Over the years Rose and I have become aware of how different parts of the Scriptures appeal to different groups of people. In northern Mozambique the Mwani people relate so well to the earthly life of Jesus, as their lives are similar in many ways. The fishing dhows (boats) they use are very much like the ones in Jesus’ day and so are their handmade nets.

As you walk along the beaches you see fishermen fixing their nets with homemade needles. Sometimes the fishermen use a dhow to take one end of a net out into the sea a little way and then bring the other end back to the beach where a number of men will pull the net in from two sides and see what they can catch. Jesus said, “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish” * I am sure the Mwani would think that Jesus was a great fisherman to even know where the fish were. Like fishermen in Jesus’ day, the Mwani are a poor people and many are illiterate, but God is at work in a unique way. Technology is opening new doors to reach the Mwani, and exciting things are happening as God's Spirit works among these people!

Imagine someone being so excited about the stories he's hearing that he walks more than 10km to share them with friends every week ...

And consider another young man coming with great expectation to ask for an MP3 player with Kimwani Scripture, so that he can take it back to his island and share these new things with his people ....

And picture an old man sitting every day behind the school, with his MP3 player and tattered copy of the Taureti (books of Moses), listening to Scripture being read in his language, and checking that it is the same as in the book ...

And hear the young Mwani lady, barely literate, but the proud owner of a cell-phone, saying to a friend, “please sms me the first two lines of the Lord's Prayer so that I can learn them ....”

Yes the harvest is ripe, so lets pray for the missionaries who are working with these people and thank God for this beginning response.

We also need to pray for new people to become part of the team. Then prayer is needed for the other groups in Mozambique who are still waiting for the Scriptures.. Like the lady in the picture they are carrying heavy loads but are unaware of the freedom faith in Christ brings.

Keep on praying for us as we serve the Mozambique missionaries, that we will be sensitive to their needs and do a good job as we serve them.

Thank you so much for partnering with us

Roy & Rosemary Tibbit

* Luke 5.4b