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Mission Minute in Mozambique
How exciting it is to experience first hand the enthusiasm of volunteers who travel around the world going on God's missions. Just as the Auburn City group finished up in Praia and headed to Kruger National Park, the Prints of Hope group of volunteers arrived from Florida and surrounding areas. They too had planned a busy agenda - running a clinic, laying bricks on two churches, interacting with school children, sharing new clothes with the young, some who had never had brand new items especially for them! The girls and I were able to connect with this friendly group of young people (and a few young at heart) when they arrived at our home to play basketball and soccer after a hard day's work. Spanish was the mother tongue of many. That helped them communicate in Portuguese because of its many similarities to Spanish. The Prints of Hope volunteers worked hard completing the Machava and Influene churches in the Maputo suburbs. They were able to participate in the Influene dedication, providing special music, sharing the sermon, adding their messages to those of the happy, bursting-at-the-seams congregation. A special hit was a song sung in Swahili, Spanish and English. Several community officials were in attendance. Two shared their appreciation for the ongoing literacy meetings at Influene. Many eager children were gathered for Sabbath School on benches under the mango trees singing happy action songs. I was impressed. Kids no older than 12 and 13 were leading out in the music and translating for our volunteers. The puppet Bible story was well received, even by a nearby construction crew pausing in their work to follow the joyful commotion. At the close of the service thankful church members presented special gifts to Abdiel, leader of the volunteers. New friends, volunteers and members, feasted on a tasty meal prepared especially for the celebration.
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