tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43175060961570425262024-03-13T22:39:50.344+02:00Sarah-n-AfricaHow great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God. And that is who we are!!!
1 John 3:1Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-49977634683739206162018-07-06T18:12:00.002+02:002018-07-06T18:33:30.531+02:00Heart Messages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I believe that God places within each of us a heart message...a characteristic or aspect of Him that has transformed who we are and that we long to see others grasp. Here at Masana, God has joined together a beautifully unique staff that each carries a different heart message. Over the next 2 months, each staff member will take 3 or 4 days to impart their heart message to the boys. 3 John 4 says "I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in truth". Its our hope that as each staff member shares their heart message, the Masana boys will walk in new truth!<br />
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This week, I kicked us off with teachings on the Father heart of God. We talked about the fact that many of the boys have horrible examples of fathers here on earth - fathers who've abandoned them, or abused or neglected them. For many of the boys, their fathers are the reason they live on the street. We prayed for God to help them forget the negative aspects they've learned from their earthly fathers about what it means to be a father. We prayed for God to teach them who He is...a good, good Father. We learned that Father God is always loving. He educates and disciplines us in love. He gives us freedom to make our own decisions. And He is patient and forgiving when we mess up. He is a good, good father!!!<br />
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The boys also memorized 1 John 3:1 which declares: "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is who we are!"<br />
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I pray that we all may walk in the truth that the Father lavishes His love on us. <br />
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He is a good, good Father!!!<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-61341341023077885832018-03-20T17:24:00.002+02:002018-03-20T17:24:36.890+02:00Masana's Bakers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the 9 years that I have worked with Masana, we have had the joy of helping over 130 street boys leave the streets and return to their families! One of the biggest challenges we face is with helping older boys leave behind the street life. Over the years, we've experimented with small businesses but found that these rarely ever last for more than a couple of months. We've sent a few boys through vocational courses to learn skills such as sewing or electricity. They've done well in the courses but still have trouble finding steady work. <br />
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How do you encourage a young man to stay home with his family when he feels useless in helping them day in and day out? How do you convince him he is not simply another mouth to feed? <br />
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This has been one of Masana's biggest challenges. <br />
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But God has responded to this challenge and given Masana the incredible opportunity of partnering with another local organization called Plataforma Makobo in providing a course in baking bread, internships with local hotels and bakeries, and hopefully employment at some of these establishments or at a bakery that Plataforma Makobo plans to open later this year.<br />
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In February, 14 Masana boys competed an 8 day training in how to make bread. Now they are awaiting their internship placements. Of these 14 boys, we chose 9 boys that were already at home. These 9 boys were those boys that struggled with the guilt of just being another mouth to feed. We also chose 5 boys that were still on the streets and allowed them to participate in hopes that this might be their exit from the street life. 2 of them have already gone home. 1 of them plans to go home once the internships are set. The other 2 are looking at options of renting a house. These boys no longer feel that they are useless to their families. They have hope of truly feeling like they belong with their families.<br />
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Join us in praying for these 14 boys as they start their internships. Pray for the lies of uselessness to be broken off. Pray for them to know their value. Pray for them to succeed in this endeavor.Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-7637187798011457392018-01-19T17:51:00.001+02:002018-01-19T17:54:20.648+02:00Ever-Growing Group <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In January of each year, we have the privilege of gathering together many of the boys that have chosen to leave the streets. Since 2009, Masana has helped about 140 boys leave behind the street life. Not all of them succeed at transitioning to life off the streets...some choose to go to South Africa in hopes of a better life. Others end up in jail. Some come back to the streets. But this year, 50 boys that live close to the capital city of Maputo were able to gather together at Masana. This photo is our ever-growing group of reintegrated boys.<br />
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Each of the boys took a minute to share when they left the streets and where they are now. Some are with their parents. Others are now fathers with children of their own. Some are still going to school and others have stopped studying and are trying to work to help their families. Life isn't easy for them but they are, day-by-day, trying to get by. <br />
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This picture is a tangible glimpse at the fruit of our ministry...lives that have truly been transformed by the love of God poured out here at Masana. Remember these young men in your prayers.<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-14988373499877585652017-12-30T13:27:00.000+02:002017-12-30T13:27:17.055+02:00Enlarge Our Territory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's hard to know how many boys really live on the streets of our city. At Masana, we normally have 20 to 25 boys that attend on a daily basis. These boys show-up Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch. They participate in our literacy classes and daily hear teachings from the Word of God. Daily, they know that, at Masana, they are cared for...they are wanted....they are loved.</div>
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But these 25 boys are only a small portion of the boys that call the streets of Maputo home. In 2017, we had 4 specific occasions that allowed us a glance into the reality of just how many boys live on the streets of our city.</div>
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ZELFO'S FUNERAL:</div>
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In March of this year, we had the honor of celebrating the life of one of the most notorious young men that lived on the streets of Maputo. About 80 street boys/men gathered together for <a href="https://sarah-n-africa.blogspot.com/2017/03/">Zelfo's funeral</a>.</div>
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CHILDREN'S DAY:</div>
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June 1 of each year is Children's Day in Mozambique. A day to celebrate the children of our nation. It's become our annual tradition to take the street boys to the local water park on this day to celebrate. This year, we had over 60 boys show up for the celebration!</div>
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LAST DAY OF MASANA FOR 2017:</div>
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On December 1, we closed the day center allowing our staff to have a few weeks off to rest and be refreshed. We also use this time to encourage the boys to visit their families for the holidays. 71 boys showed up this last day...71 boys heard the story of the prodigal son...encouraging them to return to their families and to God.</div>
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CHRISTMAS PARTY:</div>
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A few days before Christmas, we had a party for all of the street boys. 81 boys showed up to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. </div>
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So, you see, the 25 or so boys we have the privilege of ministering to on a day-to-day basis at our center are but a drop in the bucket. There are so many more boys who do not come around on a regular basis. My prayer for 2018 is that God would enlarge our territory...that the dozens and dozens of street boys that showed up for special occasions at Masana in 2017, would come more regularly so that we might have the chance to care for them....that they would know that they are wanted and loved.</div>
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<i>Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10</i></div>
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Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-43058598866813376232017-10-03T16:20:00.000+02:002017-10-03T16:20:14.591+02:00He Places the Lonely in FamiliesIn Psalms 68:6, David writes, "God places the lonely in families." That is and always will be the heart of our ministry here in Maputo, Mozambique. Masana exists to reach street boys and restore families. But after almost a decade of doing this ministry, we are seeing a shift in what "family" means for some of the street boys.<br />
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For the last few months, we have taken time to think and pray through the different aspects of our ministry and try to determine which areas God would have us focus on as we begin planning for next year. 2 of the 4 areas we feel God has highlighted involve "alternative families." For many of the boys that have been on the streets and a part of our ministry for years, the idea of going back to their families is not very realistic. They do not want to just be another mouth to feed for their already struggling families. And so the street life is more appealing. But we know that the street life is not what God wants for these boys. So how do we shift our vision to still focus on family but provide a better future for these older street boys? Catembe and Armadura.<br />
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Catembe is a town across the bay from Maputo City. Roberto and i bought land there a few years back in anticipation of the development that will occur in that area as the longest suspension bridge in Africa is completed to connect Maputo City and Catembe. When we bought the land, we built a one-bedroom house on the property and invited a couple of Masana boys to live there. At the time, we just needed someone on our land so that it didn't get re-sold to another person. But over the past couple of years, the Catembe house has become a permanent part of Masana. We've added on a second bedroom and currently have 4 boys living there. They are all boys that we had tried to reintegrate in the past with their families but they kept coming back to the streets. Now they are off the streets and learning to be a part of society again. It's not a traditional family. Its 4 young men living together and figuring out how to do life together. One has naturally taken on a leadership role. They all contrite to the house - cleaning, cooking, working in the garden. They are all enrolled in a local school and next year they will all participate in a vocational skills course. Our hope for these boys is that after 2 or 3 years of living in the Catembe house, they will have the knowledge of a skill that could provide them with an income....a way to contribute to their families if they choose to return home or the means to make money and rent a house if they choose to go that route. <br />
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Armadura is our gym that was opened in 2013. Since then, we have close to 10 Masana boys that we have chosen to be a part of the 2 year Armadura Internship. These boys are given a job at the gym, enrolled in a local school, and provided with a place to live in the Armadura house so that they no longer call the streets home. They receive a weekly allowance and are being taught to save money for their futures. One of the gym managers meets with them regularly to make sure they are doing well in their transition off the streets and into society. Some of these boys have gone on to receive full time contracts at the gym while others have left them gym and moved on to other things. For more details on what is happening with the Armadura Boys, check out the <a href="http://www.armaduragym.com/">gym website</a><br />
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Catembe and Armadura. Neither are what you'd call the "traditional family" but both are being used by God to place the lonely in families. Pray for these 2 groups of young men as they strive for better lives.<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-43594185528178515372017-08-06T16:55:00.002+02:002017-08-06T16:55:55.053+02:00An Update from Us<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIQ36SV5iw8/WYct43y0GBI/AAAAAAAABw0/Yz5b5oWZYvoKLkzwlcc3k4cU498KD-vlgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIQ36SV5iw8/WYct43y0GBI/AAAAAAAABw0/Yz5b5oWZYvoKLkzwlcc3k4cU498KD-vlgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4404.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hello friends! Sorry we’ve been so quite over here on this side of the world. We are doing well. We’re thankful to be nearing the end of the US summer as it’s always a busy time for us with visitors. In May, we kicked off the US summer with a team from the UGA Wesley Foundation. As most of you know, I was a part of the Wesley Foundation for the 9 years that I spent in Athens and it was there that I truly learned who God is and who I am in Him. So it’s always a blessing to have my former Wesley world collide with my current Mozambique world!! Last month we had a team of 16 high schoolers from Durban, South Africa here with us for 5 days followed by a team of 8 young adults from the same church. We also had a few individuals that passed through Masana…some for a few days and others for a few weeks. Our final visitor leaves on Thursday of this week and then we’ll be back to our normal household - Roberto, the girls and I along with Ian, another missionary, and the 4 boys we care for. </span><br />
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Things have been going well at Masana. We had a lull in the number of boys that were attending each day so we did a big push of going out to the areas of the city where the boys stay and visiting them. There is so much power in one of these street boys knowing that someone notices when he’s absent. I shared with our staff last week that us making the effort to go out looking for boys we haven’t seen in a while is like Jesus leaving the 99 to find the 1. And He blesses that effort! Ever since we did a week of street visits in early July, we’ve averaged 30 boys a day at the center. This month we have just begun a teaching series on what it means to be men of God. Each staff member has chosen the story of a character in the Bible and will be pulling out characteristics that man showed that made him a man of God. I’ve also invited some men from our community to share with the boys on a perusal level of what it means to be a man of God. Please pray with us that the boys will truly receive all that we are teaching this month and that they will begin to make choices to become the men that God has called them to be. </div>
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We continue to work with the 4 boys that are living in our house in Catembe, across the bay from the city. Y’all know that our heart is for family and that we always want to see the boys restored to their families. But after so many years of doing this ministry with the street boys, we realize that that is not the reality for all of these boys. There exist some boys who would just rather stay on the streets than be another mouth to feed at home. There is a certain disgrace that comes from being a 16 or 17 year old young man that cannot contribute to his family financially. It’s these boys that we feel God is calling us to help through the house in Catembe. This year is serving as a year of adjustment for these boys - a year to leave behind the habits of the streets and to accustom again to life in a home with rules and structure. These 4 boys are studying in local schools - 1 in the 5th grade, 2 in the 6th grade and 1 in 10th grade. Most of them have a long way to go with their schooling but we’ll be so happy if they progress in reading and writing basic Portuguese. Next year we’ll look at getting these 4 boys registered in a vocational skills training course or paired up with a professional that will teach them a skill. From there, our hope is that they will have the ability to make an income that will either allow them to return home as a contributing member of the household or rent a place on their own. On a side note, 3 of these 4 boys are currently completing a course at our church in preparation to be baptized!!</div>
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Starting this month, Roberto will be teaching some health and physical education classes at the American International School of Maputo. He’s already taught swimming lessons there for a few years. He’s excited about this new opportunity and hopeful that it could eventually lead to a full-time contract. The greatest blessing that would come with him getting a contract would be that our girls could study at the American School which offers the highest quality education available in Mozambique (but it’s also the most expensive school in the country, hence the need for Roberto to work there.) Please pray for Roberto as he meets the students next week and begins this new chapter of his life. He’s also considering going to university starting in January to get his degree as a PE teacher. </div>
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Adoption wise…we are still waiting. One piece of news that we received recently is that the little boy that we thought we’d adopt has now been reunited with his parents! What confirmation that we were hearing from God regarding him. After a couple of weekend visits with this boy, Roberto felt strongly that we needed to backdown. We have no idea how his family appeared…perhaps they heard he was about to be adopted. But no matter how it happened, we rejoice that his family has been restored. We are still in contact with local orphanages and social services on a weekly basis. We trust that God is preparing the perfect little boy to complete our family. </div>
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Thank you all for standing with us as we continue our ministry among the street boys of Maputo. If you have time, check out our facebook page for lots of photos of the work we’re doing with the boys, <a class="" href="http://www.facebook.com/masanaproject">www.facebook.com/masanaproject</a>. If God leads you to support our ministry financially, you can send support to the below address with “Mondlane Family” on the memo line or go to <a class="" href="http://www.abbasambassadors.org/">www.abbasambassadors.org</a> for info on how to give online:</div>
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Abba's Ambassadors Inc.</div>
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PO Box 165<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><div class="" style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">
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</span>South Salem, NY 10590</div>
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We love y’all!!!</div>
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Blessings!</div>
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Sarah Mondlane and family</div>
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Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-6673661903531727042017-04-08T12:17:00.000+02:002017-04-08T13:18:49.593+02:00A Different Approach to Reaching Street Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5puOMQ110Ek/WOigLfzLLQI/AAAAAAAABvo/cOEN4M_UQ5YdZNdeEZUBbmQAuGK5f73oACLcB/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5puOMQ110Ek/WOigLfzLLQI/AAAAAAAABvo/cOEN4M_UQ5YdZNdeEZUBbmQAuGK5f73oACLcB/s320/IMG_3114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The vision of Masana has always been about reaching street children and rebuilding families. In the past, that has been accomplished through building relationships with boys as they attend our day center, speaking with them about God's design of family and the need to return to theirs. We teach often on the plans and purposes God has for their lives and the fact that those plans and purposes cannot come to be as long as they are living on the streets. We have helped over 100 boys leave the streets of Maputo. Over 100 families have been rebuilt. <br />
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But now, something new is happening amongst the street boys of Maputo. HIV rates for adults in Mozambique are around 11% but in the capital city of Maputo, that number is closer to 20%. We are starting to see the truth of those numbers reflected in the street boy population. In the past 10 months, 6 of our boys have tested HIV+. No longer are the conversations with these boys simply about the need to return to their families where they can enter into the plans and purposes God has for their lives. Now the conversations are about returning to their families where they can receive the treatment and support they need and live a long and healthy life. It's about convincing them that a positive test does not mean their is no longer hope. There is Hope. <br />
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In the past few months, we've begun talking more about HIV/AIDS at Masana. We've held 2 testing days with over 50 boys being tested in total. We've invited professionals to teach on preventative measures. Just this past week, we began a circumcision campaign as male circumcision is shown to reduce rates of transmission of HIV by 40%. We're doing all we can to reach these boys before they have a positive HIV test.<br />
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And for those that do have that positive test, we make sure they get the care they need at the local hospital. We encourage them to go home so that they can live in a clean environment with less exposure to sickness. We go with them to their home to help break the news to their families. We provide food packages on a monthly basis because we know how important proper nutrition is in staying healthy. And most of all, we encourage them not to lose hope. God still has incredible plans and purposes for their lives. With the proper treatment, which, thank God, is readily available here in Mozambique, they can still live a very normal life. There is Hope.<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-32007912700978280642017-03-16T14:29:00.000+02:002017-03-16T14:29:57.729+02:00Finally Home<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tO4lx-hoJSs/WMp6uwD5lkI/AAAAAAAABu0/mGSyoTotTXQy9WSsEfFdRlyoyp-tkHqbQCLcB/s1600/zelfo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tO4lx-hoJSs/WMp6uwD5lkI/AAAAAAAABu0/mGSyoTotTXQy9WSsEfFdRlyoyp-tkHqbQCLcB/s320/zelfo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I met Zelfo in 2009 when I first started working with Masana. He was one of the hardest boys to love...a bully to all the younger boys on the street. I remember fiercely defending the little boys when Zelfo would take their food or force them to give a portion of the money they made begging on the streets. He was well known by everyone who lived on the street. We took him home two or three times but he always came back to the streets. We even paid for him to go to South Africa where his brother lives, but still he ended up back on the street. Over the years he softened up a bit. He had stopped coming to Masana because of his age but he'd visit us from time to time. He always knew he was welcome here if he was sick or injured. <br />
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A few weeks ago he showed up because he needed us. He has been badly burned while trying to remove some electrical wires in an abandoned building. Someone had taken him to the hospital but he ran away. He showed up here with a barely recognizable face and wearing hospital clothes. After chatting for a bit, Roberto and I convinced him to go back to the hospital with the promise that we would visit daily. He accepted but only stayed 2 more days before running away again.<br />
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Fast-forward to last Friday. One of our regular boys showed up at the gate and asked me to come outside and speak with him. He had bad news. Zelfo had passed away during the night. Roberto and I quickly got in the car and went to the area of the city where he had been staying but the police had already removed his body. So we went to the morgue at the Central Hospital where the police agent had us identify his body. He needed Zelfo's personal data to put on the hospital intake form. I was stumped. I knew that Zelfo was he "street name" not his real name but I couldn't remember his real name. So the agent had to list him as "unknown." We headed back to Masana and I searched through our notebooks where boys' stories are recoded. Jose Lino. 23 years old. From Xai-Xai. <br />
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We tracked down Zelfo's family and 3 of them arrived at Masana on Sunday from up north. That night we had a memorial service for all of the street boys to come together and honor the life of Zelfo. 80 people showed up. Like I said, he was famous on the streets of Maputo. <br />
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Monday and Tuesday I spent hours with the family at the hospital trying to get Zelfo's body released for his burial. We had to go to 3 police stations to find his process so that his name could be changed from "unknown" to "Jose Lino." When it came time for his family to identify his body, they couldn't do it. It wasn't because they were nervous about seeing him dead...they literally couldn't identify him because they didn't recognize him. <br />
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That was the hardest part about this whole ordeal. <br />
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Not spending hours sitting at the morgue with the stench of death all around.<br />
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Not walking through the morgue and seeing bodies everywhere....treated with so little respect. <br />
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Not treading with caution so that I didn't slip in whatever that gross liquid was on the floor. <br />
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Not the shock of them opening the refrigerator and pulling out the drawer with, not 1, but 2 bodies crammed in together. <br />
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The hardest part was realizing that Zelfo had spent so much time on the street that his own family didn't even recognize him. Over half of his life had been spent on the streets. Masana literally was the closest family he had. <br />
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I fought back tears as I stepped in to do the official identification of the body. Precious Zelfo. Notorious Zelfo. His defiant attitude was both annoying and inspiring. He knew who he was and what he wanted. He was strong and was a bully. But he was also a big softy who hated his picture being taken.<br />
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Jose Lino.<br />
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To us you were not an "unknown" street boy. You were Zelfo. And we loved you. Thank you for the privilege of caring for you these past 8 years. You are home now.Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-14076282140356480652017-02-27T18:12:00.000+02:002017-02-27T18:12:14.101+02:00Give Thanks to the Lord <i>Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1</i><br />
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Despite a rough start to 2017, God is teaching us so much about the importance of taking time to reflect on Him and what He is doing in the midst of hard times. <br />
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We returned from the USA to news that 2 of the rooms we had built last year at our center had to be torn down. One of those rooms was to be a bedroom for 2 street boys that we had invited to live with us in a one year transitional phase to get them off the street. We scrambled and came up with a plan B....add a bedroom onto the house that Roberto and I have built on our personal land across the bay from the city. What should have been a 3 or 4 week building project (a bedroom, kitchen, and veranda) is now looking like 6 weeks because of the lack of water. Apparently cement work is difficult without water. But, we give thanks to the Lord because there is still a home for Jose and Arlindo to live in this year and they have settled in well.<br />
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Speaking of a lack of water, we also returned to news that the reservoir that supplies water to Maputo is almost dry. The water company has started rationing water in an attempt to stretch out what little water is left in the reservoir as we wait for rains. We now only get water every other day. We were managing fine until our day center reopened and we all of a sudden had 30+ people needing to wash clothes and bathe at our house. After a couple of weeks of running out of water most days, we were able to purchase a 5000L tank and install it at our house so that we still have water on the off days. We give thanks to the Lord for provision of water.<br />
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We started the year short staffed at Masana because of 2 staff members out on maternity leave, 1 completing an internship for his university course, and 1 stuck in the USA awaiting documents to return. One of the other street kids' centers here in our city stopped accepting children during the day because of funding issues which means the number of boys at Masana increased. 35 boys a day with only 4 staff members was not easy. But we give thanks to the Lord for the new boys that are now a part of our ministry and for the hard work of our staff members.<br />
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This past Friday was our first staff day of the year. We read Psalm 136 together. The first 9 verses are easy to ready as they talk about praising the God who created the heavens and earth. When we got to the verses that talk about praising the God who killed the first born of every family in Egypt and who killed mighty kings, I debated jumping ahead. But I didn't. Because our God is both a beautiful Creator and a just Ruler. Sometimes God's ways are harsh. But His ways lead to freedom for the people of God. Sometimes there is suffering. But joy comes in the morning. How many times have we seen God take hard situations and bring glory to His name? How many boys have chosen to leave the streets and go home because of suffering? So we give thanks to the Lord in both the hard times and the blessed times. His love endures forever.<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-63148457467342183852016-12-14T22:37:00.001+02:002016-12-14T22:37:24.099+02:00A Year Later...Our Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 2016, we had the tiresome task of <a href="http://sarah-n-africa.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-new-home-for-masana.html">relocating and rebuilding Masana</a>, our center for street boys. December 1 of 2015, we moved onto a
property with a beautiful house for our family and the boys we care for. . . and nothing for our day center. So we built. It was not an easy process as we fought for documents and licenses that
took months and months to obtain. But God was faithful and today we have a beautiful house with the perfect set-up for
Masana: a kitchen, a shade with picnic
tables, 3 classrooms, a medical room, an office, bathrooms, and a bedroom for temporary
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You see, in the end, our new center is more than we imagined. We thank God that His ways are higher than ours. Because of the difficulties we had with builders, we ended up with an extra classroom and a bedroom. The classroom we didn't plan for will accommodate our class for boys who need extra one-on-one instruction....had it not been for the difficulties, these boys would be studying at the picnic tables surrounded by distractions as people enter and exit the center. Now they have their own classroom. The bedroom we didn't plan for will house 2 boys entering into a new transitional phase called <a href="http://sarah-n-africa.blogspot.com/2016/11/exodus_5.html">Exodus</a> that will hopefully be their exit from the street life. <br />
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When we found ourselves most frustrated with
the process of building, God had greater plans in store. The new Masana is a testimony to
that.</div>
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Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-49419853498191354182016-11-05T10:26:00.001+02:002016-11-05T10:26:59.548+02:00Exodus<div>
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Exodus. The story of Moses leading the oppressed Israelites out of captivity...out of slavery. Its a story of God rescuing His people and bringing freedom to His chosen ones. Its a story of a new beginning.</div>
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In January, Masana will begin our own version of Exodus. We have chosen two boys who will enter into this 1-year transitional program. </div>
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Two boys who will be rescued from the streets. </div>
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Two boys who will be given the opportunity of a new beginning. </div>
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Over the years of working with street boys, we have come to realize that returning home to mom or dad isn't always the best solution for all of these boys. They reach an age where it is no longer a healthy option for them to just sit at home and be another mouth to feed. Perhaps it has to do with how God created men with a desire to work and provide. So, as much as we root for these boys to return to their families, we realize that isn't going to happen with all of them. Exodus will be our attempt to help a few of the boys that fit this description.</div>
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Though the end goal is not necessarily to see these boys return to their families, we continue to believe that ties with their family are important and must be strengthened. So the first component of Exodus will be on family. The boys will live with us here at Masana....as part of our family. They will have responsibilities around the house. They will have rules. And, most importantly, they will have someone to encourage them in their walk with God. The boys will spend weekends with their actual families...a night or 2 a week to strengthen those relationships because we know that the day will come when they realize the need their families.</div>
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The second component of Exodus will be education. The boys will participate in a literacy course at a local school. We know that not all of the Masana boys will thrive in school but we believe its necessary to know how to read and write. We'll provide them with a tutor who will work with them daily to help them reach this goal. </div>
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The final component of Exodus will be vocational training. Each of the boys will choose a vocational course that interests him...electricity, plumbing, masonry...there are many options. Masana will pay for them to complete the course and purchase the basic materials they need. After they complete their courses, we will help them arrange an internship. The hope is that, by the end of the year, they will have enough knowledge and experience to begin working and earning an income that will enable them to rent a house and purchase their basic necessities.<br />
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Join us in praying for these 2 young men...that they truly will have an Exodus from the street life.</div>
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Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-83737614403058382222016-10-29T10:19:00.002+02:002016-10-29T10:19:58.530+02:00A New Challenge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since moving to Mozambique in 2007, I have seen too many lives lost because of AIDS. According to the World Health Organization, "HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern in Mozambique. With a prevalence of 11.5% among adults between 15-49 years, Mozambique is facing a generalized epidemic. This means that the virus is spread among the general population and is not exclusive to specific risk groups."<br />
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In the past 6 months, here at Masana, we have had 4 boys test HIV+. On average, we have about 25 street boys at our center each day. That means that this year, 16% of them have tested positive. <br />
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These numbers shock me.<br />
And break my heart.<br />
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How does Masana respond to this new epidemic facing street boys? What is God calling us to do to help these boys whose lives are forever changed by a positive test? What has changed among the street culture over the past years that cause us to see such high HIV/AIDS rates today? How do we help prevent more boys from becoming infected?<br />
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These are the questions that have dominated my prayers these last days and weeks.<br />
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Masana recently received a PEPFAR grant (President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) from the US government. These funds are to be used specifically to help in the area of HIV/AIDS among street children. Next week, we will be meeting with a leader of Doctors Without Boarders, an international organization that works in the area of healthcare in Mozambique, to discuss a partnership as we tackle the issue of HIV/AIDS among street boys.<br />
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I know that God is orchestrating all of this and that He is going to use Masana to transform the lives of these boys who might otherwise lose all hope. I am grateful for that. I am grateful that He provides finances and partnerships to help us meet the needs of these boys. But I am even more grateful that God has called Masana to be a part of this battle....to bring Hope to the hopeless.<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-80416369592820662242016-10-13T10:49:00.000+02:002016-10-13T10:49:27.482+02:00A Family Restored<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three years ago, I sat in the yard pictured above with a very sad little Luis as we listened to his father speak horrible things about him. He went on and on about how this boy no longer exists as far as he is concerned. I fought back tears as we listened to him. <br />
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Today, 3 years later, this same father came to my home...he sought us out. And he spoke very differently about his son. Today, he shared how both he and other family members see a difference in Luis. He declared that Luis is his family and will always have a place in their home. And he recognized that this change is because of the investment Masana has made in Luis' life. <br />
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<i>He will turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the hearts of children towards their fathers. Malachi 4:6</i><br />
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Another family has been restored. We thank God for allowing us to be a part of this restoration work.<br />
Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-62073975812747153722016-08-21T13:51:00.000+02:002016-08-21T13:51:13.337+02:00An Honest LivingThe traffic lights around our city often have little boys begging. They wait for the light to turn red so that they can place one hand on their stomach and stick out their other hand to the driver of the car that has stopped. Too often, the drivers of these cars believe the lie of hunger and give the little boys money that will later be spent on candy or a radio or, unfortunately, drugs and alcohol. A life of begging to have a little money in the pocket.<br />
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Older boys walk around the city looking for a car that is parked in a way that would make it easy to steal parts without drawing attention...mirrors, headlights, grills. If it can be easily pooped off of your car, it's fare game. Then its off to the black market to sale their stolen goods. A life of crime to have a little money in the pocket.<br />
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At Masana, we work with boys to get them ready to leave behind street life and return to their families. Once home, the boys often miss the feeling of having money in their pocket...the money that was made easily, though dishonestly, on the streets. In recent years we've begun to realize that we have to provide these boys with means of making an honest living to prevent them from returning to the streets to make money. <br />
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Our first go at this was <a href="https://armaduragym.com/">Armadura Gym</a> which opened in 2013. The gym serves as income generator for Masana and provides jobs for boys who have made the choice to leave the streets and return home. There are currently 5 boys participating in an internship that has gotten them off the streets and into a home and full time employment.<br />
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This year we were given some funds for vocational training courses. We have chosen some boys who have already left the streets and returned to their families. Each one has chosen a course that interested him. We now have 2 certified electricians, 1 certified videographer and 1 certified seamster who are all completing internships! We've just begun a second round of vocational courses in which 3 boys are taking an electrician course and one is taking an auto mechanics course. <br />
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In a world where it is so easy to beg and steal, we are so proud of these boys who are making steps towards an honest living!<br />
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<i>May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; Establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17</i><br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-32697289770794028052016-08-14T17:08:00.001+02:002016-08-14T17:08:12.051+02:00Not My Story to Tell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is Luis. He has lived on the streets of Maputo for too many years. I've started to type his story 4 or 5 times but keep hitting delete...it's just not my story to tell. Luis' story is one of suffering. He's endured far more than any 16 year old should have endured. But when I look at photos of him with Melina and Maya, all I see is joy. <br />
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He's had a hard life but he hasn't been hardened by it. <br />
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Luis is finally close to leaving the streets behind. Because of some health issues, he's been living with us here at Masana for the past 6 or 7 weeks. At first we were searching for alternatives for him in terms of where he could live...a children's center or perhaps the home Roberto and I have built for some other former street boys, or maybe with an extended family member or a foster family. But in the end, we have decided the best place for him is with his mother, step-father and 2 small sisters. He's spent weekends with them for the past month and now is there for a week. If all goes well with this visit, we think he'll be ready to return home for good. <br />
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Would you pray for Luis? Pray for him as he makes this transition from the streets back to his family. Pray that he would stay this time...that he would never again return to the streets. Pray for his health. Pray that his family will be able to give him the care he needs. Pray that he will know that he is loved....not only by his actual family but by his family here at Masana and, most importantly, by his Father in heaven. He is loved.<br />
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<i>God sets the lonely in family.</i></div>
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<i>Psalm 68:6</i></div>
<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-69729220117468448332016-08-07T11:11:00.001+02:002016-08-07T11:11:03.054+02:00Always Give Yourselves Fully<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've found myself disheartened lately....tired of pouring myself out for boys who don't seem to want our help.<br />
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In June, a boy who lived with us for almost a month was set to return to his family who lives about 6 hours north of the city. The night before we were to leave, he stole money from our house and disappeared. To this day, we don't know where he is.<br />
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A young boy who is very sick has been living with us for 2 months now. Last week he left for his daily trip to the health center for medication and never came back. Roberto and I spent 2 days searching for him before we found him and brought him back to Masana. When we questioned him about why he'd run away, all we got were blank stares. <br />
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Another young man was staying with us for the past 2 weeks because he'd been hit by a car. He decided he didn't want to stay in the hospital after his accident so he paid a taxi to drop him off outside of Masana. When we returned from church 2 Sunday's ago, there he was on the sidewalk outside of our home with a cast on both his arm and his leg. Roberto and the boys who live here with us had to carry this young man around for 2 weeks...to the bathroom, to his bedroom, to the living room. He was completely dependent on us. After a few talks, he agreed to go to his grandmothers house which is 3 hours north of the city. The night before we were to take him home, he disappeared. <br />
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You see how easy it is to feel disheartened? We give so much of ourselves. Roberto has spent countless hours at the hospital with these boys. We've opened our home to them. We've given them clothes and food. Yet it seems to be in vain. They run away despite all we've done for them. <br />
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<i>"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58</i><br />
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This morning I skipped church and stayed home alone. I needed time to process through these disappointments. And this is the verse God has put on my heart. <br />
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Stand firm.<br />
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Let nothing move you.<br />
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ALWAYS give yourselves fully.<br />
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Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.<br />
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ALWAYS give yourselves fully. ALWAYS....that's the calling Roberto and I have accepted as we pour ourselves out day after day here at Masana. Even when we find ourselves disappointed by the boys, we will choose to ALWAYS give ourselves fully. And we will believe that our labor is not in vain. We will believe that the Lord is planting seeds in the hearts of these boys...even the ones who run away from us. And despite the disappointments, we will thank God that He uses us to pour out His love on these boys. We will stand firm.Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-75176976641603725052016-07-21T16:17:00.001+02:002016-07-21T16:18:26.824+02:00The Journey of Masana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Please take a minute to watch this video that beautifully captures the ministry of Masana:</div>
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-37332970007246642332016-07-10T13:43:00.001+02:002016-07-10T13:43:37.006+02:00Hope in the SufferingLife on the streets is full of suffering. These last few months, we have seen an increased number of boys showing up at our house all hours of the day or night in need of medical attention. We had little Antonio who was hit by a car and couldn't walk. There was Marcilino who was hit by a car and broke his arm. We also had one other boy that was hit by a car and left with a severe sprain. We've had 4 or 5 boys with urinary tract infections because of drinking contaminated water. Alex was beaten over the head with a rock and needed stitches. Antonio was beaten so badly in his face that his eyes were swollen shut for a week and he still doesn't have full vision back. Another Antonio had a piece of iron go through his foot and developed a horrible infection. Alfredo was badly burned on his leg when someone threw gas on the fire they were cooking on. 2 boys have tested HIV+. <div>
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Most of these health issues are things that would never happen if the boys were living at home with their families and not on the streets. Boys who run around the streets begging at stop lights, sometimes get hit by cars. Boys who steal for a living get beaten up when they are caught. Boys who dig through trash dumpsters without proper shoes, get injured by sharp objects. Boys who live in an abandoned church with no running water, develop infections from contaminated water. And maybe one of the harshest realities of street life: boys who don't practice safe sex in a city where 12% of the population is HIV+, test positive. </div>
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But God has placed Masana in the middle of this city to serve as a safe haven for these boys. When no one else seems to care about them...we care. When they ring the door bell at 2 o'clock in the morning, we will crawl out of bed to help them. We will spend hours in hospital waiting rooms making sure they get the medical care they need. We'll walk to the local pharmacy as often as needed to buy medicine for them. And through all of the suffering that the boys endure, we will not stop praying that God use it to transform their lives....that this illness or this injury will finally be the tipping point that sends these boys back to their families. We will find hope in the suffering.</div>
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Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-46684870522007951692016-05-07T15:46:00.000+02:002016-05-07T15:46:00.273+02:002 brothers and a Neighbor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past week, a group of 3 new boys showed up at Masana. One of them, Antonio, had been hit by a car over the weekend and could barely walk. Abigail, our on-call doctor, checked him out and assured us the leg wasn't broken. We took him to the hospital where they confirmed that it was just a bad sprain and wrapped up his entire leg so that he couldn't bend it. He has been staying with us here at Masana ever since as we await his follow-up appointment on Monday.<br />
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Antonio, his brother, Armando, and a neighbor named Abilo all came to the city together about 2 weeks ago. They came to try and find an uncle but weren't able to locate his house so they ended up on the street instead. Their families are about 3 hours north of Maputo in a beach town called Xai-Xai. Antonio is the oldest of the group with 11 years. The other 2 are probably 9 or 10. <br />
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I wish I could say that Antonio, after suffering a car accident, is ready to go back home....but he's not. None of them are. Sadly, they are loving life on the street and how easily they make money begging. Numerous times, Armando and Abilo have come to Masana to drop off Fizz (a cheap soda) and cookies for their brother with the hurt leg. They are living it up...carefree, no one to make them do anything.<br />
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It has been raining a lot for the past few hours and I find myself praying that this group of boys would realize that its not all fun and games here on the streets of Maputo. I'm praying that they will feel the cold today as they walk the city in their wet clothes. I'm praying that they will feel hunger pains as Masana is closed for the weekend. I'm praying God will move in their hearts and their minds. I'm praying for a desire to return home. <br />
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Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-18684688926190987692016-02-08T10:30:00.000+02:002016-02-08T10:30:32.215+02:00Waiting For A Stamp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our season of transition here at Masana is still just that....transition. We should have reopened the doors of our center on January 25 ending our season of transition and starting our season of new beginnings. But instead, we are doing nothing as we wait on a stamp from the government to continue building our classrooms and kitchen. Our building was suspended 3 weeks ago because the necessary building permits were not ready. All of our documents and building designs have been submitted. Our architect goes to the government office every day to check on them. He's told to be patient....our process is in the office of the 2nd floor and still has to make it up to the 3rd floor office for the boss to give his stamp of approval. And so we wait....and the 30 something street boys who are waiting with us pop in from time to time to see if there is any news.<br />
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Will you pray with us for these documents to receive the necessary stamp so that our building can resume and our center can reopen once again. Pray that when those 30 something boys come knocking again, we'll have good news for them!<br />
<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-71485883498287354542015-12-21T21:42:00.002+02:002015-12-21T21:42:19.558+02:00He Makes Beautiful ThingsAs I reflect back over the last couple of months and the crazy transition that we've undergone as we've relocated our family and our ministry, I am reminded of the Gungor song, "Beautiful Things." The yellow house we rented in the middle of the city was for sure a fixer-upper. But today it's a beautiful home for me, my family, and the boys we care for....God has made a beautiful thing out of the dust. The pictures below capture the restoration of a run down house into a beautiful home. And we know that this transformation is just the beginning of what God has in store for our home. Over the coming months and years, we hope and pray to see the lives of countless boys transformed by the love of God. We hope and pray that He will continue to make beautiful things.<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-45718482746236872032015-11-07T12:25:00.000+02:002015-11-07T12:25:06.920+02:00A New Home For Masana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the end of September we received word that the house that has been home to Masana for almost 6 years is being sold to a local grocery store who will destroy it to build another shopping center. We are devastated to say good bye to this home but know that God is with us in this season of transition.<br />
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In the past 6 weeks we have looked at numerous properties all over our city, signed a lease on one in the city-center, met with the bosses of the grocery store about details of our relocation, started renovations to the main house where my family will be living along with the 4 boys we care for, met with architects about plans for a building to serve the needs of our day center (classrooms, office, medical room), started packing boxes All this while continue to run our day center at the old house. Needless to say, its been an exhausting 6 weeks. <br />
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But when I think back over the past 6 weeks, I can see the hand of God in all of it. It was Him who led us to this house in the center of the city...the perfect location for a project with street kids since they live in different parts of the city. It was Him who gave us favor in meetings with the new landlord who has accepted to deduct some of the building costs from our rent. It was Him who helped me connect to the owners of the grocery store so that I could get permission for us to stay in the current house until our Masana year ends on November 30. It was Him who made it possible to get boxes and a truck donated for our moving day. It was Him who brought together a great team of workers, including some who simply volunteered their service, to get all the repairs done on the house so that its ready for us to move in at the end of the month. It was Him who has connected me to and architect in the city who is helping us find ways to build cheap but with good quality. It was Him who has abundantly blessed us with the finances we need in this time of transition. <br />
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Even though we are physically tired at the end of each day, we rest well each night knowing that God is orchestrating our every move.<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-4278520567578345622015-09-19T17:28:00.000+02:002015-09-19T17:28:26.106+02:00Almost a Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The house we are building in Catembe is almost done! It is a very typical Mozambican cinder-block house. There is one bedroom, a living room and a bathroom. The carpenter just has to mount the doors and windows and there is a little work to finish up in the bathroom. So in a about a weeks time, this will be Nelson and Ginito's new home. We have reached out to people living in the Maputo area asking for donations for the house - kitchen pots, plates, utensils, linens, bunk beds, dressers, sofas, etc. Hopefully we'll receive a little to make the house feel like home for these boys. If you happen to live in Maputo and would like to help, please send me an email at solds19@gmail.comSarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-2524033612936868862015-09-04T11:13:00.000+02:002015-09-04T11:13:40.088+02:00Chico: Home Again!<br />
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In 2012, I posted about taking one of my favorites back to his family. <a href="http://sarah-n-africa.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-sweet-chico.html">Chico</a>. His story of leaving the streets has been a tough one. His mom's home is on the outskirts of the city and for the past 3 years, he's fought the allure of returning to the streets....often loosing the battle. He's been back and forth from home and the streets more times than I can remember. Each time he showed up at Masana, we'd try showing tough love in hopes that he'd quickly return home. Some of his stints on the street were for weeks or months. At one point, we only allowed him to come to our center 2 days a week in hopes that he'd return home. <br />
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Earlier this year, Chico went back home again. And its seems as if his family have finally figured out how to help him. His grandmother, who lives a good 30 or 40 minutes from the city, has taken him in. Simply putting some distance between him and the city has done the trick. This past week I visited him at his new home. How he's grown-up over these past 3 years! His grandmother's home seems filled with joy. She genuinely loves Chico and wants to see him doing well. Getting him into school in that area is going to be a challenge because of his age vs. grade level. But we will see what options we can find for him. For now, he's helping his grandmother with the farm and raising a few pigs. So beautiful to see him finally living a normal Mozambican life!!<br />
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<br />Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317506096157042526.post-18389035206202582122015-08-15T10:04:00.000+02:002015-08-15T10:04:14.996+02:00Putting Down Roots - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"God makes homes for the homeless"</i></div>
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<i>Psalm 68:8 (The Message Bible)</i></div>
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I shared in <a href="http://sarah-n-africa.blogspot.com/2015/08/putting-down-roots-part-1.html">"Putting Down Roots - Part 1"</a> that we have purchased land in Mozambique to build a home for our family. We will not build our house for a couple of years though so we have felt God calling us to make a home for the homeless. We have chosen 2 boys, Ginito and Nelson, who have both been on and off the streets since I first started working with Masana in 2009. We have started the process of building a small house on the land where these 2 boys will live and have the opportunity to make a new life for themselves.</div>
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Ginito is 18 years old and Nelson is 19. Neither of them are your typical street boy. They are both so respectful and hard working. Thankfully, God has protected them over the years from falling into the temptations of drugs and alcohol. Ginito is very intelligent and eager to go back to school, which he will in January when the new school year begins. Nelson is a worker. . . he doesn't do well sitting around and has, over the years, always arranged small jobs like selling bread or working in a shop. He is now the newest employee at Armadura Gym, the gym that serves as an income generator for Masana. </div>
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When we finally do build our home on our property, the boy's house will still exist and we've told them they are welcome as a part of our family until God gives them their own families. Join us in praying for Ginito and Nelson as they enter into this new season of life. Pray they will fully embrace the plans and purposes God has for them.</div>
Sarah Oldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16170791229133247974noreply@blogger.com0