KidsGames Maputo 2006 started!

It was beautiful! This afternoon, at Parque dos Continuadores, the best track & field stadium in all the country, 10 different churches started a partnership where 200 kids will learn about athletics and the bible in a 5 day program. Please pray for them, and for each volunteer. Thanks for your help in this project! KidsGames Maputo needs your prayers!

I miss you!

From today, I'm by myself. The best part of me went back home! I will be home soon. Love you Alice, Raquel and Mariana.

The city where everything can happen...

Maputo is the city where everything can happen: saling shoes in the corner...

Going to the wedding in a "cabriolet" car...

Where we find fans for Benfica...

or even for FC Porto!

Maybe our future school????

Last friday, the girls went to the"Escola Portuguesa" where, if God send us to Mozambique, they will be studying. Great facilities and they love it!

Arrived!

3 more helpers for the KidsGames event arrived from Portugal. Luciano, Paula and Sara will be helping us with logistics, teaching and sports. 200 kids expected in the capital city of Maputo in a parnership within 10 churches.

Serious players...

The soccer team Académica reach the first division last year ending the season in 5th place, the result of determination and hard work, from those players non-professional, training everyday after work, and receiving only a few amount, enought to pay the "chapa", the crowded public transportation (18 persons in a 9 person van) that charges 0,50 to cross the city.


The big difference is that 8 players in this team believe they can reach a victory out of the fields. The victory of being saved by the Lord Jesus Christ and a prize that is eternal. 8 players that pray before each match with all the team, with a deep desire to share the gospel with their attitude in the field too. I had the previlege to share with them the Word of God, challenging them to run the race, for God's prize.

The house of happiness...

What could mean sadness for us, it means joy for these orphans, the majority with Aids. The joy of receiving love and attention from some volunteers that give some hours a week to love them like their own children. Just a few hours to make a big difference in their lives. What we have received back was much more than happy faces - the assurance of what is really importante for them, not a PlayStation or a Barbie, but love, just love.

Mariana helped Eugénio to sleep...


Alice tryed to carry all of them...
Raquel helped too!

Trans World Radio & KidsGames Maputo

The "Capital" Radio Station, a ministry of Trans World Radio in Mozambique, broadcasting for the capital city of Maputo is partnering with us, promoting the KidsGames event all over the city. This morning we had an interview for the kids program, chalenging kids and families to attend the event.

Two weeks...

It's been two weeks since we arrived in Maputo. This week we will do the final preparations for the KidsGames event starting next Sunday.
Next Wednesday 3 friends from Portugal will arrive to helps us in the field, with all the others that are staying in Portugal and all over the world, doing the precious job of praying for us.
Yesterday we went to another church - Igreja Baptista de Malangalhene.

Our family in Africa...

Happy faces and good friends

Yes, we all miss the friends, but we still very happy.
And that's because the Bowers family had received us like "kings".
From left to rigth, Cory, Stacie, Lauren and Jim (Marlene is sleeping somewhere else)

Lots of animals and one less tooth

In Mlilwane, Swaziland, a wildlife park in this small country close to Mozambique, where we walk among the game...
...where houses are made of straw to look like B-Hives...


... and a place where Mariana lost her 2nd tooth, after a "friendly kick" from her sister Raquel.

Pictures of the day...

Lunch at Pastor Moiana's home, and some progress with Raquel and Mariana's transcultural relationships.

Eka Yesu ndzi tinyketa

A different sunday with a different language - Tsonga (xangana) at the Igreja Evangélica de Maguanine. The service started by 9:00 AM and ended by 12:45 PM. Beautiful music and praise from almost every people from the church.

Soccer with a purpose

16 young players who love soccer and who also love to please God. A small church and a soccer team, sharing a passion for soccer, and values for a generation of children and teens living in a context where Aids has been devastating to thousands of people. Every 5 minutes a child dies in Mozambique! This team, they want to make a difference, and it was a blessing to be able to share with them the Word of God and challenge them to glorify God with their talents and abilities, with hope for a future with God. The World Cup glory lasts only 30 days in every 4 years. God has something for us that lasts forever.

Athletics and Kids

In 18 days, 10 churches from the capital city of Maputo will bring their kids to this stadium, for a KidsGames program, partnering with the Athletics Association of Maputo. During 5 days, children will be introduced to athletics, and most important, the values that come from it and from the Bible. Self-estim, Courage, Perseverance, Inderdependence and Trust in God will be key-words to show them the Great God we have, and His Love for each kid in the world.

For those used with Google Earth, please visit the KidsGames stadium at 25 58' 03.11''S, 32 35' 41.11''E

Her tooth fell out...

Finally in Mozambique, Mariana ask with courage: Dad, please take my tooth out, because I'm tired of it!

Thank you friends!

Dear friends,
Thank you so much for your friendship and encouragement, and it is only 4 days since we left Portugal.
We really need that in this side of the world.

Jorge, Alice, Raquel and Mariana Pratas

Sunday morning...

For the first time our family went to church at 8:00 AM for Sunday School, and not 10:30 as usually. Pastor Paulo preached about love in I Corinthians 13, challenging us to make it true in a pratical way.
By afternoon we went to the beach so the girls could have a taste of Indian Ocean.

Until the last minute...

WOW! What a game! Great goalkeeper - Ricardo. Here we can ear the cars all over the city in Maputo, celebrating as they would do in Portugal. Incredible!

Portugal - England

Today is the big day for the portuguese team! And an opportunity to show the match with a big screen with testimonies of christian athletes. During the game, spectators are chalenged to guess who's scoring the goals and the prize is a bottle of Coca-Cola. And everybody will support Portugal!