Mercy Air Trip to ASAM - Pastor Training

At the end of July we spent 6 days at ASAM (Mucombeze, Mozambique) with Dwight and Lynne Lagore and their team:  samministries.org

Cessner 310 ready to go

Sixty-six pastors were gathered (65 men and 1 woman), having travelled from some of the poorest and remote communities in Mozambique, to participate in the week-long intensive training school. Some of these are still working through the six-year training programme, while others have already graduated, and had come for ongoing teaching, encouragement and refreshment. They joined together with wonderful and generous hearts.

The students tented accommodation and outdoor dining room.

Each day began with prayers at 6.30am, and arriving at the training school, we were greeted with the sound of singing across the site; strong melodic voices, praising God. (see Nigel’s face book page https://www.facebook.com/nigel.traynor.5) As an Anglican, one of my two reference points for morning prayer was my study back home; where I often said the morning Office and prayed by myself (with God). The other was Salisbury Cathedral; where I sat in the shared silence of community, sheltered by the massive Gothic cathedral (a poor metaphor for the wings of God.) Then as Anglican pilgrims, we shared in the well-ordered liturgy, swamped in hundreds of years of prayers.

During our week at ASAM we shared in the teaching programme. Erin and I did two talks about our new pattern for life: To Share, Listen, and Pray. These are three simple hooks upon which to hang our life and purpose as a couple together, based on the way Jesus shared his life generously, listened to people often without judgement and prayed with people -seeing their lives changed.

With Prosper, our interpreter.

We also shared a talk on the Christian family, Erin and I, and our pilot Azarja. We have the benefit of 33 years of marriage, two grown children and a grandchild. Azarja spoke as a married father of three small children. Most of the pastors and monitors have families of their own and feel the pressure of sharing their lives and caring for their own families, just like us.

Break time in school courtyard

Pastors gathering round hot water pot for a bit of heat - it was cold!

I shared four sessions on the Book of Galatians; a book I feel that God presented to me on our journey here to South Africa, with the invitation to read and pray. I also taught three double sessions on the nature and work of The Holy Spirit; not only learning of the Holy Spirit but praying for, and waiting on, him. And once again, as Jesus promised, the Spirit came and blessed us.  

As we have probably said before, these gathered pastors have each been selected by their own communities as people who live Godly lives and are respected as leaders. Their training is a costly commitment, both in time and energy, and the week-long programme includes both teaching and written examinations. The syllabus is well structured, aiming to equip the trainees to be able to shares the Gospel and care for their home communities. It is not rushed and can take up to six years to complete – so maturity is also gained along the way.

These pastors have a great appetite to learn about God’s word and how to live as disciples of Jesus, living out the Gospel message in challenging situations. In our sessions, they asked great questions and kept me on my toes. They were very appreciative of what we offered them and were generous with their prayers over us.

We are now planning our trip in November to meet and share with them again and are looking forward to it. This is part of the Mercy Air vision; to have us supporting isolated Christians; helping them to grow in faith.