it is generally dangerous to go out onto the streets on these days. Today is one-such of these days. Our directors requested that nobody leave the centre today and with good reason. Hospital consults were missed, children missed school classes, outreaches were postponed and all with wisdom behind these decisions. Our centre is a good 30 minutes outside of the capital city and the streets just outside our centre are filled with disgruntled people in a mob mentality. Buses are being turned over, cars and tires are being burned, police are coming through with teargas which does not stay outside of our iron-wrung bars. Children and guards alike run to our clinic as they choke on the gas. We ask for you to cover us, our children, & our centre in prayer. Please pray safety for our workers. Many made in to the centre safely which was a huge answer to prayer as it would be very difficult to feed 450 people without the service of our kitchen workers. Not everybody was so lucky. Our Mozambican nurse who faithfully serves in our baby house and nursery got stuck on the street on her way in this morning as the police were not allowing anyone to pass and cars were being burned and it was quite dangerous. She couldn't reach us and couldn't get back home either, but a friend provided an open house for her to seek shelter in until the excitement died down. At lunch time we met with all the children and explained that our centre is very safe and there is no reason to be frightened, but on the other side of the gates is a whole different story. We have the peace and love of Jesus that fills our centre and ourselves, but the people outside the gates reflect those who need to know the love of Christ.


We thank you so much all for your prayers and concern. Things have quieted down through the day and we're hoping that means the strike is over, but we will find out more tomorrow. Nobody has left the centre today but it did get pretty rowdy with people turning buses over just outside our gates, burning cars and who knows what else. We are praying nobody was injured. Our children are safe and had a quiet day and God provided all we needed! We love you all and will keep you updated.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11150063



Psalm 57: ...For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God most high, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me.....and God shall send forth His mercy and truth!


with love & appreciation, 
Sheri & Matthew

"And lean not on your own understanding"

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 **  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10663353

** Malaria-proof mosquito engineered **  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/science-environment-10654599

So much love from us here in Mozambique,
Matthew & Sheri Steer