July 9th, 2006 - Ministering in Mozambique

OPEN HEART MINISTRIES
15648 Bombay Blvd.
South Beloit, IL 61080
www.ohmint.org

Dear Friends,  

The internet has worked off and on, but today it's on so I can write you all before we leave Pemba tomorrow.  It has been a very eventful 10 days, filled with joys and sorrows, blessings and intense warfare.

We have been touched by God in powerful ways, especially through Heidi as she shared her heart with the students and church here in Pemba.  We spent some time on our faces being touched by the Master.  We learned again about the power of love and working in unity.  Heidi's testimony is incredible and amazing.  She shares a little more detail here with the missions students because they need to know the bigger picture.

Mel Tari from the Indonesian revival spoke several times as well and had many powerful truths to share.  Our favorite was the one about the donkey carrying Jesus into Jerusalem.  He said that perhaps the donkey was thinking that everyone was cheering and laying down their clothes for him because he was so special.  He reminded us that when we carry Jesus on our backs, people aren't impressed with the donkey, they are cheering for the Master.

We have all had many ministry opportunities.  Many helped build a home for a widow.  Several worked in the school, which needs help and prayer, because of the difficulty getting quality local teachers that speak the language well.

With some help from Brenda, I taught five sessions to the Mozambique pastors in the Bible School.  We also ministered to many of them with personal words.  We felt a strong anointing and confirmation that we were speaking the things that they needed to hear.

Last night Brenda and I ministered to the full-time missionary staff - about 25-30 people.  There was a very strong anointing on us both to do that.  They really expressed a lot of appreciation.  In addition, Brenda and I have ministered to dozens of people on the base.  Brenda has been very active herself with her gift, while I am doing other things, like writing newsletters.  Right now, her dorm room is filled with girls from the Missions school.

Our first outreach was Wednesday night.  Heidi was supposed to be there to speak, but came late, so I filled in for awhile and had an altar call after speaking.  At least 100 people responded and prayed with us for salvation.  Finally, Heidi and many others arrived and she brought her amazing ability to draw people to Jesus.  Again more people were brought to salvation.  There was only one deaf person in the village - a young girl, but she was quickly healed after prayer.  Heidi says that God has blessed her with that gift from Heaven that every deaf person that she prays for on these outreaches gets healed.  

Half of our team of 16 went on outreaches on Friday night which lasted until Sunday morning.  They were blessed to be with two young men of God who have great healing ministries as well.  I haven't had many reports yet, but at least one blind man was reported healed on one of the outreaches.

We have had some sickness, including one with malaria, but no one was in any serious condition or danger.  They just had to lay low for a few days, while the treatments did their work.

The ministry here and the facilities are ever-expanding.  Rolland and Heidi are tired from all the attacks and appreciate your prayers.  We have full confidence that the enemy cannot stop them, but they all need supernatural strength.  As I mentioned, the school needs prayer and there are many other departments that come under frequent attack.

Brenda's luggage has still not arrived and she had packed a lot of things in that one little suitcase.  In addition she contacted scabies in the last two or three days from the kids she worked with.  She is supposed to treat her whole body with toxic cream to kill the little critters and then not use the same clothes until they are washed.  

She was hoping for her suitcase, so she would have clothes to wear, but now she will have to borrow some more.  She could really use your prayers.  It has been a battle for her all week knowing how many of her things were in that suitcase and what it will take, especially in her precious time, to replace it all.  We are still hoping to recover the suitcase on our way home tomorrow, so please, please pray for a miracle.

We had another Sunday service for the local people this morning.  Last week it was followed by a beautiful baptismal time in the ocean.  Many people were saved and delivered this morning and filled with the Holy Spirit as well.  It is just so normal here every public service.

After worship, Heidi called the congregation to warfare for special needs and because of specific attacks on the ministry.  Supresa, our beloved friend, who is an international director of Iris Ministries and a powerful preacher, became deathly ill.  They believe witchcraft has something to do with it and some of the other attacks.  Please pray right now that he will be miraculously healed.  He has brought healing and resurrection life to many people in the past.  Today, he needs us to pray for him.

In spite of so many demonic attacks, revival continues to spread to the point that Heidi believes that each week 10,000 people are saved through Iris Ministries.  That would be over a half million per year.  May it accelerate even more!!

God bless you all and thanks for all your prayers and other support!

We love you in Jesus' love,

Ben and Brenda and team in Mozambique