Yesu wa Kanaka!

A couple weeks ago I was able to go with a new friend, Sarah, to see where her family works and lives. They are Brazilian and lived here for 12 years. Her parents run an orphanage that is a branch of Iris Ministries, in an area called Machava. This is the same Iris Ministries, but a different branch, that I was able to visit back in September. But instead this one is located on the opposite side of Maputo from where I live.

The compound consists of a couple missionary houses, guest housing, four dorm buildings (which all together house about 70 children), a church, several school buildings, a cafeteria and a playground. It was much larger than one would expect and was very nice. They even have a pet monkey that lives in their back yard. While I was there a team of Indian people were visiting from South Africa. On Friday night we walked for about thirty minutes deep into the bush to a gathering that her family was helping lead. It was an outreach to the people that live in the area. We sang, danced and watched a film on a projector and screen. I must say it was very strange to be in the middle of nowhere and have access to modern technology!

On Saturday we woke up early to go to the city and wait in line to get on a ferry to an island across the bay called Catembe. On the ferry we brought the guitars out and started singing songs together. We even got other people involved and dancing. It was fun! When we made it to the island we drove back into what seemed like the middle of nowhere once again. Once we got to the community building, where local meetings are held, we started rallying the kids together saying, “Yesu wa kanaka! Yesu wa kanaka!” Which is shangaan for “Jesus is good! Jesus is good!” The kids started running toward us with huge smiles on their faces!

Once we had all the kids together we started by singing songs. This was probably one of my favorite things. We sang some in Portuguese, but mostly in Shangaan. Then the team from South Africa went to the front and started teaching them some songs in English and their Indian language. The kids even started teaching me a couple of their dances, which was fun. Later someone shared a story with the kids. And it ended with a couple more songs, then giving each of the kids a little snack cake as they left the building.

It was a huge encouragement to see other ministries that exist and are thriving in and around Maputo. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in what we do day to day that we forget there are other things going on. I’m glad these kids are being taken care of and have the opportunity to hear truth and live in a place where they know they are loved.

Another thing I was reminded of, and am constantly being reminded of, is the hugeness of the this Earth and how many countries, languages and people there are. It is normal for me to hear a variety of languages being spoken, and it has become normal to not understand most of them. People have been created by an all-knowing and creative God. And with people come cultures. They all have their outstanding qualities as well as their flaws. They are each beautiful for different reasons, once you get past the initial shock value of everything changing. I'm so grateful for cultures, for differences, and the ability to unite with people who I am so different than.