...was the son of a preacher man

We have such a fascinating thing going on here in Quelimane.  Among the many people to whom we are teaching the gospel (and I have alluded to this before I know) are several people who are pastors (or holding significant responsibility) in other faiths. They are among the brightest and best of those being taught.  There are about six of them in total.  Three of them in particular I spend a fair amount of time with and have met with regularly--they are very very impressive people with honest and sincere hearts, inquiring minds and, great faith. I  am, by nature, a cynical and skeptical man--but I really like these guys.  They attend our services generally on Sunday--balancing time with their own pastoral responsibilities.  I don't know how things will turn out in the end, but I am currently optimistic.

These three, with whom I am well acquainted all share a common concern: "how can we get our congregations taught and converted as well"?  As I say, it is a fascinating issue and challenge.  One has a congregation here in town and two satellite groups some distance away.  We have committed to come preach to the local group in January, but I have challenged him to begin to teach the new truths he has learned to his flock (he says that he has already begun--but will begin to do so in a more direct and systematic way).  His group is about 200 in town and smaller groups outside.  Another, who also leads multiple congregations has already brought his assistant pastors to church with us.  He also has three groups but they pose a bit more of a logistical problem.  His largest congregation, which allegedly consists of 600 (with 300 attending) lives on a little island (a 10 minute canoe ride off shore--which likely means an hour by my american watch).  I have committed to him to come and teach his group (at least once).  Our young missionaries , however, are forbidden to take non-commercial watercraft (the church doesn't care quite so much about their geezer missionaries) and Debbie expresses that this is not her idea of what she signed up for), so I will go alone or await the next visit of another senior couple sometime in January to make the trip. 

Teaching a large group of people from a Pentecostal-type tradition poses a number of challenges, limitations and difficulties--which I am wrestling with and trying to figure out.  These distant congregations are logistically problematic--but I have generally promised to visit once to get a feel for things but I proceed with caution and realistic expectations.  There is generally a large element (not trying to be critical), in these groups which is attracted solely to the emotional component of the pentecostal worship experience--which is not likely to be attracted to us nor able to engage in the gospel experience that is our objective. 

We have another group which sends members from 300 km away on the Malawi border--and begs weekly us to come.  I have likewise promised one visit, but that one will take a while.  I try and be completely skeptical--but I am so often very very impressed with some of the people who come into town and meet with us, that I continue to have some hope, despite the odds and logistics.

Like I said, it is a fascinating thing we have going on here (well, at least it is to me).  Now if we didn't have a house overrun with ants, life would be almost perfect (well, except for ...)

This is the"caju" fruit--or cashew.  The nut that we call a cashew comes sits on top of the fruit--so when you have a pound of cashew nuts, that represents an awful lot of fruit that had to be harvested.  The fruit is good for juice, with a lot of sugar.  Just taking a bite of it, it is extremely astringent and will make your mouth pucker more than anything you have ever tasted.