If it wasn't for Volunteers

Someone once said that one of the most powerful things you can have in any organization is the power of the volunteer.  We feel that power daily.  Take our Women Ministry for example - nearly 2 400 women in the program and every single one of them is a volunteer.  They do it because they believe in the vision to empower other ladies to read and write.

This time of the year we receive many volunteers who reaches out to other less fortunate people through our base in central Mozambique.  These men and women use their own sources to fly around the world to touch others in unique ways.  Today was no different at all.  I took Bob Denesiuk to our bush school.  Him and his wife went out to purchase some stationary and soccer balls for the school.  Need I say more - the kids waited somewhat impatiently for us to arrive:

Photo:  It was hot today in Mozambique and kids waited for the surprise of the day!





























Photo:  No these are not dentists or doctors - they are our Primary School teachers in their beloved school teaching uniform.  I tried it on ..... but it doesn't work while I travel on the motorbike - many bow as I past so I decided to dress in more humble clothing .... much like Mr. BOB!

Photo:  Soccer balls handed over to our teachers.  Never mind FIFA or the fact that the Soccer World Cup is over - in MOZAMBIQUE soccer fever never dies.

Photo left:  Finding stationary is sometimes difficult and the pre-school kids had to work for their stationary today!  A - E - O - I - Uuuuuuuuuu
they cried out so show Mr Bobo (as they called him) that they too know much about vowels!

Photo:  Bob, kids and teachers ecstatic about their gifts.

When a mechanic and a builder meet!

Rick Cogbill visited us for the first time in March 2010.  He is a mechanic, writer and transformational agent.  He changed our lives .... and well our V6 Ford's engine too!  He had a heart attack end of last year and decided right there that life is too short and too precious to retire.  He started a ministry, Mercy Tech Mission with the aim (as Rick puts it all to well):

"To serve needy communities worldwide by providing technical support, skilled labour, and on-site training to enhance the spiritual and physical quality of life."


Rick decided to immediately put plans into action and is making a huge difference by planning a vehicle service centre on our base in central Mozambique.  Mission Director (Mercy Tech Ministries) Rick Cogbill and volunteer Bob Denesiuk are currently in Mozambique working at our base, and will be working here until the end of March. Among other carpentry jobs, Bob is working on constructing the trusses for a training centre that is nearing completion, while Rick is doing heavy duty maintenance on all the mission vehicles.  These two gentleman, if I might add in their early 50's (I think I said that very politely!), does not leave and stone unturned.  It was sobering to see their servant heart as they not only served with their hand but also with their hearts.  They visited many of our ministries and served there as well as in the churches.  


They don't look as clean and proper as they arrived due to dust, sweat, dust and more sweat.  I Personally think they will not pass through any Canadian immigration or custom point.  But that is a problem for later - we want to keep them here as long as possible.



And yes .... my FORD (Samson) had yet again had to have open heart surgery and a bypass in the same operation and survived again.  Rick also has a passion to train local Mozambicans as mechanics who will also work in our vehicle workshop once it is finished.






RICK THE MECHANIC IN ACTION

Our Mini-van recieving some urgent attention where it matters most - or so I think!

Even the police stopped by to make sure their "ultra fast thief catching mobile" was checked for defects.

BOB THE BUILDER IN ACTION

Bob crossing a bridge to do a bush visit - ignoring the crocodiles watching from a distance!

Bob, Ron and the team cutting wood for the bridge being constructed.

Now how do we transport that huge log .... or is the question how will manpower move it on the truck?

BOB doing what he does best - build!  

Many thanks to Rick and Bob for photos borrowed!  One can only visit so many places at once!

2 Wheels and a lot of Good News!

We started in Sena - the gracious river people of the Zambezi .... living in the Delta and moved on to Quilemane!  Different communities altogether we realised as we continue training local church leaders.  With a huge concentration of some wonderful Muslim people in the north eastern parts of Mozambique we experienced their openness when it came to the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel.  Using an old method that was started in the late 17th century we continue training pastors by using the Heart of Man chart.

With Wheels for God as partner we made sure that the more than 100 pastors trained each not only received an evangelism kit, but also had the privilege to receive a bicycle to spread the GOOD NEWS more efficiently.  Bicycles are still the most important way of transport in rural Africa.

We just finished another training session in GURU, central Mozambique with some great men of GOD arriving early on a Saturday morning.  Here are some highlights in a short movie put together!  Enjoy!



Please keep on praying for our churches and pastors, who in very difficult circumstances, serve God through serving their people. They seem to never give up through sickness, disease .... and even death. They are the real faith heroes of today!

Who is Joao Benjamim from Mozambique?

PHOTO:  Mathew Hurekure (left) our administrator and Joao Benjamim (right) our latest missionary from Mozambique joining our team permanently.

I often talk about transformational engineering and how we make that our primary business where we are working in Mozambique.  Without philosophising to much about what needs to be engineered and what needs to be transformed the bottom line is that our work is ALL about restoring God's creation and in many cases just being an agent of bringing Christ's redemption to his people all around the world.

In many ways this is not an easy task.  Many tears .... but much joy.  Adding to our joy is a young man who joined us as an official missionary (I like the word "Transformational Engineer") in Mozambique.  Joao has been with us for many years working and serving the great Missio Dei of God.  Joao wanted to finish his studies which was sponsored by the mission.  He successfully completed his Business Management degree at the University of Maputo.  When he was asked .... "where to from here" his answer was very clear that God has called him to serve Mozambique in a holistic way and as a missionary would love to join our endeavour here.  That meant serving without a salary or any other way of income but to take responsibility to fund raise for himself and the work that God has layed on his heart.

Joao grew up on the Zambezi delta in a town called Mutarara.  He knows suffering, hunger, death and can recall every time they had to flee from a raging and rising Zambezi river.  We found Joao through Dwight while we were looking for a Senna interpreter ..... and with his eagerness and leadership immediately realized that God had a plan through this young man.  Joao speaks 5 languages fluently including English.

Joao will work very close with the church in the delta by setting up "pastors associations" to help struggling areas with food security while serving the church.  He will be based with us but work all over Mozambique.

Joao will also be an active advocate for Amahoro in Mozambique working with churches and communities by creating dialogue opportunities about issues on justice, reconciliation and other matters.

Crocodile attack

With Mercy Air partnering with us they are an amazing group of men and women serving in various areas, but specially in Mozambique.  Here is there latest endeavour in Marromeu, Mozambique.


This is the story of a man in Marromeu, Mozambique who was rescued by a helicopter pilot named Matthias Reuter after being attacked by a crocodile in the Zambezi River. Thanks to Mercy Air and Youth with a Mission Marromeu.





Article and footage by:  Mercy Air (South Africa)