Rocks
Yesterday we went up to our HILL to see how things went while we were in Vila. We found the "guard" there who we entrusted with the task of keeping people from stealing or destroying our rocks. Sure enough, the RockBreaker was back! Some guy has been basically removing a big boulder from our land. He started a month ago, worked for a couple of weeks when we weren't looking, and then he got Malaria... so he took a couple of weeks off!
On Monday, he was well enough to pound on the rocks again... though he was informed by our guard that we didn't want him to continue! He went to get his "boss" who hired him to remove our boulder. It turns out that some lower official ignored the plot markers and gave away our land to a Brazilian! He is planning to build his house on our spot... as far as he knows, this is legal!
Needless to say, we were shocked and unsettled. Not exactly angry, but very concerned. We have all the legal documentation from the city planners and have followed all rules to the letter! So, how could someone come and give away our land?
We discussed the matter at length with the neighborhood officials. We asked for them to secure the adjoining plot for us immediately in case our documents were false! We headed down to the City Council where the documentation is made and were assured we have nothing to worry about. Two "inspectors" came back up to our plot with us immediately. They found the local officials still discussing another issue just where we left them. They were shown all the original documents and were lectured clearly on the correct process for attributing land to a person and told to contact the Brazilian and explain the error.
Now, things don't always work smoothly in our lives, but this hiccup over a dear pile of rocks is an example to me of God's faithfulness! We have been faithful to follow the law in a place where even local people are sometimes misinformed of the procedure. God protected us in getting this land. He made sure that those helping us followed the rules. When confronted with the possibility of losing this Hill to someone else, I was really sad. I've dreamed my house with the river view for over a year believing that God was going to give it to us. We prayed on the way to the City Council for God to protect us and bring the truth to light so that we wouldn't have trouble with old friends or with new neighbors. He did just that!
Now, the other miracle is that those two inspectors actually dropped what they were doing to ride up to our hill and help us. I know that often these people are busy and you can't remove them from an air-conditioned office into the noonday sun to settle a land dispute very easily! They will tell you "tomorrow" and have no intention of dealing with it until you make it worth while to them personally. But, God placed the right people in our path who were willing to help right away. The whole issue was settled by noon!
And what about the RockBreaker? Well, the inspector wrote him a ticket to fine him for commencing building on someone else's land. It isn't his fault; he had someone paying him to do it. So, there is a lot of excitement on the Hill... we won't be lonely up there after all! It seems we were first on this much sought after pile of rock. Nice of our Father to lead us there when He did!
Now all we need is water and a pile of bricks... and a builder and a digger and a lot of sweat. Anyone interested? Welcome to Mozambique!
On Monday, he was well enough to pound on the rocks again... though he was informed by our guard that we didn't want him to continue! He went to get his "boss" who hired him to remove our boulder. It turns out that some lower official ignored the plot markers and gave away our land to a Brazilian! He is planning to build his house on our spot... as far as he knows, this is legal!
Needless to say, we were shocked and unsettled. Not exactly angry, but very concerned. We have all the legal documentation from the city planners and have followed all rules to the letter! So, how could someone come and give away our land?
We discussed the matter at length with the neighborhood officials. We asked for them to secure the adjoining plot for us immediately in case our documents were false! We headed down to the City Council where the documentation is made and were assured we have nothing to worry about. Two "inspectors" came back up to our plot with us immediately. They found the local officials still discussing another issue just where we left them. They were shown all the original documents and were lectured clearly on the correct process for attributing land to a person and told to contact the Brazilian and explain the error.
Now, things don't always work smoothly in our lives, but this hiccup over a dear pile of rocks is an example to me of God's faithfulness! We have been faithful to follow the law in a place where even local people are sometimes misinformed of the procedure. God protected us in getting this land. He made sure that those helping us followed the rules. When confronted with the possibility of losing this Hill to someone else, I was really sad. I've dreamed my house with the river view for over a year believing that God was going to give it to us. We prayed on the way to the City Council for God to protect us and bring the truth to light so that we wouldn't have trouble with old friends or with new neighbors. He did just that!
Now, the other miracle is that those two inspectors actually dropped what they were doing to ride up to our hill and help us. I know that often these people are busy and you can't remove them from an air-conditioned office into the noonday sun to settle a land dispute very easily! They will tell you "tomorrow" and have no intention of dealing with it until you make it worth while to them personally. But, God placed the right people in our path who were willing to help right away. The whole issue was settled by noon!
And what about the RockBreaker? Well, the inspector wrote him a ticket to fine him for commencing building on someone else's land. It isn't his fault; he had someone paying him to do it. So, there is a lot of excitement on the Hill... we won't be lonely up there after all! It seems we were first on this much sought after pile of rock. Nice of our Father to lead us there when He did!
Now all we need is water and a pile of bricks... and a builder and a digger and a lot of sweat. Anyone interested? Welcome to Mozambique!
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