Now let me take you back a minute to tell you why Mama Rita even came into my life. In 2007 Ezekiel, her husband, was forming a relationship with some Muslim people who said they were interested in becoming Christians. He was invited to their home to share and on the way he was stabbed so harshly by some Muslim extremist that he ended up dying a few days later in the hospital. Ezekiel had started a denomination of churches in the north central part of Mozambique . As men and women from his churches would die because of the harshness of Mozambique life and the AIDs epidemic their children would be left without parents and a home. Ezekiel had a huge heart for the orphans and he took the children in as their parents would die. At the time of his death Ezekiel and Mama Rita had taken in 25 children plus the 7 of their own birth children.
When Ezekiel died the missionaries who had been involved with Ezekiel’s ministry did not know who would continue the ministry or who would provide for all of these children. Peter, Ezekiel’s nephew, ended up being the man with the job and heart for helping children. Peter grew up most of his life in Malawi because of war situations. Because of this he learned how to speak English, which is one of their national languages, but he also ended up with Malaria and no way to cure it so he ended up going blind. Peter and his wife, who is blind, both teach at a school for the blind in Beira, Mozambique. Peter, his wife and some of the church provide financially for the children to eat and live on. Through the death of Ezekiel the Lord told Mama Rita that he would send people to help her out, we turned out to be an answer to that promise.
Amazingly enough Mama Rita and her family served us beyond belief while we stayed with them. One day we felt so horrible when we found out that they had no food for the children but had fed us a nice supper that evening. As I think back to that situation I am reminded why I want to give back to this family. Their love for God and for his people is so amazing and inspiring!!! They never asked us for anything, no money , nothing the whole time we were there. Some people you meet along the way are beggers but not these people!
While I was standing at the plot of land that will someday be a home for Mama Rita and her children God spoke to me and told me I would return to see Mama Rita some day. Well that day is coming in January when I travel to debrief the June squad. I am so excited to see what God does while I am there. My hope is that God will use me to further the process of building the orphanage whether that be through fundraising, bringing teams to build or to minister or whatever God has for us.
Will you join me in praying for this process? Do you have a desire to serve in Africa? Do you have a desire to give financially to orphans and AIDS victims? Please let me know if through hearing about Mama Rita you have a strong desire to do something. I am excited to see what God is doing in Mozambique and how we can partner in that!
