In 2001, Parkside had a call to Mozambique. For three years it was put on the ‘backburner’ until a meetingwith Richard Kerridge in 2004. Richard suggested we partner with Liberty Christian Fellowship in Healesville and do a conference in Mozambique. So, September saw us head off as a team (John Meadth, Peter and Dawn Owen) to Messica. Pastor Cherene was the Chairman of ACMI at the time and he arranged two conferences for the two week stay, one in Messica, his home town, and one in Mutarara, on the Zambezi River.

The aim of the ACMI conferences is to minister to the pastors and their wives and to build unity amongst the pastors. Many of them do not own a Bible and have had no training and so conferences are like ‘manna’ in the desert. Unity is particularly important because of tribal differences. We went, with these goals in mind, but returned with a very different mandate.

The AIDS epidemic in Africa has left thousands of children without one or both parents and widows with no means of support for themselves or their family. During our time with the Cherenes, we were impressed by their vision to provide for the widows and orphans in their area and so, when we returned, we approached the church about what we could do. The Cherenes had the vision but not the means to fulfil it. We decided we would get behind them financially.

During the next two years Parkside sent over the money for various projects. The Cherene’s vision was to have an orphanage that was self-sufficient, able to grow their own food and have some means of making money to help provide for the children. The first stage was to build a sewing shop where items could be made and sold for a small profit. Parkside provided the money for the building, sewing machines and material. We also sent money for seed, a plough and other gardening tools to grow a crop of maize which would provide some food for the children. We also purchased the pastor his house and a van for him to get around to the other ACMI churches.

Our next visit was in 2006. Once more we were to hold two conferences – this time in Beira, a coastal city, and again in Messica. We added another member to our team, Dell Jensen, John’s sister-in-law and head of Liberty’s Ladies Group. Dell had a wonderful repour with the ladies, who felt so blessed to have their own meetings they did a farewell dance and presented Dell and Dawn with gifts. We also had 500 Portuguese Bibles brought to Beira to give to the pastors at the conference.

After Beira we drove the 300 kilometers to Messica, all nine of us plus luggage, in a van equipped to carry five (not so squeezy). More Bibles were given out and at the end of the conference we officially ‘opened’ the sewing shop and officially ‘presented’ the car to Pastor Cherene. Peter then placed a rock on the spot where the orphanage would be built and John prayed over the spot where the well was to be dug. The week ended with the wedding of Pastor Cherene’s son, Marcus.

Since returning to Australia we have seen the building of the orphanage (not without it’s dramas – builders are just as difficult over there) but it is now almost complete. The painting has to be done, the electrical wiring and possibly the toilets (you never know until you get there exactly what’s been done and what hasn’t) However, we have photos to prove that the orphanage is indeed up with doors and windows and a claim of being the biggest building in Messica.

Last Christmas we were able to buy shoes, tops and shorts for the orphans and provide them with a Christmas party (attended by a further hundred orphans who had heard about it on the grapevine)

The incredible thing about God is that He is full of surprises. Who would have thought that a trip to minister to a group of pastors would lead to being involved not only with teaching the Word but with partnering in fulfilling a vision. If a church of seventy can help one man achieve all this it just goes to prove that it’s not our effort but God’s power. There are still nations in need of a supporting church. Is He calling you to step out in faith and partner with them for the Kingdom?

We are planning to return to Mozambique this September to run another ACMI conference. However, the team will be different as Liberty church has now taken on another African nation. This year we are taking a married couple who will be sharing the preaching and a young couple – an electrician (who is going to teach the young men to wire up the orphanage) and his wife who is a nurse and will be teaching basic nursing skills. At least, that’s the plan but who knows what will happen when we get there because T.I.A, (This is Africa)