'U2' in the bush!

I love U2 for several reasons.  Life changers - reconciliation movers - justice believers - Kingdom shakers - God lovers - literacy liberators - world conquerers - ..... ok you get my heart.  By now you would know that I'm speaking of the many pastors in Mozambique (and Africa) who loves the BIBLE and wants to see every literate person in the bush have one.  By the way .... I love the band U2 too!

The U2-project in the bush consists out of a plan to make sure "U-2" can own your own Bible in the middle of the bush.  It's mostly around campfires when I take out my Bible to read a Scripture that families would ask me if I could leave my Bible.   Because they do not read English it is mostly impossible.  The hunger for the Word of God is just enormous.   Our core requirement is that a person should be able to read and write and share the Word with others before they receive a copy of the Bible.   We also make sure that we are in relationship with people who distributes and receives the Bible.

The U-2 project started many years ago when we worked with our Bible School pastors who wanted to provide Bibles for their pastors in their churches.  Many pastors in the bush do not own their own copy of the Bible.  We have a great network of pastors who we have tremendous relationships with who helps as and identifies problem areas.  They make sure that as churches are planted pastors and leaders in the church has their own copy of the Bible - in their mother tongue.  "We have heard and seen many miracles", proclaims a very proud pastor Tome Mabuleza as he tries to share the stories with me.  I borrowed him my camera to see what he could come up as he shares the Word of God with many.    The results were fantastic.

"I have been equipped to read and write but never owned my own Bible.  Our lives have been changed by the Word!"

Happiness is owning your own Bible.

This elderly gentleman, a devout Muslim, asked what the fuzz was about and inspected the Word closely.  We will keep you updated on his interested story.

Water pumps 'drops' from the air!

The dust on the field and the huge failed crop stares Lucy from Sinjal in the face.  Small drops of sweat forms on her forehead as she tries to pick up a few maize cobs to feed her baby.  "Where will my help come from" and she turns on her Audio Bible and listens to Psalm 23 as the reader proclaims "The Lord is my Shepherd "  She rewinds the Audio Bible to listen to it again.  "Is there any help out there?", she thinks out loud as she tries to breast feed the baby without success.

She turns her head to the sky .......   "That was a strange noise" she thinks.  A few men came running in her direction.  One of them has an empty maize bag in his hand.  "What on earth is happening?" she screams from a distance.  The men ignores her as they are occupied and has no time for a screaming women.  They are on a mission. Another man is carrying a very long wooden pole and they are franticly trying to communicate to each other.  "This side ..... no no .... here ..... quickly!"  Lucy watches inquisitively at the scene playing out infront of her.  She watches as a man finds a cut off tree and as he positions himself on the stump one quickly hand him the long wooden pole.  By this time they attached a white empty maize bag to it.  Only one of the men has a watch .... and he anxiously looks on the watch.  Her eyes magnetically stares up at the heavens as if they were forced to do so.  She can't see anything .... it's hot and the sun is blinding her eyes.  

But then she hears something that sounded like rushing water.  The echoes of "The Lord is my Shepherd" still lingers in the background .... but only just as the sound becomes clearer.  "Oh my Lord", she thinks .... "is it the end or is war on us again".  At this time the man on the wooden stump franticly waves his flag on the pole.  And then Lucy sees the bright orange helicopter.   Within a few minutes dust flies everywhere.  Rotten maize cobs flies everywhere.  "We brought water pumps from the mission", Andy Kuret screams above the noise of the rotors.  The local women literacy school and the local Bible school in the area which we serve will each receive  their own waterpump for their agriculture projects.

Lucy feels like fainting.  God has dropped a waterpump in the middle of the bush .... and from the air of all places!   Her mind races as she tries to comprehend what is happening.  Andy Kuret (Baba Bomba as we know him) together with ASAM, SAM and donors were getting ready to distribute more than 10 waterpumps in areas where we have organized Associations.  Alta Rauch has some time ago also started a waterpump project alongside the Zambezi river.  Starving women were given a waterpump from where the woman will come together to setup their own food project with enough water to ensure families are fed during very hungry times.

After the women were trained how to setup the pump and were given a demonstration they helicopter left as quick as it arrived.  Silence suddenly engulfed everyone.  The looked at their pump .....  looked towards the heavens, lifted their hands .... and thanked GOD as rain came from above - in a stranger form than usual!  Special thanks to everyone who made this possible - specially donors from South Africa, Switzerland, Canada and Mercy Air (Mateus Reuter).  We were all blessed!

Training teachers in the bush!

Literacy rates in third world countries are plummeting. Mozambique has currently been shown as 187th out of 205 countries tested.  Finland, Greenland and Luxemborg has a literacy rate of 100 %.  With the USA and the UK at no 22 and 23 in the world respectively there is much to do all over the world.  Our vision in our bush dream centres in Mozambique are to make sure that no child leave our schools without the ability to read and write well.  The biggest problem though starts with the teacher - if he/she is not trained well in the art of teaching the illiterate you will have very little success as we found out several times in bush schools.

To do this effeciently we make sure that we put most of our efforts into our teachers.  We brought in literacy expert, Ann Herbert to teach our teachers how to teach by using the little we have around us.  By mostly using the 5 scenses and a lot of games teachers were taught to make the learning experience a lot of fun.  And as the photos shows .... it was a day of fun for our 4 teachers.

By using touch teachers learn how to teach kids effectively.

Using materials that are easy to create is important as bush schools are ussually without any  materials to teach.

Playing games to teach kids are essential to get the message accross.  Teaching really getting into the fun!

Food security

I visited a family some time ago.  Their hospitality was something you could only understand if you followed the Scriptures when it says:  "Let your hospitality be known to everyone!"  The interesting part of my visit that evening was that I have never met this couple and their two small children.  As it goes with 'first visits' ... I was wondering how the evening would turn out.  I hesitantly parked my pick-up in their driveway (after I got lost for a few minutes!).  My fears were quickly forgotten as I got involved in their lives and what drives and motivates them.  I knew it was truly a family of God.  Out of respect for them and following their wishes I will not identify them.  Let me call them Ann and Paul.  We met a few times after that again. 

The last time we met I was blown away by a statement they made.  Ann said in a very strong and confident voice   "Francois .... we are due for a new vehicle.  We have saved and are looking forward to buy a better vehicle for Paul.  BUT ....", she said and leaned forward.  "Paul and I decided that we are not going to do that now.  If you have a specific need let us know and we will make sure it is met."

As you know by now .... we are having huge food shortage problems in our community due to strange weather patters.  And it was not the whole community who arrived.  It was granny's, widows and other woman who were willing to work for a cup of food.  Needless to say .... it brought tears to many eyes.  Out of nowhere I received a message from Ann.  "Francois, we are ready to help and will send the money we saved over so the 180 ladies can feed their families until the problem is solved."  And they did help solve the problem.  Many others who simply could not afford to help us due to their own budget constraints .... did help.  Some helped us to buy 1 or more bags of maize.  This is to all of you who are being employed by GOD to make a BIG difference.

Marinda is a married lady with her own kids.  I had the privileged many years ago to be her Sunday School teacher.  She also heard of our problems in feeding a hungry community.  She got on facebook, networked with her friends and before you know it .... she had a handful of ladies buying bags of maize to feed very hungry families.  I salute you ladies! 

I wish I could give something back .... but I simply can not.  God can.  And He will.  He is just that kind of a Master.  Thank you.

MEANWHILE

We have started a huge food security program in many provinces and on the base to help communities, our schools and our orphan project.  The Agriculture community of Stellenbosch helped us to make sure we have enough drip irrigation equipment to set up huge vegetable gardens.  Johan Roos visited us some time ago and after working with his network of friends came up with the knowledge and equipment to get us going.  The result was outstanding.  The production of vegetables increased a 100 fold and needless to say our schools and orphan programs are eating like kings.  

Here is some of the action happening at the moment:

Drip irrigation being placed in position in the garden from where we will food more than 400 people.

Making sure it is really working.  The drip irrigation system helps us to save a lot of water in the process while it ensures enough water to all the seedlings at the same time.  Very sustainable way of producing vegetables.

The effects of the system can clearly be seen everywhere.

From carrots to cabbage, lettuce, spinach, pine apples and other veggies are produced. 

WATER PUMPS IN HUNGRY COMMUNITIES

Alta has started a project through the extensive network of nearly 3 500 women to implement water pumps (or foot pumps) in areas where food security is a problem.  Although Mozambique has many rivers - people can simply not get the river water to their gardens.  The foot pumps will help in a sustainable way to get water to gardens.  Boreholes can also be used with the system.  This would make it possible for families to provide enough food throughout the year - even in times where there is a scarcity of food.

As I speak 2 pumps are being installed in Northern Mozambique alongside the mighty Zambezi river for Women Literacy schools.  Andy Kuret (our Swiss pilot on the base - photo beneath) is installing another 6 pumps with our (ASAM's) Agri Associations which we started through our Pastors training program.

 

If I could .... I would!

IF I COULD I WOULD .... love to climb out of your computer screen at this moment and give you all a huge hug for caring and BEING there when it mattered.  We are still continuing with out SOS feeding program to widows and women in our area who have been suffering due to a disastrous planting and harvest season.  It started with 6 elderly women from the community who were desperate and very hungry and it ended with a huge thunderous stream of ladies arriving each morning for food help as families were starving. .  I was deeply touched by phenomenal friends who heard our plea for help and without hesitation moved into overdrive to help.  Thank you to all who gave and made it possible for us to sustain nearly 180 women who were feeding families of up to 7 people on their ration.  We are still feeding the ladies with all your donations and care until mid May where we will assess the situation again.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat", are words that echo in my mind and heart.  There are many reasons for hunger and as much as it is our responsibility to work toward addressing the cause issues, in the meantime we are called to compassionately respond to the human need.  I echo these word from Dwight Lagore on the base as we fight together to help overcome the curse of poverty that is surrounding us.

Kanimambo!

Life is about relationships and meeting new people.  Although I have only been away for 3 days in Inhasoro it felt like I knew everyone around.  And sharing it with great people close to me was even greater.  Well - here is the absolute last photos on Inhasoro.  Thanks for taking the trip with me.

Local boys catching fish on the beach.

Last photos of a beach of which I just could not get enough.

Joao Benjamim did some deep sea diving .... and came back with some vegetation   

I love this beach house in Inhasoro.

Saying good-bye for the last time and ending it off with a great few hours in the warm ocean.

The OTHER side of Mozambique (part 2)

I hopefully don't have to sell Mozambique after these photos!

Having a great time on the beach.  Me and Joao in action .... without water but practicing for what was about to come.

A man that does not publish a photo of his beautiful wife .... should not publish at all ... lol!

Andy Kuret joined us on the beach outing.

They say ..... in Texas everything is bigger.  Joao is proving that in Mozambique .... sea life is much bigger than anywhere else.

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A view from the old hotel on the island.  The hotel was built in 1952 and  Bob Dylan performed here too.

A photo out of the remains of the old Catholic church on the island Santa Carolina.

On the island - Santa Carolina, Mozambique

It's that time of the lesson - getting ready to seek fish in the ocean - the snorkeling way!

Ready for aciton!

A last lesson to my friend Joao who was ready with his life jacket and all!