Christian Vision in Mozambique

Julio and Sinamor are part of the Brazilian team working with Christian Vision in Mozambique. Julio has been there for 10 years and Sinamor for 8 years. They went to Mozambique as two singles and married a few years ago. They now oversee the whole team in Mozambique, from their base in Maputo. This involves them spending much of their time visiting churches in each province of Mozambique.

Their home is quite Brazilian is its arrangement and furniture. We stayed overnight with them and they made us very welcome.

When we visited, one of the churches near Zimpeto was celebrating their first anniversary. They are now a local group of about 80 people. This photo shows Adam and me with the first pastor, Fernando (Brazilian), together with two of the young men (Mozambicans) who are being trained up for leading a new church in another area of the city.

Here Sinamor and I are with the current Brazilian pastor, Maria (on the left) with some Mozambican women. I loved chatting with the women, practising my Portuguese and finding out about their families and life for ordinary Mozambicans.

Lunch was an amazing affair. Cooking a banquet for over 100 people, using very simple equipment, must have been difficult, but they made it look easy, as though they did it all the time. Mozambicans normally do not use cutlery and of course there weren't enough tables for everyone, but one long table had been prepared for 'distinguished guests'. At first I was horrified that we would be sitting down at a table to eat while most people appeared not to be eating. I really felt uncomfortable, but then Sinamor explained that there was plenty of food for everyone and soon everyone else found a chair or sat on the floor using their fingers to eat the delicious food, prepared with much love and care.

Do you notice the floor tiles? The whole building is made up of a mosaic of odd floor tiles, rather like crazy paving, but using ceramic tiles. There are all colours, sizes and shapes, but the overall effect is rather attractive. I can imagine people bringing an offering of tiles each week, until they had enough to complete the whole area.