Rosie and Colette report from Mozambique
As some of you may know we spent three weeks at the end of the summer serving in Mozambique. We were working for ‘All nations' which is a global church planting ministry with the aim to spread the news of Jesus and the worship of him amongst the most neglected members of society. In Mozambique this means taking care of abandoned or orphaned children, who are often living with HIV and AIDS, and growing churches out of this.
The Mozambican branch of the ministry is run by a South African couple called Pieter and Rika, who live along with their three boys in a house with twelve 3-5 year olds; a number that is rapidly increasing as their reputation grows and more children are sent to them. There is also a second house a short walk away that houses nine younger babies. Alison, an American missionary also lives with Pieter and Rika. Her particular focus is on the local community, as she is involved with planting house churches, visiting the aids clinic and forming relationships with locals; particularly young women. She is preparing to begin a purity course with them, aiming to alter their views and attitudes towards relationships; something key in the fight against aids.
Other projects include ‘Hawa creations' which currently employs two local women to make jewellery which is sold to provide them with an income and there is also a garden project providing vegetables for grandparents in the area.
One of their aims is to empower Mozambicans, so one way in which this is achieved is to employ local women as ‘educators,' who come and live in the houses for four days at a time to look after the children. There are also other staff that help daily with cooking and cleaning, hospital trips for the sick children and maintenance.
Something we both thought was one of the most positive and important aspects of the ministry, was the fact that the children are taken into a family home, unit and way of life. Pieter and Rika take them in as their own children, only wanting to see them leave home once they are married! They have a long term goal of buying a plot of land and building their own house, as they currently rent both houses, which they can register in the names of all of the children so that they always have a family home to come back to. They would also like to build a school and aids clinic on the same site.
The three weeks we spent with them were very hands on; as we helped with the daily needs that come with looking after twelve small children! Practically we helped bathe, dress, change, feed and play with the babies in both houses. We also painted a bedroom, took the children to hospital appointments, went out on trips with the older children, and had shared responsibility with two German girls for two month old baby Moses who needed constant one to one care.
We did it ultimately to serve God, but were also keen to find new opportunities to serve the people of Mozambique having been deeply touched by our trip last summer. We both learnt a lot and were thoroughly blessed and touched by everyone we met and the entire trip. We learnt more of God's goodness and faithfulness to his children; he has rescued each of the All nation babies, sometimes literally taking them out of the rubbish; baby Moses was found in a bin when he was just three days old. To see the way God is healing their little hearts is incredible; the stories of where the children have come from seem impossible when you see them running around laughing and screaming and getting into mischief.
Having been keen to support the people of Mozambique since last year but not really knowing how, this trip also provided that opportunity. Obviously the cost of feeding, clothing and eventually educating around 20 children is considerable. Being an NGO also means that the ministry is funded completely through donations and sponsorships from supporters and churches. We want to be able to help with the cost of running such an amazing and worthwhile ministry. Therefore we have taken on the responsibility of trying to get each child sponsored; not only to provide financial support but also to provide love and prayer for each child individually. It will also mean that more money can be put aside for long term visions such as their own house.
So far we have purchased a web space and have a bank account set up! We will keep you posted with progress and if you want to sponsor one of the children, or just make a donation to the ministry as a whole, then please do let us know.
If you want to know more about our trip, the children or all nations then do come and talk to us, or you can visit their website: www.allnationsmozambique.com
Thank you all so much for your prayer support, and if we could keep praying for the ministry that would be wonderful!
