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.

Special stars!

Our annual vocational Bible school took place again at our Primary school. We were privileged to have at some days more than 150 kids who were entertained by our team members, Rick and Heather Neufeldt. This year we were really spoiled to have had 2 visitors from Canada - Glen and Keren who also participated.

Photo: Rick in action!

Photo: Portraying the "kings armour".

The theme of this year was: "You are special." Rick presented every morning with a Bible story and Scripture memorization. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the Bible lessons as it was not just fresh and new but also very practical.

Painting, water games, shenanigans and sport was but just a few of the fun things all the kids could participate in. The aim of VBS is to make sure all our kids will have great fun but also learn more about God in a practical but fun way.

Health education also played a major role and Keren, a qualified nurse who worked with Samaritan's Purse in Uganda last year, presented her health lessons to teach kids to look after themselves because they were so special.

To measure if a program is successful with kids is an easy test. Just listen to them. Their laughter would quickly tell you. And they laughed like there was no tomorrow. The spiritual input would show soon, I though after looking at the kids.

Thanks to Heather Neufeldt for the photos!

Thunder and Lightning .........

I once read a caption in a book I borrowed from someone. The sideline note made a comment about how he perceived Christians to be sometimes. It read: "Many Christians are like a thunderstorm - thunder and lightning but no rain!" That made me think off course and made sure I do more than I say. Needless to say it's a disciplined battle! But yesterday late we had quite a different type of storm.

Anyway .... no theology today. We had a huge storm yesterday and may goodness it had it all. Lightning ....... count to 2 .......... thunder .......... huge drops ........ even a few drops with hail ...... wind and some damage due to the storm.

Our litchi orchard also felt the fierce hand of the storm. Although some branches broke off everywhere no houses were damaged in the process. Was a nice storm though - had more than 40 mm of rain in the process. And off course ..... the local Mozambicans are rejoicing - planting season can start.

Thank you again ......... 45 days before 2009 lies behind us ............ for your support and prayers and for all that is happening in Mozambique.

NEWS FLASH: It's raining Bibles!

Zimbabwe has been in the news all over the world. Mostly all of the media coverage was negative - and rightly so. Tens of thousands of Zimbabwe fled the country and reside mostly in South Africa and Mozambique. Of these fleeing Zimbabwe many are trying to survive with only the clothes on their back. These people, far from their homes, family and friends are continuing to struggle.

FLEEING TO SAFETY: A Zimbabwean woman with her child on her back flees across the Zimbabwe-South Africa border at Beitbridge Border Post in Musina, South Africa. There are reports about Mugabe loyalists sweeping the countryside with wooden sticks and hunting down opposition supporters (AP)

Photo taken from www.businessworld.in/.../New-Avenues.html

One of the biggest battles is not just to help them physically but also spiritually. It all started many years ago when we provide Shona Bibles to believers who were in desperate need for Bibles. Trying to meet the demand we realize how difficult it was to get these Bibles. In fact - the Shona Bible is currently the scarcest Bible in the world. There is currently only one organisation in Africa (South Africa) who keeps them at this stage - and no it is not the Bible Society.

Shona Bibles are not printed anymore in Zimbabwe and getting the printing rights is currently not possibly. It is reported though that http://www.biblesforbelievers.org/ will possibly be getting the right to print Shona Bibles.

We have been extremely fortunate to have wonderful people come on board to help us get some of these Bibles. We yearly distribute many hundreds of Bibles. We could distribute thousands if we had the funding but a few good people came on board and helped us to get at least 350 Bibles sponsored. These 350 quickly grew to 550 and we are currently standing on 700 Bibles being sponsored.

I will share some stories as we hand over this precious cargo to many pastors waiting. We only hand out Bibles to pastors and leaders we have a relationship with and to those who can read and write - for obvious reasons.

I have just had the opportunity to hand over some of the precious cargo (again brought over the borders very quietly) to some amazing growing churches. Areas like Malape, Nhamadzi, Pungwe-Sul (new churches planted) are areas in central Mozambique that has a great hunger for the Word of God. I wish you can be with me as I hand over these Bibles. The joy, screams and total chaos as many receive their first Bible ever.

Thanks to many sponsors it is now possible to hand over some scarce Shona Bibles to women who could never read or write. The woman action has more than 700 women waiting to receive their first Bible.

Our team on the mission base with SAM Ministries (our partners for the last 14 years) are an integral part in helping all of us to reach out to our more than 400 pastors to each have their own Bible.

Thank you to Bellville Congregation, Naomi and Johan van Loggerenberg, Anton Louw, Jan van den Bergh, The Bible Society and http://www.biblesforbelievers.org/ and other friends for their generous contributions to buy 550 Bibles. Bibles are currently R80 a Bible and very expensive. Thank you for taking your bread and butter money to make it possible for someone else to read their own Bible for the first time.

On the road 4: Three cups of tea with the Queen!

Well to be very honest I never really saw the Queen (the one with Sir Phillip as husband - not a very friendly man I hear). And I would never say that I was disappointed either. You see I feel that I have really met the REAL Queen of England. Their Excellency Lady Barbara and Sir Alan from Budleigh.

Having some cucumber sandwiches with cream scones is the way to do it in England they say. Meet Barbara (the real queen) and Alan as we join them for English culture - bathing in the English late summer sun outside East Budleigh. What is the UK without the old red phone booth?

Pebble beaches in England is quite common .... and if I might add locals are not afraid to sunbath as soon as the sun shows its head. I was shivering from the cool air but I think I heard the lady say something like "I ain't afraid of no cold!" (She could have been American, I think!)

A small coastal village, Beer.

The English countryside is something that you just have to experience. We've spend many miles walking over many days. The small village of Beer in Devon county is in the background.


After Alta and Barbara fell into the river, Barbara was still agile enough to jump on rocks. If I might add (I will not mention any age) that Barbara still plays tennis, golf and bridge very competitively - and winning.

Both Alan and Barbara visited Mozambique on various occasions and even travelled on a Zimbabwean bus to get to us. They have changed our future and what we are doing in Mozambique in a big way. Barbara was a nurse and Alan an engineer and stayed most of life in Iraq and other Arabian countries.

O yes, and Barbara drives better than the Queen. They took us for the week we visited their cottage to the most interesting sites of which .............

a visit to one of the oldest bridges (the Clapper bridge) in England. It was apparently build 2000 years ago. A clapper bridge is an ancient form of bridge found on the moors of Devon (Dartmoor and Exmoor) and in other upland areas of the United Kingdom.

On the road 3: Dynamite and small packages!

It started many years ago when David and Kate Phillips asked for a few pictures of Mozambican children and their way of living. I shared a few pictures of our Amigo Orphan program at our ASAM headquarters in the bush. The program is being helped by SAM Ministries, Canada and Love Mozambique.

Well, Daisy ( she could have been 7) saw the pics on their freezer and decided with her parents that something had to be done. A few girls (Mimi and Poppy ) joined and started selling cake to sponsor the annual Christmas party for orphans. This meant that we could take all our orphans and treat them with a festive meal and lots of brand new gifts.

I was astonished when I received the first gift from their Dad, David! The girls made a huge difference - bigger than they could ever comprehend.

I had a longing for some time to travel to the UK and hand over some special certificates from our orphans in Mozambique. The dream was made a reality by an amazing generous guy (we call him General Piet). We travelled to Godalming, London and met the girls to hand over their certificates.
The other kids watching the ceremony said as one .... as their teacher did: "We want to make a difference too in the lives of orphans in Africa." "Watch us ...........!"

And I realized ......... hey ..... dynamite do come in small packages and when they ignite (without asking someones permission) they truly become heroes of the faith.

Thank you Daisy. Thank you Mimi. Thank you Poppy.

You are my heroes ........ and so say all our orphans in Mozambique.