tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52202607573504348722024-11-08T17:37:59.332+02:00A few years ago my life was dramatically impacted on a missions trip to the African nation of Mozambique when I met a lady who was struggling to feed her own children, plus a number of orphans. I decided to do something about their desperate situation. It doesn't take much effort to make a huge impact. As we stand together we can make a world of difference for some of the poorest children in the world.Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-15112645094919148002011-02-25T12:58:00.005+02:002011-02-25T13:48:36.806+02:00

Here is our new training center under construction in MaxixeIts currently our forth church building here in Maxixe, we have been out growing the previous buildings at the rate of one every two yearsThe first one was a beautiful tree that the church met under for the first year, which Armindo later chopped down for fire wood!We then built a building from local material as we call it, meaning palm

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-84158502147696251112011-02-23T12:48:00.007+02:002011-02-23T13:20:31.549+02:00

Pictured here two of the children who have stolen the hearts of alot of people Celenia and Alfredo, it does not seem long since we brought them into the orphanage sick and very weak from severe malnutrition, now they are up and running and off to schoolUp till now our children have been going to school with no uniforms, which the goverment allows but is not good for the poor children who

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-6159916153063201702011-02-22T12:21:00.006+02:002011-02-22T13:36:31.915+02:00

We now have a Doctor at our medical center at the orphanage!Its been a joy to connect with Dr Madalane from the hospital in Manhica a well liked and respected lady by the local people in the area, With a real love of children she was delighted when we approached her to see if she would be prepared to come and do some clinics for us.After further chats with the director of the hospital who was

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-68960074496478076442011-02-21T10:41:00.002+02:002011-02-21T11:29:03.324+02:00

Its been an absolute thrill to be back in the country that I love for a holiday after being away for nearly nine months.Over the past 6 months I have been undergoing chemotherapy and numerous other treatments to try and fight off an extremely rear disease that hes been attacking my nerve system. For the last few years my body has been producing a rouge anti body called "Mag " that has been

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-80657331799405707272010-07-21T09:32:00.008+02:002010-07-22T22:43:22.032+02:00

Can you remember Lazaro's story. See the link for more details : http://visionmozambique.blogspot.com/2008/09/lazaro.htmlLazaro was brought into the orphanage by local government officials, who recognised our work, helping needy children. His mother had died of AIDS, leaving him in a terrible state of neglect. He had a very deep ulcerated hole in the side of his head and another on his jaw. The

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-49957551666526827022010-07-21T09:23:00.010+02:002010-07-23T15:35:27.630+02:00

Do you remember back in September 2008, when we brought the twins back to the orphanage?Click on the link to refresh your memory - http://visionmozambique.blogspot.com/2008/09/twins.htmlLook at the desperate look on Selena's face. So many emotions, all in one. If you remember, the twins were suffering from severe malnutrition, and whilst they were nearly three years old, they really were tiny -

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-68893535418518367262010-07-20T21:06:00.008+02:002010-07-22T22:42:06.161+02:00

Back in December 2008, Martha and myself went to visit a lady who was looking after seventeen children. Her siblings had died, leaving their children behind. She was cooking a small pot of beans to share between them all. She was at her wits end trying to feed them and look after them.I noticed a young boy on his own, sitting quietly near a hedge. He was very sick, covered in sores and extremely

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-38968825266863175802010-07-17T12:49:00.004+02:002010-07-17T13:00:12.470+02:00

You might remember back in December, when I posted a blog about the start of Armindo’s new house. At that point the walls were probably about three feet high. You can see how much progress has been made in just a couple of months. Since this photograph was taken, the roof trusses are now in place, and the roof will be going on shortly.Back in the UK, I’m sure that the house would be finished,

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-87231761512201227282010-07-17T12:00:00.004+02:002010-07-17T13:02:19.170+02:00

Whilst the video is a couple of month old now, you can see how much the medical centre has progressed. We have used the same footprint of the house, from both Martha’s and Armindos, and also implemented the lessons learn’t along the way. Such as adding an extra foot to the veranda, and making sure that the roof slopes just a little bit lower than in the last two buildings.Initially, this valuable

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-17973142434847512872010-07-17T11:56:00.002+02:002010-07-17T12:00:16.487+02:00

These two boys were gathering water for their neighbours, some distance away. On the cart there are about twenty four empty drums, when they are full, it weighs nearly half a ton. Poor Donkey.

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-69965796054027707332010-07-17T11:31:00.004+02:002010-07-17T11:55:22.707+02:00

Following on from the trauma of last year when the well broke, I just wanted to share with you just how important this well is to the local community. This picture is taken from the water tower you can see how long the queue is. Some of these people had been waiting since 4 am.Our well provides essential water for washing, cooking, and cleaning for the whole of our orphanage and provides a huge

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-69598421895325360052010-07-16T17:12:00.003+02:002010-07-16T17:16:49.396+02:00

Hello FriendsI really must apologise for the absence of news from Mozambique. Back in March I travelled out with my Mum to get an update on the medical centre and also have a holiday. Whilst I was there I began to feel unwell and was advised by medical professionals to get home as fast as possible. I arrived back just after Easter and have been having tests etc since then.There really is so much

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-4790944770915449322010-03-10T21:55:00.002+02:002010-03-10T23:19:22.178+02:00

We currently have the most exciting program ever lined up for this year in Mozambique 2010 You may never get the opportunity to visit this amazing country and experience the contrast between extreme poverty and the frality of life out in Mozambique, and the exciting things that God is doing in the lives of these very same people.But you can journey with us and be part of our exciting work through

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-70362589455096552212009-12-19T13:35:00.009+02:002009-12-19T14:33:19.972+02:00

Its been along time coming but its here now, Armindo's House is now well out the ground!A very proud Armindo surveying his new build!Checking on progress !His lads are excited too!I have been working with Armindo and Delfina since 2005 when we did our first small crusade in Maxixe, Armindo had 13 people in his first church at that time and we used to meet under the shade of a treeArmindo is a

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-27921348064220373402009-12-14T11:42:00.014+02:002009-12-14T14:18:00.422+02:00

It's been great to work with Manuel on this exciting project, our new Medical Centre coming together by the day!Our new building showing off its roof system, which Noah would have been proud of !More on the roof system.Manuel fitting the doors and window frames.At last we have a building! The internal walls are now being cement rendered, the door and window frames are already fitted, it's looking

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-83463706732388821342009-12-04T11:38:00.017+02:002009-12-07T19:54:50.901+02:00

We have some difficult times recently with the well at the orphanage. Our well provides essential water for washing, cooking, and cleaning for the whole of our orphanage and provides a huge amount of water around 7,500 litres each day to the local communityThe well failed for the third time in a month, leaving the whole area without water, except for local surface water supplies that are not

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-32581451205877754572009-11-17T16:35:00.010+02:002009-11-25T01:18:42.407+02:00

The front of the medical centre showing the veranda.End view of the building.. .Septic tanks going in!.... probably not the most exciting photo!... but very necessary! .It's exciting to see this project coming together. As you can see the concrete shell is complete and looking great!.It's a good size building, Twelve metres by nine, with a waiting room, a room for the doctor to see their patients

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-32964026037194764812009-11-03T13:01:00.017+02:002009-11-11T13:46:00.066+02:00

..The finished article!..Trying to source some straight poles was a real challenge!.. The main frame goes up!..The main structure built and time to put the kettle on!..We now have another valuable addition to our buildings at the orphanage, a traditionally built sun shade, built from poles and local reeds..This is primarily for the children to play under, when it's either too hot out side or when

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-72154934771365161242009-10-27T14:30:00.010+02:002009-10-27T23:44:23.979+02:00

The willing team land in South Africa.Steve and Paula having far too much fun!Stacy and Grace hard at work!The finished house looks fantastic!One of the projects our team from the UK got involved with this year was to help paint the first project we completed in Mozambique, which was a house that was built for Martha and her children, after she was left widowed in 2000..Before she moved into her

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-69463571041760099502009-10-21T08:22:00.006+02:002009-10-28T00:00:17.476+02:00

At last the Medical Centre at the orphanage is now under construction and it's flying up! .After many hours of planning and measuring, carefully situating the centre in the best place, in the beautiful grounds of the orphanage, our local builder and his team began the huge job of digging the foundations by hand..In less than a week, the trenches were dug, and ton after ton of concrete was also

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-68319420791766705892009-10-16T16:20:00.005+02:002009-10-18T10:33:41.304+02:00

We now have ten sewing machines in Maxixe at the sewing school, and the ladies have learnt how to sew aprons and skirts, and hem garments. Over the next few months we are bringing in a teacher who heads up a sewing school in the next town. He will be teaching them to make trousers and school uniforms, which the ladies will be able to sell, to make a living. We have made ten simple work

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-52738528148522419992009-07-24T09:31:00.006+02:002009-07-24T18:54:01.536+02:00

..Part of our work this year in Maxixe involves teaching and training the new believers,and up and coming leaders who joined the new churches we planted last year..It's a challenge! The educated people in the towns speak Portuguese, and the village people out of the town, where most people live, speak mainly Shangaan..Only around one in three can read and write, the good thing is they are keen to

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-66053479765070920502009-07-15T20:22:00.005+02:002009-07-15T21:30:56.285+02:00

..Here is a very proud Delfina, and some of our church youth group with her shop now open and up and running!.And yes its pink, of all colours..!.Very pink..!. and I'm saying nothing. It's Delfina's shop and she's delighted..It's been open for three weeks now and is producing a profit! We are all very excited. The shop is sited next to our church in Maxixe, which we call the Centre. It sells all

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-5451233187709478212009-06-29T08:35:00.003+02:002009-06-29T14:17:57.340+02:00

Bon Dia! It's around 8am, it's the middle of winter here now in Moz, everyone is complaining it's so cold.It's down to around 8 degrees at night and around 22 during the day. For me it's great, I can breathe again, and sleep fairly well when there isn't a cockerel standing almost on the end of my bed, and screetching his head off at 2.00 am instead of 6.00 am, which would be more reasonable!.We

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-63447277519814923082009-06-15T15:03:00.007+02:002009-06-17T08:15:49.015+02:00

..There was great excitement at the Centre in Maxixe as I arrived a week ago, with the first four sewing machines out of ten that we are bringing in, as one of the sustainable projects we are starting this year in Mozambique..Several months ago, unknown to my self, some of the ladies in the church in Maxixe were busy praying that God would help them to create businesses for themselves, as they

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0