The Gates of Masana

Most 10 or 11 year olds are like little Selso in this picture above.  Happy.  Carefree.  Full of joy.  Loving life and the opportunity to just be a kid.  This was Selso while he was living at the children's center where I worked in 2008.  Shortly after this photo was taken, he gave into the temptation to return to his old life on the streets of Maputo.  He gave up his opportunity to "just be a kid" and instead returned to his old life of begging on the streets for money, digging through trash dumpsters for scraps of food, scrounging up old clothes or blankets to stay warm at night, seeking for a safe place to where he is hidden from thieves and those who would harm him.

But grown-up Selso (on the right in the photo below) is still happy.  Still carefree.  Still full of joy.  Still loving life. . . for at least 7 hours a day while he is at Masana.  At Masana, we often pray that as boys walk into our gates each morning, that the stresses and problems of life on the streets will be left outside.  For a few hours each day, we try to create an environment where boys like Selso can be happy.  Where they can be carefree as they don't have to worry about where breakfast and lunch will come from that day.  A place where they can be full of joy as the have the chance to let down their guards and "just be a kid."  At Masana, our hope is to see a love for life re-instilled in these precious boys as they learn about the heart of their Father and the plans and purposes He has for their lives.

At Masana, we are grateful for these few hours each day to provide this environment for the boys.  But ultimately, we want Selso and all of the street boys, to leave the streets and return to their families.  We know that that is the best place for them to live the life God has designed for each of them . . .a life that brings joy and happiness for more than just a few hours a day.

Please join us in this daily prayer as the boys enter into the gates of our project.  Pray that Masana would be a place filled with God's peace and joy.  Pray that all of us who work with these boys would be filled with the Father's love to pour out on these boys each day.

And pray for Selso.  Pray for God to move in his heart and place within him a longing for home.  He's been on the streets for more than 5 years.  It's time for him to return home.

Change to Our Support

Back in 2011, Masana began a partnership with Abba's Ambassadors, an organization based out of South Carolina.  Abba's has turned out to be a huge blessing to Masana on the part of overseeing all of our finances.  They handle all of the project finances as well as the personal support of the other long term missionaries and visitors that pass through on a short-term basis.  In recent talks, Abba's has expressed their heart to make sure that none of us are being under-supported.  They have asked that Roberto and I consider moving our personal support to their organization so that they can have a true idea of all of the center costs, ministry needs, and missionary support so that they can better help out when there is a lack.  Roberto and I have prayed about it and feel that this is a move that we should make.

What does this mean for you?  If you are one of the amazing people that support our ministry with the street boys here in Mozambique, we'll just need you to change the information on the checks you send.  Abba's Ambassadors is a 501c3 and all gifts will continue to be tax deductible.  In fact, they are super organized and send out email receipts with each gift received as well as a year end receipt.  If you'd like to check out Abba's website, the address is www.abbasambassadors.org

For those of you who would like to set up an automatic debit each month, here is the information that you will need to give your bank:

1. The bank should make out the check to Abba's Ambassadors Inc.
2. Have their bank write "Roberto and Sarah" on the memo line. 

3. The bank will then send a check to:
Abba's Ambassadors Inc.
PO Box 523
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29597

For those of you who send checks once a month, annually or every-now-and-then, those can be made payable to Abba's Ambassadors with "Roberto and Sarah" on the memo line and sent to:

Abba's Ambassadors Inc.

PO Box 523
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29597

There is also a paypal option on the Abba's website www.abbasambassadors.org/donate

Roberto and I (and baby Mondlane) are so blessed by our faithful family and friends back in the States and around the world.  Our ministry with these precious street boys would not be possible without y'all.  Thank you for all that you give and may you and your families receive the richest blessings of our God!!

Hope and Family

Yesterday, my friend Deanna suggested taking my pregnant belly picture on the front porch of Masana under the cool arch-way entrance.  As I looked at the pictures on her computer, I was drawn to this one as my favorite:

In spite of the ugly power cord that the electric company rigged up after our house lost power for a few days back in 2011, the "hope" and "family" decorations speak volumes about my personal life and ministry.  How fitting that it would be the setting for announcing the soon-to-be-birth of our daughter.  Back in 2011 when we had that power problem, it was the very same week I found out I had breast cancer.  I was 31 years old and single.  My natural family was thousands of miles away from my home in Mozambique.  My closest friends know the struggles I went through during my 7 months of cancer treatments. . . the decision to leave my home in Mozambique to receive treatment in the States, the heartache I experienced over having to make treatment decisions without the input of a husband, the fear of chemo treatments and what it could do to my ability to have children in the future.  

April 6, 2011 I woke up early and went to Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA to have the tumor removed from my breast.  

April 6, 2013 I woke up in Mozambique with my husband by my side and this beautiful photo taken yesterday to announce that baby Mondlane is a girl.  

We see over and over in our ministry among street kids that God restores hope in hopeless situations and rebuilds families when all seems lost.  That's why I bought those decorations for the Masana house proclaiming "hope" and "family" to every child that enters our gates.  But now, the God of Hope has made those words even more personal and given me the family I've always hoped for.

But I will hope continually, and I will praise You yet more and more.  Psalm 71:14

Defending the Weak

"Defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed." Psalm 82:3

In the past weeks and days, I have been reminded of the call God has given us the defend the weak and fatherless and uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed.  At Masana, we are surrounded by boys who fall into these categories.  As can be expected, life on the streets is cruel and horrible things can happen to these precious little ones.  We seem to be coming face to face with that reality more and more at Masana.  

So how do we defend them?  How do we uphold their cause?  In the face of horrible things happening to children of 11 and 12 years old, how do we help them?  Do we take them into our center allowing them to sleep within the safety of our walls?  But how does this help the cause of getting them off the streets and back with their families?  Do we load them up in the car and force them to return to their homes? But what is to keep them form coming right back to the streets in a few days?  

So many questions . . . questions only God can give us the wisdom to respond to.  And boy do we ever need His wisdom in these days.  Please pray for the staff of Masana as we seek God's wisdom on how to defend these little ones while not abandoning our purpose of restoring families.  

8 boys and 1 girl

Ned Ved, Cesar, Olivio, Arlindo, Alexis, Felix, and Paito (not pictured:  Ian and Hilario)

2012 was a year full of changes in the lives of the missionaries at Masana.  Both Lauren and I got married and moved out of the Masana house into apartments in the city.  That left Alexis as the only girl in a house full of boys . . .  and being the only girl in a house full of boys brings lots of responsibility.

Grocery shopping . . .  sometimes multiple times a week.
Preparing meals
Taking boys to doctors appointments
Helping with homework
Organizing chore charts
Controlling the coming and going of 5 teenagers as well as dealing with their moodiness :-)

And then there are the responsibilities to the boys who don't live at Masana.  And if you've ever visited us at Masana, you know the doorbell rings multiple times a day!

Taking care of sick street kids who stop by the house for medical care
Offering a cup of water to the countless number of street boys who pass by just for a little attention
Chatting with reintegrated boys who stop by for a visit
Looking after visitors who are staying at Masana

"This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. . . If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."  (1 John 3:16 and 4:12)

Alexis is doing just this.  She is no longer the typical 22 year old single, young woman.  She has made a great sacrifice in giving up this "typical lifestyle" and moving to Mozambique to lay down her life for the lives of these boys.  Alexis is making the love of God complete.  May we all follow in her example.

Baby Mondlane

Roberto and I are so excited to announce that Baby Mondlane will arrive in mid-August!  I had my first doctor's appointment this past week and all looks great!  Please pray for wisdom as we search for the best place to give birth either here in Maputo, Mozambique or in South Africa.

For those who have followed my journey over the past years, you'll know that this baby is a huge testimony of God's faithfulness.  After my cancer treatments in 2011, I was so worried that I would have trouble getting pregnant.  But shouldn't I know not to worry....for "the Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all He has made.  The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them." (Psalm 145:17-19)

Begging for Swimming Lessons and A New Life

In case you didn't know, Roberto is a swim instructor at a local sports complex here in the city.  That is actually how we met....i took 4 boys to learn how to swim and Roberto happened to be the trainer there that first day....But that's another story :-)

The boys at Masana have grown to love Roberto and they love the idea of taking swimming lessons with him.  For the boys that live at Masana, I pay for their lessons.  I also pay for 1 boy who has now gone home to take lessons.  But a few boys who are still on the street have decided to save the money they make begging so that they too can take swimming lessons.  Swimming lessons cost 400 mets a month which equals about $14.  Every day, these little ones bring me 10 or 20 mets to save for them until they have enough to start lessons.  

Now every afternoon, I load up the car with 8 boys and head to the pool.  

3 of those 8 still live on the street and pay for their own swimming lessons with money they make on the street.  

Until today.

One of those 3 is going home today.

Erson (also known as Robertino, meaning little Roberto, because he too wanted to marry me) has been on the streets for a couple of years.  He is a GREAT kid.  He helps our cook at Masana every day with washing dishes and things like killing chickens.  He is an amazing example to the youngest boys at our project and he really looks out for them.  Erson's family lives only about 2 miles from our center.  His family loves him and doesn't understand why he doesn't want to live at home.  They have said he is welcome to return whenever he wants.  

During our afternoons together at the swimming pool, I've had the chance to talk to Erson a lot about going home and last week he told me he was ready.  

So today is the day.  

We've worked out a plan that I will pay for Erson to continue with his swimming lessons as long as he is living at home, going to school, and doing well with his family.  Please pray for Erson these first days as he is back home.  Pray that the lure of life on the streets will be removed and that he will love life with his family.  

Praise God for another life transformed....another boy plucked out of the street life and placed back in a family.  Praise God for Erson.