A regular rhythm for Hands at Work is to use God’s word to speak into specific situations that people are facing in their everyday lives. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are experiencing unique but shared struggles across all of our countries, both in Africa and around the world. We have prayerfully sought God in Bible stories that shed light on the challenging circumstances that people are facing. Our prayer is that God will unite us through the stories He has given and that we will bear fruit for the sake of God’s kingdom.
Kara McLaughlin reflects on how they have been using the stories in Mozambique, and how God is moving in the hearts of people:
“When the coordinators of the Community Based Organisations come to meet with the local Hands at Work team in Chimoio to do their monthly food shop, we use that opportunity to share a Bible story and study God’s word together. Our desire is that they will be able to take the stories back to their communities, to share with the other Care Workers and with the most vulnerable families on Holy Home Visits. During one of these meetings an amazing testimony arose. I was sharing the story of Shadreck, Mischeck and Abednego, using a pile of wood to represent the fire. As I was telling the story I was praying, asking the Spirit for a question that would help unlock the story and illustrate how it could be personally applied in their lives. Suddenly, the question came: what gods in your community are you asked to bow down to, other than Jesus? It unlocked a discussion around traditional practices and how people turn to them instead of Jesus. We heard testimonies from their own lives of how they used to be involved in these things and, while God works in their lives, there is intense and real pressure to run towards and believe in witchcraft. Baba Ernesto from Matsinho B Community was particularly quiet, so the next day Ramos, a member of the Chimoio team, visited his home to see how he was feeling about the story and what was going on in his life. Baba Ernesto explained that he was blown away by the prophetic word and asked how we knew what was going on in their community. Ramos was then able to share that it was the Spirit moving and asking these questions, so that we can start looking at our own lives. Since then, Baba Ernesto has been actively seeking opportunities to share the stories with the other Care Workers and our families, opening doors that allow us to hear the challenges and pressures that they are experiencing.
Another highlight has been sharing the stories with the children and seeing the way in which they grasp it and what it means. On one occasion, I was sitting on the ground with the children, sharing the story of Jesus in the storm and using a plate of water and a stick to represent the storm and the boat. When I asked the children to retell the story, a three year old retold it word for word, and was able, with help from the other children, to pull in the application that Jesus is with us in our troubles. God is doing amazing things with these stories and it has been a blessing to see people experience transformation.”