Wading in the Indian Ocean

 Beira, Mozambique is in the cental west of Mozambique along the coast of the Indian Ocean.  While there I was able to walk along the beach one afternoon with Sonia and Miquitaio.  On our last day in Maputo Missionary Marta to us to the ocean and once again I was able to put my feet in the beautiful Indian Ocean and pick up a few shells.  On the road opposite of the beach, a stone wall line the road with beautiful moasics. This was a very nice outing.

What a joy!  I can now say I have been to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans as well as the Caribbean, and Mediterranean seas and Sea of Galilee.  Oh,what a wonderful priviledge!

Feira in Maputo

 While in Maputo  we went to a huge artist's market.  It was really over whelming with many beautiful objects.  These pictures are just a small portion of goods on display. There objects made of wood, stone, beaded neclaces, baskets, etc.  It was so hard to choose a few things.  And of corse, one always had to bargain for a better price.





Mercineia, myself, and Sonia at the market

Taking a "taxi" home

Leaving Mozambique for South Africa

Because our visa was only a 30 day visa we need to leave Mozambique on May 18.  We traveled in a very nice Greyhound bus for the 9 hour trip to Johannesburg, South Africa.  We needed to get off the plane to check out of Mozambique and walk across the road to check in to South Africa before boarding the bus again to continue the journey. In Johannesburg we stayed with a nice Christian lady for three days and very cold nights.  Johannesburg is a very huge modern city, but we weren't able to see many things. But we did go to a small shopping area, a huge shopping mall, and a flee market as well as church on Sunday morning and a a huge church in the evening. Monday night we moved to another Christian home close to the airport.  Early Tuesday morning on May 22 their son took us and all our baggage to the airport.  After a layover in São Paulo, we boarded the plane for our final destination arriving in Cuiabá at 11:30 pm. The whole trip was a huge blessings, but it was nice to be home again.

Teacher Training in Maputo, Mozambique

Lizete, Missionary Carmen, Sonia 

We returned to Beira from Chimoio on Thursday afternoon, washed clothes, and left very early Friday morning June 11 on a bus for a 16 hour trip to Maputo, the southern most state.  Maputo is the large capital city on the edge of the Indian Ocean of that state with the same name.  We stayed in the home of two Brazilian missionaries; Carmen, the pastor of the church and Marta who has a ministry with the deaf.  On Sunday we attended Sunday School and church with them.  they then invited a group of their friends for dinner. It was nice to meet these friends and to hear hear the mighty testimony of Lizete, a Mozambican who is graduating with a law degree.  She wants to work for the rights of girls who are being sexually mutilated.

On Monday we began teaching the advanced training course.  We had thirteen students in the afternoon class and 23 in the evening class.  I was impressed that about five deaf students and an interpreter took the evening class.  What a joy and priviledge for them to be trained to reach deaf children.  Julinho, a CEF director for Maputo, helped teach the classes.

We finished the afternoon class on Thursday and gave out their certificates with many hugs and pictures.   The evening class which had less course time was not finished but Julinho finished the course for them on Friday.  However, on our last evening we still took picures of the group and who gave us a nice farewell with hugs and presents.  We could not stay to finish the course because our visa expired the next day.

Sonia, Julinho, and Linda

Children's School in Beira

Two times we went to a place where children came for a Bible class and help with the school work.  I was amazed at the 60 some children who came.  Boys sat on one side and the girls sat on the other and they were very well behaved.  The children led the singing.  I wish I could post some of the video I was able to record of them sing very animated songs.  The young man who led the group was one who took our teacher training class. Sonia gave the Bible lesson each time.  My pre-adolescent group in Campo Verde made  beaded bracelets with wordless book colors for me to give out.  I also took little Bible story books for each of them which they enjoyed reading.  After class we waited awhile to be with the kids.  Two very creative boys made a car out of sand.  It was fantastic with all the little details!  May the Lord continue to bless Child Evangelism who runs this school.

Teacher Training in Chimoio

Our teacher training course began Sunday May 6th in the little bamboo church.  The missionary Marilza had contacted all the churches in the area requesting the pastors participate in the training and bring a worker.  This was great as it is so important for pastors to understand the importance of a children's minstry and give positive support. We had seven pastors who took the course as well as the others.  The pastor of this church was a very special blessing promoting this course. He always called me "menina" (girl) which tickled me.  There was one lady in the picture with me whose name was Linda also.  It was a joy to give out the certificates to about 20 students.

Church in Chimoio, Manica, Mozambique

May 5th we left Beira for a 3 1/2 hour trip to Chimoio, west of Beira.  We stayed with a missionary, called Marilza.   Sunday morning we went to the bamboo church for Sunday School and church.  We had a chidren's class outside under a tree while the children sat on grass mats.  We had about 5 children.  I told the story of Madugo, Miquitaio led the singing, and Sonia taught the Bible verse. The little church was filled for the church services and the women, children, and young people all gave special music.  During the preaching time we had another time with the children.

Chamba

While we were at Pr. Simonal and Maria's houe in Beira, we also had the opportunity to attend church and Sunday School at thei church plant in Chamba, a village near Beira.  Three different times we had classes with the kids and each time we had 30-50 kids attend.  Sometimes I told the story and Sonia taught the verse and other times it Sonia who taught the story and I taught the verse and led singing.  Each time the we were well received with joy.

Teaching the CEF course in Beira

 In Beira, Miquitaio, a trained CEF worker who is studying medicine, Sonia and I taught two teacher training courses.  Seven tudents took the basic introductory course and three were in the advanced seminars.  We also had a workshop where they could make a visualized song and a verse to use in their children's classes.


We had a little party on Thursday afternoon to give out their certificates.  The famous chocolate sheet cake has now been made and enjoyed in three countries besides the us.