Mozambique

Samaritan's Purse has been working in Mozambique since 2000 when the country experienced dangerous flooding. During the disaster, we helped thousands with food, water, shelter, medical attention, community development, and Gospel outreaches. Mozambique is one of four East African countries where Samaritan's Purse has launched a comprehensive HIV/AIDS program to strengthen the Christian response to the pandemic.

Note From the Field

Reaching the Shangaan People for Christ

From country director Craig Whitlock

Shangaan, one of the indigenous languages of southern Mozambique, is absolutely beautiful, especially when the words are being sung to glorify God.

It is also rich in expressions regarding food, travel, and relationships.

Like the Zulu language, Shangaan has no word for "future.” There is a similar word, which literally means “the day after” or “the day after tomorrow.” But there are no words or phrases to describe a distant time — a moment one or two weeks from now.

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Why? It could be based on the fact that the life expectancy rate of a rural Mozambican is only 35-40 years. And those years are often marked by pain and tedium.

Although this is the most obvious answer, I am inclined to believe that the Shangaan have a more Biblical understanding of the “future.”

The Lord’s Prayer, found in Matthew chapter 6, emphasizes our need for “daily bread.” Matthew 6:34 tells us: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It seems that by not worrying about the “future,” the Shangaan people are properly practicing this Biblical truth.

But the reality of the present is that the difficulties they face make life hard to predict or plan.

Please pray that Samaritan’s Purse Mozambique would declare that there is a “future” worth living. A future promise like that told to the Prophet Jeremiah: “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

Pray that the Shangaan people would come to know that this future and hope are only found in Jesus Christ, whose hand will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and whose radiance will eliminate every pain.

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PROJECTS

Home Based Care

With an increase in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS, the gap continues to widen between the demand for, and the availability of, healthcare services. This program provides churches with the resources and support to care for the chronically ill. Home Based Care is a more accessible and affordable alternative to hospital care for many low-income individuals. The program also strengthens the bond between faith communities and health facilities.

Church Mobilization Project
This project is designed to encourage churches to join the fight against HIV/AIDS. Program goals include reducing the stigma associated with the epidemic, educating Christians about HIV/AIDS and training church members to properly care for people living with the disease.

Nossa Familia!
Samaritan's Purse provides support to more than 3,500 orphans and vulnerable children through education, protection, shelter, food, and psycho-social support. We also recruit community volunteers and train them how to properly care for these children.

Bio Sand Filters
Since 2001, Samaritan's Purse has installed more than 7,200 bio sand filters—a household water treatment system—to make clean drinking water available to the people of the Mozambique's Guija District. The filters are made of concrete, gravel, and sand and provide ideal intervention for communities with easy access to surface water.

Hygiene and Sanitation Promotion
In addition to providing bio sand filters, Samaritan's Purse also offers hygiene and sanitation education, focusing on personal hygiene, food preparation, household sanitation, and latrine construction.

Borehole Rehabilitation Program
In densely populated areas, Samaritan's Purse works with communities to construct and rehabilitate hand-dug wells and boreholes. In 2007, we rehabilitated 19 boreholes with community support. After a project is completed, we then offer maintenance training to community members who will assume responsibility for upkeep.

HIV/AIDS Youth Education Program
This program trains and equips church and community leaders to teach, mentor, and show by example how youth can stop the spread of HIV. Samaritan's Purse began the 5-year HIV prevention and behavior change program in 2005 and has reached more than 63,000 youth through 3,000 trained youth educators.

Food Aid Program
Samaritan's Purse is partnering with Mozambique's government to reduce food insecurity in its drought-prone southern region. Samaritan's Purse has also partnered with the World Food Program since 2002 and provides emergency food supplies and feeding programs for people living with AIDS, the chronically ill, and orphans and vulnerable children. The seed multiplication program also provides agricultural training in the production of drought-resistant plants.

Livestock Program
Samaritan's Purse provides technical and market support services to small-scale livestock and farmers' associations. We also support orphans and vulnerable children through a goat project and a broiler chicken project.

HIV/AIDS Prevention, Counseling, and Testing Program
A new curriculum called "One Love" is being implemented in three districts to focus on faithfulness among 25-49 year olds. Community-based counseling and testing are also a part of a pilot activity in partnership with the Ministry of Health. Counselors are selected among church members and pastors, who already have a passion for providing guidance and support.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Our Field Staff. Please pray for guidance, strength, and safety of Samaritan's Purse staff.

Flooding Victims. For the second consecutive year, Mozambique has experienced major flooding in the country's central region. Extremely heavy seasonal rains have displaced thousands, who are often the nation's poorest and most vulnerable. Please pray for a quick recovery for those affected.

Church Mobilization Programs. Please pray that our Church Mobilization Programs in Africa will motivate Christians to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS through abstinence and faithfulness.