tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52202607573504348722011-07-31T10:48:49.154+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.comBlogger621100tag: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.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-35095861033051214212009-06-11T09:02:00.005+02:002009-06-11T12:59:40.256+02:00

We have eventually started to make the huge number of concrete blocks necessary to build the medical centre at the orphanage, we are all very excited ! We still await the necessary documents for our NGO. One more week they say!. Over the next two weeks in Maxixe we will be launching both of our sustainable projects here. Our shop is now finished and looks great, this will be stocked this week and

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-17597280129649608202009-06-01T16:56:00.005+02:002009-06-01T18:46:32.614+02:00

Steve Thomas and Steve Parsons came out from the UK, to teach and train around a hundred of our new people that now come to church, along with a number of up and coming leaders. Ten different churches were represented, seven local and three from down near the orphanage.. The feed back has been fantastic. Seminars were held in the mornings, with time to reflect in the afternoons, then as the week

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-91607573222165588142009-05-30T11:00:00.008+02:002009-06-01T18:20:56.686+02:00

..When I finally arrived tired and weary from my journey up from South Africa to the Orphanage,the last thing I expected when I arrived, was a surprise 50th birthday party. This had been put on by Martha's eldest daughter Grace, and hosted by the children from the orphanage. I was choked!.All the staff from the orphanage, including our guard, plus twenty children, Martha's own family and some of

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-58379042414069148392009-05-08T13:28:00.010+02:002009-05-10T16:02:48.578+02:00

I have been back in the UK for the last five months, and have really enjoyed being back home with family and friends. Here I am now, back in South Africa, getting the Land Rover serviced and everything prepared for the exciting few months ahead of me. I am poised, about to go back across the border into Mozambique tomorrow, and about to step into some of the exciting things, which the bible says

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-13431417715686373862009-02-18T15:47:00.012+02:002009-02-18T23:55:38.552+02:00

We are currently in a very exciting time at the orphanage. The opportunities for us to make a real difference in this poor nation, are huge!. We are now very well set up at the orphanage with a great facility, where the most needy of children come into our care. They receive medical support, 3 meals a day and 24 hour supervised care. Our orphanage is an oasis for these children, offering a safe

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-15066753840330851422009-01-07T10:50:00.017+02:002009-01-07T17:37:44.392+02:00

.........Happy New Year Everyone!.I hope that you enjoyed a really good Christmas and New Year. It was great for me to be home, and spend Christmas with my family and friends..So here we are standing on the threshhold of a brand new year. I`m one of those people who get excited about that, but for me its not just an emotional experience, saying good bye to one year and welcoming another..It's

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-55321416655689469282009-01-05T06:00:00.005+02:002009-01-05T19:44:49.733+02:00

......... .Water is a valuable commodity here in Africa, and essential to our survival!.The well at the orphanage has been in for three years now. A bore hole was drilled 67 metres deep, and a pump lifts the water up into a10,000 litre tank, which provides all the fresh water we need, for drinking, washing, toilets and showers..A lot of water is also used when mixing cement for the building

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-70020630958227976842008-12-29T06:00:00.010+02:002008-12-30T19:25:07.119+02:00

It's so important to be able to laugh, and here are a few of the things which had us in stitches!.A COW WEARING TWO PAIRS OF BOOTS.One of the funniest stories I remember, was the man in jail, who, when asked why he was in there, said he had been caught whilst trying to steal a cow. He put two pairs of boots on the animal, to try hide its tracks, but got caught as he was on his way home That

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-69021916632297306152008-12-22T06:00:00.011+02:002008-12-22T13:02:09.420+02:00

This has proved to be a vital part of our work out here in Mozambique..We are currently running two feeding programmes , one down at the orphanage in Malavela, and the other here in Maxixe..Our feeding programmes cater mainly for widowed ladies with young children, who find themselves on their own, with young families to bring up, and no means to support themselves..We also support a number of

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-31941272156564904812008-12-15T07:30:00.010+02:002008-12-16T16:37:11.151+02:00

....... ........Fatima pictured here at the orphanage in Malavela..All of our kids are great, we have no favourites...well we shouldn't have, but here is someone who is a bit special, She`s four years old, according to the doctor in Maputo who aged her according to the formation of her teeth..When she came into our care we knew nothing about her, we did not know her name, or where she came from,

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-58515126459521449512008-12-09T15:55:00.027+02:002008-12-10T19:56:45.488+02:00

.Day one. Clearing the piece of land ready to start building the church. .......We bring in our supplies of poles and reeds for the walls, and timber and corrugated iron for the roof. ......Four days later our team of builders and cooks proudly show off their new church building........The local people love the "Jesus" film and come back each night to watch it again and again! Our screen is a

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-84860832329847297062008-12-07T12:57:00.018+02:002008-12-10T10:08:32.168+02:00

.........The look on these childrens faces says it all! .They wake up one morning to find themselves on their own, both parents have died being HIV positive..... ........It's moving to see the children respond so quickly to love, and genuine compassion, as they come into our care. ..........Zacharius at 5 years old makes a huge improvement in his health after receiving prayer, he was so poorly

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-78081693740050895522008-12-02T12:09:00.007+02:002008-12-02T17:23:42.194+02:00

So here we are again........ sitting in the shade underneath the coconut trees, alongside one of the most beautiful beach fronts ever. It's deserted, except for a few locals fishing. The surf pounds in over the reef a couple of hundred metres off shore, producing a swell of white water in the pale blue ocean. Whales can be seen here regularly earlier in the year. The sea breeze cools our faces as

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-86369236345215160752008-11-24T12:54:00.004+02:002008-12-02T17:41:07.656+02:00

We had a good time on Saturday afternoon, when Armindo and I slotted in one of our increasingly popular leadership training sessions. We again had 60 to 70 people turn out, some of them coming in from Massinga and Malova by mini bus. .As they walk from the bus drop-off point to the church in Maxixe, they sing loudly the whole way here. It's great to see and hear. They do a sort of shuffle along,

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-88592831779567438082008-11-24T12:17:00.006+02:002008-11-24T18:55:21.244+02:00

We have pushed hard this last week to get the last of these few churches built and up and running. This church has been built mainly by twelve of the young people in Armindo´s church. Some of them came to Christ themselves through our outreaches and now have a heart for the work here. Having worked all day, they all came back at night to help with the set up and take down of our outreach event. .

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-25130802076078601532008-11-18T15:49:00.004+02:002008-11-18T19:58:17.957+02:00

Whilst Armindo and I were searching and praying about our last church plant in Jocarne just north of Maxixe, we were enquiring about the area, numbers of people living locally and what type of churches were already present in the area..Having gained some useful local infomation and chatted further, we were able to lead the three men that we were talking to, to Christ. All of them had a picture of

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-63944133371111138082008-11-18T14:42:00.007+02:002008-11-18T20:26:58.444+02:00

Things are moving forward nicely at the orphanage in Malavela this week. The local builders are in, refurbishing two old buildings which were still structuraly sound, into a kitchen and laundry. They have also demolished the old toilet and shower block, which was starting to fall down, and was infested with rats. They will be putting up a new toilet and shower block this coming week..It's so

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-75630862059090401172008-11-17T21:52:00.006+02:002008-11-18T00:46:17.099+02:00

.We have had a few trials this week, but otherwise all has gone really well! Poor Delfina got bitten twice by a snake on Tuesday afternoon..We had a huge downpour on Friday evening, so no meeting, but Saturday was fantastic, with around 250 adults and children coming to see the Jesus film. They loved it. We preached the parable of the sower, which spoke directly to these simple farming people.

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-82590278896608555242008-11-13T11:36:00.018+02:002008-11-15T15:48:35.566+02:00

The power has been off, the internet connection is weak, the computer is caput... That's Africa!!! You either love it or you hate it. The wet season has begun, we are sweating cobs.... high temperatures and high humidy, when it rains here it rains!!!.Rats, moquitoes, snakes, scorpions, bugs the size of houses, unexploded mines, disease and sickness! And robbers! I ask myself why I love this

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-35869302175825790922008-11-05T15:53:00.018+02:002008-11-15T18:01:04.121+02:00

.....Committing the start of this church plant to God... Day three and every one has worked incredibly hard...It's not fancy, but its practical, a tin roof, lots of ventilation and an earth floor...We have just finished building the church at Matacalane. It's in a very rural area and we are all very excited about our next few weeks. Whilst looking for the right area to build our next church, we

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-53058236025718622502008-11-04T15:46:00.006+02:002008-11-16T03:01:12.941+02:00

.Meet Rosa. The resturant owner's daughter Sadya, in Xaixai, introduced me to Rosa, a pretty girl who had become friends with Sadya a few months ago., it may surprise you to hear she cannot read or write. Her Mother tragically died when she was three years old. .In the last few months her Father has kicked her out of her home, and now she is left to fend for herself. Desperate, hungry and

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-55386415311675541012008-10-27T13:02:00.017+02:002008-11-16T22:34:54.291+02:00

It's 5.45 am and already another huge brick red sun is rising across the water on the other side of the bay, casting a footpath of flickering colour across the rippled water, to where I stand sipping my coffee. I love this time of day and never tire of seeing this amazing sight. This morning is a bit different. I focus on the razor wire surrounding the camp site, between me and the rising sun,

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-28244727025814225622008-10-20T10:28:00.007+02:002008-11-16T22:51:53.086+02:00

The OrphanageI have just returned to Maxixe, having spent the last two weeks at the orphanage. Martha and I have been busy planning our building projects for next year. Our two main projects will be the building of our medical centre, and the home for girls caught up in prostitution. .This month we have just put a new pitched roof on our storage/workshop before the rains arrive, and this is now

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-91851658681695684882008-10-13T10:52:00.012+02:002008-11-17T01:29:26.777+02:00

...................As I drove back down the road to Malavela from Maxixe, I was excited about seeing the twins again! Would they have put on weight by now? Would I notice a difference? I had heard they were both eating and sleeping well. I Pulled into Martha`s, said a quick hello and nipped across to the orphanage nearby. .As I entered the gate into the grounds of the orphanage I was met with

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-89551810524887289382008-10-06T15:47:00.018+02:002008-11-17T01:57:17.719+02:00

Please pray for us if you can!!!The children are all doing well, we took two more children in last Friday, and are due to visit the doctor with them on Thursday. Please pray for them, and our carers who do such a fantastic job.We are still pushing to register the orphanage as an NGO ( non governmental organisation).We are still trying to permanently import our Land Rover, that we bought a year

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-30439584588452077792008-09-30T08:51:00.017+02:002008-11-19T19:54:07.176+02:00

Zaccaria pictured here with his wife Paulina, was healed of a chronic chest problem during one of our outdoor evening meetings. He had worked for the past thirty years underground in a mine. Now his whole family are coming to church!.It's exciting opening a church in a new area, Our evening meetings help to carve a pathway for these lovely people to come to faith in Christ. It's a bit like

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-11856008588887669382008-09-30T08:21:00.025+02:002008-11-19T20:27:39.723+02:00

......Our new church in Malova is now up and running. We had a fantastic Sunday, with around sixty adults and children coming in. Some were a bit afraid, and stood for a while outside under the trees, but soon came in as Philimon led us in worship. It was thrilling to recognise the faces of some of the people we had seen among the crowd in the evenings. Many of these had just received Christ into

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-27682111824965485052008-09-25T11:42:00.031+02:002008-11-19T20:34:14.882+02:00

..We had a good few days with our outreach events in the little village of Xigiane, with around two hundred local people coming along in the evening, and around ten new Christians in to our first Sunday service. Our heart is to plant these small churches in areas where it would be otherwise difficult for the local people to get to a church to hear the gospel and receive good teaching..We are now

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-67002533927848965752008-09-18T11:25:00.038+02:002008-11-19T20:48:50.036+02:00

.............I have been back up in Maxixe for a few days now, and our new pole and reed church at Xigiane is finished. Last night we held an introductory evening. The local people are invited to bring their friends and neighbours to join us each night, as Philemon, sitting at his keyboard, leads the people in a time of worshipping God. .We follow that by showing the Jesus film, an excellent

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-65960701691302696242008-09-15T17:41:00.026+02:002008-11-19T21:04:31.905+02:00

One of the most moving experiences I have had so far, came out of a conversation I was having with Martha, chatting late into the night about our project. She told me that a lady called Regina who works for the government as a community worker in a near by town called Manhica , had some months ago received some alarming news! .A pairs of twins barely three years old, had been brought into

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-68198849691710886102008-09-15T16:47:00.017+02:002008-11-20T01:37:00.385+02:00

I have just spent the last two weeks down at the orphanage in Malavela, and also briefly in South Africa, leaving our team of eager church builders to start work building our second "church plant" this year. I got some essential repairs done on the Land Rover and renewed my visa..I then spent several days at the orphanage with Martha and her team of carers with the children. A few weeks ago I

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-54984578812154686602008-09-03T12:51:00.026+02:002008-11-20T02:06:34.243+02:00

want to tell you the story of Lazaro, pictured here with Madalena, one of his amazing car..I ers. It's an appropriate name for him, as he was so weak and poorly when he came into the orphanage, that he nearly died.Lazaro was brought into the orphanage by local government officials, who recognise our work here, as we help these needy children.His mother had died of AIDS, leaving him in a terribl.e

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-86972452443902682982008-09-03T12:29:00.016+02:002008-11-20T19:48:10.245+02:00

The first of our new church plants is now and up and running. You can see it in the background of the photo. We had a great time of celebration at the opening evening. Around 200 local people came together - we took a bold step and fed everyone! It was great to see the new Christians working together, busy cooking up huge panfuls of beans and rice and serving everyone.We showed the Jesus film

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-59223802110141497952008-08-27T14:09:00.014+02:002008-11-20T19:59:49.172+02:00

There has been great joy and excitement here over the last few days, as the first of the new churches that we are building is now finished. Built by our trainee pastors, it's a simple pole and reed constuction 8 metres by 6 metres with a tin roof. The new building can just be seen at the back of the photo.John, one of Armindo´s trained leaders, will head up the new church. He has worked hard over

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-62775281807851876312008-08-15T13:42:00.012+02:002008-11-20T20:09:20.385+02:00

The last two weeks have been very busy, firstly getting our Land Rover serviced and a few small repairs done in South Africa, then facing the challenge of finding a company to build our trailer, for the evangelistic side of our mission.I'm pleased to say we now have a fantastic, ruggedly built, off-road trailer, able to go anywhere that the Land Rover can, in order to bring the gospel to the most

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-634948584056573262008-08-15T11:30:00.017+02:002008-11-20T20:18:59.069+02:00

It was a great thrill to see the wall that's been built around the Orphanage, during the last few months at Malavela. It has two functions. To keep rebels out, and to help keep in the most fantastic kids in the world.We now have ten children in the orphanage, and as many more on our feeding program, where the children are supported in what is left of a family environment, after disease and

Pete Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900796358010106577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220260757350434872.post-17611526675573193152008-04-15T08:20:00.015+02:002008-11-20T21:33:03.232+02:00

.We have some projects for 2008 that are vital to our programme:MALAVELASecurity Wall - To provide increased security, a 2.4m high wall is now being built to surround the entire compound.Laundry - A laundry facility for the orphanage.Kitchen - In order to provide better food preparation facilities, a fully equipped kitchen to prepare for the orphanage.Medical centre - crucial to our daily needs,

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