Father's day in Mozambique

6 AM in Maputo ( 11 PM in New York) - Mariana wakes me up with a Happy Father's Day kiss and a handmade postcard with a special message.

Thank you Mariana, I need more space in the office to show so many things done by my lovely daughters. Maybe a new office!!??

Visitors

Finally we got some visitors from Portugal...

Nuno and Susana are a christian couple involved with a child sponsoring program - Projecto Vitória, at Matola Rio, a poor area outside Maputo.

Although theuir full agenda, they spend some time with Alice, at the Hospital, serving the Oncology patients.

Nuno is a professional fireman and Susana is photografer! So, you may see some good quality pictures in the next days. Nuno already helped us to rescue our cat on the top of the tree!

So, welcome to Mozambique!

Soccer and Life

Thanks to the generosity of Clube Desportivo de Mafra, who donated a lot of soccer kits for our kids, today's training session was so special for the first group of kids, at the orphanage where we have been developing a soccer school - whole life coaching.

Dressed "in yellow", the training was completely different from the others!

Net week, all the group will be wearing new clothes!

KANIMAMBO MAFRA!

Pain and Hope

Almost 2 years ago, we received a first container with donations for the orphanage "Casa das Formigas". At that time, a lot of thinks stayed in Portugal waiting for the next container.

Even not knowing when would be shipped the new container, a lot of friends were keep receiving and colecting things, and some of them providing space for storage.

Suddenly, the challenge wasn't about colecting anymore, but about funding the transportation to Mozambique.

For how long it would take the cancer kids at the hospital to wait for their clothes and other needed materials? How many families would be able to wait for those needed clothes and shoes?

That's when someone had a dream!

A dream of turning up a smile on the mozambican kids. A smile that was fading away slowly meaning pain for someone that would be transformed into hope to others.

The dream impacted others, and because of that, soon, the dream will be just reality.

The container will be shipped to Mozambique!

Our friend Márcia fight with cancer until the last minute and lost her life last week. But her dream will win hundreds of happy faces in Mozambique as she also fight for them.

Thank you, Marcia.

Rainy weekend

Here in Maputo, when it rains, it RAINS!!!!

We were ready to drive 200 miles north of Maputo, for a weekend of rest when started to rain in Maputo. We decided to keep our plans and we drove for 5 hours until we arrived at our destination, 200 miles away from home.

On our return, it took us 7 hours to drive the same distance, just because the main road (only dust on the day before) was only mud (no tar for about 30 miles).

Thanks for our 4x4 vehicle, this was a great and funny adventure! The only challenge was to convince the girls that we should wash the car after this! They just loved all the mud!

Haute Couture

In Paris or Milan, he would be well known by everyone, and would travel all over the world showing his talents.

But he is an ordinary mozambican and works in a small garage in Maputo. This taylor do his best to make his customers happy, like Alice, who is bringing a dress for him to do.

In fact, I have seen in this city more man on this job than women.

Emmanuel School

This morning we had the privilege to be at the Emmnuel School, to share with the 80 students from kindergarden to 12th grade.

7:30 AM and everyone was ready for the weekly devotion.

This school will start a program on Whole Life Soccer Coaching, as 2 teachers completed the training we had in Maputo 2 weeks ago.

Certificates

32 youth leaders from 15 different churches and agencies received their Certificates for the 5 day training in sports ministries. It is just a paper, but what it matters is the knowledge put into practice.

These leaders will meet together again in few weeks to start planning for a KidsGames event in Maputo, during the World Cup in Soccer and Portuguese Games, this summer.

Congratulations to all! This is just the beggining...

Leadership Training in Maputo

Today we finished a series of leadership training conferences. For 5 days, 32 leaders from 15 different churches and agencies completed a training in Sports Ministries and Experiential Learning. For the closing day, the students had the opportunity to serve 170 kids from different areas, with a KidsGames program, linking sports, games and bible teaching.

Big Screen

The African Cup of Nations is in Angola, but in Mozambique we are also celebrating with the fans.

In different towships around Maputo, we had the oportunity to setup a big screen and show the games to hundreds of fans.

Before the second half, a video of top christian players sharing how God is much more important than a prize that will only last for 2 years was on the screen so everybody could see there is a prize that lasts forever and available to everbody.

CAN 2010

From January 10 - 31, Angola organizes the African Cup of Nations in Soccer, hosting 15 teams in 4 cities - Cabinda, Luanda, Benguela e Lubango.

Such a Major Sport Event is also an opportunity for churches and agencies to partnering together with initiaties to reach the sport fans.

We had the privilege to visit all the 4 cites and provide training to young leaders on sports ministries. In Benguela, a tent was provided right outside the stadium so we could do outreach initiatives.

A Mozambican Wedding

Our friend and co-worker Saidate is married!
The wedding was on December 26th, in the same day of other 30 weddings celebrated at the Wedding Palace, in Maputo. An unforgetable day when temperatures reached 104º F.

2 banquets where we can have a taste of mozambican food and culture.

Christmas Day in Maputo

With temperatures reaching 104º F, there is only one place to be - the pool!

It seems a new tradition for our family on Christmas Day - diving and swimming at the Maritimo Club Pool.

Xicuembo

Alex is one among many boys that live in the streets of Maputo, parking and "checking" cars, to get some coins.

This morning, Alex helped me to park the car and promised me to "check" (to take care or to protect the car from burglars) while I was in the store.

Looking to his cap, I asked:

- Bro, where did you find that cap?

A friend gave it to me, boss!

- Have you noticed what is writen?

Yes, it says Jesus!

- And you know who is Jesus?

Jesus is Xicuembo (God in Tsonga dialect), he said, pointing to the sky.

We have talked a little bit more, and I promised him a Bible, next time we will meet.

This season, the Chistmas Tree can be at the corner, but Jesus must be at the center!

Ethics

These are my students, at CDL (Leadership Development Center) where I have been teaching Ethics for this last semester.

Very good grades, and even better discussions on Ethical Issues and Dilemas.

The real test will be now, in the real life. I'm sure they will do great!

A new family member

Mia it's a cat and the new member of our family!

A birthday gift for Mariana, but arrived yesterday, as she was born on October 9th, 10 years later than Mariana.

Welcome, Mia!

Shool Awards

They call it "Excelence Award" and our daughter Raquel received it again for the 3rd time!

Congratulations Raquel!

Weelchairs for Cancer Kids

These are the two weelchairs donated to the Oncology Department of the Central Hospital.

They were donated by the Sunday School of a Church in Portugal. Thank you so much.

We still have another weelchair donated by a company in Portugal, wainting to be shipped to Mozambique.

Awakening in Maputo

4:00 AM - The day starts with the birds singing on the trees. On the background we can hear the call for prayers from the nearest mosque.

4:30 AM - The city is very quite, and the lights are still on, contrasting with the sky that is gaining is colour every second. Guards clean the sidewalk, and some residents do their morning jogging.

5:00 AM - On the radio, the National Anthem is playing and the news from the day before are repeated. The sun is there, and people start filling the streets on their daily routine to the jobs.

On the surroundings, some run for water that is still not available to everyone.

Good morning, Maputo!

Glossary

Here are some words you need to know if you want to visit us in Mozambique:

Chapa - 9 seat Toyota Van, used as public transportation for 18-22 passengers.

Mola - Money

Celular - Cell phone

Crédito - Cell phone pre-paid balance

Maningue Nice - Very Nice

Kanimambo - Thank you

Job - Job

Boss - Boss

Mulungo - White Man