Mercia was born after the floods of 2000. To the delight of her mum and dad, she smiled, sang and hopped toward her third year of life. Felizmina had given birth at 17 and questioned whether she was ready to be a real, full-time mum. Though her young husband, Nelson, had received a new, two room house through flood relief, she longed for another life, for a new chance, for fun and freedom.

Mercia felt torn between her Dad who had trusted in Jesus as his Saviour, and her Mum, who chose to live with family and friends holding to the old traditional ways of spiritualism and ancestral worship. I met twice with Nelson and Felizmina to speak of their difficulties. We met both times with her mother and grandmother, an appropriate way to honour the family. They told of unemployment, hunger, poverty and sickness, of transportation fees and the high cost of education. Nelson often prayed with tears in my presence, asking for God to reach his wife. He grew deeply in his love for God and for Felizmina through times of studying God’s Word and personal worship. He grew in his love for her despite his longing to see Mercia, his beautiful two-year-old, who had moved out with his wife.  Two weeks later, I received a phone call. Felizmina had called Nelson to urge him to take Mercia to the hospital. He gathered his few coins, met with Felizmina and rushed to the hospital with his ailing daughter. Mercia was very weak. She was suffering with severe malaria. Her eyes, although glazed by the fever, focused upon her Dad; she missed him so. He stayed with her that day and when he left the hospital that night, Mercia faintly cried out, “Papa, Papa!”

It hurt so much to leave. He wanted so much to stay. His heart was breaking. Nelson’s voice was broken, when I picked up the phone. "Mercia has died. I must register her birth or I will not be able to receive her body. Without the papers, they will not release her to me. Can you help us?” Like so much in Mozambique, because of poverty, Mercia’s birth had never been legally recognized. They had needed the money for food. There was never enough to register her birth.

The hours blurred by, and then the days. There was weeping, the registration of her birth, a wooden box for the casket, plans for the funeral, more weeping, the opening of God’s Word, the burial, and a decision to cancel worship at the new church. My heart struggled with their decision to cancel the Sunday worship service to attend the “eighth day ceremony”, actually only a few days after the funeral. But, something inside calmed my spirit; or was it Someone?

I only sensed one thing clearly from God’s Spirit. I was to suggest that we invite Jesus to take part in the “eighth day ceremony”, and that we give Him the worship and lift Him up as the Saviour that He is. Lucas, one of the young leaders of the Khongolote church, was delighted with the suggestion, and the “eighth day ceremony” became an opportunity to proclaim Jesus, the Saviour of Nelson, as the “Good Shepherd” who now cares for Mercia, in His presence where there is no more crying, poverty, disease or pain. Two-hundred and fifty people paid respect to Mercia and her family that day, and as the young leaders of the church ministered together, telling of the love of Jesus and inviting the presence of God’s Holy Spirit to bring comfort to their friends, many began to cry out in praise to our Living Lord! There was a great sense of His presence, and many prayed to trust in Jesus as their Saviour.

Mercia’s last words heard on earth had been “Papa, Papa!” They were also her first words heard in heaven! “Papa, Papa!” She is now held in the powerful arms of her heavenly Father, and she wants her mum to know, “It’s so beautiful up here! I’ll be waiting for you! You will love it here!” Felizmina was baptized on Sunday with nearly twenty others who have found real life in Jesus. May our heavenly Father be glorified in all the earth! Thank you so much for your prayers. We are hungry to see more of God’s glory!

-Pastor Vaughn Telfer OMS Missionary in Mozambique