Dancing the night away!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well I will let the pictures to the talking to summarize an awesome day with the community of Guru and surrounding areas. Guru is about 200 km from where our base is situated. The people .... and more specific the leaders of Guru has been crying for Bibles for some time now. I was able to locate some Bibles from an amazing man in South Africa Fanie Loots from Bible for Believers.

I was happy (after the normal smuggling procedures at the border) to be able to provide the leaders of Guru with more than 230 Bibles for pastors in churches. Mostly all of the pastors in churches do not own their own Bible. I left the base early in the morning packed with 230 dynamite sticks (that's if you read the Bible and actually do it). Loaded and ready with my anxious interpreter Joao we head off to one of the most amazing experiences in my lifetime.

Photo: Packing Bibles and ready to leave!

Photo: We were welcomed early in the morning in Guru by the Director of Agriculture in the area. He also played a major role in the local church in the area and was overwhelmed with his wife at our arrival as promised. Coke, Fanta and bread was a welcome breakfast.

Meet the Director of Agriculture (and Administrator for the Guru town - albeit only for a week) Senhor Elias and his wife Suzanna. Their hospitality and kindness was amazing as they entertained us early in the morning.

Photo: To summarize the church service is just not possible. Leaders came from everywhere with pastors travelling 150 km to receive their quota of Bibles. Bibles handed out to leaders were carefully noted by the secretary of the area.

Photo: When the Bibles were ready to be transported to the different areas the church spontaneously made a line outside of the church and danced and sang until every leader appeared with his box of Bibles.
Photo: The hot sun could not keep people away. Although they did not receive a Bible (due to the shortage of Bibles) they shared in the joy and fun because someone else could receive one.

Photo: The political leader of Guru helped to carry one of the boxes loaded with Bibles.

Even after the preaching and ceremony people refused to stop singing. One young man came to me after the ceremony and said: "We believe the Bibles could become more - like fish and bread - you know what I mean?" Yes, I knew what he was saying! They probably stood there for another 15 minutes before I told them that I had to leave. I was already in Guru for more than 9 hours singing, dancing, eating and praising God - it was time to leave. With cries of "don't forget us" and "come back with more Bibles" it was time to leave the dust of Guru behind.

I arrived back home late that evening. Although satisfied .... I could still see the disappointed faces ........ saying "maybe one day ..... I will too receive my own Bible in my own language!"

Again thank yous to Bible for Believers, Bellville AFM and N&J Bible Angels for bringing life and dance back to the people of Mozambique.

PS Watch out for our unique video on the event soon!

When there is no one ..............!

Paulo is a young orphan boy living in Mozambique. The mission came to his rescue by building a small house for him and a widow watching after him. When I look at kids the first thing that always strike me - is their personalities! Awesome! Paulo is lucky though .... the mission found him in time and is investing a lot in this young boy.



Paulo had a few serious health issues as 2010 started. Being sick in Mozambique has only two outcomes. You quickly recover or you die. It really is as serious as that. With no or little medical help in the bush recovery is very difficult indeed.


Photo: Visiting Paulo in Chimoio private hospital. He was on IV's and when the nurse came to inject some anti-biotics he cried so much we had to calm him so he could get his medications. We took some food to brighten his day. Nothing like chicken and chips in the hospital.


Paulo had a few abscesses in his leg that wouldn't heal. The unhygienic surroundings didn't help his leg at all. Many of the wounds became septic and had to be drained. The mission's Mercy Program was there to help and our senior nurse, Lynn Lagore (we call her Dr. Quinn) was ready to take Paulo to a private hospital. The state hospital didn't work out well - let's leave it at that. In another scenario he would just call for help ..... but no one would be listening as he was orphaned.


Photo: Dr. Quinn (Lynn Lagore) treating and injecting Paulo at his home in the bush. Everything is done outside in the sun ....... nowhere else!

Photo: Joao Benjamin one of our sponsored University students encouraging Paulo in hospital. We had a good time of prayer with Paulo too.

Paulo is daily treated by Lynn and Keren (volunteer nurse from Canada) to make sure Paulo's wounds are cleaned and freshly dressed. Paulo is still not doing to well but his wounds have not deteriorated.

PS: Many many many thanks to Lynn, Keren and Carey for some of the photos used. Bless ya!

Overcoming evil with good!

I shared a short story previously on Beru, one of our orphans at our base in Mozambique and the difficult life he has due to some serious defects. Dwight shares Beru's story in detail and I gladly place a short extraction of what Dwight has written. For the full report e-mail me at lovemoz@sg.org.za and I will gladly send you the full pdf report.

Photo: Beru with his bicycle that the mission provided. I am convinced that not even Lance Armstrong would be able to keep up with Beru when he is racing towards the money towns in Mozambique. He is seriously fast and cycling 70 km is common practice.

While still an infant, and while Mozambique’s civil war ravaged and ruined the nation, Bero’s family’s hut in Gorongoza, central Mozambique, was set alight by an incendiary round. While his family fled into the bush to escape the attack Bero was left in the family hut. As the hut burned, his father returned and rescued him but he was badly burned and spent the next 9 months receiving treatment and skin grafts at the Beira Hospital.

Resources at that time were scarce however, and although his life was saved, the resulting contractures to his arms have been debilitating. In the hand of the arm he has most flexibility in, he can only use of his thumb to grasp things, while his useful hand is bound close to his body by bands of scar tissue. His smiles, ambition and heart are seemingly boundless though. In 2008, when Bero was 19 years old and Mozambique had already enjoyed 16 years of peace and restoration, he came to the SAM Ministries’ Mozambique mission to request help to finish school.

He had completed grade 5 but, due to his family’s lack of resources, had to quit several years prior. Although this young man faced many challenges, he learned to make musical instruments, is actively involved in his local church and even engaged in the hard physical labor required by subsistence farming in Africa. One of his dreams, however, was to return to school. This he has been able to do with sponsorship he receives through the mission. Another dream was that some day function of his arms could be restored or at least improved.

Photo: Dwight with Beru at his Cessna. Beru getting ready for his first flight ever to the medical team in South Africa.

This is a dream that those involved with him also share, and have now acted on, to make it reality. In November 2009, Bero flew from Mozambique to South Africa for consultation with a plastic surgeon.

Photo: Beru - all smiles.

Dr. A. J. van Schalkwyk who, after examining Bero and feeling much could be done to improve his disability, offered not only to do the series of surgeries free of charge but to approach his colleagues to participate likewise as well. We would like to extend, to you too, the opportunity to participate in helping restore what for so long has been missing in Bero’s life: improved flexibility and use of his hands and arms so he can become a productive contributor in God’s world. At least 2 separate surgeries will be required, starting February 2010.

The estimated cost (for his first surgery) for his travel to South Africa, his surgery and his after-care is $7,000.00 CAD. The idea of two surgeries is that the time between will allow each arm the time required to heal and be rehabilitated.Should you be interested in participating in this project, please email us at dwight@samministries.org or Francois Rauch at lovemoz@sg.org.za

Special Thanks to Dwight for the article and photos taken from Lynn Lagore

Bush Mathematics: (900km)X2 - 1 Tooth

I do apologize for being so quiet! There is just tons of news and a few major emergencies as I write this. Unfortunately I had an absess in my jaw and some other minor problems (all due to age I think) and are currently in the RSA for 3 days.

Had to travel 900 km to get my absess "fixed" so thank you for understanding the empty spaces. We have no dentists or good medical care in Mozambique - unless you want them to use pliers to take out some healthy teeth in the process. Serious ... I'm not joking. As I have mentioned we have some emergencies in Mozambique. Some of those are:

• 1. Our hunger situation is extremely serious. It is reported that some people are eating grass and honey to survive. Please pray for all these unfortunate people which we so dearly love. We are trying to do the best we can and we will keep you updated.
• 2. Beru, one of our orphans, who was badly burned when he was younger needs some urgent surgery. We are trying to fund raise to help him. He is an amazing teenager with a fantastic character. Will keep you posted.
  
  Now .... gotto run to the dentist.
  

Dynamite galore!

Almost everything we do and touch in Mozambique has to do with transforming individuals or communities. The stories in this process is just amazing. Take the following story for example:

Her name is Celestina and she stays deep in the bush - Central Mozambique. She is currently in her 40's (nobody really knows because during the Civil War in Mozambique very few were born in the bush with a birth certificate!) Like many ladies in our area in Central Mozambique they have their daily chores to keep themselves busy. From raising kids to preparing fields, harvest enough for the year to consume ..... and many other things to keep the family system working.

Photo: Celestina with some of her children. Providing some maize during a very dry season.

Celestina was destined for much more. Despite being a shining star looking after her family of 7 kids she always knew there had to be more in life. She wanted to make a difference. Then Alta (my tiny wife)

Photo: Had to steal this photo as my wife don't like being infront of the camera. Alta is responsible for the Women's Ministry and she has more than 1 015 in the Sumikai program.

came along with others and started a Women's Action group who called themselves "Simukai" (which means "Stand Up" in Shona). This was exactly what Celestina was waiting for. She discovered talents that she never knew she had. She was a born leader, a great teacher and compassionate community activist. And she found that out by joining the Ladies Ministry Group. "Simukai's" purpose was to start literacy programs to teach women to read and write by using the Bible. Her life would never be the same again. She has single handedly started more than 10 women schools with more than 153 women. She trained 30 teachers to continue and expand the program. She is pure gold. She is changing communities around us like you would not believe. She has been transformed ......... and transforming others at an amazing tempo.

Photo: Some of the women Celestina is training to do crafts. Ladies sell these crafts to sustain their families.

And ..... the good news is ...... there is still many more out there like Celestina. I couldn't resist sharing her story. She is so humble ..... but on fire .... literally! She shines when you talk to her always giving someone else the credit.

Truly .... there is hope in Africa!