Day 4 (cont)
The first kid we met at the orphanage was a kid named Mercedes, who went by the nickname "Pai". (He follwed me around everytime we were at the orphanage, and he quickly became on of my favorites.) 
Ernesto explained that his father had recently died, and that he lived with his mother and 8 month old sister. The mother is apparently ill and can't work. Hers was one of 16 families that Ernesto supports out of his own pocket each month. In later conversations we learned that it takes $180.00 US to cover Ernesto's bills for a month (food, water, elec., cell and transportation). Yet he spends over $1,000.00 US to feed these 16 families, because those families have no other options.
Ernesto's story gives one insight into his passion for helping others. He told us his story as we sat down just outside of the newly completed orphanage. When Ernesto was a young boy, his father left his mother and she could not afford to feed him. So, he and several friends jumped the border to South Africa and made it to Johannesburg. For two years Ernesto lived on the streets and in the sewers, eating out of "dust bins", as he calls them. One day he was walking in the rain and a car passed him and then pulled over. When he caught up to the car, a German couple asked him where he was going. "Nowhere", he said. The wife insisted that he come with them. He spent the next two years living with this couple and learning the husband's trade: construction. They provided for all of his needs without any expectation for repayment. He eventually left their home and made his way back to Marracuene, Mozambique. He was sitting outside one day and heard music and went to investigate. He happened upon a crusade that was being conducted by Heidi Baker's ministry, Iris Ministries. They presented the gospel message to Ernesto and he accepted Christ as his Lord and savior that day. Then, within a short time a man showed up in Marracuene from the Congo and told Ernesto that God had sent him to train him in scripture. Ernesto spent two years studying under this teacher.
While Ernesto was in South Africa, God appeared to him in an amazing way. Ernesto recalls seeing a blue and green fire, and then seeing a vision of himself with lots and lots of children. He had a sense that he was to provide for all of these children. After becoming a Christian, Ernesto set out to start the orphanage. He had no job and no money. He decided the way to start was to go out into the bush and cut and gather firewood to sell. He and his wife, Filo, who was pregnant at the time, cut, gathered and hauled wood back to their home to sell. For several days no one purchased any of the wood. Then, it rained for 7 days straight and still no one purchased any of the wood. On the seventh day of rain Filo came to Ernesto and reminded him that they had not eaten for several days, and begged him to do something. He did. He got on his face and he prayed non-stop for several hours, asking God to provide a way for his family. On the eighth day the rain stopped and all of the sudden a line of people formed at Ernesto's house to buy wood. When he went to check the wood pile, the area around it was completely saturated from the days of rain. The wood, however, was bone dry. They sold all of the wood, and because of the significant demand, were able to command a good price for it. It was the proceeds from the sale of this wood that set the orphanage into motion.
The first kid we met at the orphanage was a kid named Mercedes, who went by the nickname "Pai". (He follwed me around everytime we were at the orphanage, and he quickly became on of my favorites.) 
Ernesto explained that his father had recently died, and that he lived with his mother and 8 month old sister. The mother is apparently ill and can't work. Hers was one of 16 families that Ernesto supports out of his own pocket each month. In later conversations we learned that it takes $180.00 US to cover Ernesto's bills for a month (food, water, elec., cell and transportation). Yet he spends over $1,000.00 US to feed these 16 families, because those families have no other options.
Ernesto's story gives one insight into his passion for helping others. He told us his story as we sat down just outside of the newly completed orphanage. When Ernesto was a young boy, his father left his mother and she could not afford to feed him. So, he and several friends jumped the border to South Africa and made it to Johannesburg. For two years Ernesto lived on the streets and in the sewers, eating out of "dust bins", as he calls them. One day he was walking in the rain and a car passed him and then pulled over. When he caught up to the car, a German couple asked him where he was going. "Nowhere", he said. The wife insisted that he come with them. He spent the next two years living with this couple and learning the husband's trade: construction. They provided for all of his needs without any expectation for repayment. He eventually left their home and made his way back to Marracuene, Mozambique. He was sitting outside one day and heard music and went to investigate. He happened upon a crusade that was being conducted by Heidi Baker's ministry, Iris Ministries. They presented the gospel message to Ernesto and he accepted Christ as his Lord and savior that day. Then, within a short time a man showed up in Marracuene from the Congo and told Ernesto that God had sent him to train him in scripture. Ernesto spent two years studying under this teacher.While Ernesto was in South Africa, God appeared to him in an amazing way. Ernesto recalls seeing a blue and green fire, and then seeing a vision of himself with lots and lots of children. He had a sense that he was to provide for all of these children. After becoming a Christian, Ernesto set out to start the orphanage. He had no job and no money. He decided the way to start was to go out into the bush and cut and gather firewood to sell. He and his wife, Filo, who was pregnant at the time, cut, gathered and hauled wood back to their home to sell. For several days no one purchased any of the wood. Then, it rained for 7 days straight and still no one purchased any of the wood. On the seventh day of rain Filo came to Ernesto and reminded him that they had not eaten for several days, and begged him to do something. He did. He got on his face and he prayed non-stop for several hours, asking God to provide a way for his family. On the eighth day the rain stopped and all of the sudden a line of people formed at Ernesto's house to buy wood. When he went to check the wood pile, the area around it was completely saturated from the days of rain. The wood, however, was bone dry. They sold all of the wood, and because of the significant demand, were able to command a good price for it. It was the proceeds from the sale of this wood that set the orphanage into motion.
michaela-I loved this little girl named nusta she was so sweet and had a beautiful laugh!!!!
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