Why I am going to Mozambique

I received an email the other day about a little girl named Maria. She is 11-years-old and has three

brothers and a sister. If Maria lived in America she might be in my fifth-grade classroom. She might play on a local volleyball or softball team. She might listen to One Direction, watch Frozen, and go out for pizza on Friday nights.

But Maria lives in Mozambique.

I doubt she’s heard of Taylor Swift, the Hunger Games, or Papa John. Maria doesn’t go to school. Her parents died from HIV/AIDs. She and her older brother were forced to beg for money. And then during a frightful night last month, Maria was raped and beaten. The details are scarce, but Maria survived. She was taken to a hospital and underwent emergency surgery. The government asked a local orphanage to house she and her sister Florentina. I don’t know what became of her brothers.

This orphanage is called the Melanie Center and in July, along with a team of 11 others, I get the honor and privilege of visiting it. A group called Life for Mozambique (LFM) supports the Melanie Center. LFM is a non-profit entity run by Life Covenant Church in Torrance. I recently wrote about the genesis of LFM and the Melanie Center, which you can read (here). In short, the Melanie Center is more than an orphanage. It is a community center that provides vocational training, medical care, and clothing to the children and the adults in the area. LFM is funding a chicken-raising enterprise to help the Melanie Center move toward self-sustainment. A second Melanie Center will be opening soon. Additionally, Life Covenant has planted nine churches in Mozambique.

We leave on July 3^rd and will be in Mozambique until the 17^th. I am sure the flights will be painful, the heat extreme, and the accommodations less than comfy. But I don’t care. I am so excited to be included in this team. Here’s why:

1.     I have the time and I want to use my summer vacation intentionally for others. I have a nice two-month vacation. In the past I’ve worked summer school. I’ve also visited Italy and Peru. Most of the past 13 summers have been about resting and leisure. It’s time to give back.

2.     I believe in the work of Life for Mozambique. LFM is a really solid organization. First of all, there isn’t any overhead, salaries, or admin costs. It raises money through silent auctions, run/walks, and garage sales. It keeps expenses low so the bulk of the money gets to Mozambique. I also like how LFM takes a holistic approach to serving. Physical needs are equally as important as spiritual ones. LFM aims to bring education, medical care, clothing, job training, and food to the people in the villages near the Melanie Center.

3.     I want to experience what God is doing. I believe he is doing marvelous things in Mozambique. Children like Maria are being helped. Their lives are being transformed. Many have been transitioned into families. I can’t wait to see what is happening. I want to write, take pictures, and bring the news back. I want to talk to the children, listen to their stories, and see their smiles. I want to cheer when the second Melanie Center opens its door. I can’t wait to see what an African worship service is like. Maybe I’ll even hold a chicken.

4.     It’s not about us. I believe God cares immensely for the people of Mozambique. He loves the poor, the orphans, and the widows. The LFM team has repeatedly asked God to show them how to help in Mozambique. And he’s answered. This trip is about the opportunity to see God move and to join in what he is doing. This “ministry” is not about budgets, or numbers, or agendas, or recognition. It is about providing assistance to those who really need it. And in Maria’s case, saving a life.

5.     Maybe I’ll be changed. Jesus, Paul, James and other voices of the New Testament make it clear that loving God and living a life of faith involves serving the needy. But going on this trip doesn’t make me some kind of spiritual superstar. In fact, it points out my failure to help the people around me. My church has a monthly homeless dinner that I’ve never attended. If I can travel to Africa, I can surely break from my routine to serve pasta to the less fortunate. Life Covenant is working on a project to join other local churches provide shelter, food, and vocational services to homeless families on a year-round basis. I hope to be involved when this starts up. I need to slow down, turn off the ballgame, and ask God how I can serve others in my community. Because there are orphans, widows, homeless people, and Marias here too.

Our itinerary is starting to come together. We will be hosting a theology conference, visiting local churches, running a vacation bible school, researching other self-sustainment options, taking kids to the beach, inaugurating the second Melanie Center, and holding medical treatment clinics.

This is going to be an amazing endeavor.

July can’t get here soon enough.

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Note: I would be thrilled to talk to if you’d like to learn more about this trip. Also, I really need your prayers. Lastly, if you like to donate financially, you can (here).