Wednesday, August 20

Dear Friends and Family,

After 20 hours in the air plus two layovers, we are back again with you, our friends and family. We learned many things and as always had a life changing experience. One of our team members is now planning to become a pastor, and obtained a recommendation from our own Rev. Julio Vilanculos from Mozambique.

Kay and Jerry visited the Cambini Carolyn Belshe Orphanage, a project of the New Milford United Methodist Church of Connecticut. They were not happy with what they saw, and will prepare a report including recommendations for the Mozambique Connection Executive Board. They were excited about the role the new Bishop Nhanala will play in programs in Mozambique, were happy to meet her and encouraged that she will continue to work to improve conditions at the orphanage. We all thank the retiring Bishop Machado for his leadership in the orphanage and other projects throughout Mozambique and are pleased to hear that many of his visions will continue into the future. Kay plans to take a leading role in coordinating information between conferences in our country and other parts of the world on projects in Mozambique. This should help make sure enough funding is obtained to continue projects until they are self-sufficient.

The Mozambique Connection team continued to focus on projects in the north conference of Mozambique where there is much need and less emphasis is given by other conferences. We are a small group, but are pleased to be able to follow capable Mozambican leadership on how we can together build our church in Mozambique. Assistant Bishop Joao Damiao encouraged us to continue our focus in the north.

The computer internet center is up and running and will benefit church administration, church members and the community. There are three wireless computers networked to a high speed connection.

We met Nelson, a new person in the north conference office, who is coordinating projects in the north. We brought to him news of the Heifer International contribution to be made from the New York Annual Conference to Mozambique of a yet unknown amount. He contacted the Mozambique Heifer International coordinator so that they can work together on Heifer projects.

It was too far for our team to travel to the recommended site of a possible health project connected with General Board of Global Ministries, so we left the health surveys given to us by Drs. Cherian and Kalinda Thomas with Nelson so that Mozambicans can collect needed information and apply for funding.

Nelson had already received information about the Milton Plyler funding and will be contacting them about agricultural projects and how Clemson College can be a part of that effort.

The Conference Center building project is progressing and we hope that with God's help and additional funding from our conference churches and the Connecticut District that it will be completed next August. This center is important so that Mozambicans have needed space to administer the many health, agricultural, and evangelistic projects they are leading now and can expand to others in the future.

The choir robes donated by churches in our conference were received with singing, dancing and great enthusiasm. We will be submitting an article with pictures for a future Vision newspaper publication. We saw choir robes previously donated in use by youth in a Beira city choir competition. The United Methodist Church choir came in 8th in the event that included over 50 choirs. What wonderful excitement we saw that Sunday afternoon as choirs listened to and supported each other. Everyone won in that wonderful event.

As you heard from the previous VIM team messages, the English and recorder classes went well. A contribution for the English classes to help continue them throughout the year was given by two previous VIMs from the Warwick UMC. The recorder class was new this year and was unexpectedly led by Arlene with the help of Julio, who was a quick study, as Martha and Annette headed for Lichinga on Tuesday accompanied by Assistant Bishop Joao Damiao.

Our mission in Lichinga was to observe the farm project and we are pleased we made the trip. There were some problems with this project but we were all encouraged with the responsible way the church leadership stepped up to improve the system and will oversee the management of both the funds and the project. New leadership was selected in Lichinga, and the north conference administration will be informed of continued progress of the farm. It was very interesting to observe the quiet but firm way Mozambicans solve problems. Accountability and documentation were strong components of the system. One of the laptops we brought with us will be designated for Lichinga to facilitate report writing and so that we can stay in good communication.

Americans and the approximately 80 Mozambicans who attended the memorial service for Thomas Arendt were moved by the words of Thomas' mother as they celebrated the life of Thomas and his reverence for the people of Mozambique. Although they do not practice cremation in the UMC in Mozambique they were touched by the experience of leaving a part of Thomas with them in the Indian Ocean.

We had a chance to visit several homes of Mozambicans; an opportunity you rarely get when traveling on a non - VIM trip. We had dinner in the home of Judge Jone and later in the home of Assistant Bishop Damiao. We visited a mud hut in Gasse, the apartment of one of our scholarship students and the home of the uncle of Stella who shares his three bedroom apartment with 12 family members. None had granite countertops, and somehow my priority of redoing the kitchen took a step back in importance!

The next general meeting of the Mozambique Connection is on September 20 from 10:00 -noon at our conference center in White Plains where team members will be sharing photos and stories with all. We would love to see you there, and of course you could always decide to become a Volunteer in Mission yourself and come with us to Mozambique next year.

God's blessings be with us all as together we build our church,

Annette Griffith
New York Annual Conference
VIM Co-leader 2008
Mozambique, Africa