It's Red Alert for Mozambique

Mozambique is the only African state shown in red on a world map of countries most affected by extreme weather.

The map was released at the United Nations climate change conference in Durban on Tuesday.

Drawn by German-watch, it forms part of the seventh edition of the Bonn-based non-governmental organisation’s Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI).

The red color indicates South Africa’s northeast neighbor was among the top 20 countries affected by extreme weather -

including events such as flooding, drought, heat waves and severe storms - from 1991 to 2010.

A table in the index ranks Mozambique 19th in the world when it comes to the death and losses - relative to its population size and its GDP -that it has suffered as a result of this.

It shows the country suffered 50 extreme weather events, which cost it 1745 lives and US96 million (about R802m) in losses over the two decades.

Over the same period, South Africa was struck by 307 such events, at a cost of 1216 lives and US242m (about R2 billion)in losses.

The index looks at only the direct impact of the weather events, and not the often much stronger indirect impact.

It also contains a section on the impact of climate change on African countries, which notes the continent is particularly vulnerable, although most of them score low on the GCRI.

“In the African regions, indirect impacts like food scarcity as consequence of droughts often cause the most severe consequences which cannot be considered with sufficient reliability in the data that provide the basis for the climate risk index,” it states.

According to the index, the three countries most affected by severe weather between 1991 and last year were Bangladesh, Myanmar and Honduras.

All of the top 10 were developing countries. - SapaPublish Post

Transforming women in Mozambique

Thanks to the endeavours made by the government of Mozambique, the country is witnessing significant progress in gender equality.   Although women make up more than 53 % of the Mozambican population many people in the society still refuses to acknowledge women as creators of wealth and as the guarantors of economic and social well being.  In rural Mozambique, where we live and work, this problems becomes an even bigger problem.  Culture plays a big role when it comes to determining what women may do.  The local church in Mozambique actually holds the answer in their hands.  We work through the local church to reach most of the women involved in the Simukai program.

Women in their cultural role at home providing
in the needs of her family. 

In government we currently have 28 % of the ministers who are women, 20 % are deputy ministers, and 27 % of the women are provincial governors.  39 % of the members of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique are women.


But working in the bush is a total different issue altogether as I have said.  Treading carefully and not stepping on toes is a nearly impossible task if you want to uplift and transform women to play a more active role in the community affairs.  As you know we are currently helping women through various programs which include:

• Literacy programs - using the Bible as tool to teach them to read and write.  More than 2 600 women are following this program in various languages, eg. Shona, Portuguese, Sena, English and Chewa.
• Entrepreneurial programs - teaching women various crafts which they sell.  Many women was enabled to earn enough money to care for their families and even buy cows to plough their fields.
• Other social economic endeavors - a trial project with water pumps to help women to set up food gardens close to rivers to help in sustainable food provision for their families.
• Health and family care manuals:  After teaching women how to read and write we are involved in teaching health classes to women and how to take good care of your family.  We stay as culturally sensitive as possible in these matters.
• Currently building a Women Training Centre where literacy and entrepreneurship will be the main focus point.  The centre will be a hub where women will gather and be equipped for the Mozambican challenges ahead.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Alta testing one of the water pump models available which women could use to procure water for her garden and even for family use.


The idea is to start a trial project to provide women with some of these pumps to ease the load they are carrying each day.  All women in the community has the tiring job of carrying water to their homesteads - sometimes many miles away.

LEFT:  Carrying water in the community is a tough job for the woman.

 OTHER NEWS:



One of our co-ordinators for the Simukai Women program, Eunice, had to leave us after 10 wonderful years.  Family commitments and responsibilities had to come first in Eunice's decision to continue her new season.  Although we did not want her to leave we place a huge emphasis on healthy family life and agreed, with many tears, to let her fulfill her next dream.  She will be missed.  Eunice will still be available in the future to help the women's ministry, but on a much smaller scale.

She has a wonderful heart for women in Mozambique and were actively involved in training teachers in the rural communities.  She also played a very active part in the arts and crafts entrepreneurial projects in the various districts in Mozambique.

We wish Eunice all the best!

Colorful school year ends!

Africa is a land of many sound, rhythms and colors.  People here dance to the rhythm and the beat of the drum .... and they even dance to rhythms they cannot hear.  Africa is a great continent full of people of all colors.  It's a proud mother who loves her children. But it is the kids who usually suffers the most.  African children are more likely than children in the rest of the world to grow up malnourished, without an education, and affected by conflict and HIV/AIDS.  Stats are scary - with more than 140 000 000 kids in sub-Saharan Africa living in extreme poverty.  And although children here face some of the most challenging circumstances we believe in helping them to DREAM BIG.   War and poverty have destroyed most dreams here in the bush.  And although many of us manage to dream achievable dreams many of our kids don't even have a dream.

STATS:  175 children out of every 1 000 dies before they reach their 5th birthday.  We have 200 000 child slaves in Africa.  120 000 kids involved in armed conflicts.  Nearly one third of children in sub-Saharan Africa are underweight.  Between 12 - 14 million kids have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS.  Only 57 % of African children are enrolled in primary education and 1 in 3 of those does not complete school.  For every 100 boys there are only 83 girls enrolled at primary school.
STATS:  World Bank/UNICEF/Africa 2015

That is why we make sure that every kid who joins our bush schools has the opportunity to DREAM BIG.  We don't have businesses in the bush and the chance to find a job here is about 0 % - but we found ways to help our kids dream through:

• Exposing them to excellence and serving in their communities;
• Starting a 'Buddy Project' where they have the opportunity to see some of our ministries working eg. mechanics, teaching, health workers, administration workers, orphan care, agriculture and many other areas where we specialise in;
• Teaching them various skills;
• Entrepreneurial opportunities and teaching them the basic principles of 'business';
• Emphasis on character.

Our bush schools have become 'Dream Centres' where we go the extra mile.  At the end of the year we invite parents and the community to share in those dreams as we celebrate the achievements of their kids at our schools.  Here is a few pictures to share in the occasion.

LEFT:  Sport Woman of the year award.  We have spend a lot of time making sure girls are part of our educational process and have the right to basic education until 16 years of age.

Joao Benjamim (suit and tie) opens the day with prayer.  Joao Feniasse (left) is the school principal and acted as the master of ceremonies.

There were a lot of prizes for the annual school closing event where we celebrated the achievements of our school kids.  First prize - Grade 4 was a mountain bicycle.

A colorful picture in the bush.  Our school has grown tremendously the last few years which meant we do not have all the facilities to gather inside a hall.  The sun was fierce but the expectation and contagious excitement kept everyone pinned to their seats.

Time to receive their certificates and prizes with proud parents watching.

Little Chimboma has an interesting story.  Her mom is a old widow who is raising 4 kids on her own in the bush.  She somehow manages to spend a lot of quality time with her kids.  All of her kids has shown that they can academically achieve top spots in their class.  Little Chimboma was the top student in 2010 and followed that up with a great 2nd in her class in 2011 for academical achievements.

CLASS OF 2000.  It was great to see old students who we taught and completed their studies in our Primary bush school.  Many of them are parents and are sending their infants to the same school where they graduated.  Many of these kids started under a tree with us as we had no facilities at that time.  Left:  Dwight and Lynn Lagore (Canada),  Right:  Joao Benjamim and Francois Rauch (Mozambique and South Africa) with the rest of our old students.

Dwight Lagore and Francois Rauch handing over gifts to the top achievers.  The 'bubbles' you see on the foreground was the idea of our school teachers.  Lets call it:  "side effects" since we don't have dry ice in 40 degree temperatures the teachers felt the students should be treated with bubbles to make them feel extra special.  I laughed so hard at the gesture .... but everyone enjoyed it thoroughly.

FIRST PRIZE - Grade 4 top student receiving his bicycle ( with our 'bubble making team' working hard).

Sinambale Paradzai (teacher Grade 2 and 3) getting to the highlight of the day.  RESULTS for the end year exams being shared with the parents.  Will I make it or will I have to ....... (well you know what!)

When an African kid worships .......

I have been humbled so many times in the African bush that I have stopped counting.  It's 09:00, Sunday morning - Mozambique.  The temperature gage already reads 35 degrees Celsius in my vehicle.  My air con is running on its maximum setting - I am on my way to another bush church which formally invited me to come over.

Now if you believe all the latest statistics on church growth and spiritual formation all around the world, Europe is currently going through a spiritual dip.  Africa on the other hand is spiritually growing at a rapid rate with church growth booming in countries like Mozambique and even Nigeria.  But I don't read to much into stats.  It's when I enter a church that I immediately know what is actually happening there.  The maturity, the purpose in worship, the preaching, community, love and the relationships.  This morning yet again I was humbled beyond reason.  The amazing worship .... grabbed me.  It was yet again the kids .... when they stand up and worship without anyone telling them how .... they simply lift their hands and start praising GOD.

No band, no separate benches or a quiet corner for those 'naughty' kids .... they are part of the full package!  Their joy brought so many tears to my eyes again this morning that I could hardly share a Message of a God who finds so much joy in the African church.  You see ..... it's authentic, real, in your face without pretence.  I love that.  And this morning in this very simple (and I say that with the greatest respect) African church ... they had it all.  Viva!

Kids getting into the groove of worship!

And then the gracious offering from the church pastors!  I receive a chicken for coming and being part of their celebration of GOD.  Awesome!  I love Africa and its people.

SMALL CLIP TO REMIND YOU OF TRUE AFRICAN WORSHIP .....

Going Green

GREEN is the way to go - even in the bush where everything around us is shades of green!  After a visit from Stellenbosch, Johan Roos - a wine farmer was touched by the agricultural project of the mission.  He decided to get involved with help from friends and farmers in Stellenbosch and they donated these T-shirts to our co-workers in Mozambique.

The farmers in Stellenbosch, South Africa also donated irrigation equipment that will help all our food gardens to produce veggies for orphans and more than 300 children in our primary schools.  The irrigation equipment will be installed as soon as our rainy season finishes in March 2012.

Our team ..... ecstatic about their early Christmas gift

Meque Raeni - our sustainable agriculture worker and guru showing off his T-shirt.

Americo and Alex (Head of AGRI PROJECTS) felt they should visit Stellenbosch after this gift.

Walking on Sunshine

It's nearly 08:00 clock in the morning or so my watch says which is wet on my arm from the high humidity.  If there is one thing we all own in Mozambique, except for mosquito repellent that is, it's a barometer hiding under a tree somewhere.  The mercury reads nearly 30 degrees Celsius.  Hot and sticky and I cannot but help thinking of the 40 degree Celsius mark midday.  It's VBS (Vocational Bible School) time again and kids have been anxiously waiting for the program to start after their 'tough' exams behind them.

I get on my motorbike to travel the 20 km to our bush school to see how many kids would actually pitch up for the fun and games.  To my amazement 179 were waiting on time in the heat for the fun to start.  Their anticipation is actually quite contagious.  In heat like this water games must be the biggest attraction apart from all the cool drinks and biscuits.  Between the games, Bible stories, role playing and fun there was a lot to learn.

Before we even knew it day 1 was finished ..... and we didn't even feel the heat.  Special thanks to Rick and Heather and all the helpers for hosting yet again a marvelous time with our kids.  Their laughter still rings in my ears ...... a sound I always cherish.

Photo 1:  Cooling down session - passing sponges!

Photo 2:  Quickly catching a drink and grabbing a biscuit before continuing the race.

Photo 3:  Enjoying a break!

Photo 4:  Simon Nicalau one of our pre-school teachers (and first aid officer) making sure all is well at the starting point.

Photo 5:  Oh the joy of studying - Grade 5 students could not participate in the VBS fun.  They are in the final stages of preparing for their external exams in a week.  With all the joy and fun outside ..... it seems hard to concentrate on the job on hand.

Photo 6:  Exploding balloons and more cooling down games.

Photo 7:  Who can drink the most juice through a straw?

Photo 8:  VBS is all about having fun while learning.  Little Tito is getting ready as David to attack Goliath.  Bible verse memorization is a key part of the fun.  Bibles stories are being taught through role play ..... !  Amazing fun.

This morning ......

I was on my way to our annual VBS program presented by Rick and Heather Neufeld when I just had to stop and admire God's artwork in the middle of nowhere!

Will be back shortly with all the action, fun and noise from our annual VBS program at the Mucombeze Primary School.

Reptile fever!

Now I have been blogging in the past about our rich and diverse nature in Mozambique - and specially here in the bush and all the inhabitants we are sharing life with.  But the last week was a little but just too much.  Imagine waking up late night ...... nature calls (did I just say that) and you just have to go.  I mean you don't want to go .... but there comes a time when your bladder screams out and you have to obey, leave your bed and feel your way into the dark.  No electricity in the bush and candles are just too far to get to.  At least the flashlight was next to my bed ... so all settled after I forced my one eye open.  I measured my steps half asleep not to get lost.  With only my weak light to guide me through my bush house something told me to stop .... and so I did.  To my amazement a big black scorpion follow my light.  Now I know that Psalms 119 says that:  "Your Word is a light unto my path" but this was too much.  After a quick and loud 'rebuke' my wife was next to me.  What would we do without them, I wondered.  She reckoned the bigger the scorpion the less dangerous they are.  Now I have been stung by them once ..... and to say the least .... I thought God was calling me 'yonder' at a young age.  I survived.  With one sweep of her shoe my wife decided it's better to kill it.  I wanted to gather the poor creature and leave it outside - but to no avail.  It was not the end though.  Two days later .... another BBS  (big black scorpion) under my bed.  And I slept on the floor next to my bed due to the extreme heat and temperatures during the day and night.  But yet here I am .... alive.  Yes we caught the second one and he also met his Creator alongside his other friend.

Two days after the invasion that is now testing my bladder even more during the night time I met this reptile on my veranda watching me through the window.  Black Mamba - one of the world's fastest and most poisonous snakes.  I got so upset when I saw the snake I ran out the front door, collected a tent pole and tried to kill it.  It was much faster than I was and after my 17th shot the tent pole was in pieces, I was tired and the snake escaped into my rock garden.

This morning I realized that we had reptile fever again.  I visited the house of a fellow missionary to see the progress on his house when I literally stepped on a Twig snake.  NOW ... to really see how poisonous these snakes are ... you should perhaps Google the black mamba and the twig snake.  They are NOT your friends.  This morning though I am not sure who got the biggest fright ...me or the Twig snake.  I jumped to the west and he fled to the east.  Thank you for continual prayers for safety.  I shall now retire to my house where it should be a little safer .... I think!