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Where There's a Will, There's a Way
Vida Li Sik • December 7, 2020
Baptism in Mauritius
Helping a family member become a follower of Jesus is super special, even if it is from a distance. Sweta Balloo is a member of the church in East London (UK), and she had to be content with watching her mother Manoo Narroo’s baptism in Mauritius via Zoom.
God is not limited by time or space and, thanks to technology, nor are his children. Sweta’s mother studied the Bible over a period of three months. The disciples in London, Johannesburg (South Africa), Mauritius, and Bangalore (India) all helped. This team effort took place over Zoom, and Manoo impressed everyone with her humility and desire to know Jesus.
“December 6 was the most wonderful day of my life–seeing my mum baptised. I was anxious beforehand (with all the planning). But when everything was ready, I was overjoyed with happiness. Up until now, I was the only one saved in my family, so this means a lot to me,” Sweta shared.
This story about love and unity started in March when the global Covid-19 pandemic restricted in-person meetings. There are only five disciples in Mauritius. So a small group of brothers and sisters in South Africa, England and Australia decided to form a virtual mission team to encourage them.
Coordinating a Bible discussion over five different time zones was no mean feat. But, the team managed to hold virtual Bible discussions twice a week–one at lunchtime and the second after dinnertime in Mauritius. Manoo faithfully attended both.
The Bible studies also presented a challenge. The sisters had to conduct the studies in English, have Manoo read the scriptures in French, and had translations in Creole (the home language in Mauritius). She also came from a Hindu background, and that’s where Teacher Raghu Katharga assisted from Bangalore.
“My mum appreciated the meetings and the teachings, and the chance to know the true living God better. She’s had to work hard and dig deep into the Bible to know more about him,” Sweta explained.
The day of the baptism finally arrived. Organising a baptism remotely took prayer, faith and fasting to make sure everyone was able to meet up and followed the Covid-19 regulations in Mauritius. Such was the enthusiasm that one sister, Marie-Therese, arranged for a taxi to pick up the disciples from their various homes across the island. At eighty years old, another sister, Mala, then helped to baptise Manoo.
From her home in London, Sweta, watched with pride, along with the rest of the virtual mission team, as her mother made Jesus Lord of her life.
“I’d like to thank all the sisters and the virtual team for all their hard work these past months. I also want to encourage everyone to find time to pray for their family members. God will do the rest,” Sweta said.
Four months since his appointment as the first biblical teacher in our Zimbabwean family of churches, Thabani Mashava is enjoying his role in fostering spiritual growth among believers in Harare and the rest of the Southern African region of churches. His teaching centres around an African context.
The Botswana International Church of Christ hosted its first Swamp Camp, had a groundbreaking ceremony for a missions hall, revived teen Bible Discussions and hosted a marrieds retreat.
The church in Madagascar focused on deepening our relationships with the Fathee and one another. We delved into Bible study, and mentoring and hosted our third youth camp.