CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

copyright(c) 2018 Daneille Gray Snowden

2018

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

   Christmas celebrations have already begun all over the globe; cookies made with the cutest of decor, and many presents being exchanged. Even here in Mozambique; we see bits of Christmas sparkle all around. 

   Our Christmas tree was put up last week; and our girls have been making homemade cards and old fashion Christmas crafts. 

Here them practicing for this weekends Christmas

Musical. For the past couple months they have worked with the students from CAM (our Christian School) K-6 grade with the musical part of their Christmas Play. 

They worked so hard, and loved watching how the children sang (loudly) songs about Jesus.

Christmas in Mozambique is not a huge celebration; as most do not know what Christmas truly means.

I was with a team mate visiting some children, (there was one with a severe disability) as she asked them if they knew the meaning of Christmas; of which they replied, it's celebrating the New Year. Thus, the story of Jesus was shared.

What an amazing opportunity for us to express why we love celebrating this time of the year; about Jesus coming, humbling Himself as a baby to be the Lamb who takes the sins of this world.

Praise the Lord! Please pray those doors open and we walk right in.

In matter of fact; we were able to pray just yesterday with a homeless man, thus the doors are opening. 

Our family wants to express our love, as we pray you have a lovely holiday with your family friends. We pray you sense a true nearness to your Lord and Savior this Christmas time. We ask you to whisper a prayer for us and our family, as we will not be with them this year. My parents will be alone, as they were for Thanksgiving as well. It's hard; but we are here on a MISSION - to declare the Love of God in this country in dire need for Him.  Also, pray for our son serving in the Navy too!

He has an amazing woman of God who said; "YES!" They will be married March 30th. 

-PLEASE PRAY WE CAN GO TO THEIR WEDDING! {AS GOD WILLS.} We cannot use our support account for this. Thus, we need a miraculous supply to fly to California as a family to be there. 

UPDATE

Tabitha embracing the children. 'Tabihat'

This little one cannot speak. It was a challenge to get her to smile.

She didn't mind being loved on. That Felecia did well!

PtL...we made it to Mozambique!

Tabitha in her tabihat! (pun intended)

Sharing at Tsalala Church

This depicts why we are here. Being a support and help to our Pastors.

Brad praying with Pastor Lucas.

Being introduced at the Entaka Church.

Rugby anyone?

Jorge Miambo has become a dear friend. A sweet man of God, who

has been there with us from the beginning. He has translated

for us several times. Praise God for Jorge. 

The girls went to a Palavra de Vida youth function. We witnessed 75 youth give their

hearts to Jesus there. An amazing ministry. 

They will be attending their camp...and yes it will be all in Portuguese. 

Maputo's Train Station is regarding as the world's 3rd most beautiful train station in the world. 

Celebrating Felecia's 20th birthday!

At Mashavana Church.

Pastor Abel Miambo, our friend, our pastor too. A great man of God! God has used him to pioneer 3 churches here (so far). 

Mavalane Youth our 'home' church. Love them!

We visited Jane Goodall's Chimpanzee sanctuary. 

The mountains in the northern part of South Africa (Nelspruit). 

Norma, our truly gifted Portuguese teacher. So patient too! She is a strong woman of God! We are blessed!

Nathan & Emily so in love. 

Tabitha with the Indian Ocean in the background, in Maputo.

Rui Antonio  one of the main leaders at the Mavalani church. He is a fine young man, 

on fire for God! He can lead a service and preach with a rich anointing. 

Very proud of him. He calls me 'Mai' & Brad 'Pai'  (mother)...he is dear to our hearts.

Rui & Helia came over to practice with the girls, 

as they 4 will be ministering together this

coming Sunday as Brad will be preaching. 

Helia is the other leader at Mavalane. 

She is an amazing young woman, we too 

have a heart connection with her. 

Listen to this song, in Changana.

10 young people were baptized at the Piccoco Church.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SNOWDEN FAMILY WE LOVE YOU!

STRIPPED AND BROKEN

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life."

Matt. 19:29

This was the last time we were able to be with

our son and his amazing, godly lady (10 months 

ago). 

We love & miss them both oh so much. 

He is in the Navy, she is getting her Master's in 

Social Work; all in California. 

For the moment, this is a place I have found myself sitting at quite often. As I was waiting on the Lord one morning; the tender Holy Spirit nudged me and simply reminded that Jesus was stripped and broken.

Literally; YES! His clothes were stripped of Him; and remember this was His choice...His surrender to the Plan of God as He withheld His power, He allowed weakness. 

Jesus was also stripped from His loved ones, and comforts and even basic needs. "And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” -Luke 9:58

Remember, "He thirsted." (Jn. 19:28)

His- 'God-the-Son' natural abilities to overcome and simply press through (with ease) - He surrendered at the Garden of Gethsemane. "Not My Will, but Thine be done." Lu. 22:42

He was hot and tired! He was in horrible pain from the BROKENESS! 

YET:

He totally relied on Simon the Cyrene to carry His Cross. We all know Jesus could have carried it, but chose to BE WEAK. If He didn't choose to be weak; where would we all be today?

Simon was from what is modern day Lybya; and Cyrene was the capital of a Roman district. Read:

"Luke records men from Cyrene being among those converted at Pentecost (Acts 2:10). After the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7), believers from Cyrene were among the first to be scattered by the persecution in Jerusalem; arriving in Antioch, they preached to the Gentiles there (Acts 11:20). These believers were instrumental in the formation of the church at Antioch, where, for the first time, “the disciples were called Christians” (Acts 11:26)."

WHERE THEY WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS!

Meditate on this: If Jesus was not 'STRIPPED AND BROKEN' how would this have rerouted God's Plan for all people?

This path; DEEPENED them pass the Surface into a depth of TRUE PURPOSE that Jesus had when He came upon the earth: 'To Save The World!'

How is this working in the Snowden's Lives; and in particular- me (Daneille)? 

Well, so many have 'followed' our life path for many years. Watching us enter into the ministry, moving around the United States pastoring.  Also having children, and then Brad becoming gravely ill. Then there was the sickness, poverty, loneliness and stress of still pastoring; brokenness that was quite evident.

As we followed God's Call to Mozambique, Brad was then healed, and we worked feverishly to raise support to serve Him here in Africa. 

ALL TO SAY... we are definitely on another road (a journey); and finding it to be a ROAD TO 'YET' ANOTHER CROSS. 

REMEMBER: the Lord declares; the Cross isn't just a symbol of suffering!!!! NO! 

IT IS WHERE SALVATION BECAME POSSIBLE!

It is where the GREAT DIVIDE was torn asunder (Matt. 27:51).

Jesus says; 'For the Keys of Hell and death to be attained by Me; I had to pass through the Cross!' ♱

POWER WAS SEEN (& EXPERIENCED) AFTER THE CROSS!

JESUS' LOVE WAS QUITE CLEAR, WASN'T IT - AT THE CROSS!

As we see Jesus; 'SUBMITTING' to (weakness) such abuse; it teaches us that power does not function in the Kingdom of God the way it does in the world. He simply displayed this to His disciples and to us today. 

"Whosoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4 

Jesus humbly stood silent; taking all this world could 'dish-out' at Him!

One of many of my 'go-to' verses is;

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9

We have come to a place of humility, and great weakness; again. Yet, when I look at Jesus and the power in weakness; it stills my spirit; it brings me to a 'place of rest' in the center of His Perfect Will.

I hope this blesses someone and that it increases your hope in the One Who loves you most. 

We do appreciate your prayers as we serve Jesus by serving others here in Mozambique. Please pray in every area.

Church in Tsalala

Church in Picoco

Excited to go to church.

           In Mavalane and see Jennifer her baby? We picked her up for church.  Very special young lady. 

JESUS DIED FOR THEM

PARTNER WITH THE SNOWDEN'S

https://onemissionsociety.org/give/TheSnowdens 

WHERE IS MISSIONS?

copyright(c) Daneille Gray Snowden

2018

WHERE IS MISSIONS?

by the Holy Spirit through His Child -Daneille Gray Snowden

 

QUESTIONS: Is missions geography or geometry? Is it the location; or is it the 'people-groups?'

Is God constantly calling people to ones who are in crisis,  deep pain,  and loneliness all over the globe?

Everyone who has surrender their hearts and all of their lives to Jesus; this indeed is something we all must ponder. For all of us have been given character traits, gifting's, skills, and lessons that were learned during our own time of sufferings. 

The answer can be as complex as the question; or is it? 
I graduated with a degree in Cross Cultural Communications and just knew I was going to India as a missionary. God did give me the opportunity for a summer internship; yet I never did return. 

As my husband and I worked in the pastoral ministry in the U.S.A. in my naïve mind; I still felt so pulled to  the mission field. I still felt it was a PLACE. Then the Lord while in my 30's, OPENED MY EYES and caused me to intently peer into the heart of my neighbors, church members, relatives and strangers. 

Missionary is defined in the dictionary as: 'sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities /  prompted by the desire to persuade or convert others.'

QUESTION: Does it say a PLACE? 

An area could be a place, or a specific time (like when people face catastrophic events), it could be to widows, prisoners, elderly etc... It could be with those in cultic beliefs, the poor, and any who have NOT heard the Gospel. {The list can go on and on.}

Many times we are called to people of whom our testimony, and sufferings of whom we can identify with. For example; I have seen woman who were raped, and abused; who today minister to woman who are ministering to those in the human trafficking slavery realm. 

 

Others write books sharing the biblical lessons they gleaned, as they faced certain trials -which touches hundreds to thousands of lives. 

God called us (Brad & Daneille) in particular from pastoring here in the United States; facing many hardships in this ministry to Pastoring the Pastors in Africa! We struggled with our own personal trials, poverty, loneliness, backstabbing, confusion, spiritual attacks and so on. In it; we really didn't feel we had someone to come alongside to build up and affirm. [Although we did receive much encouragement from a pastor who is my earthly father.] 

God also used what we went through with Brad's serious illness as he was bedfast most days, in a wheelchair and in great pain. We will minister to the disabled as well in Africa. God knew & planned this all along the way!  

Yes, for us we are leaving one place geographically and moving to another. Yet, God is doing geometry {which deals with rationships of points, lines, angles, and figures in space from their defining conditions.} He also multiplies...oh yes, He always multiplies!   

He heard the heart cry of the Pastors in Africa; (like Brad & I cried) for someone to come and encourage and help them. He heard the heart of our exhausted missionaries for someone to come along to be there for them!

What about you? What have you been through that God can use YOU to BE A MISSIONARY to others? It may be next door, your work place or in AFRICA! 👀 (smile)

A key to being healed is to reach out to the hearts of others even in your pain!

Let me tell ya what GOD CAN'T USE as you take this step out: FEAR! Fear is not of HIM...it is not FROM HIM! It apposes HIM and His Call for your life. It has to be squashed! Release it  in total surrender! We even must repent to owning up to fear. 

I write this to say; God cannot speak to one's clinging to fear; because they shut Him out. This is in regard to surrendering their desires for their lives, what they want to do and then what the 

COST may be! 

OUCH!

What is holding you back in fulfilling God's Purpose/Call upon your life? Is it separation from family, comfortable life style, learning a new culture and language? Is it having to get shots, facing mosquitos that carry malaria?  Is it that some places may 'smell', ya don't understand them and are afraid? 

FIRST - "Draw Near to God and He will draw near to you!" (James 4:7-8)

SECOND - Repent for being afraid. 

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

THIRD - Surrender your will! Totally lay it all down. The closer we come to Jesus; the more we want to do this. Nothing else matters!

Prov. 23:26 "My son give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways."

NOW JOIN ME IN THIS BELOVED HYMN 

SING WITH A PRAYERFUL HEART...

'I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS!'

SEND US TO MOZAMBIQUE!

click here: 

Send the Snowden's to Africa

https://www.onemissionsociety.org/give/TheSnowdens