Currently I am balled up in my sleeping bag under the protection of my tent as it rains in Mozambique. I spent the last 20 hours crammed into a van, which navigated the worst roads I have seen on the race thus far to bring us to the remote town of Vilanculos. Mozambique was colonized by the Portuguese in the early 16th century and became a center for slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1975 it became an independent republic and proceeded to inflict civil war on itself till the early 90’s. The repercussions of this violence can still be seen in the landscape as well as the faces of it citizens. 
Vilanculos is located towards the center of Mozambique on the coast of the Indian Ocean and mainly functions as a fishing town. Our contacts live just outside the town on a private lake. Their names are Jako and Maria and they are both from South Africa. Through a series of God led events they both traveled to Mozambique about 6 years ago with absolutely no money. Since then they have been blessed with a piece of property, a home, the building of a church and a strong network of local Christians. They live in what I would consider the bush and home school their children.
Jako filled us in on his background one night around a campfire. I will not go into detail here but to say that he came from a background of abuse and violence. This came out in his later years and caused him to harm others. However, God changed his life through the murder of a good friend and now Jako is fighting for the Kingdom. Our stay here will only be for a few days and then it’s off to the true bush where there is no electricity or clean water. Where life revolves around surviving and looking towards the hand of God to provide. I will keep you posted
