Mozambique Trip March 2007

Dear Friends,
Like most of Africa, Mozambique is a land of great contrasts. It is a country with diverse people groups speaking unique languages and rich in culture. It boasts hundreds of miles of wonderful coastlines, vast tracks of land covered with thorn bushes and baobab trees and then the huge unique rock formations that we saw around Nampula. We found the people warm and friendly even though so many of them were struggling to make a living.

Mozambique has had a very traumatic history but is now on the upswing and those living in the country are quick to point out the improvements and accomplishments of the last few years. Coming from South Africa with such a strong infrastructure we did notice some of the disadvantages the country is having to deal with. In contrast to South Africa we also felt so much safer in Mozambique.
We traveled from Johannesburg to our Translation Centre in Nampula via the Missionary Aviation Fellowship plane. At the Centre we met many new colleagues that we will be serving and it was so good to finally put faces to names and to get to know the ethos of what is being done through these people. We traveled up with June Dickie, a translator who has worked for many years in a Muslim group of people called the Mwani. From Nampula we traveled to Pemba with June and were able to see where she was working and meet a number of the Mwani people. It was such a privilege to visit these people in their homes and to get to know some of the key ones that June has been working with in the translation process. Pray for June and the Mwani people. A lot of scripture and other Christian materials have been recorded and are being very well received by the people. Megavoice recorders (www.megavoice.com) are used and given to the people to listen to God’s Word. The church in Mozambique is growing but there are many very small congregations who need good leadership. There is a picture of one such church that I visited.
As we traveled around the country we were able to visit other missionaries and find out how God is working through their outreaches. Some were working with orphans, others in remote communities. One couple were doing the scripture recordings and having Bible studies and another lady was reaching out to the children.
With only two weeks left for the Haasdykes to orientate us to our new responsibilities here in South Africa we feel we are cramming for an exam trying to make sure we really know what to do after they leave. The Haasdykes have been wonderful people to take over from and we would like you to pray for them as they make their transition back to Canada.
Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support. Do write to us by email at roy_tibbit@sil.org or snail mail at SIL Box 4245 Kempton Park, Gauteng 1620, South Africa.
God Bless,
Roy & Rosemary Tibbit


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