Where is Mozambique? And where is Pemba?

We hope this gives you a better idea of where in Africa and where in Moz we will be. Pemba is located in the northern region of Moz. on the coast, yea for the beach!

Many have wondered and asked if we are heading to Africa because things here are hard. The answer is, NO! We often wonder why the Lord is having us move there now because things are going so well here. We have seen many people delivered, healed and beginning to walk out the reality of their freedom. These last few months have filled us with awe. We have witnessed many recognize the call of God on their life and begin to move out in obedience. In all honesty we are a bit disappointed that we have to leave right now because so many wonderful and crazy things are happening. But this is how the Lord often works.
So, why are we going? One reason is because we KNOW that the Lord is telling us to, so the first is out of obedience. We are very excited about Africa and can't wait to see what aspects of the Kingdom we will experience once we arrive in Pemba. Another reason is that the Lord is raising others up into their gifts and roles right there in the Portland area. We don't to be a bottle neck for them but rather walk away when things are at there height for all to see that it's not our "ministry" but the Spirit releasing His Bride into the fullness of Christ. The last main reason is that we believe the Lord has given us another son that we need to go bring into our family, Adelino. So Lord willing the next time you see us we will have Adelino with us.
I hope this gives some insight into the "why's" of our life and leaves little room for gossip about the "because".

A side note, the Lord has blessed our family with a Laptop (a MAC, which happens to be the best) so now we can Skype you all. Which I am reminded when the Lord asked me to give the other MAC laptop he gave, me away. He told me, “If I can give you one I can give you two!” Thanks to both individuals who have blessed us with Laptops, it has not been forgotten by the great bookkeeper of Heaven!

We are going to get the best house that Iris has to offer. It will be two bedrooms, two baths, large living room with a large kitchen and dining room. It has a fenced in yard (great for kids and a dog, but don’t tell Emie about the dog) and a gazebo. I understand it use to be the Bakers old house.

Not only these two things but also the Lord is pouring out his blessings in every other area of our life. We have been given language programs for learning Portuguese, Home school supplies, iPOD and travel speakers, luggage, and clothes. Besides these and other things I can’t remember off the top of my head, we have the possibility of connecting with a current missionary in another part of Mozambique who is returning to the States and will need to get rid of his 4x4 vehicle (A Toyota Land Cruiser I believe, for those men who are dying to know what type of 4X4 it is). We are overwhelmed in how the Lord is faithfully putting everything in order.

More to come as more comes or not if He comes!
Blessings
Heath

Loving an Orphan into Sonship

Have you ever loved an orphan? I bet you have. They're all over. They sit next to you in church, work in the cubicle next to you, maybe even sleep next to you in bed or worse yet, look back at you in the mirror. It is incredibly challenging to love an orphan. Nothing you do is ever good enough. You can pour in, pour in, pour in, pour in and then one wrong move or one trigger from the past and you're back to square one with a pointing finger in your face yelling, "You don't love me!" It is a never ending game of "prove that you love me. . . . . and do it on my terms."
I had five boys I loved on. Luis was one of the tougher kids. His walls were high and the rules of his "prove that you love me" game were steep. Frequently I broke the rules and had his accusing finger in my face telling me all the reasons I loved everyone but him. It was deeply spiritual. If you've ever heard these words and experienced this accusation, you know it is spiritual. It cuts deep even when you know the truth and what is motivating the lies. It is a battle to stand against the condemnation. Most days I could smile at him, wrestle him into a hug and say something like, "You know that's not true. But you choose to believe what you want."
One morning, I was really tired, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I needed to bandage Adelino's toe that was infected. But that was no small task because whenever I pulled out the first aid kit, 20 little (and big) boys came running with wounds ranging from small scrapes to gaping sores and intense infections. Most the time, there was at least one wound bad enough to turn my stomach. Luis had multiple wounds on his legs and arms that weren't healing. Sometimes I'd put bandaids on and sometimes I didn't have enough bandaids for all his sores. This particular morning, as I applied bandaids to boy number 3, Luis stood behind him pointing his finger at me, loudly and boldly declaring how much I didn't love him. That day, I couldn't fight the spirit of condemnation. The tears began to trickle down my nose and drip off my chin. Luis quickly backed off and the whole chattering group of boys became silent. I immediately thought, "I need to get it together." But I felt the Holy Spirit say, "Go with it."
Soon the trickle was a waterfall as I continued to apply bandaids through my sobs. None of them knew what to do. Eventually some of them asked, "Mama Emie, what's wrong?" By this time, I was no longer crying because I was feeling sad that Luis wouldn't believe that I loved him, though that's what triggered my tears. As I continued crying, God began speaking to me about His children. "I have poured out and poured out and poured out on my children. I have given them everything, even my only Son and my very Spirit to live in them and they still believe they are unloved and alone. One thing triggers their past and the pointing finger and accusations of abandonment come at Me. What else can I do to prove my love?" Now I was sobbing for the Body of Christ. Now I was longing for my brothers and sisters all over the world to really believe that we are not orphans anymore! What if we believed we were forgiven? What if we really believed that the same power that rose Jesus from the dead is alive within us? What if we really believed that the purest, most overwhelming love in the universe is poured out upon us and revealed through Jesus Christ? What if we believed we were a dearly beloved child of the LIVING GOD?!!! Just imagine how our world would be changed or how we would change the world. (Eph. 1 and 3, Rom. 8, etc.)
Then the Holy Spirit took over as I began, through tears, to ask the boys questions. "How many people can Jesus love?" "Everyone," they answered. "How many of you can Mama Emie love? Just one?" "All of us," some of them answered. Then the Holy Spirit continued talking through me about how we have to choose to believe that Jesus loves us no matter what happens to us. I told them that Jesus will continue to pour out his love in different ways upon them, but what else should he really have to do to prove his love? Then I walked them through all the ways I had tried to prove my love to them over the 6 weeks I had been there. I asked, "What else can I do to help you believe that I love you? I don't know what else to do." Looking into their eyes, I said, "I love you. I love you all."
With that, I left the tension unresolved and walked away. I wanted them to wrestle. I wanted them to feel the need to respond. I went to my house and began to journal. About 10 minutes later, I heard little voices out my window saying, "Mama Emie. Can you pllleeeeaaase come out here? Mama Emie?" I went out and there were 10 or so of them. "We're sorry Mama Emie. We love you. Can we please have some water?"
I rarely heard the words please and sorry from their lips the whole time I was in Africa. But that day, it was like music as I knew the Spirit was working in those boys. Luis was there, leading them. For the rest of my time in Pemba, he only accused me of not loving him two other times and Jesus gave me more personal ways of communicating my love to him. One of the times, he caught himself and apologized. The other time, he softened a few hours later and everything was good again.
I don't know how long it will take Adelino and Luis to be loved from an orphan spirit to sonship. When will the switch flip and they don't question my love anymore? What will it take? Taking them out to dinner 10, 15, 20 times? Buying them clothes and shoes? Two hundred hugs? Just time? I don't think so. I think it will take a lot of prayer, tangible love poured out and a lot of coaching them to hold on to the love poured out BY FAITH even when they don't feel it. And if they never believe . . . what then? Do I give up and quit pouring out on them? Ahhh, I don't think so. I'll keep loving. I'll keep praying, I'll keep coaching them to live by faith when their whole life feels contrary to the truth. I'll keep loving. And I know I'll cry. I know I'll cry a lot. But this is a small part of sharing in the sufferings of Jesus as my heart breaks for these children. His heart is breaking for you.

Romans 8:12-17
So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
So you should not be like cowering fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family - calling him, "Abba, dear Abba." For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we will share his treasures - for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Romans 8:31-39
What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? NO! He's the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? NO, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep." No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS REVEALED IN CHRIST JESUS our Lord.

Ephesians 1: 3
How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.

So, today have the power to grab on to how long and wide and high and deep the love of God is for you. Embrace His amazing love by faith and live as a CHILD OF GOD not an empty, longing orphan. And if you are in the struggle of loving an orphan, don't give up. Keep pouring out tangible love, keep praying for the orphan spirit to be cast out and the Spirit of adoption to be embraced, and if you need to cry . . . . maybe you should just go with it! The Holy Spirit knows what he's doing!

I love you all, dear friends.
Emie

SNOW, we love it and it will be a long time before we play in it again

Homeless Feast Update

"Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay." 1 Peter 4:9

"The kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned . . . I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them. . ." Isaiah 58:6-7

There is power in living out the mandates of Christ. We never have to wonder if Jesus blesses things he has already commanded us to do, we are always in a win-win situation.

New Years Day was an unbelievable display of the glory, love and life of Jesus pouring through the unified Body of Christ! There are not words to adequately describe the scene. There is something incredibly powerful about welcoming people into your home, especially poor wanderers. Maybe it's powerful because it's the kind of fasting God is asking of us. There were deep spiritual connections made with the people as we clothed them with new outfits and gave over our possessions. Maybe it was supernatural because the concept was born and thrives in the heart of God. It was miraculous to see the abundance of food and to have dozens of plates leftover for our new friends to pass out to their friends on the streets afterward. Freely we receive, freely we MUST give!

Twenty-seven homeless men and women, thirty one people sacrificing their comfort, time, and resources to love the "unlovely." Seventy-five plus people (when we added all the little kids running around) in about 2200 sq feet of home. And the Glory and Peace of God reigned down on the little plot of land in Canby, OR. Toward the end of the party, after showers, new clothes, hair cuts, full stomachs and good fellowship, someone made the comment that it was difficult to determine who was homeless and who was "serving." No one left unmoved by the Spirit of God and His love poured out.

Here are some personal testimonies of those who were impacted.

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**"Wow" is definitely how I feel after today. I must be honest, I had my hesitations about all of it. The Lord truly had a hilarious time proving my stupid little worries wrong. HA! I am humbled beyond words and changed forever. I believe that was actually the first time I had ever had a conversation with a homeless person, let alone 27 of them!
The most touching moment I had (although, I had many of them) was Frank's face when he sat down and started talking to Amy and I. He was overwhelmed by it all and just started crying. He was eating potato chips and coffee, trying very hard not to show emotions and then he said, "I don't know why I'm so emotional, is the Holy Spirit emotional?" YES!!! "Jesus loves you!" said Amy. I was speechless.

**They all have been running through my head all evening and names have actually stuck with me. I truly hope to see them all again.

**I know that yesterday was totally as much for me as for the people that came. His abundance is beyond what we could ever imagine and I know He longs to pour out through His people if we are only willing.

**I loved every minute of it, and had to drag my kids away
when the time came to leave! I wanted to stay and had a hard time leaving.

**So one of my favorite moments of yesterday was when I walked around the corner and saw Hannah (a girl about 10-12 years old) sitting at a table with one of our guests. She was talking and laughing with him - genuinely engaging him in conversation - she was not self conscious or uncomfortable. He was asking her questions and she was asking him questions. It was clear that they were definitely enjoying themselves . . . Oh Jesus, please let me become like a child . . .

**One man on the drive back to the streets said in very broken English, "My favorite part was watching one of the men playing and wrestling with the children. It reminded of my childhood in Mexico when my cousins and I would play and wrestle and family was everything, that made my day!"

**On returning to their home (the street), the life, hope and joy that poured out of our new friends was astonishing. Immediately they began sharing stories with their friends of how they had just had a party and introduced the drivers as their new family! They boasted of how awesome their time was fellowshipping, watching football and kickin' back. They were talking about how it wasn't even "preachy," they just felt loved. All of them asked if we would come visit them again and invited us to their "home."

**One of the men on the way back to the street said, "This is the best New Year's Day I've EVER had." And his buddy sitting next to him said, "Forget New Year's Day! This is the best DAY I've ever had!"

**A few families donated brand new backpacks. One of the women who bought some knew they were to buy one pink one. As Tammy interacted with Donna, she was able to offer her the pink backpack and Donna exclaimed with joy and delight, "It's EVEN PINK!"

**One friend knew he was supposed to bring a really nice watch he owned to give away. At one point in the day as he passed out clothes, the Lord led him to ask a man if he had a watch. The homeless man said, "Well, sort of" as he showed Nate the smashed face of his "gold" watch. It was so smashed, you couldn't even tell the time. Nate was able to give him a new watch with great joy and thankfulness!
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We didn't have to preach with words. Our lives were the living, tangible evidence to Frank, Monica, Buzz, Sean, Michael, Laurel, Abdur, Poncho, Jose, Linda, Lawrence, Roy, William, Jared and the rest, that Jesus loves them! Did we pray for people? Yep, when they were asking for pray, as they wept and repented on the floor! Did we tell them of Jesus love? Yes, when the wide open door in conversation led us and it would have been awkward NOT to share of Jesus’ love! Did everyone repent? Did everyone pray? Did everyone hear the words "Jesus loves you?" No, but every person in that house "experienced the love of God though it's so great we'll never fully understand it (Eph 3:19 NLT)." God's favor and Presence was leading the whole day. We didn’t need to preach to them they came begging us to share about freedom in Christ. We just had a party. That's it. Food, football, chess, conversations, laughing, weeping, showers, clothes, backpacks, coats, new friends, and JESUS were elements of this incredible New Year's Day!

I am thankful for organizations that are daily ministering and providing for the poor and homeless. I am grateful for the institutional churches that are making headway for the Kingdom of God in the places of poverty and hopelessness. But Jesus did not give the mandate to love the poor, invite poor wanderers into homes, and clothe the naked to organizations and institutions. He gave those mandates to the BODY. That's you and me. The church, in God's mind, is not institutional or religious. In Scripture, the "Church" is simply the Body/Bride of Christ. If we belong to Jesus we are his Body. It is our calling, every one of us, to love the poor, invite strangers into our homes, feed the hungry and clothe the naked. That is the Kingdom of God. Our hope is that the New Year's Day party gives you a vision of personal movement toward the poor and homeless and needy rather than waiting for institutional movement. Don't think of starting with 27. Just look for the one.

We pray that this is year the Kingdom of God comes on earth as it is in heaven in greater ways than ever before THROUGH ALL OF US, HIS BODY! Be blessed and encouraged. God is moving and he's inviting us to come along! It's the most thrilling, stretching, life-threatening ride we will ever take! The only part of us that will regret the ride is the part that loves the world more than Jesus. And that's the part we all want to get rid of, right? Let's hold our breath and jump on! It's a NEW YEAR!

There are so many more stories from that short day on January 1st, ones we will never know about and ones we will never forget.


Inspiring books on the homeless and poor:
The Bible
Under the Overpass
Turnings. by Guy Chevreau
Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. by Sider
--
All for the glory of Jesus,

http://isaiah555.blogspot.com/

Feasting with the Homeless on New Years Day

Luke 14:12-14
"WHEN you put on a luncheon or a dinner don't invite your friends,
brothers, relatives and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by
inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame,
and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward
you for inviting those who could not repay you."

The vision of New Year's Day:

We have a twofold vision for the day.
1. To love the homeless. We want to bring them in. Give them
showers (logistically we can either have people take them to their
homes for showers first or to designated shower houses before we bring
them to the house to eat). To let them hang out, watch football, have
a feast to eat, give them some gifts, and give them a reprieve from
the harsh reality of the streets. It's a bit brutal to think of
taking them back to the streets to sleep, but it helped me when Heath
said it's kind of like taking the front line soldiers off the
frontline for an afternoon before they have to go back out. Just
because their life is hard doesn't mean they don't want or appreciate
a break now and then. We would like to pick them up around 10:30 or
11:00 and take them home around 4:30 or 5:00. That is subject to
change but that's what we're thinking.
2. The second vision for the day is to give people an opportunity to
start the New Year with a different perspective; having the poor and
broken be a very near reality rather than a distant knowledge. We want
to experience Jesus among these people. We want to give a relatively
comfortable environment to walk over the bridge to their side. We
want to give the opportunity to come face to face with questions the
Lord is making us ask of our own life: Who is Jesus for me? Who IS
Jesus for the poor? Do I have Jesus or religion? What happens when
the package answers don't touch these precious people's needs? What
happens if we don't use our resources for poor and the orphan? It just
may send our year in a totally different direction.
It's ok to be uncomfortable and have a bit of fear, just push past
it and sit and listen. We will all be amazed once we are sitting next
to someone and realize they are just people and this is easier than we
thought. They will love sharing with someone who is willing to
listen, and they may tell you a really good whopper. Nonetheless, you
will have crossed the bridge.

We're back in Beavercreek

Hey Everyone!
I thought about telling you all that I'm finally home but that's not entirely true. I'm certainly and happily back in Beavercreek, Oregon, but I've learned to a much greater degree that my "home" is in Christ. Therefore it doesn't matter where I'm physically at on the earth! It is an incredible feeling to be "at home" anywhere in the world!
I WANT to spend some time with my unbelievable, wonderful, amazing, handsome husband so this is going to be a short note to thank you all for praying for Abiel and I the last two months. Our travel home was very peaceful but very long. Aside from getting on the wrong plane out of Mozambique and almost heading to Tanzania instead of Kenya, we had no hitches or problems. (Long story but we "just happened" to overhear that we were on the wrong flight when an attendant told another lady that she was on the wrong flight!! So we deplaned and waited another 30 minutes for our plane!! Thank you Jesus!)
I have many stories to share and many lessons to relay but that is all for another day. My body is adjusting to freezing temperatures as we have come from such humidity that we could be dripping sweat off our faces when we were sitting still!!!
Please pray for our family's health. I have been fighting sinus congestion/infection for weeks and Heath seems to be coming down with something similar. Please pray that the Lord will strengthen our bodies and prepare us for the next adventure which we will soon be sharing with you all.

Blessings from the ENTIRE LOCKE FAMILY UNDER ONE ROOF!

Status on Hotwheels for the African Children

Here is a quick update on the status of the Hotwheels. I checked the options from sending them through DHL, to finding a cargo container already going over through a church/organization. I spoke with Iris’ office in Redding and they suggested that we send the Hotwheels with someone who is going to Pemba rather than sending them through the mail. They said a lot of times packages don’t make it and if they do, they end up in the hands of Banditos. Unfortunately, they know of no one going before Christmas but they do know of a family heading over in a few months. So that is the plan. This family (who is more than happy to do it) will take all the Hotwheels we collect over with them. So now we have more time to collect cars. If you would like to donate your old Hotwheels to the orphan boys in Africa please contact me and we will add them to the collection.
Thanks to all those that have already contributed to this idea, the pile is getting higher!
Blessings
The Locke Boys

Bringing God's Promises to Full Term!

The other day I had enough of waiting. I ripped all the grass seed out of our front yard. Sure, there were signs of green stuff but I wasn’t satisfied and it has now been over a month since I planted it. So I am starting over and this time I am expecting bigger results. I want insta-lawn.

In Matthew chapter 13 Jesus has full confidence in the seed that is being planted. He never doubts the effectiveness of His Word, because he would then doubt himself (in Galatians we know that the “seed” is Christ). It is the soil he has his reservations about. I am amazed in my own life how I can be so confident in “my soil” and doubtful concerning the seed of God’s Word. The Word of God is reliable; it is us who must obey to get the promised results. F.F. Bosworth says it like this; “God’s promises work their wonders while we see and act on eternal realities (on His promises, His faithfulness, etc.), as we refuse to be affected by temporal things to the contrary. God always fulfills his promise when He can get the right cooperation (Christ the Healer p.19).

The seed has been planted in the Locke family and we find ourselves waiting and contending for them. Heidi Baker has illustrated it like this, “don’t abort the promises of God over your life, bring them to full term.” The Lord has spoken many things to Emie and I, individually and as a couple, that have yet to come to pass. He has spoken prophetic words over our children that we have yet to see bear any kind of eatable fruit, until now.
As parents we raise our kids to become something. It is our desire to raise our kids to understand the reality of Christ and be willing to die for Him. Emie and I knew that this year for Abiel was instrumental in her life. The things she would experience during her 7th year would be monumental. The prophetic words given to her from the mouth of kids at her party was overwhelming enough. At the time of blowing out candles we would never have known she would be in Africa for 2 months, though this is what the kids were praying over her. If we parents would only listen to our children better.

Abiel has been on a ride these last 6 weeks. She has cried, laughed, and been happy and sad. When I spoke with her the other day she said, “Papa, the rainy season has come.” She went on to say that it has rained for two straight days, which for us from Oregon is nothing. She wanted me to also know that the one-inch worms that dig into your feet have also come out to play.

Well, I have not really torn out the front yard and to be honest it actually looks good. I know that Lord has given me this image to walk by every time I come in and out of the house. He doesn’t want my family (or any of us) to let go of his promises over us. We must hold on and obey until the Lord brings visual growth.

We are seeing the evidence come out of the seeds that have been planted in Abiel over the years. The other day one of the Iris staff members took all the kids that had come to Pemba with their parents and did some teaching on prophecy. I am not sure what they specifically had them do but I am sure it had to do with listening to the Holy Spirit. Well, Abiel’s gifting came out, she went around to all 12 students and gave them each a prophetic word. Then if that was not enough she came back to the house, looked at Emie and gave her a prophetic word from the Lord. Then she turned to our friend Lisa and gave her a prophetic word. And then she turned and went outside to play as if it was normal. I love kids!

“The ones who do the planting or watering aren’t important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose” (1 Cor. 3:7-8).

So become a fertile soil that allows the seeds to go deep and not allow the enemy to snatch them prematurely. Don’t rip anything out, in you or your kids, because God’s word is faithful and it will not return void. “Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, NO MATTER what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has PROMISED” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Blessings and have fun birthing those promises!
Heath

Giving ourselves into Embarrassment

Giving ourselves into Embarrassment

There was a time when we didn’t have our “own” car for about 10 months. It was an amazing time watching the Lord put the details together. We would use someone’s car and the day before we would have to return it someone would call us and say they were going on vacation or something and we could use their car. There was only one time I ever had to call someone to use his car. Poor Emie took the weight of this because she was working at Starbucks at the time and needed to drive. Then a family allowed us to use their car until we received a permanent one. For the first three months I was so embarrassed to drive this car or should I say boat. It was a great driving car and very comfortable, but it wasn’t up to the image I had with my former SUV. I finally came to peace with the rationalization that I didn’t need to be embarrassed because it wasn’t really my car anyways. So I would get out, tell those looking that it wasn’t mine and that I was just barrowing it. Then I became rather grateful for it. Believe it or not I actually feel in love with it after a family trip down to California.

Praise the Lord we never had to walk, though many times we thought we would have to. Thanks to all those who graciously gave, you know who you are. If we receive a reward for giving a cup of cold water, what will your reward be for a CAR? Hallelujah!

Emie and Abiel are walking now. Unless they get a taxi, it’s all ankle express. In America, at times, it would be very inconvenient and embarrassing to not have a car. I am surprised just how much we have been deceived in believing we “need our own” car, house, toys, etc. The enemy has pushed us into independence and we no longer gain the value of “meeting together constantly and sharing everything we have” (Acts 2:45). It seems to me that God poured himself out on the New Testament Bride in great ways (see Acts 2:47) because they loved being with each other and weren’t embarrassed about what they did or didn’t have! So much so that their attitude was “they felt that what they owned was not their own; they shared everything they had.” It all resulted in “no poverty among them, because people who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need” (Acts 4:32, 34). For more on this subject pick up Ronald Sider’s book “Rich Christians in an age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity”.
Emie’s time being part of the “deliverance team” was wonderful. She clarified with me that there was more than one group and she was only leading one. She prayed for a few and was able to see individuals set free. She was speaking with one lady and mentioned that if she prayed for her deliverance she would have to give up her connections with the witch doctors. The lady said she was not willing to do it so Emie told her she wasn’t going to pray. Unfortunately the lady left and was never set free (see Matt. 12:43-45).

Emie had an opportunity to go on an outreach into the bush this past weekend. Abiel stayed with our friend Lisa Truax at the base. Emie wasn’t sure if she was to go because she was feeling sick. But the Lord told her to go and gave her insight into what they were going into. She made an immediate connection with a local pastors wife and they were friends. The lady took Emie all around the village to meet all her friends and pray with people. One lady wrapped her baby onto Emie’s back. This was a true sign of acceptance because they are very suspicious of people and their spirits.
Emie was able to teach twice on the love of God at a local Church. She shared how the love of God never leaves us even when we are troubled, in calamity, persecuted, cold, or in danger or threatened with death (Romans 8:35-37).
She was pulled out in front of the crowd during the viewing of the Jesus Film by a drunken grandma who wanted Emie to dance with her. Needless to say Emie was embarrassed and she didn’t dance.
She was able to hold little girls and watch how they slowly melted in her arms as the love of Jesus was pouring into them. She saw miracles happen and Muslims give their lives to Jesus all in one night.
Many of the Africans suffer from migraines due to dehydration. She had taken four bottles of water for the weekend and the Lord told her to give it away. She reminded that Lord that she also needed water and would DIE IF SHE GAVE IT AWAY! He was not as concerned about it as she was (see Mark 8:14-21). He asked her, “Do you give only when you have excess? I want you to give when it costs you and love out of a place of poverty (Mark12:41-44). So she began to give as she saw people in need and the Lord provided water for her through other teammates who had no idea what she was doing! In 2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul tells us that God LOVES the person who gives hilariously. There comes a point, I believe in our giving when we’re having so much fun it makes us laugh and we long to give more. I think we laugh because in giving we see the foolishness of holding!
She had another life changing experience this past weekend, which makes me wonder if I don’t have experiences like these because my life never changes, same ol’, same ol’?
By the time you read this she is ending a three-day fast for more of the Holy Spirit. When she arrived back a Pastor walked up to her and gave her this prophetic word, “If you come back and lock yourself in your room for three days you’ll get more of the Holy Spirit.” Well, who wouldn’t want more of that? She prayed about it (which we should do with prophetic words) and the Lord confirmed it. I get to talk with her tonight so I will hear just how much more she got. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

We believe the Lord is pushing Emie to know what she believes and how to minister it in the midst of people’s doubts and skepticisms. He knows she will carry His cross! So he is lighting her on FIRE! The Lord keeps telling her to receive more fuel, to get as much as she can in faith!
The Lord is also asking Emie how much more control will she give up to him. Just how far will she go to look foolish for him? Where does she draw the line when it comes to being so filled and overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit that she looks drunk to observers (Acts 2:13)? When will she pull the plug because her reputation is too important to lose? When does she stop because the embarrassment is just too much to handle?

Driving that car/boat was the best thing that ever happened to me. I believe embarrassment is an effective tool the enemy uses to keep us meeting our wants/desires/image and hindering us to live “poor/simple” lives (in the worlds eyes). As a result millions of people are starving for Christians to give so they can simply have a meal.
The Lord began speaking to me concerning embarrassment. He said, “Heath you were embarrassed because you thought the car was yours. You only get embarrassed when you think the car is yours, you only get embarrassed when you think the clothes you wear are yours. You only get embarrassed when you think the house you live in is yours. If you think the money you have is yours then you will be embarrassed if you don’t have much of it. You only feel foolish when you believe your life is yours. Heath, if you ever feel embarrassed about what you wear, drive, live in or by looking foolish for me, it only shows that you still control your life. You died to all that when I gave you my Life. This is why I want you (in part) to give until it hurts, give until you come to a place where you would live in poverty in order to advance my kingdom. Give and the embarrassment will leave, because you will receive a far greater possession, eternal wealth” (see Luke 16, but specifically verse, 11).

Well, Emie loves the poor in Africa and desires to live there as soon as the Lord would release us to go. I also cannot wait to go, for those wondering. As she was riding back from her outreach she watched all the villages passing by, it was then she realized she belongs there. She said she doesn’t even feel like a foreigner.

I love Jim Elliot’s most quoted statement; “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.

Give until it hurts
Heath, for the Lockes

African Christmas with Hotwheels

After HOURS of playing cars, Judah and I have decided that for this Christmas (or as close to it as possible) we are going to collect as many Hotwheels or Matchbox cars and send them to Mozambique for the boys. I remember being there and seeing the boys only getting clothes and teddy bears. Well, we desire to change that. The boys there are very creative and they make their own cars out of anything they can find. The wheels are flip flops they cut out in circles. SO IF YOU DESIRE TO HELP US, CLEAN OUT THE OLD CARS AND WE WILL COME GET THEM! WE ALSO PROMISE TO PLAY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK! :)
THE LOCKE BOYS!

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I had a fish head staring me in the eye to say
Happy thanksgiving to me a few minutes ago! I quickly gave it away!
Thanks Lord for ALL your good gifts!

The Kids

It's all about genetics . . . Emie's genetics!

The Audible Voice of God

First, please let me know if you would like to be removed from our email list. We completely understand.
Second, we have grass sprouting up in our front yard. God is good and he has been faithful to bring the “rain” and the reign! There is more than a big brown patch of dirt there is GREEN stuff! For those a bit crossed eyed, this refers to my first email.

Emie and I have emailed a bit over the last few weeks. It has been wonderful to hear all the stories and how the Lord is speaking to her. Though it is so wonderful, my heart was beginning to get restless and I wanted to talk on the phone. So I set out on a determined course to find a way we could talk and one that would not be an exorbitant amount of money. I finally received from Emie a number that I could reach her at. So I purchased an international calling card and dialed as fast as I could. Nothing! So I dialed again, nothing! So I dialed again and again and again. Still nothing was happening. AHHH!

The next day I had a realigned focus, but still nothing was going through. I wondered if she even had the phone on, if I was even dialing correctly, or if the demons in the air where rerouting my call to some little man in Tokyo. Nothing was happening. I even found myself wondering if Emie was behind it all, maybe she didn’t really want to talk with me, so then I was getting frustrated with her (which, by the way, is really stupid and I got over it!).

Then I called the international operator and asked if I had the right number to Pemba. They assured me I did. So I kept dialing. Still there was no connection. Days went by and I had given up hope of actually hearing her voice until December 19th. I phoned the International operator again out of desperation and frustration. They said I wasn’t getting through because I had to use an operator located in Mozambique to contact anyone in Mozambique. “Really? And how much would that cost?” “That would only be $9.48 the first minute and $8.48 every minute after that and a $6 service charge, sir.” “Really?” “Would you like us to go ahead and do that sir and bill it to your phone carrier?” “Ah, NO!”

Three days later Emie actually called me! Praise the Lord . . . except I wasn’t home! Ahhhh!

I had one more option, Skype.com (uses your computer as a phone). I wasn’t sure if they had to use this famous operator in Moz. also. I emailed them and a few days went by with no reply. I resolved to give it a try even if I wasted the $10 it would cost to get the Skype credit. So I clicked in all the numbers and pushed send. Nothing! I gave it a second try and nothing, a third, then a fourth and still nothing. One last attempt before I told Judah he would have to go to bed.

“Hello?”

I love email. It has many positives; one is that it helps us encourage the body of Christ around the world with ease. If you know any missionaries, take a moment to send them an encouraging email. It also allows us to communicate with our spouses when they are on the other side of the world. A major drawback is the personal touch. We miss the body language, eye contact and most importantly, the voice. Jesus tells the Pharisees that they search the scripture because they think it will give eternal life. Then he tells them that it speaks of HIM! They have missed the LIFE of Scripture; it WAS and IS JESUS still today! They got the email but failed to realize who IS the email. Karl Barth (a theologian) says it this way; “The Word became flesh and then through theologians became words again.”
These last few weeks in trying to speak with Emie has given me a greater appreciation for the voice of God. I love the Word of God but I also love the voice of the Holy Spirit. This is why I believe the prophetic is key in the body of Christ, it confirms what the Lord is already “speaking” to us (1 Cor. 14:22). The Word is ALIVE. We are not reading text alone we are reading a person! He can be known through touch, sight, smell, taste and sound. We can hear him. He speaks still today.

Well, my wife still speaks today also even though it had been 26 days (but who’s counting) since I had last heard her voice. It was Emie’s voice on the other side and we rejoiced to finally hear each other. Now I am so addicted, I want to talk with her every day. Another reason why I love the voice of God, it is addicting!
I am actually overwhelmed with what the Lord is saying right now to us. I also don’t know how to share all that Emie and Abiel are experiencing. There is always the need to have context for everything (which is how we should study the Bible, in context) in what I want to pass on to you all. This would end up being a rather large book. I will try to give highlights.

Emie and Abiel still love it and are more confident now than ever that they don’t want to come home. Emie has four boys she wants to adopt now (I have attached a picture of Adelino below, the one I first wrote about).
Abiel is making effort to connect with the Africans and is enjoying playing with them. Adelino has helped in getting her more comfortable. She is not sure about eating rice all the time, but that seems to be the only thing holding her down. Emie is really trying to give Abiel the most realistic picture of an African child’s life. As a result they have only eaten at a restaurant once. Abiel loves climbing the massive trees. The other day on the phone she told Judah he had to come to Africa because she gets dirty and then swims in the ocean that is warm all the time. “You’ll love it Judah!”

Emie has had many wonderful times with the Lord. Many times she has been laid out on her face in worship and rose to realize hours had past. In these times the Lord has given her visions for her, our family and brought clarification on visions she has had in the past. He is speaking to her very clearly and she is soaking it all in.

This past week Iris Ministries was having a conference with 3,000 people in attendance. They all stayed on the base where Emie and Abiel are staying. They asked the students to pray about being apart of a deliverance team to pray with people. Emie prayed about it and felt the Holy Spirit told her to be apart of it. The next day she was slandered by a housemate in front of her other house mates. After that she had decided not to be on the team, it was just too much. The following day an Iris staff member came to Emie and said they wanted her to lead the deliverance team. Ahhhh! She knew she was called there to minister, so knowing God was leading her she accepted the “position”. I am not sure what has happened, but I can’t wait to hear the stories. Ahhhh! I love the fact the Jesus has disarmed the evil rulers and authorities by his death on the cross (Col. 2:15). We are fighting an armed less enemy, now that makes things a lot easier.

Here are a few stories she has shared with me through email: Read cautiously, you just might find yourself living in Mozambique one day! OK, I just have to give you an insight into what is happening there in Moz. What is taking place is unheard of in Church history. Over 1 million Muslims have come to Christ, over 7,000 Churches have been planted and over 85 people have been raised from the dead. This is not including all the miracles, signs and wonders and the 12,000 people they feed everyday and all this in less than 10 years. Bill Johnson says it best; “We can’t have the same results the New Testament Church had if we are more devoted to a book they didn’t have than to the Holy Spirit they did have.” We must learn to hear the voice of God and obey in faith. We must become confident in the fact that the sheep really do HEAR the Shepard’s VOICE! Amen!

OK back to the stories from Emie:
*** The Heather Clark’s song “Price of Love” and the lines "I have grieved and walked away in silence. But I have learned to be free. I have stared into the face of injustice, but I have learned to be free.” Many situations cause me to grieve and the injustices are sometimes overwhelming but I have to learn to be free. I'm in process.
One night I was saying goodnight to Adelino and one of the more ornery boys was teasing him, then the house mom joined in laughing along with other boys and Adelino was extremely hurt. I was crying as he cried and I prayed as I tried to talk about forgiving and the jealousy of Marcell that causes his torment. But the injustice was more than I could take. I asked Adelino if he wanted me to stay away so he wouldn't be teased and he emphatically answered, “NO, please come!”
Things have mellowed as I have taken on more of the boys, but it is just overwhelming at the reality of these children having no one to tuck them in, kiss them goodnight, rub their backs, look them in the eyes to say I LOVE YOU, or put Band-Aids on wounds that aren't a big deal. I make the boys look me in the eyes when I tell them I love them. Only Adelino will look me square in the eyes. All the others struggle with this intensely, but I still try to make them. I want them to see Jesus in my eyes.

*** One day Jesus said, "Let the Son pour into you today. Just receive today. You will always be giving if you're truly receiving from me”

*** One day I was sitting appreciating the breeze and thinking about how much I hate the wind at home. I asked the Lord why and he said, "The closer you get to the son, the more intense the heat and you welcome the wind! As it is in the spiritual realm, the closer you get to My Son, the more intense the heat and fire and you will welcome more of my Spirit, no matter what it looks like or if you have despised Him before.

There is so much more to share that it would be to confusing without pages of context. All this to say God is pouring out more of himself in Emie and Abiel as they have obediently walked in faith to receive more of His Kingdom. Faith to the world is absurd but to God it’s what pleases him. It is like a man who found a treasure hidden in a field; he went and sold all he had to purchase the field. At times people look at us Christians and laugh because all they see is dirt, but we know what is buried in that dirt. So we smile and wave back. Don’t ever be ashamed of your plot of dirt, because you gave up everything to get it. We have faith the world can’t comprehend, they can’t see, they can’t grasp. It is our confidence and our evidence (Heb. 11:1). It has substance to it; we can hang on by it and receive hope from it. So read HIS “email” to obtain more faith (Rom. 10:17) and if it takes awhile to hear his audible voice, keep dialing!

Blessings
Heath Locke 11/06

Mom wants you! Africa Update #2

I knew when my siblings come running towards me yelling, "mom wants you!" it wasn't good! I had probably done something wrong and they ran to get me in trouble. We all know that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, that is not the route I took!
I love the Gospel of Mark in the Bible because he gets to the point and gets there fast! Before we end the first chapter we learn that Jesus is baptized, tempted, casting out many demons, healing the sick, preaching with authority and sets a man free from leprosy. Jesus' fame has over taken Galilee, so much so that he must stay in secluded or lonely places. By the time we get to chapter three the Pharisees are already discussing plans to kill him. It doesn't "look good" for Jesus and to make matters worse he is sent word that his mother wants to talk to him!
I was pondering the other day if I would want a big house with a small yard or a small house with a big yard. It's a dumb question but I was driving by big houses with small yards and it had to be settled in my mind. I chose the big yard. In America it seems that the size of our families have decreased while the size of our homes have increased. It also seems that the size of the Locke family is increasing (now I got your attention).
Well, I am a bit behind because I have now received three emails from Emie and this is only the second one you have received from me. Sorry for the laziness or was it exhaustion? I actually am doing great and see how instrumental this time is for the boys and me. I know the Lord has me with Judah to bring out Christ in him at his age. He has become more obedient (can I get an AMEN?!), has bonded more with me and feels more at peace with living in Africa, if the Lord wills it. He also has realized his sister will not be around to pick up for him.
Asher just loves following me around. He grabs any tool to assist me. He is a working machine and should I forget, an EATER! I have never seen a little tyke eat so much. The Locke boys are doing great and for sure missing mom. Judah asked when Mom was coming home from Africa (he hasn't wondered when Abiel was coming, must by a sibling thing) and I said 6 more weeks. He pondered that for a minute and then blurted out, "that's not very long at all", as he counted to six. I had to give the missing information that there are 7 days in a week. "Oh, what does that mean?"

Emie and Abiel are in their element, though not without little adjustments. Abiel at times seems reserved with the African children because of the language barrier, but does make an effort to play with them. She has been blessed with her 7-year-old friend, Katherine and they are an answer to each other’s prayers. Abiel is soaking up Heidi. She sits at her feet every time she teaches and takes it all in. Heidi has prayed over her and Katherine several times. The other day in class the adults prayed over all the kids. Abiel was overwhelmed with the presence of God and told Emie, "I felt like falling over. Mom if you weren't standing behind me, I would have fallen over!" The day before, her and Katherine were on their faces in the front worshiping and Katherine actually went to heaven and told her dad about it and her dad shared the experience with the school. God truly does give us children so we become like them in faith not so they become like us in intellect. If we don't, we can't enter heaven! (Matt.18:3)

We all know that a house doesn’t create a family any more than sex creates intimacy! I read the other day that; “Judas wanted intimacy without covenant; that’s why he left supper during communion and then betrayed Jesus with a kiss.” Then he went and told on him. So what is family and why does Jesus tells us we most not love our children more than him? In part because I tend to not obey the Lord when it comes to how it will affect my children. Do I go to Africa, move in with another family, minister to the homeless, live without an income and tell my kids it’s not about them? Yes, Yes, Yes! We can have “family” without a house and intimacy without sex. We can give up everything that the world values and receive it now and later a hundred times over (Mark 10:29-30) O, how the enemy has fed us a lie.
So Jesus’ family wants to talk to him because he is only “three chapters into this ministry” thing and it’s not looking good. He has gone a little to far and his family is embarrassed.
“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” This is Jesus’ reply but I know it would not have work on my mom. “These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:33-35, see also Matt. 23:8)
So how is the Locke family growing? Well, this is how Emie shared it with me. “One of the major themes the Lord is working in me is laying down our children and my ideals of "family." The Lord keeps asking me to put the kids on the altar. The first week it was grueling for me, yesterday it wasn't so difficult. I'm continuing to let the Lord readjust my ideas of family and loving my kids and parenting and what I'm teaching them about family. The Lord really convicted me that we need to be teaching our children that FAMILY is all our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are doing them a great disservice by teaching them that our family is the 5 of us. Speaking of family, I have found our oldest son and I have no idea how I will be able to leave him. He is 11 years old and lives on this base. He is the sweetest boy I've ever met. His name is Adelino (addaleenoo). As I lay at the altar yesterday with the picture of the kids, Adelino was right next to me. My hands were anointed and as I wrestled with giving up our kids, and finally came to peace again, the Lord then said to anoint Adelino's feet with the oil on my hands as a representation of our first child added to our family. He is precious. Abiel loves him also. Our house went out to dinner tonight and I took him with us because he is my boy! He had a great time!” It looks like by the time Emie arrives back from Africa I will need a big yard AND a big house.

The Lord had a powerful time with Emie the second day of class and removed any trace of pride so she could be free to minister. And she is! Two staff members have come and spoken with her saying she is there to minister, be prayer support and set people free. Emie doesn’t need any more than that! She is off and running. Please continue to pray for her as she walks in obedience and brings Jesus’ will on earth as it is in heaven.
Last weekend they took volunteers on an evening outreach and Emie went. She was a bit apprehensive but shared it was the most awesome experience. Here are her words; “I didn't want to go back. Yes, we saw a few miracles but the greatest miracle was getting to be incarnational love to these people! AHHHHHHH, how will I come home! Only for you and the boys! While praying during the Jesus film with my team and for the pastors the power of God was so strong on me I couldn't handle it! I have never been whipped around like I was that night and when I would lay hands, the Spirit would just flow.”

The joke when I was a kid was we had four dishwashers, my three siblings and me. Emie has determined to find the road to authority and that is through serving her “family”. I know she didn’t write this so everyone would know but I am her husband and I am proud of her, so I will brag. Here is what she wrote, “I've been doing lots of dishes in the kitchen. I just want to be a blessing here you know. So yesterday, I did EVERY DISH in the whole kitchen! As lunch was finishing, there was no running water and the reserves they had were also gone. Just as the guy looked at me and started to say, "No Water," the water started running again and everyone started clapping and cheering! Consequently I had two hours of dish duty! Today, I was doing breakfast dishes and there was a huge fire in the kitchen and we all ran out coughing from the fire extinguisher! Quite the excitement!
It gets better check this out! “Oh, other highlight of my day! I volunteered for latrine duty every Friday morning! Scooping poop, scrubbing them down!” She is the real deal folks!


To this day there are no blades of grass pushing through the dirt, but not for lack of rain. Emie wrote, “Oh about the water thing. Either the first or second day of class, Lesley Anne ended and the worship team came up and she started to sing "Open the flood gates of heaven, let it rain. Let it rain." Within minutes there was a torrential down pour, comparative to the pictures you (Heath) brought back of your rainstorm! It has been the only rain we've had since we got here.” The Gospel is enough and Jesus promised we would have everything we need for life and godliness; water, fertilizer (we all know what that is) and plenty of sonshine! I guess that is why Jesus trusts the seed more than the soil.

Well, Emie says she wants to stay in Africa, but she did promise to come back and get us “boys” first. I know our mothers think Emie and I are crazy, they are clear on that one! But this we know, we can’t get in trouble this time because we haven’t done anything wrong!

Blessings
Heath, for part of the “family” that bears the last name Locke!