How to treat VIP guests during Christmas!

We have fund raised, waited and ........ at last we got ready to pick up our VIP guests for the biggest Christmas party in Central Northern Mozambique. It's a rainy day but nothing will stop us to get going. We have 4 vehicles to get all our guests to their venue. I am responsible to pick up 5 guests. It's raining so hard I can hardly see 10 metres in front of me. I am looking on the side of the road where the VIP's should be waiting.

Photo: One of the vehicles arriving with our widows.

And sure enough ....... wet but standing in a row to be picked up. Bom Dia Francisco - I am greeting with huge smiles. Wide-eyed (that's what I saw in my rear mirror) they squeezed in. Ready for their biggest event of the year. "Francisco ........ will we have cooldrink and sweats today?" "Off course", one of the older boys answered ...... "not just sweats, lots of surprises too". The sounds of laughter echoes in my ears. The youngest is a 4 year old boy called Tito. I switched on my CD in the car as loud as I could ...... the kids sway their heads ......... happy days are here again.

Photo: Our VIP's together!

VIP's = our orphans and their yearly Christmas party. For the other million or so orphans Christmas will not be a very memorable time. Alone, hungry and some (if they are lucky) would have been placed in the few orphanages in Mozambique. As a mission we place our orphans with widows who takes care of them. As I write this posting many new orphans are added to the national problem. Diseases still wreaks havoc amongst families in the poor and rural areas in Mozambique. There is no social structure in place to help orphans who has no one to look after them. Our Amigo program allows orphans to be looked after by widows in communities close to us. We provide them with the change of good education, medical support and whatever they may need to survive.

Photo: "Oh my goodness ...... will I be able to finish all this food?"Photo: Jumpin-Jack-FlashPhoto: Tug of war games with our orphans

Our Christmas party though was fantastic! We had the biggest meal ever. Those chickens had to be on steroids before they served them to us. BIG ....... very BIG! Bigger than Kentucky Fried Chicken. Anyway - after eating we had lots of games and entertainment organized by Rick and Heather (missionaries with us on the base). THEN ....... the Christmas Bible story ..... and gifts off course. The widows were invited too and they had an absolute blast with us.

Photo: Joao Benjamin - our Maputo student, bringing the Christmas story in a relevant way to the orphans.

Photo: Even the widows participated in the "face painted" competition.

Photo: Our widows receiving their gifts

Everyone left with a lot of gifts and got back into the vehicles tired! Smiles and thank you's followed and it was a great day thanks to all our supporters. To everyone who helped us especially David and Kate Phillips, Brian and Ruth Phillips and Busbridge, St. John the Baptist church in Godalming. Thanks to all our Canadian friends who supported in such a miraculous way - God bless ya all.

Photo: One more last gift!

Highlights 2009: Laughter unlimited

If I had to summarize our School year in Mozambique it would have the words "laughter" and "blessing" written all over it.

Without the HELP of so many partners it would have been impossible to do the following:

(a) Purchase nearly all our school desks for our bush school and our pre-primary school;

(b) We had our annual athletic meeting with students from the University of Stellenbosch and members of Stellenbosch, Bellville and Blouberg congregations; (and yes we needed them all to get the 250 kids enjoy athletics).

(c) The kids received their first ever school uniform;

(d) We were able to feed more than 250 children for every school day of the year;

(e) We were able to provide all our kids in all the schools (nearly 400 kids) with books and stationary;

(f) Another successful vocational Bible school was launched for 2 weeks with more than 150 kids attending.

If I have to make a list of all the people that helped our school it would be a very long one. I am so afraid that I would leave someone out of the list. Please accept my thank you as from the heart. Thank you for providing hundreds of smiles a day and on behalf of all our school kids - GOD BLESS YOU!!!

"I can read, I can read!" - 60 year old lady (Mozambique)

A week or so ago I blogged about how important women in Africa is. Their role has been very much neglected in the past - especially on the African continent. The stories that are currently emerging are very uplifting from our beloved continent who continues to struggle - like Somalia, Zimbabwe and others. BUT there is HOPE! Just think of ladies like the current Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Mozambique prime minister Luisa Diogo.

But often something happens that just .... well leaves you speechless. Like the story of a 60 year old lady who joined one of our ladies literacy classes. This lady had to walk several miles to reach her weekly class. Age, sickness and the rain didn't stop her from attending her class with many other ladies in the area. Alta Rauch shares the story:

"Mostly all of the ladies who joins our schools cannot read or write. During the Mozambicans 30 year civil war there were no opportunities for girls to study. Mostly boys went to school after the war or had the support of the family to do so. Culturally girls stayed at home to look after babies or work in the fields. This was the same story of an old lady who joined our ladies class. She was a keen and willing student when a few days ago she stood up ....... nearly out of breath and proclaimed loudly in the class ........... I CAN READ, I CAN READ. It seems something clicked, made sense and she could read her manual and the Bible."

Needless to say ..... everyone got up and applauded her.

Photo: Meet the lady face to face!

The joy, happiness and expression on her face were priceless. We have many older ladies in some of our other schools too. Mostly all of our ladies schools runs out of local rural churches. The ladies ministry grew the last few weeks to more than 950 ladies studying with materials provided by the mission.

Photo: Past. Toca from Bauwe

Our study program for our pastoral and church leaders (SBF) also has a few miracle stories. Pastor Toca from Bauwe (northern Mozambique) was illiterate when he joined the program to study the 6 year course. He faced a nearly unclimbable mountain. Through a personal miracle in his life he completed all the study materials in 6 years and received his diploma. He passed as a Cum Laude student. His work is so outstanding in the area where he works that the local radio station employed him in Mutarara.

The people of Africa are truly heroes! If you want to help us with our literacy program please contact us!

Cartoon: from www.CartoonStock.com

Climate change ........ and Mozambique!

From December 7-18, more than 15,000 people including Government officials and advisers from 192 nations, civil society and the media from nearly every country in the world, will come together in the Danish capital, Copenhagen in one of the most significant gatherings in history. It is being called the most complex and vital agreement the world has ever seen.

People in poor countries are suffering first and worst from climate change, but they have done the least to cause the problem. If a strong and fair deal is to be achieved, we need to put pressure on rich countries to achieve at least 40% in domestic carbon emissions by 2020 and also ensure that developing countries have all the support and resources necessary to reduce their emissions, develop cleanly and adapt to climate change.

The rural communities in Mozambique has little or no knowledge about climate change or the real effects of damaging emissions. One thing is on everyones mind though ..... the fact that the seasons are indifferent and drought throughout the last 10 years has became a major issue.

While all of this is taking place hungry people in Mozambique are getting ready for their annual planting season. The signs already are that it is going to be a tough one. Rats and other rodents are already eating all the seed that is being planted. We decided that rats are not going to stop us and started distributing seed to local people around the mission base.

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Thank you's to Polokwane Congregation for the donation of all the seed to help communities in Mozambique.

Mozambique missional leaders makes huge impact!

Photo: All of our 400 pastors are studying a 6 year Theology Course from Hebron Bible College.

Twice a year we receive more than 30 great men who visits us for an intensive time of sharing the Word, discussing leadership issues and listen to their input when it comes to community matters, orphan care, medical challenges in communities and other issues.

We have known these men for more than 10 years - they have become more than just leaders - they are friends. Their hard work in their life changing churches shows in the more than 4 provinces they come from in Mozambique. They represent more than 400 leaders in their different areas. If you would take their influence, including all the pastors they represent, they would be able to fill a church with more than 24 000 people.

Photos top: William Carey Willis is a volunteer who has joined us for the next 3 months. He shows his cooking skills in the kitchen as they are preparing lunch for our Bible leaders. Our school students Joao and Pindurai are also giving a hand.

Many of these men are running huge orphan programs through there churches. The more than 700 women in women's ministries also runs through these churches. They are actively involved with youth outreaches and are doing an amazing job. Many of the leaders are not known by anyone as they work in the most remote areas in Mozambique. When we visit them - we see the work and the respect their communities have for them. It is amazing to see. These men are God's diamonds ........... very rare specie these guys. They work for no money and only because of their love for God and their love for their own people.

Soccer fever!

Well while I am on the Soccer World Cup topic with His honourable Comrade Mugabe holding the World Cup in its glory ........... a few photos I received on the newly built Cape Town Soccer Stadium for the 2010 world cup. Before I show the photos ......... maybe something to ponder on:

1. What on earth is South Africa going to do with all the stadiums costing billions of rands.

2. I was just informed that the Cape Town stadium was sold for R1 (US$ 0,12c) because it would

be too costly to maintain it.

3. Could we not use the money better?

4. I love soccer - but I must admit ..... soccer must be the opium of the nation at the moment.

5. Maybe I am a little negative, maybe not ............ maybe we should alleviate poverty with all

the billions ...... maybe not.

Anyway must admit the stadium in Cape Town looks awesome!

"I wonder what the entrance fee would be?"

There is something wrong with this photo!

TROPHY: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe holds the World Cup during its visit to Harare, as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour of 86 countries. (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, AP) - News 24 photo

Revealed: The true horror of everyday life in Zimbabwe

Starving children eat rats, families turn on each other and farmers kill their own livestock to survive. Smuggled film brings Mugabe nightmare to world's attention. BE INFORMED!

Will the 'real' Africa .... please stand up!

Photo: Meet Eunice our Mozambique National Coordinator. She leads more than 750 women in Mozambique.

The power of Africa lies in its African women, so my wife tells me all the time. I thought it was time to investigate the matter. Mozambique women (and for that matter all African ladies) has an ability to come up with many solutions during a normal day.

Photo: One of our Lady schools in Northern Mozambique. Our program makes it possible for them to learn to read and write for the first time.

Not just do they have to break the cycle of hunger and poverty daily by making sure the family eats, she fights diseases - even doctor them where there is no doctor -, she educates the family and today's African lady also makes sure that she is heard in community matters. It is absolutely amazing when you look around and you see just how strong these ladies are. They have become the backbone of the African economy. Although the African culture is a male dominated one women are beginning (respectfully) to rise up and be heard.



In our own communities and on our mission base ladies are playing a huge role to alleviate poverty by:

Photo: Young and old arrives at the base to learn new tricks with the sowing machine.

• Taking care of the many orphans we have;
• Have started arts and craft classes and making a living wage (earner the same or even more than their husbands);
• Started to attend literacy classes and took responsibility to educate themselves;
• our own staff consist off a teacher and our women's national coordinator works here with a lot of zest.

Photo: One the teachers busy teaching a class in Northern Mozambique in Sinjal.

More than 740 ladies joined the movement that started very small 10 years ago. Government is taking notice and out of the ashes ladies are rising. Many ladies that visits us are running additional classes with sowing machines and making clothing for our orphans and other kids in our bush schools.

I realized that solving Africa's problem without involving the African women would be a disastrous mistake. May we take note!

Smiling through the raindrops!

It's just about 09:00. I am an hour late for one of our schools most important functions - the annual prize giving ceremony. As I arrive - I always feel like the Prime Minister - kids are shouting and waving their arms in anticipation. Parents are all sitting in the shade ....... waiting!
Photo: Jampacked!

Nevermind the weather ......... everyone was there. Nobody really cared that I was an hour late. Was this in New York - I was a gonner for sure! But here people understand, time is not always money ........ it's about seeing each other again after a few weeks and the fact that we are still healthy ..... or at least kicking!Photo: Tito Mabuleza (left) and Simon Nicolau (right) trying the summerize the year's teaching in an hour nutshell! Did I mention that our gathering takes the same time than a school with 1 500 kids?

The kids knows the procedure. Everybody quickly lines up for the singing of the national anthem. The chorus must be my favourite ........ "Moçambique nossa terra gloriosa! Pedra a pedra construindo o novo dia! Milhões de braços, uma só força!Ó pátria amada vamos vencer!"

The kids sing but their eyes are fixed on my vehicle. It is packed with prizes, a bicycle and boxes full of biscuits and sweats - not to mention all the cooldrinks.

Photo: This boy .... waiting nonchalantly for his prize.

The ceremony was a joyous one. Everyone wanted to win the new bicycle ........ but the winner smiled so much we had to cool him down. For those who didn't win any academic or sport prizes there were more than enough sweats to keep them happy. After the final results were made known to the parents the party begun in all honesty.

Photo: Keren Massey (left) a volunteer nurse from Canada also gave a hand when it came to handing out an academic prize to one of our girls.

Photo: This girl must have been one of my coolest customers. She won the first prize in our pre-school group. I guess she was thinking: "What's the big deal - I know I am good!"

We even had a prize for the kid (a boy off course) who ate the most food throughout the year. As you may know - our school has its own kitchen where we provide a meal everyday to all our kids. This has been ongoing for many years - and looking at the weight of our teachers, I think it's time for Weight Watchers to come to Mozambique.

Photo: The big winner of the day - Grade 5 top student takes away the Bush BMW of the day! He looks shocked though.
Photo: All our prize winners. A special word of thanks to our shaking teacher for taking all the photos.
Photo: Time to hand out all the sweats in an orderly way off course ....... it is a school you know!
Photo: Pockets hanging with blessings!
Photo: Rivers of cooldrink flowing non-stop!

We had a great day and so many people made this possible. I seriously need to thank Busbridge Church in Godalming for helping us, David Phillips for caring and Niel and Helane Keyser. SAM Canada has been stocking the kitchen ..... and you can see it on the kids. Thanks to all who made this great day even greater. We salute you!

Loosing a friend in Rwanda!

I met Jane Kanyange while I was in Rwanda in 2007 and 2008. I remember her words as she handed me a gift. She said: "Francois - you are a man of Africa. I can see you will never leave our people. Keep going on!" She is a remarkable women and her legacy is even more remarkable. In her honour and to remember the great work she did in Rwanda ...... I place this article written by Claude Nikondeha in her remembrance.

Her work...

Jane was once a middle-class banker in Kigali, a faithful church going woman. And then she started sensing God's heard for Remera, the red light district in Kigali. She thought the church should have an outreach to this neighborhood, but her pastor told her God was not interested in those people. She was unconvinced. So she started spending time in Remera, getting to know the prostitutes, brothel owners, bartenders and bouncers.

She started a Monday night gathering at an apartment she rented in the area, and she would invite the prostitutes over. Monday nights were the nights the brothels were often closed, so it was a good time to share a meal with the women and get to know them. Soon the meal grew into a Bible study and women started changing their lives because of Christ. Eventually she had to rent a larger space to accommodate more people wanting to hear about Jesus from a woman who did not judge them, but loved them.

She started Prayer Palace. Now the former working girls lead worship. The one-time bouncers are greeters. People are learning to worship, to welcome, to serve and follow Jesus - people often overlooked by 'respectable people.' And as a result - brothels and bars are shutting down on almost every street in Remera. They are simply going out of business as workers and clients are coming into contact with a living demonstration of Christ's love in their neighborhoods. The once seedy street is now respectable - and now the city leadership is developing the real estate with hotels and storefronts - due to a woman who simple followed the example of Jesus!

Jane helped the women, in particular, find other work to make a living. They have started a local business - garbage collection. Not only are the cleaning the city, they are making a wage and turning a profit! There are also other skills she is training the women in, so that they do not need to return to old ways to pay the rent. Amazing transformation!

Jane left a church that refused to follow Jesus into the red light district and ended up starting a congregation in the heart of Remera. Her congregation is a living testimony to the good news of Jesus that transforms lives, communities and even the real estate in the red light district. Her congregation changed the face of their community with a faithful witness to Christ - streets are clean, vandalism has nearly vanished, brothels are shutting down.

Her legacy...

Jane passed away on September 27th, losing her battle with cancer.

Jane was a unique woman, so deeply committed to following in the footsteps of Jesus, keeping the company He kept and turning neighborhoods upside down with His good news and goodness. She opened her heart to all those that Jesus loved and created a home and place of worship where He was honored. Jane understood that the Good News of Jesus changed hearts, lives and communities. Her work in Kigali is evidence that salvation comes to communities - and that Jesus wants to redeem entire streets and districts for His glory. We will remember her every time we walk the streets of Remera, knowing her work ushered in such transformation and newness.

Jane will be remembered as an innovator, leader, ardent follower of Jesus and dear friend. We miss her today, we will miss her always, we look forward to a sweet reunion on the other side of eternity.

Amahoro Africa friends send their deepest condolences to her beloved community, The Prayer Palace.

A special thanks to Philip Lesniweski who shared this photo of Jane taken in 2008 at The Amahoro Gathering. He captured both her inner and outer beauty.

Amahoro Jane!

It's true!

Can you read this? Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Sent from John Isaacs.