Cape Verde Islands

During two weeks, I had the opportunity to serve the leaders in Cape Verde, visiting two islands: Santiago - Praia and São Vicente - Mindelo.

In total, 102 leaders representing 30 local churches from 6 islands of Cape Verde, in two different classes each week, were able to learn and practice experiential learning, Bible Discovery and the use of sports and games as a reach out tool for children and youth.

We also had an opportunity to check some of the current projects and be encouraged to initiate ministries in new communities.

Take a look at the pictures:

Praia

Experiential Learning - Teamwork and Creativity

Speaking to children at a Soccer School

Sport Values and Life Values

Soccer Skills

Gift of a ball and a New Testament to the coach

Visit and Practice at a Local Soccer School

Soccer School Project in the fishing community Porto Mosquito

Incorporating a Bible Lesson into the soccer training

Certificates at Praia

A local and famous dish for everyone - Cachupa!

Mindelo - afternoon group

Discovery Bible Study

Small group discussion

Mindelo - night group

Esperiential Learning - not giving up

Whole Life Coaching

Warm up

Applying the Game experience into a Life Experience

Certificates at Mindelo

Milange

Milange is a small village in the province of Zambézia, in Moçambique.

Located 1500 miles from Maputo, is not easy to get there - 2 hours flight to Quelimane + 2 hours in a paved road + 3 horas offroad to Milange!

You can imagine the joy when we see Milange lights and finally able to get out of the car and realize it is over.

In Milange we work with a local partner (ESPANOR) a christian organization involved in educational programs, skills trainings and community development/transformation through the church. We serve the later area, delivering a training to 30 youth and children leaders coming from the many rural communities around.

Proclaiming the Gospel, Making Disciples, Obeying the Bible and the Role of the Church were the main topics we addressed, along with creative tools and their implementation within youth and children ministries, using experiential learning.

In the last day, the leaders organized a kids program in one of the near communities, where over 2500 kids showed up.

Take a look:

Vilankulos

Vilankulos is a small fishing community 500 miles north of Maputo, where we had the privilege to train 15 local leaders about children ministries using sports, games and the Bible. After the training the participants were able to practice 3 days with children from a community school in the area.

The outcome is for the leaders to be able to implement these tools in a attractive way to children helping them integrate the bible narrative with their own life experiences and find what God wants for them.

Devastating Floods in Mozambique

Floods that have been raging in Mozambique for 10 days have killed 71 people, authorities said on Monday.

The floods sparked by heavy rains have affected the north and centre of the southern African country.

Forty-nine of the victims died in the central Zambezia province, where the river Licungo burst its banks, said Rita Almeida from the National Disaster Management Institute.

Nearly 30 000 people have been rescued and placed in 34 accommodation centres.

Read more on the floods:

www.usatoday.com

www.news.yahoo.com

www.news24.com

www.allafrica.com

Mozambique New President

Mozambique's new president, Filipe Nyusi, left, and outgoing president Armando Guebuza

during his inauguration ceremony at the Praca da Independencia in Maputo.

 Picture: EPA/MANUEL DE ALMEIDA

Mr Nyusi took the oath of office and pledged "to open constructive dialogue with all political forces and civil society organisations to promote peace" in a country ravaged by a brutal 16-year civil war that ended in 1992. "I represent a new generation, a generation that inherits huge success and exciting challenges," he said.

Read more:

BDLive.com

Yahoo.com

Christmas Play

We are still not sure about the future career of Mariana, but it looks like drama may be an option! ;)

She was selected to be "Mary" at "Maputo International Christian Fellowship" church.