Quelimane (kay-lee-maan-ee)

These folks are Marecedo and Ines Marianna.  Marcedo was invited to a lesson that we taught elsewhere and was very interested in our message, so Debbie and I began teaching him and his wife at their home (pictured in the background here).  We had heard that he held something of a sunday study group in this lean-to structure behind him--but upon closer quesitoning, we discovered that it is a full blown church of which he is the pastor.  He has been very receptive and he told us that he has begun to teach his congregation of the modern day prophet and additional scripture in the Book of Mormon.  We were invited to preach at his church today in the early morning hours.  There were about 5 people at the start and perhaps a tad over 50 by time I spoke to conclude.  I took Elders Delgado and McCullough and our investigator Amizade, sharing the preaching responsibility--Amizade did the best of course, since teaching pentecostal style is his forte.  At the close, we invited them to come to our service and 5 or so climbed in the back of the truck and attended. 
At the close of our own services today,( which were exceptionally good with eighty in attendance), Marcedo asked me if we couldn't create an anex of our church out by his house (which is a little bit out of the city)--so that he and his congregation could begin to participate.  I believe that there were a few in the congregation who had genuine interest and did more than just enjoy our message as something new.  We are returning to his church tomorrow to set up meetings with those who care to learn more.  It occurred to me how unusual this situation would be in the states for a pastor to invite another into his congregation to tell them that they are missing something important, that there is someting much better out there, and then try and facilitate their defection.  It simply isn't that unusual here as this is not the first time we have seen it.

Debbie teaching the kids to sing.  I listened to her today as she took charge--no she can't speak particularly well, but you know, the kids understand her and enjoy her.

When we teach at the home of Rui and Bendita they put us in the two throne-like chairs (their only two) on the raised dias of their dirt back "porch"--and they, their kids, and their neighbors gather on benches in front of us.  FYI, these chairs are about the hardest and most uncomfortable creations--very common and hand-made by any carpenter shop.  Please excuse the black shoes with brown pants (I assure you that it's fine in Mozambique).

Very cute children--and the older is not the mother but a sister (which we are sooo happy about--as mothers in early teens are ever so common).  I met with a young woman investigator this week who is 23 with three kids, the oldest who is over eight years old.

This is Vonnie, who is widely acknowledged to be the cutest child in the Quelimane church group.  She is also spoiled rotton a she knows how cute she is.  Her mother and father (Katia and Gildo) made the decision this week to ignore their family and get married and baptized soon--words cannot describe what an important and huge step that was.  Because we had a sudden opening for a speaker i nour service today and so I asked Katia on Saturday if she would speak.  She agreed with some trepidation, but came today (Sunday) and gave such a magnificent, doctrinally sound and spirit-filled address.  We will be delighted when she finally makes it into the church (and we will wait until then to ask her to control her child).

Our lease will expire soon on our house/chapel and we have been on the look-out for a new place.  After much searching we came accross this old telephone company building, full of offices.  We think that we can knock out a couple of walls and create a  large chapel inside.  The area area next to the carport above I think (with very little reseach yet) could be turned into an appartment for Debbie and I.  We have an investigator attorney who we have turned loose to reseach the possibilities and start negotiations as our african front-man.  We will see.