Leadership Visits To Brazil And Mozambique
Farewells were said at two separate Canadian airports last week as Dwight Lagore and Bill Green headed to Mozambique, and Earl Trekofski left for Brazil.
One of the objectives for the trips is to attend the Annual General Meetings (AGMs) which will be held over the next few weeks at both locations. This is an important time where the fields report on the previous year’s activities and those planned for the year to come. It is also a time to enjoy fellowship and strengthen ties.
Dwight and Bill will spend 2 weeks in Mozambique during which time they will attend the AGM. It is the first trip for Bill (Executive Director) to Mozambique, so he will experience first-hand the activities on that field. They will then join Earl Trekofski in Brazil for a week where they will attend the Brazil field’s AGM and visit current projects there as well.
Earl’s departure from Kelowna Airport, Feb. 18th.
(Earl and Ruth Trekofski)
Dwight and Bill’s farewell at Edmonton Int’l Airport, Feb. 13th.
(Patti and Bill Green, Amanda, Dwight, Arthur, Lynn, Gladie, and Steve Lagore)
Dwight and Bill got off to a bumpy start on Monday as their first flight was cancelled. Thankfully they were able to reschedule all their flights for the following day and have since arrived safely in Mozambique.
On a tour of the base, checking progress on staff housing construction (Rick and Heather’s house).
(Rick, Tendai, Dwight, and Bill)
Connecting with kids in the sponsorship program.
(Bill, Joao, and students)
At the time of writing this post, Earl was still in transit to Brazil and we trust for his safe arrival at his destination as well. The next few weeks will be full, busy weeks for these men so your prayers are appreciated as they travel to all the places they must go and encourage the many people they will be in contact with!
More Orphan Homes Receive Help
The Amigo Orphan program continues to grow and we are excited to report that six more orphan children have been added to the program this week. There is never a shortage of homes needing help and sponsorship! Heather Neufeld, accompanied by Pastor Mariano and Matthew Fernando, visited the new homes recently to get better acquainted with the families, to pray with them, and to take some pictures.
Sponsorship is given to grannies caring for orphans in their home. This is one of the new grannies inside her mud hut.
Pastor Mariano, who has a servant heart and a passion for ministering to people, bows his head to pray for a new orphan home. Pastor Mariano’s primary responsibility is working with this program.
What a privilege it is to serve homes and families who love and support one another.
If you are interested in orphan sponsorship, please visit our Orphan Sponsorship page.
Hangar Walls And Roof Complete
A big celebration was held recently to commemorate the completion of the hangar walls and roof in Mozambique. SAM Ministries was blessed by the tremendous team effort by partnering organization, Mercy Air, the Harderwyk team from the U.S.A., and the Mozambican staff in putting up the hangar structure over the past few months.
The hangar walls and roof complete with wind sock.
Work remaining includes a concrete floor.
Harderwyk Team and Mozambican staff
Barbara Wayner writes: “We are thanking the Lord for [good progress made on] the building which will serve the Lord and the people of southern Africa for many generations to come. We also celebrated protection from injury and from the sun. It was 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher most days, that’s one reason the guys and the team started working at 5:00 a.m.. Wow, that is early but it’s cooler too!
Celebrating in Africa means dancing and singing.
[And eating food, too.]
The hangar is a testimony of the Lord’s love and faithfulness through His people, both through those who have supported the work with their prayers, finances and expertise, and those who came to Mozambique to erect the building.
The day the hangar walls and roof were complete, the windows of heaven opened with rain. Rain represents the Lord’s blessings and in Africa we understand the blessing of the rain to a greater degree. The people have been praying for rain for their crops, they need more rain. Please pray with them that the Lord will bless them with more rain and they will know it is from Him, not from the rain god but from Jehovah Jireh, the Creator and sustainer of the universe!
Thank you Jesus for the privilege of knowing you and being set free by You!
Blessed to be a blessing!
Barb”
Partnerships And Furlough News
There is little more exciting than watching people who have chosen to give themselves to partner with God in His amazing work of rescuing people from the destructive influences of a messed up world! We had the privilege over the weekend to be with two churches as well as a number of families and individuals who are supporting or who have started to partner with SAM Ministries to give people a chance!
Saturday we had the fun of sharing lunch and a good afternoon visit with Suzanne and Andrew and their new little arrival, Emmit. Suzanne has led a number of nursing teams to Mozambique and this past year she brought Andrew out to meet us…that is after marrying him. We had the fun of giving them an African wedding ceremony while they were there and our prayers of blessing and good will paid off with the arrival of little Emmit only a month ago. Both Suzanne and Andrew are amazing people with big hearts and we were honored by their willingness to drive so far to enable this reunion.
Sunday morning we started out in Westerose, Alberta where we worshiped and shared with a great group of people who have been partners in this effort for many years now. Their faithful support, prayers and encouragement is characteristic of so many churches and individuals who God is using to make this mission happen.
Todd Green, a columnist and an auto mechanic’s instructor (thegrumpymechanic) at SAIT in Calgary, Alberta Canada, invited us along with Rick Cogbill of Mercy Tech Mission to share with his church about the vocational training started in Mozambique and the need for the maintenance facility presently under construction. As Todd shared his experience and the impact his encounter with Mozambique had made on his life, it was clear that yet again God had recruited another ambassador to represent the needs of people He deeply cares for.
Rick Cogbill, founder of Mercy Tech Mission, who is in a new phase in his journey of faith (along with his dear wife Nan and family), inspired us all to keep digging ditches (an illustration from a Bible story in 2Kings 3:16 ) so God could fill them with His provision to meet not only our needs, but the needs of those who need to be set free from the enemy of their souls! Rick traveled to Calgary for the weekend from Summerland and had the chance to share in a church in Okotokes as well.
Thanks to all the churches and good friends who have opened their homes and hearts to us over this past month.
Cyclones And Drought In Mozambique
Cyclones are not unusual in Mozambique at this time of year. But to be hit with two cyclones in a single month is crippling. With reports of 94,000 hectares in damaged food crops, 26 deaths, and 125,000 people displaced, we know the after-effects will impact the country for months to come.
And yet, there are areas in the country receiving so little rain that their crops are failing as well. This recent email from Francois (missionary in Mozambique) describes the situation well.
Hi Dwight
Withered maize stock
Please join with us in prayer for Mozambique during this time of cyclones and drought, and for the months to come.
Caçador Construction Update
We have almost finished construction on our multi-purpose building and hope to resume our work and finish as quickly as possible. We still need to put glass in our windows, drill a well, build the sewage system and pour cement sidewalks around the building. We are profoundly grateful for your prayers and financial help in getting this project off the ground. We are committed to have an official opening of the ‘Mount Horeb Rural School’ in 2012. Sixty children will be blessed with a top grade Christian based education.
Keep praying with us as we reach out to this community.
Festivities In Caçador
Children in Cacador
The end-of-year closure of activities for the Cacador outreach project was celebrated recently in Brazil. There was a great deal of excitement as games were played and words of encouragement were shared during the festivities. Adults in attendance also had a chance to share their testimonies of God’s faithfulness in their lives. Church groups came from the nearby capital city of Curitiba to join in the effort. We are thankful for the partnership of both churches and individuals that the Lord blessed us with!
Bebeto Giving Encouragement
Hangar Trusses And Roof In Place
A second work team from Harderwyk (church in Michigan, U.S.A.) arrived last week to join the first team’s efforts in making progress on hangar construction in Mozambique. It’s wonderful to see how quickly this structure is going up. It’s very rewarding considering the many man-hours and hard work that has gone into it–all in the intense heat of Mozambican summer at that!
Here, with the hangar roof now up, the siding is set in place.
New School Year Begins In Mozambique!
Laughter and excited chatter filled the air the other day as nearly 300 students turned up to register for the 2012 school year at SAM Ministries’ school in Mozambique. During the welcome and general orientation time, parents thanked the school for giving their children a chance to receive an education and, as a result, a better life. With the plans to improve our programs at the school this year, it promises to be a busy one!
We are thankful for students who appreciate their school and its value to them. Francois (Education Ministry Leader) notes, “As I travel up and down [to the school] I constantly have to stop and answer kids – ‘Francisco, when do we start school?’ It’s not just about enjoying school and the education – it’s the fact that they belong. It has become a place where dreams are born.” Take for example one of the top students in our program, Joao Gimo (being carried by teachers in photo). He has recently completed grade 10 with distinction and voiced his appreciation saying, ‘If it wasn’t for this school I would have never achieved what I have achieved. I have a dream to become an accountant and with the mission’s help, that will become a reality.’” Joao is actively involved in serving his local church where he was recently selected to serve as lay pastor.
Orphan Home Almost Ready!
Sinabale Paradzai (far right) came to our attention about 2 years ago when Dwight Lagore was introduced to him selling ice to earn around a $1 per day to help support his little sister and two brothers (Mariamo, Casamilo and Cerio). As Sinabale shared the story of his parents’ death and the overwhelming challenges he was facing to supply for his siblings, his lips trembled and his eyes were filled with tears. Not only was the challenge of caring for his family difficult, but he had to quit school in the middle of grade 10 and had little hope of continuing his studies.
Very soon, Sinabale and his siblings were given a chance through our Amigo orphan program. Sinabale started a practicum with our school until we could get him into teacher training. The children were clothed, fed, and the mission ensured they were able to continue their studies with the supplies they needed. 
Just before Christmas, we were able to begin construction on a house for them to replace the stick and mud shack (right) that for years has been their home. The new house, in the background, is now nearing completion.
A family in Canada now sponsors these children and others have given to make the house a reality.
“Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me,” Jesus said. It’s pretty amazing that we can both demonstrate our love for God and make such a difference in the lives of others all at the same time. Thank you to you who give and love to make this happen.
