Sunday Church in Agostinho Neto

It’s Sunday in Maputo! Roger’s interns run two churches. One of the churches is located in front of the Schmidt’s house under a large enclosure. There are about 50 people who attend. The other church is located about 20 minutes north of Maputo in a town called Agostinho Neto. Roger has divided up the interns into 2 teams. Each team is responsible for pasturing one of these churches for an entire year and they all share the responsibilities of teaching, leading worship, children’s ministry and discipleship/evangelism. During the week, Roger meets with the interns to go over the passage that will be taught from that week and to critique the previous weeks service. Roger is training these young men to be leaders, pastors and missionaries, wherever God calls them.

We attended the church held in Agostinho Neto. It is held in a small concrete building. This unfinished building is suppose to be a medical clinic, but since it was abandoned the mayor loaned it to the church for services. There are no doors, chicken wire covers the windows and plastic sheeting covering the openings to what is suppose to be bathrooms. Roger is trying to get permission from the mayor to make improvements to the building so he can put in restrooms and install doors with locks to keep out the people who come in and vandalize the building when the church is not there. Once the improvements are made this building can be the church, the medical clinic and a community center.

David, one of the American interns taught from Philippians today. Roger quietly interpreted for us. David did a great job! We especially loved the worship. At home, our instruments tend to be loud, but here the voices are loud. Check out the video.

Busy Day!

Today we went to an orphanage in Mozambique. We had to travel some really bumpy roads to get there. I thought we were 4-wheeling - especially when we gunned it through a huge puddle just praying we wouldn't get stuck. The farther we went on this dusty and bumpy road, the more I wondered what we would find when we got there. I really was surprised when we entered the orphanage. I've been in other orphanages in 3rd world countries and this one was the best I have seen. It was clean and the kids seemed happy. Scott and I spent all the time in the 2 year old and under rooms. I walked in to see rows and rows of cribs and little 2 and 3 year olds standing, sitting or lying. Most of them were so quiet - just staring at us. They really didn't cry - until one of the workers left the room. They were all so darling. Of course they couldn't understand a word we said, but a smile goes a long way. We had so much fun talking, or playing little hand games with the kids. Scott found a little guy and rubbed his back and the little guy looked like he was in a trance. You could almost hear him say "Ah, dude, don't stop!" There is nothing more precious than when a little one wraps their hand around your finger - and they did not want to let go. Next door was the infant room and it was lunch time. I got to feed a chubby little Giovianni. He was so playful - trying to knock the spoon out of my hand and then grinning! It was all I could do to feed him, and the gal next to me was feeding four of them at one time. (I am really out of practice!)

And of course - being me - I found the kids with CP, hydrocephalus and autism - they are there - just like at home. Lynne has been coming to this orphanage for a few years, but hasn't been there for a while. She was pleasantly surprised to see some of the older kids who she knew as babies - grown up and talking to her! I loved going, but at the same time left with a heavy heart - lots and lots of little babies. Most if not all of these babies were HIV positive. Some were true orphans, and some were there because they were sick and their families could not take care of them. They did not allow any pictures of the orphanage - which is too bad because you would have fallen in love with the little cuties.

I did take some pictures of the crazy traffic here. LA's stop and go freeway traffic is nothing compared to the city traffic here in Mozambique. We had to go to the grocery store and it took about 20 minutes just to get in the parking lot! I've included some pictures so you can feel my pain! Also, I took some pictures on the way to the orphanage of some typical housing and the vendors that line the streets. Check out the gal carrying the pineapples. I'm thinking this might be the way for me to be able to carry all the stuff I cart around when I have to do my trainings! I can just imagine what people would say as I'm carrying my computer and projector on my head!

Back from the Beach

Hawaii has nothing on Mozambique! What a beautiful place. The retreat with Rodger, 11 interns, 2 cooks and 5 others of us was so amazing. The investment Rodger is making in these 11 young men is life changing for them. These men came from a life of poverty but, they are being transformed into godly young men who will be future leaders in Mozambique.

During the retreat Rodger covered topics which included; work ethics, leadership skills, communicating God's word, dating, marriage, honesty, integrity and how to share their faith (the Gospel message). The young men were very engaged in every aspect of the retreat. It's so encouraging to see how much these men love and respect Roger. This is probably because many of them do not have fathers and Roger is becoming the father figure in their lives. And, like a father, he definitely challenges them.

It is obvious these young men are just beginning to realize that their future does not have to be mired in poverty. They are learning to be men of God and how to operate a self sustaining business in order to support themselves and their families.

Thursday in Mozambique

Whew - the rain stopped and thankfully, has been replaced by a cool breeze. Scott is still at the beach, which I was told several times today is one of the most beautiful spots in Mozambique. I'll be anxious to see his pictures and hear what they were up to.

Lynne has a bible study on Thursday mornings and I was lucky enough to tag along. Here I met Lynne's friends who provide support, encouragement and friendship. It was so obvious that these women totally enjoyed each other's company and it made me miss my very good friends back home. Two of the women, along with their husbands, were with a sports ministry and worked with students in the upper middle class providing recreation. Right now, they are looking for a location to run a recreation ministry - I think this is cool. One gal there was very young and wants to work with orphans. She reminded me a lot of my niece Tracy, who with her husband are also considering mission work. it was fun to listen to them talk about their lives and joke with each other.

After that, Lynne and I went to a little cafe and had lunch. We were able to eat outside since there was such a nice cool breeze. Then, we went grocery shopping to get the food needed for when the guys return. It's fun to see how things are the same and how things are different here. The meat counter held open pieces of meat. Lynne ordered a pound of hamburger and the butcher scooped it out putting it in a plastic bag. Fruits and vegetables need to be weighed by an attendant who sits in the produce department before paying for it at the register. Soda's are sold by the can, not the six pack and chips/cookies are sold in small bags. They have cakes that sell for close to $15.00! (They didn't tempt me at all!) Things are very expensive in Mozambique which seems so backwards to me since a good wage is about $500.00 a month. It's so expensive because almost everything is imported from South Africa. Most people get by here eating beans, rice and fresh produce - which they an buy locally. However, thanks to Mozovos, the egg farm that supports this ministry, eggs are now affordable! People buy them in large boxes - I heard one man order 19 dozen today. Mozovos has a small delivery truck and they drive these boxes all over town delivering the eggs to local businesses and individuals. I haven't seen Mozovos yet, but I heard they have 8,000 birds! Bread is another item that can be bought locally for just pennies.

The city here looks a lot like cities I've seen in Bolivia, Albania or Mexico - except it is probably the most crowded. Everywhere you look there are people walking, either selling cell phone minutes (there are no plans here) or carrying packages on their heads. I've seen school kids on the streets carrying their books all the time since they either attend school during the morning, the afternoon or the evening. Litter lines the streets in every direction. This was also true of Albania and it made me wonder why? Also small vendors are all along the streets. They are selling fruit and vegetables, shoes, clothing, furniture, carvings, and everything else you can imagine.

The housing in the city consists of large apartment buildings and other multi-dwelling housing that lines narrow streets full of cars. People sell things from sidewalk stands or little rooms stuck in corners of buildings. Some of the bigger houses along a main road have been taken over by businesses that pay twice the rent displacing residents to find housing elsewhere.

In some parts of the city, huge house with fancy yards lie behind guarded gates. Still, the houses are very close together and the street crowded with cars. I was told that somewhere in this neighborhood was the home of the newly appointed American Ambassador who was arriving in Mozambique today. Funny, Obama has been in office a year and this ambassador was just arriving. Lynne drove me down by the beach which she tells me becomes quite the hot spot on the weekend. Bars and restaurants line the street and vendor sell their wares. Lynne says that the beach is not a great place to swim because it is really muddy, but it looks beautiful to me. Fruit trees are in abundance; coconuts, mangos, lemons, limes and fruit I don't recognize are everywhere.

It's been a great day and I look forward to tomorrow when the guys come home. Till then....

Wednesday, January 27

Hello!

It's Wednesday and Lynne and I survived a rainstorm that had roads flooded and unfortunately, the intern's dorms flooded. So, we waded through the water and tried to rescue guitars, suitcases, shoes, clothes and other assorted things from the dorm floors. The rain lasted most of the morning, and took out the electricity, so our plans for the day were canceled. Luckily, just about the time to go pick their son, Stephen, up from school the flood water receded and Lynne was able to drive out and get him. Lynne told me that this is the rainy season, but she has never seen it rain so hard before. I have to admit, the rain was pretty impressive - me being from California - and seeing rain like that only in short spurts, not half day dumps! Then, just as it was becoming really hot and muggy, the electricity came back on. Don't you just love fans? Woo Hoo!

With the rain and the flooding, Lynne thinks we may have extra people here for dinner, so we may be cooking up a storm tonight, but at least we won't flood the kitchen!

Tuesday, January 26

Greetings!
Scott left with Roger and all the interns to travel four hours away to the beach for this year's retreat. (I know...suffering for Jesus). Roger had this all planned, down to the last detail. They even left on time. Unfortunately, they were soon back because the trailer was so heavy, it was rubbing against the tire and all attempts to fix it didn't work. So they loaded all their supplies in one of the vans, and all the people piled into the other. I think I heard them say that 19 were in the van! Off they went again! We heard later that they got there all ok and everything else went as planned.

Later in the day, Lynn and I went into the city to pick her son Steven up from his school. Lynn and Roger live in an industrial area, very crowded and very busy. Steven's school is in town not far from the row of embassy housing. Here the houses are very large, in fact I thought they were apartment complexes. Most had armed guards out front (big huge rifles....etc.) The Chinese embassy overlooks the bay - what a view! We had a little time, so we stopped and had a drink and guess what - a full glass of ICE! After Lynne assured me that they bought the ice I enjoyed a very cold drink and in this hot weather - really appreciated.

We picked Steven and his teacher, Honey up from the school. Honey stayed for dinner and we were able to have a "teacher talk". We often complain about our educational system and I am coming to learn that we have nothing to complain about. Here there are little supplies and teachers do not have to have a credential (although Honey is a fully credentialed teacher). Kids here pay a yearly tuition to go to public school. I brought some work with me (surprise, surprise) and was able to share parts of my next presentation with Honey.

Hope all is well with our family and friends so far away.

We Have Arrived at the Schmidt's House

After 35 hours of flights and lay-overs we arrived in Maputo. If I did not know better I would think I was in Bolivia. The weather is hot and humid and the poverty is very noticeable, on our short 15 minute ride from the airport to where we are staying. We ate a quick lunch, took much needed showers and everyone is resting now. The interns, Tyler, John, Rodger and I head to the Indian ocean tomorrow for a 3 day retreat. Laura and Lynn are staying in town. I have not heard their plan yet. As always thank you for your prayers and support. S&L

Sacramento Airport

We arrived at the Sacramento Airport and met the other half of the team, Tyler Mentink and John Williams. Tyler and John attend Lakeside church and are involved in the college program. They will be working with the interns in Mozambique. We got our boarding passes and made it through security only to find out that our plane is delayed by over 1 hour. This should have no effect on the rest of the itinerary we have a 4 hour lay-over Scheduled in San Francisco.

The Night Before We Leave

Well it is the night before we head out for Mozambique. We have finished packing and are spending time with Erik before we leave. Our prayer is that we can be a blessing but not a burden to the Schmidt's and the ministry God has entrusted to them. We are thankful for all of those who are supporting us and praying for us. Check back in for pictures and posts.