Boane

Boane Update:  Jeff and Caryn Hakes, the founders of the work in Boane are no longer serving at this ministry location. Don Foster is currently serving as the director of the local work under the oversight of Steve Lazar of our Zimpeto base in Maputo. Following is some more recent news of the activities of ministry at Boane. You can email Don for further information regarding Boane.

Praise Report, March 22, 2008, by Don Foster

We baptized 25 or so in the river yesterday on Good Friday. Then, we showed the Jesus film. We preached and prayed. The two people we prayed for were healed of various things. One repented of witchcraft in her past and then was delivered and healed. 108 people or so were there and most accepted or re-committed to Christ. A few spoke in tongues; but, it is hard for me to tell what is tongues, what is Portuguese and what is Shangaan and who (if anyone) already spoke in tongues.

After the ministry, practically no one left; so, we showed the last part of the Passion of the Christ. No one made a sound when Jesus was beaten.

Good Friday in Africa showing the entire Gospel of Luke (the Jesus Film) and part of the Passion of the Christ. People get saved, baptized in water and in the Holy Ghost, healed and delivered all in one night. I'm happy. What more do I need? MORE! I want to do this for the rest of my life - only more often, with more people and longer than I have done anything before.

Thank you for praying! Please pray for souls to be won and the will of God to be done.

Happy Resurrection Day! Jesus is Alive and working in Africa!

In Christ, In His Kingdom, In His Time

Don Foster
Luke 14:33
Luke 18:22
Phil 3:8

History of our Boane Ministry Location

There is a long road of extensive commitment between the day when one takes in a tiny orphaned child and the day when that same child has grown into a young man who is an independent, fully functional, Spirit-filled son of God, prepared to face with confidence the challenges of life as a contributing member in his society. As Iris Ministries has received the blessing of taking responsibility for the care of so many underprivileged children, we at Iris also carry the serious responsibility of seeing these priceless kids through to the day they are ready to launch out on their own and succeed as adults in what God has called them to be and do.

After five years of ministering to youth in Kenya, Jeff and Caryn Hakes followed the leading of God to join the pioneering work of Iris missionaries in Mozambique. Further pursuit of His desires through fasting and prayer led them to the story of Benjamin in Genesis 18, where they encountered the story of a boy who was named by his dying mother, Ben Oni, literally ``Son of my Sufferings.`` The Hakes were touched by the actions of Ben Oni´s father, in renaming his son, Benjamin, Son of my right hand, Son of favor. After two years of exposing the Hakes to the overwhelming needs of the Iris ministries teenagers in transition, the Lord directed them to open up a new center in 2004  for young men, a center affectionately named Benjamin Project.

As a part of Iris’ desire to reflect God’s heart in completing what He starts, the Benjamin Project is an Iris Ministries` discipleship and leadership development center. It is located about 45 minutes from Iris’ Zimpeto center, 30 kilometers west of the capitol city, Maputo. Situated on 19 acres of quiet farmland in Boane, Mozambique, it serves a growing number of older youth and young adults with academic and career training, spiritual development and parenting.

This is a pioneer work still in the primary stages of development. Efforts are underway to complete a base of operations and move into construction of a woodshop, welding shop and a cafeteria/training kitchen/cafe. The vision is for each of these to have small business carryover and provide job training for those involved.

Jeff and Caryn planted a Partners in Harvest Church on the location, with 50–75 currently in enthusiastic attendance on Sundays. In addition to reaching out to the community, it is an integral part of offering opportunities for the young men of the center to develop their spiritual gifts and callings. After three years of worshiping outside, prayers intensify for the construction of a church building.

As a part of a commitment to ongoing education, students in the Benjamin Project continue their education in several nearby schools, skills centers, and universities where, in addition to core curriculum, they can enroll in classes in auto mechanics, drivers’ education, computer technology, household electrical and other skills development programs.

After two years with the program, one promising resident, Helder, has entered medical school with his sights set on a call to medical missions. Another exceptional young man, Pedro, was accepted in a civil engineering program at a university in Maputo. Energetic Lino is in his first year of language study at an institute for interpretation and translation. It is an incredible privilege to see Jesus prepare these young men, most of whom were orphans and former street children, for their royal places in God’s unfolding Kingdom.

July 6, 2007

Hello from Africa!

POWER BY THE HOUR!

After three years without electricity, Benjamin Project in Boane, Mozambique has POWER! Thank You, Abba Father!!! The lights were turned on TODAY, July 5. The sound of a humming REFRIGERATOR is now heard in the land!!! Yippee- skippee! We feel like we have met the Jetsons and arrived in a new era! Yes, yes, yes, yes! We are rejoicing and grateful. What a blessing.

It has been a 2.5 year uphill climb on the energy project with many challenges  and set-backs. Even last month, on June 13th, the power was connected from the street to our transformer. We were so excited. We thought it was finally the day! We cried with relief and joy together with the boys and told all of our local friends. Then, when we went up to the house and connected the cables, there was a huge explosion. We had been sold a bad transformer. Since then it has been remedied. We have a brand new one now and all is well!

IT'S A BOY!

...another one. Yes! We have another Mozambican son! He is beginning his third week with us. His name is Fernando. He is 23 years old and also grew up in an Iris Ministries' children's center. He has been out on his own for 5 years, and has not had enough money to be able to continue school and is just struggling to make it. Our guys knew him and love him. We are fast growing also! Fernando is interested in writing and has a head for business. He is very motivated and loves the Lord very much. All of our hearts have been blessed by his character. He has already helped with translating our Portuguese into Changaan on Sundays. He translated for our translator, Admiro, last Sunday while Admiro gave the church a challenge about Jesus still being able to do miracles. Hallelujah! It‚s true!

JESUS HEALS PEANUT ALLERGIES

We have a missionary friend and a son, Calisto, who both have had long-standing allergies to peanuts. They absolutely could not eat them without having physical reactions. During a prayer time in April while we had our Moz sons in for one of our daytime worship/Bible times, we put the two in the center of the room on chairs to pray for their healing. We had 1-day visitors from Canada who had seen healing of peanut allergies. We all believed the Lord to do it again. We anointed the two with oil in His Name. We all prayed and worshipped. Some of us laid hands on them and some of us played instruments. Immediately after we anointed with oil, a very strong presence of the Lord came into the room. Several of us were being touched simultaneously by waves of His presence as we had our hands on the two continuing in prayer. Calisto wept while experiencing the Lord. A visitor prophesied over his life. Everyone continued praying. After about 30 minutes the Holy Spirit lifted and we moved on in sharing testimonies. The next day both the missionary and Calisto ate peanuts, knowing the Lord had touched them. He had! Neither one of them had their swelling reactions and the healing continues to this day, almost three months later. Praise the Lord!!!!! One of the guys‚ weekly meals at our Center is a peanut sauce over rice. Calisto could never eat it, but now he CAN! God is so KIND and GOOD!

INTERNATIONAL HUNGER FOR THE LORD

Remember the 12 nations of women that were represented at the city-wide meeting in May? Well, they were so touched by how the Lord met them that they scheduled another meeting that had not been planned. Praise the Lord for how He loves to love us and meet our needs and hunger!

Please pray for me as I prepare for this next meeting. As I was worshipping/praying in the car yesterday I got my first glimpses of what the Lord would have me share/minister this time. Will you please remember me in prayer as I continue to wait on Him to serve these ladies? You may remember that I had quite a bit of spiritual oppression/warfare before the last meeting. Believe me, it was not nervousness on my part, but true oppression. I've been able to receive from the Lord a pretty good discernment between the two. The enemy did not want me speaking about Israel, giving the gospel, or having the Holy Spirit lead, move, minister, and be in charge of the atmosphere. So please pray for BLESSING on what I am led to speak on, the GOSPEL to go out in clarity, and for the HOLY SPIRIT to lead, move, minister, and be in charge of the atmosphere. YAY!!! God, show your kindness and goodness!

Please pray for the women who will be there, that no matter where we are spiritually, we will go on to deeper knowledge and intimacy with God . Please pray for God to speak specifically to each heart and to manifest His presence. Thank you!

CARYN TEACHING SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN

A couple of weeks ago, Caryn was asked to co-lead a group of about 20 Christian women who meet weekly in Maputo. Most of the women are from South Africa. Only three are from other countries. My testimony is that it felt to me like the Lord knelt down in front of me, fitted me with shoes, tied them, set my feet down, then asked with a smile, "There, how do you like them? It was not "There, do you like them?"

I was already signed up in heaven, already fitted with shoes! The decision had already been made by the Lord. I was so amazed and surprised. As the women asked me, the Holy Spirit gave me a vision right away, indicating that my response would be positive, but I still said that I would pray about it. I wanted more confirmation! The next morning I opened my Bible to the next chapter and verse I was ready to read in my daily reading said, "people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. Wow, I was amazed at God again! After more prayer alone and with Jeff, I had full peace to accept. The facts are, I am a teacher by college degree and beyond that, I love to teach! And being able to teach in ENGLISH is so much fun. I can go deeper! So, suddenly I found myself teaching and ministering weekly to a group of very spiritually hungry South African women. They are so lovely! Hallelujah. God is so GOOD AND KIND!

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY We rejoice to see some progress on the original cane dorms and kitchen that Jeff and I had while camping in the early days of this program being re-made with cement block. With energy connected, the water project is next.

OUR MOZ SONS, please remember them in your prayers.

--Verdiano and Damiao are enjoying their mechanics courses. This makes a double load for them, because they are still in normal school also.

--The same with Lino. He continues in his language institute while also in normal school.
--Calisto is almost ready to pass his truck driver's license driving test. Please pray!
--Paulo has a hernia

--Anselmo stepping into a new gifting, having taught himself the guitar, he played for devotions on Tuesday. Yay!

--Afonso helps us with administrative things, driving to our local markets on Mondays to stock the guys‚ kitchen. Yay again! (He is also thrilled, as he loves to drive!)

CULTURAL TIDBITS

--We are FREEZING out here, seriously! Fifty degrees is like too much for us! Brrr!

--We have moved weekly church into our house because of too strong of winds outside.

--The boys have mid-winter school break coming up mid-July. Part of that will include Helder coming home from medical school for his break. We are so excited!!! I feel the same like whenever I get to see our beloved Austin (Amanda) and Rachel. Buy some presents! Celebrate!

--Jeff had a birthday the end of May and I bought him 5 palm trees! He has been dreaming about having palm trees on our land since the beginning!

--There is a milk shortage so milk is costing $6.68 a gallon these days.

--We have increased our intercessions for the street people, having the Holy Spirit continue to touch us deeply with their need; their homelessness; their orphaned hearts and lives. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No, not just for some but for everyone.

Thank you for your prayers for us all! We pray that many of you are moved to intercede daily, realizing what an important part your prayers are to this work and ministry. Your love also means so much to us. Thank you! Please let us know that you are praying. We love to hear from you! We pray Shalom for your lives.

All blessings and honor and glory to Jesus,

In His precious name and love,

Jeff and Caryn

Some of our church people dedicating  land for a new church building

Vasco, Admiro and Paulo enjoying a laugh together

Verdiano leading worship for the church

Some of the many children in our children's church

Meet Helder
Helder Machambane, One of Our Young Men Attending Medical School

It is an honor to introduce you to Helder Machambane. Helder is the firstborn son of a Mozambican woman. His father is no longer living, having lost his life during the chaos of Mozambique’s bloody civil war. Facing the impossibility of raising seven children alone amidst absolute poverty, Helder’s mom turned to Iris Ministries for help. Since that time at Chihango more than ten years ago, Iris Ministries has had the privilege of stepping in and being a large part of raising this precious little boy and watching him turn into a godly young man.

Since 2005, Helder has been a part of Iris’ Leadership Development Center, Project Benjamin, located in Boane Mozambique. In Boane, Helder, now 21 years of age, has made an outstanding contribution to the community, where in addition to completing his undergraduate studies, he has been involved with many aspects of planting the church there, leading worship services, preaching and teaching the Word of God, helping with prayer ministry, visitation and translation. Helder has been a help with the physical construction as well, helping with the cement block work that is ongoing in the development of the center. 

This year marks a big step in the construction of God’s dreams and plans for this young man, as Helder enters medical school. During 2005 Helder had spent time in prayer and fasting asking God for direction for his future. As he waited on the Lord, he felt a specific call to medical missions.  In November 2006, Helder was among only 30% of students at his school who passed their government exams and graduated from 12th grade. We have enrolled him at a university in Mozambique where he can earn a full medical doctorate in a seven year program.

Late January this year, we were able to write a check to the university for the first $750 of Helder’s tuition and to send him on the 17 hour bus ride to Beira, with the first two months room and board deposited in his bank account. Beyond that we are in need of assistance with the cost of his education. Please consider helping us continue the work of God in and through Helder. The costs are as follow:

Tuition: $1500 per year ($125/month)
Room and board: $130 month
Transportation: $25 (for three bus trips)

Total monthly expenses for Helder’s med school: $280

Meet Luis Pedro
Luis Pedro Chivite, One of Our Young Men Enrolling in Civil Engineering

Like millions of children in Mozambique, Luís Pedro Chivite grew up in a home without a father. Caught up in the clutter of  civil war and severe economic unrest, Pedro’s dad left when Pedro was only two years old and never returned, leaving his uneducated mother to face the struggle of raising four children in a war-torn country where incredible poverty is a constant resident.  After several years of living off the land and trying to make a future for her little family on her own, his mother turned to Iris Ministries, then in Chihango Mozambique, for assistance with her children. Iris took on the care of the serious little child, Pedro, now 22. Since that day more than ten years ago, it has been a great privilege for Iris Ministries to be a part of receiving and unwrapping the gift of Pedro and watching Jesus shape him into a child of the King. Pedro is an orphan no longer!!

We connected with Pedro in 2004 and began to talk with him about his future. Due in a large part to the leadership potential we saw in this young diamond, we invited him to join the new work Iris was starting in Boane, Mozambique, a Leadership Development Center named Project Benjamin. Pedro jumped at the chance to be a part of planting the new work with us, and it has been our great joy to watch the work of God developing in him.

Pedro has made an exceptional contribution to the heart of our work. He has an outstanding level of maturity and initiative, an immense heart of a servant, a huge passion for God, a love for the word and worship. He has been an great support in our ongoing building process, both in his extensive capacity as a mason and his supervision of several work teams, and in his capacity to integrate our discipleship efforts on Biblical Male Identity in his every day life. He has been one of the main preachers and worship leaders at the church he has helped us plant. He has led several people in the community into relationship with Jesus and has discipled and baptized them in the nearby lake. He helps with the mundane and the supernatural, with materials estimates and purchasing, and with visits on his own to the sick and dying that are so prevalent in our rural community.

In November 2006, Pedro was among only 30% of students at his school who passed their government exams and graduated from 12th grade. After much prayer and searching for his Father’s desire for the future, Pedro identified Civil Engineering as the road marked out for his professional development. We recently enrolled him in a private university in Maputo, where he will earn a degree in civil engineering and communications in a five year program.

Project Benjamin is now in its third year. Still a new baby in itself, and still definitely in the construction phase, we are very grateful for our part in the honor of  preparing young men like Pedro for their launch into society as capable young, Spirit-filled history makers. Of the hundreds and hundreds of children raised up from the dust of Mozambique’s poverty through Jesus’ love in Iris Ministries, Pedro is one of  first to enter university.  We are looking to God for assistance with the cost of his education. Please consider helping us continue the beautiful, redemptive work of God in and through Pedro. The costs are as follow:

Tuition: $2600 per year ($260/month)
Room and board: $110 month