Beauty out of scraps

This past week John has shown us how beauty is produced out of wood scraps we thought were destined to be fire-wood. John Topham travelled all the way from Summerland, BC, Canada to Mozambique to finish a project he started in May this year. John was invited by Rick Cogbill late last year to join him to teach a skill in Mozambique but John went a step further and mobilized his Rotary Club to donate a lathe machine which would be used to train this new skill. Although the machine was purchased and shipped in February, it did not arrive for John’s first visit. John could have given up in frustration, but instead John got stuck in and helped to build the maintenance facility and promised to be back.

And true to his promise, John arrived this past week and has been working non-stop teaching two of our wood-working staff how to use the lathe-machine to safely produce some amazing products. God has created beauty and creativity inside each of us, but only as we apply ourselves to develop that potential and then share that potential is the ultimate purpose actually realized! And then scraps of wood which are off-cuts and left-overs from door manufacturing become a gold-mine to produce these amazing wood-bowls with high commercial value which can in turn bring glory to God. Besides the wood bowls, wood ornaments, knobs, wheels, and turned furniture pieces, many more beautiful useful pieces can be manufactured which will help people to earn a living, support their families, and train many more.

John guiding Gabriel on the lathe…feel and sound is everything!

Guiding hands

The week has been busy, but it is never too busy for some moments of humor. And each morning it has been so awesome to see the pride our staff have in presenting their work to the rest of the team. Another spin-off this week has been a meeting to connect with the local Rotary club in Chimoio who are seriously considering participating with John and the Summerland Rotary club to help us build a library for the mission grade-school.

Having some fun with Pindurai

John has estimated that we have enough scrap wood material for 5 years of production. How awesome it is when the right person, with the right skill and the right heart ends up in the right place! Keep this project in your prayers as we use this valuable training to start production and then start training of other young people.

Some of the items produced this week.