The Blessing of Wheels and the significance of 47!

Egg farming is a game of numbers! The slightest increase in cost of feed necessitates the raising of egg prices. The slightest increase in egg prices causes some customers to buy eggs elsewhere. The loss of a few customers sends the employees of MozOvos scrambling to sell all the eggs so we can buy more feed. It's a vicious circle...BUT, it's working! We recently calculated that 10,000 hens producing a minimum of 47 cases per day and those 47 cases sold each day would give us our goal: the internship program, 100% sustained by the profits of MozOvos. As far as numbers of eggs, WE ARE THERE! A bit longer on this path and we will know if we can call this dream a reality!

At the same time, another need has been met. About a year and half ago, when MozOvos was new and struggling, we sold our personal vehicle to keep the business afloat. Many of you may remember that a vendor sold us several thousand dollars worth of hens and, before he delivered, turned around and sold our hens to someone else. To this man's credit, he is slowly paying back the money he owes us. All of that to say, after a year and a half with no vehicle for our family, we were finally able to purchase this 1996 Toyota Surf. We had hoped to purchase a new vehicle that would last us for many years to come, but after some research on the quality of direct Japanese imports and a year and a half of dealing with the delays and dangers of public transportation, we felt comfortable making this move with the money God provided for us. It is a good sturdy vehicle with low mileage and we are extremely grateful. Grateful that this need has been met but also grateful that we were given the opportunity to experience a taste of the hardships our Mozambican brothers and sister endure each day as they try to get to their places of work and live their lives. I(Lynne) don't know when I've experienced more scrapes, bumps and bruises than I did when getting in and out of overcrowded chapas(public transport vans) We don't think we will ever take reliable transportation for granted again! Thank you to all who gave sacrificially to make this vehicle possible!

LEADERSHIP EXPOSED!

Estamos Juntos!

One of the first phrases I learned in Portuguese was this one. "We are Together" The phrase doesn't just mean a physical proximity but an emotional and spiritual connection. It's a wonderful phrase that oozes relationship. It was with this premise and others that the International Internship in Mission was birthed.

One aspect of leadership training relationally is that for the experiment to work, the Leader and the follower must be willing to risk being EXPOSED. The goal is that the great gulf of fear, mistrust, hidden sins, perfect personifications would be exposed, thus bringing truth and honesty into the relationship. This way of life is a breeding ground for true, heartfelt relationship to grow and bear fruit, producing healthy and transparent leadership.

When we began the internship three years ago, I had no idea of the breadth and depth of exposure the decision to live this way would cause in my life. For three years, I have tried to live this way with our mozambican missional interns.

The up side is that I have witnessed first hand the transformation as the guys turn into some of the most amazing leaders I have ever seen. They lead with confidence, passion and character. It is with great joy that I serve along side them day in and day out.

The down side is that, in recent days, I have fallen short in my own leadership ability and my character issues and own pride have been exposed. Because of unthoughtful words, unkind actions and neglect I have caused hurt and harm to my relationship with the interns as well as influence in their lives.

To be honest, it has been a rough few weeks. Slowly and yet ever so consistently, the guys are revealing their hurt, anger, frustration and concern.

I have come to realize that the intent of my heart has been lost in the translation. After almost 7 years, I still struggle to choose the right word or expression causing misunderstanding. Also, I am still learning how to communicate my own hurt, frustration and disapointment in a culture where the person is directly connected to the action. It is almost impossible to disconect the person from the action; to reject an action or idea is to reject the person. I am still learning to to love and influence my african family.

Yesterday, I was praying through these issues and the Lord spoke as if to say, "Rodger....Duh!...."This is exactly what we envisioned 5 years ago. We wanted to create an environment where leadership could be exposed for what it really is. Leaders are broken, sinful people who are in the middle of their own sanctification. To live in an environment where the world is quite clear of your gifting and failings is scary and a dangerous place. However, God is answering our prayers. We clearly are seeing failure, forgiveness, restoration and love in a whole new dimension

We are truly together, however it's not as clean and tidy as it can appear from the outside.

Celebrating! MozOvos and the International Internship in Mission, Mozambique

Celebrating two years in the egg business!

Rodger with MozOvos manager Sr. Bule!

You gotta know!

• MozOvos is two years Old.
• MozOvos is profitable
• MozOvos Produces on average 275,400 eggs a month.
• MozOvos is saving $3650.00 a month for future purchses of birds and materials.
• MozOvos supports the International Internship in Mission at $1000.00 a month.
• MozOvos is slowly emerging as a wholesale and retail business that is competitive.
• MozOvos continues to seek excellence in all it does.

My ministry partner Rob at the new property in Northern Mozambique!

• MozOvos has purchased 25 acres of land in northern Mozambique for a future site of MozOvos and other business initatives.

Rafael mentoring 1st year intern Manuel!

Manuel teaching for the very 1st time!

• The International Internship in Mission is three years old.
• 6 three year interns
• 2 second year interns
• 2 American/Brazilian 10 month interns
• 1 first year intern
• 11 interns who lead two local congregations
• 11 interns ministering to close to 100 people weekly
• Interns mentoring Interns (cross mentoring)
• Interns making life long decisions regarding personal purity and holiness
• Interns learning to communicate clearly and with passion the word of God
• Growing in ability to care of their heart and soul
• Challenged in work ethic and plans for future sustainability in life and ministry.
• Interns save $35.00 a month for the duration of the three year internship program
• Interns are growing in leadership and vision for current and future ministry.
• A few interns being mentored to take on new leadership responsibilies as the Internship grows and as we prepare to receive 8 new interns in January.
• Plans are developing to reproduce the Internship leadership model in northern Mozambique among the Makhuwa people on and close to the Island of Mozambique.

WorldVenture, Mozambique Field Conference 2010

• So grateful to lead such a wonderful group of people; MozOvos, Internship and WorldVenture, Mozambique.
• We continue to be humbled through our weakness and thankful that the mercies of others and the Lord are patient and gracious as we learn to lead.
• The WorldVenture, Mozambique team met together in south central Mozambique for three days of prayer, worship, business and Easter services. An amazing time together as a mission family. Our growing team is such a huge blessing and encouragment to the work in Mozambique. Go Moz!

Rodger and Lynne celebrating 19 years of marriage!

• We celebrated 19 years of marriage on April 6th
• Andrew and Stephen continue to be a joy and blessing in our lives as they become fine young men

Thank you Lord for the life for which we have been called. To God be the Glory!

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time, a family moved to Mozambique. They searched and searched for a house while they lived all together in one room of a guesthouse. After 8 long weeks, God graciously provided a rental home for them.

Then the cost of fuel and the toll road and long commute to school each day forced them to move yet again. God graciously provided another rental home for them, close to school, and their commuting days were over...until the landlord more than doubled the rent.

The family again began the search for a suitable home and, in addition to this, a place for 12 interns to live near them. God graciously and amazingly provided a house big enough for ALL of them to live together. Yes, it was in bad repair and required days upon days upon weeks of labor to get it livable, but they were happy. Happier still when they all got to move in to their new home together! The very large and happy family still lives in this rental house today, BUT, things are changing! The ministry is growing and overtaking their house! We hope that the internship ministry, Worldventure missionaries and church will be able to use this house for years to come.

Soon, the family will move again. To the house that God has, once again, so graciously provided. But this time, THEY are the homeowners, not just the renters!

YES, that's right! We purchased a tiny house on the island where no rentals are available. For just a tiny fraction of the cost of buying a house in States, we are homeowners. Yes, the house needs lots of work, but we have alot of experience with home makeovers! It will be a simple but comfortable place to live.

We would ask you to pray with us for the needed funds to start the needed repairs so we can begin living on the island in September!

The renovation will need to include putting in a kitchen in this small opening across from the house.

also completing this spot that was intended to be a bathroom and replacing the asbestos roof with some other kind of roof.

The best part...this will be the view from our kitchen!

New Beginnings! 2010

Today was the day! The start up of the third year of the internship program! Here we all are, in front of our gate painted with our new logo! For six of our interns, this is third and final year with us. They will complete the program next December. Scroll down to meet our newest intern.
This is Manuel. He represents what the International Internship in Mission is all about. Life-on-life mentoring. Manuel is a neighbor that one of our interns is in relationship. When we started the church in 25 de Junho, he was the first non-intern to start attending church. He accepted Christ, went through the discipleship course and was baptized on December 20. He recently had a long conversation with Rodger about what he feels God is doing in his life. Please pray for him!

Jose Macuacua and Luis Manhica are second year interns. Both come from small villages about an hour from Maputo. Initially, their families sent them to maputo for school because their villages don't have secondary schools. Their pastors recommended them for the internship program. They have grown in their faith by leaps and bounds and we are so proud of them!

Our fine young men!

Best friends since 1st grade, we couldn't separate these two when we introduce them to you!

David Lamp and Lee Peffer(2nd photo below) are our two newest interns. Americans raised in Brazil, David and Lee have been a very welcome addition to the internship. They have and still are struggling with culture and nuances of "a different kind" of Portuguese, but they are doing well and showing true missionary spirit!

Please pray for David and Lee over the next month(December 21 to January 21), as they spend a month living with Mozambican families in the bush. Please pray for their health and safety. Pray that they will be a blessing to their host families. Pray for God to speak to them in a very real way. Pray that their hearts will be open to receive all they will learn. Pray for them as they spend Christmas away from their families.

For the long term, pray for their continued time here and their return to college in the States in August. David is attending Cornell University and Lee is attending Huntington College.

Aderito Nhavoto is one of our second year interns.  Proof that great things come in small packages, he is a short little dynamo with an amazing smile!  Aderito is a very gifted preacher and very passionate about God's word. He to tell people about Jesus.  

Aderito graduated from high school last year.  He is the only believer in his family and is under constant pressure from his family to participate in ancestor worship and all kinds of traditional practices.  This is very heavy on his heart at all times.  Despite this, he is a hard worker and sends money home to his mother every month.  

We look forward to seeing great things from Aderito!

Our fine young men!

Beside our own incredible boys, we are privileged to live with 11 of the finest young men we have ever known. Over the next few weeks, we'd like to tell you a little of their stories and ask you to pray for them.

Americo is one of our two youngest interns and is 18 years old. He is a very talented musician, singer and dancer.

Americo's mother died when he was very young and he and his younger sister were abandoned by their father. He and his sister were moved from place to place among family members where they suffered abuse and neglect. For the most part, Americo raised himself while caring for his younger sister.

As our relationship has grown with these young men, as we have become a family to each other, we've often noticed a real distance with Americo. We could never quite put our finger on it until one day he shared his story with Rodger and explained the huge trust issues he struggles with. He also shared that, for the first time in his life, he has a place to belong and a place where he really wants to be.

Please pray for Americo. God so evidently has His hand on this young man and has brought him so far! God truly has a future and a hope for Americo! Pray that the emotional and self-protective walls will be broken down and he will develop a true understanding of what it means to be part of a family while in the internship.