Cyclone Jude Hits Mozambique

This is one of the bridges that broke last week as Cyclone Jude hit Mozambique. 

There was a lot of damage of homes and schools and bridges, including this main road which brings all the fuel for this half of the country.

When we got notice of the cyclone coming, we debated cancelling the trip to visit the Study Bible team. We ended up deciding to leave early.

We drove toward the storm to get to the Study Bible team. So we got there before the storm hit. 

It was a week of almost endless rain and mud everywhere, a leaking roof, and difficulties and damage to connections for internet and electricity. 

But even with all that, we were able to make progress on the Study Bible. 

And get ready for the experts that are coming next month to read through it with us and check everything.  

Pray these next books of the Study Bible will be approved! 

It is exciting to get closer to celebrating this resource!

Tough Roads: Final Car Update

 

Bringing God's Word to remote places is challenging. Sometimes roads are nearly impassable. New languages are baffling. And there are a lot of dangers.

We're asking for gifts by the end of the year to help us replace our vehicle with one that can keep us getting to Bible translation teams, PROFORTE Bible schools and the team developing the Study Bible in Lomwe. 

We are encouraged by gifts and by prayers.There is still time to give and get us to the total needed. 

We're asking for your prayers -- not just for the vehicle, but for the Lord's blessing and enabling on bringing the wonder of His Word to new people! 

Keep praying! 

Thanks to everyone for the huge encouragement of your gifts given so far. 

In Jesus,

Stuart and Sindia Foster

SIM Mozambique

stuart.foster@sim.org

Tax-deductible gifts to help us get to Bible translation teams, PROFORTE schools and the Study Bible team can be sent to: SIM 14830 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273 or here. 

Traveling over Cyclone-Damaged Roads

Translating the Bible and Traveling to Get to Teams

Pray for Recovery from the Cyclone

Pray for roads and bridges to be restored and for people who have lost homes and crops as Mozambique recovers from Cyclone Freddy.

Continuing heavy rains have broken the bridge we need to get home from here. 

There are actually two options, but both roads (and their bridges) are impassable because of the cyclone. 

We'd love your prayers! 

In Jesus,

Stuart and Sindia Foster

SIM Mozambique 

SIM gifts

Finally Live!

 Praise God with us that the Audio Bible in Lomwe is live! 

And thank you for all of your prayers along this long road: 

25 years of translating the whole Bible into the Lomwe (LOM-way) language spoken by 2 million people,

celebrating the launch of the Bible with the Mozambique Bible Society in 2017 and now.

the whole Bible recorded and ready to go! 

We are looking into how to get this to people, to use on simple phones and on audio players that are rechargable. 

Pray us on! 

And listen to the book of Genesis in Lomwe here.

Blessings in the Lord,

Stuart and Sindia Foster

SIM Mozambique

stuart.foster@sim.org

Gifts can be sent to SIM here.

Some schools are going into their second month of classes in person and others are not reopening until next year, at the earliest.

 Some Reopening of Schools, amid Rising Number of Cases of COVID-19

Some schools are going into their second month of classes in person and others are not reopening until next year, at the earliest.

Schools that have 12th grade students approaching national level exams (and can prove they have running water and other safety precautions in place) can open, and also some 7th grade students will soon be back in school. But most schools have not re-opened.

Some churches that can meet the safety requirements are open, but many are not. Meeting to worship in small-ish groups under trees (for some protection from the sun) or on porches is what most churches are doing, under the pandemic restrictions,

Some of the PROFORTE Bible schools have begun classes and some are still trying to re-open. A new school, INTEL, is hoping to graduate its first students in December. Praise God! 

Several languages have the fun-to-read books of Bible stories that are being used for teaching and for outreach. Lomwe speakers also have the Audio New Testament and the whole Bible. Pray the rest of the Lomwe Audio Bible is available soon! 

The only lab is in the capital. So far, the COVID-19 cases that have been found are up to nearly 13,000 and deaths reported nearly 100. (Updated October 30) 

Other illnesses such as malaria, cholera, and AIDS are more visible (and have not slowed down) but the lockdown for the Coronavirus limits what food is available, limits work and travel, and limits groups that can meet, which affects schools and churches.

Join us in praying for the Lord to be near and to hear our prayers, for a vaccine to be found, for mercy for the sick and suffering, and for trusting Him daily in all of our needs.

So glad of your fellowship in Jesus,

Stuart and Sindia Foster
SIM Mozambique
stuart.foster@sim.org

You can give to this ministry here or by mail: SIM USA Box 7900 Charlotte, NC 28241

Going into the Seventh Month of Lockdown, with Cases Climbing

Mozambique's cases of COVID-19 are climbing rapidly.

The only lab is in the capital. So far, the COVID-19 cases that have been found are 4600 and deaths reported 30. (Updated September 8) 

Other illnesses such as malaria, cholera, and AIDS are more visible (and have not slowed down) but the lockdown for the Coronavirus limits what food is available, limits work and travel, and limits groups that can meet, which affects schools and churches.

One difficulty is that most people can't just stay in their houses. Most houses are small and usually without any water or plumbing. The government says 9% of people have access to water at home. 

So, normal tasks like cooking or bathing or washing clothes (or just getting a glass of water) take hours of investment and require leaving the house: braving the line in the hot sun at a river or a pump, and then carrying a bucket full of water back home.

Join us in praying for the Lord to be near and to hear our prayers, for a vaccine to be found, for mercy for the sick and suffering, and for trusting Him daily in all of our needs.

So glad of your fellowship in Jesus,

Stuart and Sindia Foster
SIM Mozambique
stuart.foster@sim.org

You can give to this ministry here or by mail: SIM USA Box 7900 Charlotte, NC 28241

Responding to Need in the age of the Coronavirus

Keep praying for Mozambique in the COVID-19 Pandemic!

SIM is responding to the pandemic by training community health workers.

Schools across the country are closed so it is a great chance for PROFORTE BIble school students to learn skills and reach out.

As the rate of Coronavirus cases increases in Mozambique, the government will be updating whether lockdown continues or whether schools and churches may reopen. This will affect whether the PROFORTE retreat can be held.

Pray for chances to mentor Bible school students and learn about community service and being the church in the middle of this epidemic.

Pray for bicycle taxi drivers and many others hurt by the closing down of the economy.

Pray churches can find ways to worship and meet needs.

Ask for hope in Jesus for the fearful and discouraged.

Pray for us in ways to prepare for teaching and Bible translating!


Gifts can be sent to SIM
online here or by mail to:
SIM USA Box 7900 Charlotte NC
for account #070047 Stuart and Sindia Foster Ministry