[Mondeor] FW: PRAY FOR WATER IN MAVUIANE WELL

Tue May 5 09:16:00 SAST 2009

From: Mark Harper [mailto:mark at bethelproject.org] 
Sent: 03 May 2009 04:13 PM
To: Penny Faulhammer
Subject: PRAY FOR WATER IN MAVUIANE WELL

Paz irmaos.

Peace brothers (and sisters)

I’m writing to ask you to pray and to ask others in your prayer circle/church to pray.

Les and I were out at the most remote area where YFC Gaza is doing outreach, a village called Mavuiane again this week following up on the school there (Lizete and Les have trained a woman from a neighbouring area to be the teacher to replace the previous two who gave up due to physical and spiritual conditions there.) and to follow thru on the digging of a well in this area where people currently walk up to 20km for a 20 litre drum of water. This was our 4th trip to try set this up, purchase the necessary equipment and cement etc to line the well. 

All the boreholes (tube wells) that have been drilled in the area have found salt water. Nobody has bothered to mount a pump as they say the waters salt content is so high it will destroy even clothing. We were advised to dig a hole and to stop the moment we found water. Apparently the fresh water lies above the salty layer but is very thin and so very easy to break thru and so destroy the well. However, this involves digging a massive, 30m pit and then lining it with cement rings after water is reached.

When we presented the new teacher and the well digger to the community Chief (also the Witchdoctor) the chief started to explain to us the “necessary” things we would have to do in terms of the culture – like giving the ancestors a large sum of money – blessing the first sand to come out of the hole – doing some or another ceremony – at which stage my good wife with hackles raised interjected politely but with much passion and boldness that no ceremony to ancestors was going to take place. There was much discussion translated back and forth. Les and I in English to one another, Portuguese to the Pastors wife and the new teacher and then into Shangaan for the sake of the chief and the others present. Together we explained why we as Christians would not have anything to do with the ancestral spirits, that the funds for the well came from Jesus Christ, and that He would provide the water. We are God’s children and all we need do is to ask our Father. Mark then led the people in a simple prayer for water, sweet and plentiful !  

Pray that this ‘challenge’ of faith shows God’s power and brings many to find the Living Water in Jesus.

We are so thankful for the donation from our friend and brother Dade J,  and know that this was the Lords provision through His children to bless the community. We explained to the people that although the community would be blessed by the water the well belonged to the School which belongs to Jesus. 

We felt very much like Elijah and the prophets of Baal, when we told them that our God was the one true God. That He created the heavens and the earth and that He is a jealous God. That He was more than able to provide water, Sweet water and plenty of it. We prayed that the Lord would provide sweet water and lots of it as a sign to those in the community who doubted the Lords existence and His power to provide. In my mind’s eye I had a picture of the Lord having to re-create the sub structure of the ground below us in order to redirect fresh water to the area. 

As we prayed the chief’s wife, Leopoldina said several loud ‘Amen’s’ – and her face was radiant – she is truly a new creation, since giving her life to Jesus after she was healed at death’s door,  after being prayed for by one of the first evangelism teams. 

We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord can and does do miracles. We have no fear that even the gates of hell can stand against our God. The Lord has shown His mighty hand in many situations around the world even in our own lives.

My fear is that I might have spoken out of turn. I have no idea why this area has no fresh water. I have no idea of the Lords plan in creating this area “barren” of water or why. I would love to believe that He has withheld water thus far from these people till such a time as this. So that His name may be glorified and that through this fresh “sweet water and lots of it” many who have lived in bondage to the ancestral spirits may be set free and enjoy new life in Christ. 

Please pray as the Lord leads you in this regard, please pray with faith and with boldness. 

This morning after the time of Praise and Worship in the Church in White River where we have chosen to attend for the next 3 years, Les asked the Church to pray for this request. We all stood as the Pastor led us in prayer. He then went on to preach from Numbers 21:16 and I paste it here.....

                        16 From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, 

             “Gather the people together and I will give them water.” 

          17 Then Israel sang this song: 

             “Spring up, O well! 

             Sing about it, 

          18 about the well that the princes dug, 

              that the nobles of the people sank— 

              the nobles with scepters and staffs.” 

The Pastor did not focus on this sentence, nor did he know that we were going to ask the Church to pray.... Now when I looked this scripture up in my Bible software it gave an introduction to Chapter 21 that I also copy here as its something that I believe could be significant...

Overview

With Numbers 21 we begin a new and positive chapter in the history of redemption.

God’s people are not suddenly perfect. They still fail. But a new generation takes over from the old. The generation that would not trust or obey is dying out. In Numbers 26 we read about “those numbered by Moses and Aaron … in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, ‘They shall die in the wilderness.’ There was not a man left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun” (vv. 64–65).

The new generation began to respond to God’s voice. And they made a great discovery. When God’s people live in right relationship with Him, they are fully protected!

My heart wants desperately to believe that this is not coincidence but that is of the Lord. That these people who have been wondering in the desert - a waste land without the Lord, will now come into the Lords presence. That He will give them fresh sweet water and lots of it, but that they will by this sign (like with the Jews God gave them water s a sign in the desert) that He will pour out His spirit in this place and that many would put their faith in Him as their Lord and saviour.

Please also pray much for wisdom, repentance and restoration for Afonso – the National board decided on a period of discipline to be applied to him, during which he is suspended from JPC until he has sorted out the circumstances of his private life. This quite drastic action is due to his position of leadership as his influence on the youth and volunteers is significant. The communication of this and its practical outworking has been very stressful for our family over the past few weeks and months, as Afonso is a very dear brother and son in the Lord. Pray that much good, and the power and purity in the organization that comes from obedience, would come out of what seems to be a negative situation. Pray that Afonso’s response will be a godly one, that many others would follow.

Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers of faith !  You bless us, and many others through your prayers !

Love in Christ

Mark and Les

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