Tete, July 4 – 8, 2002

We visited the following churches in Tete Province, Mozambique: On July 5, we visited Mphulu, Diwa, Tsuende, Madzimbawe, Makulumwe. All of these churches are along the Musakama market road, the road that eventually goes to Malawi. On July 6, we visited): Kaphinimbule, Khanga, Ndadza, Tchessa and Ximphako, and on Sunday July 7, we visited Zobue.

Mphulu: People were highly motivated. It was exciting to see the nearly completed church, and the borehole crew at work drilling a water well. The choice of Mphulu as a place for major development is a good one. A school is our next project here and should be completed by the end of the year. They are also excited about the proposed health center. We worshipped in the grass church; the new church will be dedicated Sunday, July 14. Gifts of sugar cane, bananas, and a chicken were gratefully received.

Diwa: We have already built a church and a school here. The maize
mill originally slated for Madzimbawe will go to Diwa because the government has promised a maize mill for Madzimbawe.

Madzimbawe: We have built a church and a school here. The community is looking forward to a teacher’s duplex and a borehole (well) in the near future. Most of the needed bricks are already molded and fired. Nedson has employed a local carpenter to train some men from the community to build desks for the schools at Madzimbawe and Diwa. The varnish is still a little tacky as I sit “lightly” at a new desk.

Tsuende: This church still meets in a grass church and is located right along the Malawi road, a good place for future growth. One of the “extra” boreholes (wells) will go here. Many of the people who gathered expectantly much earlier in the day had gone to a funeral. It seemed that for each of our afternoon visits, the people had been waiting since early morning and that crowds had dwindled because of our “tardiness.” This is a good example of the clash between the First and Third worlds due to the concept of time. I was impressed that the men outnumbered the women two to one. I was touched by the gift of two turtledoves.

Makulumwe: We traveled eight kilometers on an awful “road,” taking 30 minutes and driving over a very shaky log bridge to get to Makulumwe.

It’s a great story. An elder from the Zobue church used to walk three hours to cultivate his unclaimed fields at Makulumwe. Because of the distance, he would camp out for four or five days each. While there, he couldn’t help himself, he had to preach…and a new church was planted. Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (I Corinthians 9:16).

Khanga: We have wonderful community involvement here because Nedson and Maquaqua have prepared them well. We have just begun a church and a health center with a borehole and a school coming in the near future. This is a rather densely populated area and a great place for a Christian health center. The whole community, not just the church members, is helping to build the church because everyone wants the health center.

Ndadza: A very enthusiastic crowd greeted us. We had hoped to provide a borehole here, but the big equipment cannot make it. The road has at least three places where the trucks cannot pass. The young elder is going to ask the area chief for help in making the road passable, but I am doubtful it can be done. The community is busy molding bricks for a school.

Mphande: One of the older church buildings in the area, it was built shortly after Zobue. These folks were very responsive to our visit and our messages. It was a lot of fun to be with them.

Ximphako: The elder did a nice job preparing for us. This place would be accessible for the borehole vehicles, but the elder in charge does not live in the immediate area and well maintenance and security could be a problem.

Tchessa: They had waited all day for us and only a few people were there to greet us.

Zobue: I preached here Sunday morning during a very inspiring worship service. They have begun to mold bricks for a new building near the pastor’s house. The old church is built over a spring and the floor and foundation are in bad shape.

In His Service,

Bob Snyder

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 53