This pano was taken in a school room at the Machava Ministry Center run by Iris Ministries outside of Maputo, Mozambique.
This 3D virtual image was taken on the playground at the Machava Ministry Center run by Iris Ministries outside of Maputo, Mozambique.
Last week, the AR team and Pastor Vincent traveled to Maputo, Mozambique, to visit Iris Ministries, a ministry started in 1995 by American missionaries Rolland and Heidi Baker. We first learned of Iris through the book Always Enough, which Nate and I each read a few months ago. We found the book very challenging, as it relates the incredible story of revival sweeping through Mozambique (especially following the devastating floods of 2000) and of the total abandon to God and the Holy Spirit that the Bakers live by daily.
We saw for ourselves that God is at work in a big way there. To us, it seemed like Mozambique is to South Africa as Mexico is to the U.S., except that Mozambique is perhaps poorer. As one enters the country, immediately, one feels the poverty and the lack of viable economy; even the roads turn to sand in parts. The Portuguese influence gives the country a Central or South American feel, and the communist regime of years ago still has its authority as photos are prohibited of certain monuments and sights downtown. From the sight of the dilapidated buildings in Maputo, it’s obvious that Mozambique was once a thriving and beautiful country but is now the shell of what it once was. But despite being hit hard by twenty years of intense civil war and horrendous natural disasters, Mozambique is beginning to turn a corner and one gains that sense of hope when one sees how God is using Iris Ministries to transform the lives of the next generation.
When the Bakers first arrived in Mozambique, they were overwhelmed by the number of children abandoned, orphaned and/or displaced as a result of the country’s infighting. The Bakers simply stepped out in faith in offering these children a safe home. Over the years and many more steps of faith, God has blessed Iris in allowing the ministry to expand throughout Mozambique and into Malawi; as a result, Iris now cares for thousands of children and teenagers, raising them up in the ways of the Lord and providing them schooling on-site, a church home, loving dorm parents and an environment in which to thrive. We stayed at the Zimpeto Center in Maputo and also visited the Machava base nearby, and at each place, we were amazed us by the care the children receive, the love of God that they know, the freedom they are allowed, the responsibilities they grow into and the hearts for Jesus that these kids are developing.
We are finding it hard to process all that we experienced, but for me the main take-away from our time in Mozambique is that God is transforming what would have been a lost generation into followers of Christ who will no doubt have a great impact on their country. We had the opportunity to get to know some of the young men at Zimpeto (85% of the 300 at Zimpeto are boys), and we left very encouraged by how the Lord has blessed and used this ministry, taking it from something small to something big by His grace alone.
More reflections are forthcoming as we continue to process things, but hopefully the photos will give you an idea of the beauty of Mozambique’s children.
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