Update from Ernesto - May 18, 2010

Ernesto emailed yesterday and shared these pictures with us.

The windows have been installed in the dormitory (Pat and I saw them as they were being built). Each window is constructed by hand, using only had tools. Amazing craftsmanship.

























With funds contributed from supporters, Ernesto was able to purchase a cell phone that doubles as a wireless internet connection so that he can send and receive emails from his home instead of having to travel into Maputo and use the internet cafe.































Food, mosquito nets and clothing distributed to the families of Possulane.

We left Ernesto and Seba with a healthy to-do list at the end of our trip. They had additional items to acquire, food and supplies to distribute, bank accounts to open and information to gather. We have anxiously awaited an update from Ernesto and Seba, and it arrived yesterday. I am so encouraged to see the progress they have made, and reminded that the interruptions we take for granted are significantly more impacting in their culture. Turns out Ernesto and his son have been very sick recently, and his sickness kept him in bed, and in pain, for some time. Praise God they are healed.

Instead of editorializing and rewriting Ernesto's letter to us, I have copied it below. Although Ernesto's English is very good, sometimes his choice of words is not precise, so you may have to do a little interpreting. Also, he responds to some questions that Pat and I posed in an earlier email. I am copying it here so that Ernesto's letter makes more sense.

Our letter to Ernesto and Seba:

"Thanks for the information. Pat and I wanted to visit with you briefly to see where you and Ernesto were on the following tasks:

1. Did you get the phones? If so, are both of your phone numbers still the same?
2. How are you emailing me? Are you at the internet café or using the new phone?
3. Did you get Filo a new phone?
4. Did you meet with the welfare ministry? If so, how did that go? What are you going to have to do so that children can start moving in?
5. Did Ernesto get bids for the beds (with mattress, pillow and linens)? If so, how much are they if we buy all 25?
6. Are you tracking the food usage?
7. Did the store room in the building get built? How about the ventilation holes?
8. Have the windows and doors been delivered and installed?
9. Can you send pictures of the ventilation holes and doors and windows?
10. Do you and/or Ernesto have a skype account set up? If so, what is your user name? When can we schedule a time to have a skype call?
11. How did the return of Pastor Adamo's car go? Was he upset by the damages?
12. Did you get a bank account open for CCSR?
13. Did Juliao get patrimony for Leadership Foundation Mozambique?

Ernesto's response:

Hi friends and brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, thank you so very much for your prayers and support, we also thank the Lord for his goodness and love to all of us both you and I. your efforts were very strong my brothers I really appreciate your kindness, and you have been a blessing to our lives, ministry and for our hearts, I appreciate God in you Mr. Albert Pat Pattillo, Mr. Creg Richards and Mrss. Michaela Richards may the God of almighty bless you and your families.

1. Thank you for another computer laptop
2. Thank you for video camera
3. Thank you, for another digital camera
4. Thank you, for tripod
5. Thank you, clothes you brought for me, hay Richard please help me thank your wife for a wonderful dress she offered to my wife we are so happy for it and it is nice, it makes us remember the time we met at the first time. Thank so much we love you and we pray for you and your family.
6. Thank you, for chairs for the church we really cry when we look at those chairs and we just remember your chining faces thank you
7. thank you for the speaker and the micro phone
8. thank you for all the kitchen set, the foods and the mosquito nets
9. Thank for been with us we have learn a lots from brothers and we are read to implement the instructions we got from you.
10. Thank you for taking your time listening to my stories, may God bless you in advance.

I want to apologize for this delay we didn’t forget you brethrens we have been facing some health difficulties; me and my boy Caleb, he had some allergic symptoms his body was crushing, and myself I had some infections of Herpes simplex virus, it is so painful I can tell and it took a quit number of days paining me, we understood that it was enemy attacks but God he is so faithful for me and my family.

But with JESUS I have overcome this and I have victory, my son Caleb is also well by the grace of God, please continue to pray for me and my family, we are also in a spirit of prayers to overcome this obstacles.

So this was the reason of taking long time no communications between us, but now it is well with me, and ready to work. God bless you as you understand.

Going to your questions:

1. Yes we gotten the phones both of us, yeah we still using same numbers.
2. Praise God no more internet café I am using the phone internet in my house office.
3. no I wasn’t able to get Filo’s phone because we had Mets 20.000 in this 12,500 it was to get mine, and 2,500 for seba’s phone and 4,500 for pastor Adam’s car and 500 for airtime.
4. yes we met the welfare ministry two time, first we went to their office to give them the latter they asked for, and second time they came to us to see if we have proceeded with their assignments of ventilators hales, the well cover, and we also negotiate with them about the toilets and the kitchen, so then they agree that we can start with the local material to build both structures, and they advice we must build it and then we can move the kids in once we finish.
5. yes I have gotten the quotation of bids for beds, and the double one is, Mets 7.500 which is $ 235, mattress is Mets 2.800 $ 90.00 blankets Mets 2200 $70, pillows and linens is 1.800, $ 60 Total $ 435 for one ×25= $ 10.875.
6. Yes I’ve tracked the food distribution: we gave to 6 family in which corresponded a total of 16 children. We gave to them 200kg of rice, 55kg of sugar, 50 kg of pin net, 3 kg of tea bags five roses, 2 creeds of condensed milk, 40L, of cooking oil, 25 mosquito nets.
7. The store room in the building is done we been speaking with assirio to come and take the food to there, and look like he is busy. The ventilators holes are also done and fixed.
8. We have received the windows and are fixed we’ll review all pictures, the doors are still in a process of being construed, on next week we will take apart of them and fix.
9. Yes Sir you will be receiving soon!
10. About the skype account we will be working on it soon I Ernesto I had any old one but I need to reactivate, I will let you know within next Wednesday.
11. He was not upset because when I got to him told him first we went to see the mechanic, and I bought some new part of the were spoiled the amount that I paid for labor was Mets 2,900 $ 90, 50 cents.
12. Yes Sir the bank account of CCSR is opened

13. Yes Juliao he has got the patrimony for LFM but I think he is waiting for Certificate, but he is not getting it yet and I don’t when he will be receiving, he and Chris they are working it and we are praying for this progress.
Hay Creg thank you so much my brother for the gift you gave me, I’m talking about the wash it is so nice Creg thank you.

I really appreciate your love Richard the way you are dressing me. May the Lord bless you so much, you are so grateful friend.
The clothes are warming me my brother to innocent in my life I never wearer a nice clothes as this, thank you; because of you I’m look so hansom, and my wife she can smile when she looks at me.

I also thank for the camera and the person that God has used to bless with this camera
This is amazing thing happened on this day you guys brought a big joys and surprises in my life; may the God of all power bless he/her in Jesus name
This camera makes lot of cense in me and the Center.
Put my father in Christ Jesus I didn’t know what was beyond you heart and this your chining face, you have filled me with a lots of emotions my tears were running in my spirit; I had no word to say, it was only this smiling I could offer and say thank you Lord.

This computer is one of the thing that shakes my heart and move my spirit, look even this time I am writing this message my tears are flowing down, since I received this vision from God I never, never met with some people like you guys, I will pray to God for him to strength this relationship to strong.

Thank you put you; the Lord has used you to bring joy in my family, church and ministry; this is building hope of CCSR.

Thank you for the Cell phone it is so great internet Model is my time to rest now no more crossing roads and streets to internet café praise to Jesus and to God be the Glory; as you see on attached pictures I am doing the work at home the cables connected from cell phone to the computer, and everything be came easier for me.

Help me thank all the women of Chicks with Sticks that have take their time sowing those wonderful heats, this it is helps us preventing cold this winter, and the children they are well protected from cold, we are day and night praying for each one of them that the Lord bless them in advance, and increase the knowledge of the works they are doing, and may the glory of God follow them all the days of their lives. Please forward this message to them (James 1:27);

And also to everyone that have contributed for the clothing the children look so beautiful, we thank you so much, please continue to help us with clothes, we thank you and May the Lord bless you.

Once again I am sorry is the sickness that hold me to not move forward; and assistant he able to achieve all in my up sent that’s why I’m doing my best to train him in all thing, I am really sorry I know the time is already gone; but we can still do some thing to cover the time lost.

Any questions suggest you are free; I am now online in the house waiting for your reply.

Your brother in Christ Ernesto Chauque.

Mozambique Trip - 2010 - Days 10 and 11

Day 10 and 11

Every morning at breakfast I would see the gardener sweeping up in the courtyard. He had a quick smile and a very quiet disposition. Noticible was the condition of his shoes, if you could even call them that. They were those old black, bulboused-nosed, combat-boot looking lace-ups remniscent of WWII. They were so torn up and cracked that his feet were very visible within. I felt compelled to try and find him something better. Each time we were in town I looked for some newer boots amongst the multiple street vendors we encountered. I never could find anything acceptable. So, on our last day in Moz, I approached the gardener with my 10 year old hiking boots and a pair of wool socks. The boots were well worn, but still in good shape. Ernesto interpreted for me. I told the gardener that I wanted him to have my boots. He smiled broadly and thanked me profusely. Then, as I was commenting on how worn out his current pair were, another man sidled up beside him, and with a wide smile revealing only two eye teeth, he politely said something to me as he pointed to his shoes. I turned to Ernesto and asked him what the man said. "What about me?", came the translation. I turned back to the man and looked at his shoes. They were even WORSE than the first guy. Out of shoes, I told him "next trip". Like I have said many times, the opportunities here are endless. Even a pair of old hiking boots is a heavenly gift - a miraculous provision.

After packing, we said goodbye to our hostess for the week, Carmen. She seemed to work around the clock. At not quit five feet, she presents herself with this tough, brash, "don't mess with me" exterior. She barks orders to the other employees and is generally serious and pensive. As we were leaving we thanked her profusely for taking such good care of us and gave her a card expressing our gratitude, and a small gift. She walked away with it, not wanting to open it in front of us. We pretty much expected not to get a response from her. Then, to our surprise, she re-appeared 10-15 minutes later, with tears in her eyes, gave us the biggest hugs, and then, without further comment, disappeared again.


We left our hotel, Complexo Touristico de Roger, and headed for the city. We wanted to try and get some gifts to bring home.













Ernesto drove us into downtown Maputo, near the embassies, business buildings and larger hotels, and we walked around and bought a few things. The street scene below was typical of what we encountered. Each of the vendor's was eager to show us their inventory when we were directly in front of their area on the sidewalk. Then, when we would walk beyond their tarp to the next guy, they would respectfully stop selling and allow the next guy to pick up the process. We found some interesting local art, woodworks, and jewelry.

Ernesto went back to get the car and planned to meet us further down the road. When he finally showed up, he had this dis-illusioned look on his face. "It happened again," he said. In the span of a few blocks, another police officer pulled him over and took away his license. This bribe only cost us 500 meticai, or about $15.00.

We arrived at the airport with Ernesto and Seba. It took the better part of 30 minutes to say goodbye. These guys were wonderful hosts, and inspiring friends. As is typical of most short term mission efforts, we gained so much more than we gave. As I write this, almost 6 weeks after the fact, I find that my conversations with Ernesto and Seba continue to inspire me. Their faith encourages me to grow my faith - to trust that God is good, and that no matter what the obstacle, He finds a way. "He will do it!" as Ernesto says.

Three planes and 30+ hours later, we were back in San Antonio. We all made it home safe. As I was unpacking my bags and putting away my luggage, I wondered how long it would take me to "unpack" all that I had seen, heard and experienced over the last 11 days. All I can say now is that I am still unpacking...

More to come...