Soccer and Life

Around 130 youth, from different churches of Maputo get together for a soccer tournment.

Many goals scored but also lots of joy for knowing about the much higher values that exist behind sports. To achieve the 1st place is good but not everything in life.

At the end, all have received literature about values and sexual abstinence.

In Mozambique we estimate that sexual activity starts at the age of 11 - 12 years old.
We can't wait for the rigth time to educate... the rigth time is now!

Who said you need special shoes to play?...

This was an oportunity for these young man and women, to watch what pro athletes have to say about life, like Kaka and Lúcio, soccer world champions.

A soccer ball, signed by the FIFA best soccer player of the world, is nothing without air inside... what about your life?...

Another team blessed by a "uniform" donation from Clube Desportivo de Mafra

Two communities competing... Romão and Baixa

Ali Mulima, the best scorer with 8 goals, showing his shirt "With Jesus, problem is not a problem"

Distribution of a magazine "Values on Sport" and a brochure about Sexual Abstinence

The Book with the best story for the 2 winning teams...

Joy and lots of noise from the vuvuzelas!

The champions... A.D. Baixa

Short Passing - Relationships

One of the main focus of Ubabalo program (Whole Life Soccer Coaching) is the way it transforms the soccer field into a classroom, where the students learn as they play and reflect about what they do.

This is what happened this morning, 8 AM, when our kids experienced for the first time a grassed soccer field, invited by Clube Ferroviário de Maputo for a friendly match.

But there was another surprise for them - a new "uniform"! Donated by Clube Desportivo de Mafra, a soccer club from Portugal, these kids played for the first time so well dressed in yellow and green.

At the end, the players should learn that short passing is important to keep the team united, but this is something also important outside the field. We need to stay united, if we want to go further. We need to help others as we need others to help us.

Saidate, our "coach", used a simple idea to demonstrate this. Every player should count how many squares on the paper and the answer was so easy - 16 squares! Well, if they look closer, with the help of others, they will probably see more. Right, some would say 22 squares, others 24, and finally, 30 squares.

Today's lesson: In soccer, we need all the team to reach the objectives. In the family, we all should be united and closer to each other. So that our homework - go back to our homes and do something that will make our family stronger, happier and united. Next week, we will see the results!

1-2-3 Training in Maputo

During 6 full days, 31 youth leaders from 15 churches and agencies were together for an intensive training on Sports Ministries as a preparation for a Major Sport Event coming to Maputo next September, the 10th All Africa Games.

KidsGames, Ubabalo - Whole Life Soccer Coaching, and Experiential Learning are just a few of the topics. The use of sports for education is a wonderful way to reach children and teens by a generation who wants to make a difference in their nation.

Graduation day... a certificate, a ball, many resources and a full heart for the Nation!

Team building and experiential learning

Teaching about changing our world through sports

Ubabalo - Whole Life Soccer Coaching

Session Plan - Heading ... how to reach your goals!

Preparing the field for the KidsGames program...

Planning the KidsGames Event

Strategies to reach every community...

Praying for the Nation...

Welcoming the children...

Fun

Joy

Games

Competition

Teaching time in small groups...

Literature - the best story... 

This is not the end, but the beggining of great things to come...

Merry Christmas

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child

with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened

their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

Matthew 2:10-11

Dear friends,


This is the 4th year we have the privilege to celebrate Christmas in Africa. Completely different from what we were used to, with fireplaces and warm clothes, now we are closer to the pool, wearing t-shirts and drinking Coke with lots of ice!

Although we only see a few Christmas lights on the streets, we still think and remember that we are celebrating the most important event on the humankind history. A baby was born, loved by some and hated by others, but bringing to all the people a new reason to live, and hope for eternal life.

Here, in Mozambique, we are so happy for being able to share this good news with all those who God send us to, and we know how important are those that, far away from us, are closer enough to pray and to support our ministry. Thank you so much!

This year, we want to reflect and think on what do we really want to give to Jesus, as those man did, opening their treasures. May our gifts of “gold, incense or myrrh” be what we value the most in our lives in order to give it to the one who gave us the most precious thing – His own life, so we could live.

Thank you for being a part of our family,

One more cast...

It seems our family love to use "casts"!
The first one to use it was Raquel, in September 2008,

Then Mariana, in May 2009,

Now, in 2010, our cat Pimpão!

We are now accepting proposals for who will be next, in 2011!

Clothes distribution

Few months ago, we have been blessed with a 20 feet container of humanitarian aid for mozambican people.

Hundreds of boxes, filled with clothes, shoes and many other articles to be distributed among the needed people. If fact, it takes us many hours before everything ends at the "final destination".

First, we need to find out what is in the boxes:

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Then, divide everything by type and sizes on the right place:

And finally, deliver it where it is most needed. This time at the 1º de Maio Orphanage, in Maputo:



Back Online...

Dear friends,

So sorry for being far away from this place.
Time is always running and sometimes, important things like updating blogs, are kept on the side.

During the last month, many things happened. Here are the highlights:

- Mariana worked on a school project that was part of an exhibition at the Portuguese Consulate in Maputo,

- Alice welcomed her sister Sónia and nephew Martim,

- Mariana won the soup contest at the Portuguese School,

- We saw a leopard at Kruger National Park,



- and we are still very happy, as always!

11 years old

Mariana is 11 years old, and this is her fourth time to celebrate her birthday here is the South Hemisfere.
Pimpão, the cat is also celebrating his 1st birthday!