Vir 'n paar dae in Augustus het leiers van ondersteuningspanne van 'n paar bedieninge opgevlieg na Milange Mosambiek. Hulle het met hulle ewekniee in Mosambiek en die Tumbine sinode se leiers gaan gesels oor hulle bediening. Verder het ons iets van die Tumbine sinode se visie en strategie gedeel met hulle. Ek is gevra om die gesamentlike besluite neer te skryf. 

Hierdie dokument begin met ons gesamentlike visie, gee die besluite deur en na die tyd het ek 'n paar opmerkings gemaak oor die belsluite. Die opmerkings is kursief en in groen.

Our intention is to see one spiritually strong, healthy growing and mature WORD-based Church that disciples all peoples in North eastern Mozambique to be fruitful in all areas of life.

This vision is growing in the Tumbine synod, but we must remember that it is very young. There are already a few of the leaders that are putting a effort in to plan according to this vision. This few are confronted with many challenges. Most leaders will say yes, but are still far from applying this wonderful vision. (May I express my opinion of the congregations in RSA. Most of the church here try to cling to a life with all its securities which God wants to change. This way we are often fighting against God’s plan of giving your life away so that you can have the better real life)!

We did not reach the real value of this vision with this visit, not that we  always have to! In hindsight I will propose that we need to do more about it. This is the place where our unity can be build, our understanding can be adapted and we as South-Africans can be challenged. Allow God to transform us with Mozambique.

Thank you for the servant attitude and the Bible study made a big difference. The IRM leaders are confronted with an attitude that they did not expect and this is influencing  their way of thinking.

Proposal to change the vision that it will say something about our aim in Christ. Instead of “be fruitful”, say something about demonstrating Christ.

Agree, but we proposed and will take it through with Tumbine synod only agreeing. I propose more sharing about this in personal relationships. There is a need to see our hearts about this on a non official way. Also allowing them to make the decision.

Medical Ministry

Medical services is not running very well because of the lack of doctors. Helderberg is under the impression that mister Albert is looking for a new doctor. They are not recruiting in South Africa. In June Mr Albert said that there are two possibilities for doctors and one is a lady.  He sounded very positive. Helderberg do not know more. Helderberg support group will investigate more.  IRM received letter 3 weeks ago from Albert. Albert said the process is delaying because of the lack of finances and finding the real partner. Albert is starting a new foundation: MPM (Medicos para Milange). The doctor is coming to see Mozambique and have their own agenda also. May be they will visit Milange. Do not know when.

There is also ‘n need for a nurse for community work. Still continue to look for the nurse. Committee do not have possibilities, but is asking the supporters to continue to help finding a nurse.

The medical committee will create good communication with Albert to get up to date. Chairman and secretary is responsible. They will inform Helderberg also.

The danger here is that the synod fall back into waiting for things to happen. They are not involved in the plans. They only informed about their need and now everything is happening and they are waiting. A foundation is now planning what en how to work in Mozambique and that is done on a purely western way. Only Albert know a little bit about the situation in Mozambique. He and the church did not have a good relationship. He is very strong and they will not correct him, they have to little self confidence. I do not think that there are enough thought put into the medical need and the best way of serving the community with this need. The IRM do only want a western supported hospital functioning on western way. What is the need? My understanding of the need is different and will require another way of working which we still have to discover. Leadership is necessary in this process. I think of a missionary with a servant attitude. Working together with people like Pim de Lijster and others doing a lot of mind changing programs in the community together with medical help. Using a lot of Anamed. I do not think we can leave the process like it is. I think a good thing will be starting with a facilitating process of helping the church to understand the real needs.

Helderberg outreach have the resources and the team to find support for a doctor if the right person is found for the job. It will only take time, but cannot make promises in the name of the medical support group.

I tried to wrote this with a different focus, but this is heard as a promise. Promises are supporting the process as it is with all its weaknesses. You will also see the influence of the current understanding of the need has on writing profiles for doctors and nurses.

The medical committee will compile a profile about the work of the nurse.

Nutrition Program

The IRM is thanking Helderberg for their support. The government is also grateful for the work and is giving us more names of children in need, because of the Aids pandemic. Are attending 84 children. Need more funds for this. The other problem is the delay for the money to arrive.

The medical committee will send some photo’s for Helderberg about the feeding of the children  and will discuss the delay of reports that delayed the money. The IRM is sorry about the delays. They have problems because of lack of computer and modem to send the mail.

I think that the volunteers are a wonderful opportunity to start working with. On this stage the nutrition program is working and we can rejoice in it. It is now the way of doing and will not change and became more effective if it is not challenged. I think here is a opportunity to improve a Biblical value system. It is still crisis handling, it is still not changing much in communities for the better. It is an opportunity to be used.

The medical support group and the IRM medical committee committed themselves to good communication.

Jan Willem offered his internet connection to help with communication.

The IRM medical committee will discuss the following matters

1. Arrival of new doctor. House of the doctor.

2. Contract between IRM and the doctor. Conditions.

3. Transport money and reports.

ANAMED

Needs:

Bottles and holders for medicine

Need half of an hectar more land for the garden. Need money for that. Volunteers are helping with the garden.

You will soon be asked for the money of this garden and if possible for the workers. My opinion is that it is possible to help if there is a process where the people involved can grow in their service in the community. Proposal is a outreach group of only a few persons going there and moving out in the community. Visiting families, talking about medical needs. Visiting the sick, helping them to know a few things about Anamed medicine and serving and helping them to use may be only one of the treatments they can learn to produce and handle. I believe that the service attitude example and giving of power (information) with the attitude to improve lives, are necessary.

I think there are a need of investigating more with the synod about Anamed. To do that there is a need of understanding the need better. Mostly motivation is still misplaced.

Asking more prayer support.

Education

Espanhor is helping with three adult education centers.

Relationship with government is good, they help with teachers to give 5^th class also.

Problems:

Internet communication is not good. Sending pictures are difficult.

The money sometimes come late, it creates problems. Something went wrong with the administration because of changes and one payment was not sent. Bertus will investigate the financial problems.

The other problem is lack of fuel, because of unforeseen trips. The office in Milange will budget for the distances to travel and if there are changes in prices, the budget needs to be changed. Next year the office will start a logbook for the motorbike. Will start this year for the sake of experience.

Government is sending teachers so that the schools can add 5^th grade. We are also getting books from government. The government is trusting the work of the church.

There are 21 schools with 26 teachers and 2810 students.

Enormous influences on the community also with the government. What is lacking is still the work on motivational level. Best done by example. What about RSA outreach groups of youth and good leadership that can have camps with youth? There is a need that adults will demonstrate service to youth taking teachers with in the process?

Need a new ministry for IT training.

Training in business and antroponereal skills is something to think about. There is a need for investigation. We need to understand the needs and also need to understand the aim.  Is it better to start in our projects so that they can be sustainable or serve outside. Deca project will talk more about this idea.

Are there someone that takes this further? Remember that Rudolf are interested to help.

ENGLISH

English is a need because relationships and partnerships needs good communication. There is also a need to have access to material and courses.

Need of profile of a person needed. Need evaluation of the past and new plan for the future.

The Synod will look for a local person with good English capabilities in reading, writing and pronunciation. Needs are mentioned about training, salary, material and other costs. There will be discussions about these needs between the education department of the synod and the education support group. A suitable person should be approved by both parties.

Biggest challenge is the personal sacrificial commitment that goes with this training. We can also contact the wife of Dirk, in Villa Ulongue. I think the Mozambicans will learn the best by visiting and interact with people of another language.  Everyone on same level without shaming, but laughing.

Bertus and Matique will talk to Deca about the need to have training for business and antroponerial skills.

MISSION COMMITTEE

Why Chiconono is not invited to synod meeting? This meeting is not an synod meeting, it is only a synodical committee meeting. Quionga’s leader informed the synod that they will not be able to attend this meeting.

Bertus said that Ruvuma do not have money for transport and Herman said they must talk if the problem is economy. They are still thinking they are the same group. The synod do not know officially that Chiconono congregation have funds. Confusion was part of the reason for not putting effort in motivating Chiconono to come. Furthermore there is still not the motivation needed or the understanding of the need to work together, strong enough to overcome the separation of the distance between Milange en Chiconono. Adding to the problem is that the relationship between Milange and Chiconono is not good. Milange feel that Chiconono despise them. Chiconono have their own understanding of their needs and Milange cannot help them with that, Stellenbosch can do that much better. Furthermore they feel that Milange is only looking for their own interest and want to share in their privileges. Milange may have a bit of jealousy, but their lack is more on the level of motivation of living out their calling.

The strategy on this stage is not possible, because we first need to go and listen and see each mission location to see what are the needs and how we can prepare ourselves to help.

As the problem is funds, we need to have a plan and a budget. The synodical mission committee of Tumbine synod, will write a plan and a budget for such a visit. Bertus accepted to receive such an budget to look for this funds. After this evaluation visit, they will have enough information to make a 3 year plan or strategy.

This budget is for the mission committee to visit Chiconono, Muapula, Quionga and Pemba. I think that the Church need to find their own ways to visit places like Entre Lagos, Lugela and Posto Shire. I do not think that we must ask Chiconono to pay the transport, but that we ask the places to receive and feed the visitors. May be some of the communities will be able to volunteer to help to give food. (it is sorry that Chiconono is always using funds available and the community is not involved in receiving visitors. Because there are funds it is very difficult to ask help from the members and community).

There are possibilities of some supporting congregations to be involved in the target congregation’s mission work. The IRM mission commission is also finding ways to equip congregations to not looking at own interests but to start reaching out to others.

This process needs to be supported. Kobus Eksteen is playing a very wise role in this process, but I think that this process needs to be supported more. This process involve a big stewardship element. It is an important focus of the Ruvuma vision!

Ruvuma IRM

The Synodical committee of the Tumbine synod will study the new proposals of the CAM document and will then respond back to Mr Herman through email before the end of September 2011.

The Mac committee will have a meeting before the end of September to discuss the weak functioning of the committee and the reason for existence.

This importance here is that we need to work on the relationship of our missionaries with the IRM. From the synod’s side there are missionaries that do not work together with the church and they do not have any agreement with them to handle these matters. The church is asking help on this matter. From the missionaries side the church and its structures are not always serving their calling and vision and the leadership style is many times problematic. From my understanding the MAC and the document can help in this relationship, because working together is essential for many reasons. I do not think we can work without one another and we need to learn from one another.

The synod is asking for further assistance on making this year’s budget. Ruvuma will investigate to find someone that also knows the situation of funds in the KGA and knows about the future plans of the KGA to be involved to assist with this matter. The first person to contact is Rev Kobus Odendaal. Ruvuma will also investigate why the KGA do communicate more about the budget. Reasons for late payments and reductions.

STEWARDSHIP

Pastor Christo Albertyn came to greet but also give the work over to Jannie. He will still be envolved in the work.

Pastor Christo do not know the treasurer. There is a need for good evaluation on the situation with him and the books. There have to be a strategy for a proper hand over and have other people trained to not start all over. The financial committee must also be included in training or at least more involved in the training process. And when the treasurer needs to change, then the financial committee can help out till the new person is elected.

Training of the treasure will take place over the next two days. The training will take a while, it is not a short training. On this stage Jannie wants to see how things happen. It will start at 9h00 after the meditation.

The synod gave feedback on the need for better statistical books for the congregations, presbytery and synod. Pastor Christo was asked to help with the material for the Tumbine to do the statistics. He investigates about the documents that are in use. Many congregations do not know how to keep the statistical books of the congregations. This training of congregations, will be included with other training of congregations.

Jannie do not have time to do more than the financial system of the synod and departments. I believe that he will support the process of working with the crucial part of building a value system based on a biblical foundation. But this is a process that will not happen if we only use him. The challenge is that this training needs to be done on congregational level. Therefore I will help in formulating the needs of the church on this level and talk to Hope for África and Topia to include this process with the vision conferences. We will have to search for ways to do it and I believe it will be necessary to get someone else to visit Mozambique at least on short term outreaches to help with this process.

Pastor Christo gave feedback on the stewardship Manual “Christian stewardship as a way of life” Pastor Christo will give the church the first copy so that you can evaluate and see if this manual can help the synod. It is a tool for leaders.

Who is man

Godly leadership in Timothy

What does stewardship mean

What is a congregation and what is a church

Stewardship of bodies, spiritual gifts, time, land, offerings, possessions,

End of every chapter will be bible studies on that subject to use in Congregations for sermons.

Pastor Christo is still busy with this manual.

With the training of congregations, you first need to know in what we need to train the congregations?

To investigate the needs of the communities, is done at vision conferences.  Pastor Danie will compile the needs and send it to pastor Matique and then he will send it through to the stewardship support group.

In the past there was a seminary where treasurers of congregations were trained.

It will be best to work on a long term plan of at least 10 years working with conferences on stewardship. Jannie said that he is available to be involved in such conferences. The proposal is to also use the two pastors of the vision conference ministry. It will take time for Jannie to start understand the situation in Mozambique.

The group gave their thanks for the work Pastor Christo for all his contributions of the past few years.

Jannie is available to visit Mozambique once in a year for a week.

His work will then focus on the administration of the synod and the different departments.

Training of congregations should then be done in connection with the vision conferences. Taking Hands, Hope for Africa and the support group for the Stewardship ministry will meet in Februarie at the Ruvuma meeting to work out the possibilities for this work. This proposal will be send to the Tumbine synod for their decision.

Jannie needs to visit some congregations and Presbyteries to experience more of the situation within for what the administration system need to function. The system needs to be as simple as possible for congregations. There is another more elaborated system necessary for the Synod and the departments of the synod.

The other needs of the church like the need for youthwork were not discussed. I am still playing about the proposal of another permanent missionary and what his position and role can be in the light of the overall situation. May be someone with no task of position in the church other than facilitating these processes?