How It All Began – A Short History
A Calling to Mozambique
When Chris and Camica think about their story in Mozambique, we can see that it goes back many years. But to keep things short we start here in 1992.
They met in Lisbon where Chris was learning Portuguese, and planned to marry in June 1992. But first, Chris was to travel out to Mozambique in February, through a mission based in Zimbabwe called Global Literature Lifeline (GLL), while Cámica had planned to stay in the UK during that time to learn English.
So, in the early hours of the 27th January 1992 Chris flew into Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, for his first ever trip to Africa, while back in England Cámica was sharpening up her pencils ready for her first English lesson. Then a week later, on the 2nd February, Chris crossed the border into Mozambique, travelling by car to the city of Beira which was to be his home for the next 10 weeks.
A Calling to Mozambique
When Chris and Camica think about their story in Mozambique, we can see that it goes back many years. But to keep things short we start here in 1992.
They met in Lisbon where Chris was learning Portuguese, and planned to marry in June 1992. But first, Chris was to travel out to Mozambique in February, through a mission based in Zimbabwe called Global Literature Lifeline (GLL), while Cámica had planned to stay in the UK during that time to learn English.
So, in the early hours of the 27th January 1992 Chris flew into Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, for his first ever trip to Africa, while back in England Cámica was sharpening up her pencils ready for her first English lesson. Then a week later, on the 2nd February, Chris crossed the border into Mozambique, travelling by car to the city of Beira which was to be his home for the next 10 weeks.
Early Mission Work
At the time Mozambique was in the grip of a civil war, and the road from Zimbabwe to Beira was one of just two routes that were opened. But mercifully a peace agreement was signed later that same year which brought the war to an end.
Communications at that time were very different. With international phone calls being expensive, and the internet still ‘light years’ away, the only means of our keeping in touch during that period was by weekly letters that we would write. These would arrive, or be sent, through the post via contacts travelling between Zimbabwe.
Within a very short time in Beira Chris’ Portuguese was being put to use in a number of practical ways, such as for interpreting, giving Portuguese lessons, making contacts with local pastors who would then be inviting him to preach in their churches. It was during this first visit that Chris saw the need for material to help teach people the Word of God, and actual Bibles were in short supply in some areas. Chris then returned to the UK in April, somewhat thinner than when he went out.
Early Mission Work
At the time Mozambique was in the grip of a civil war, and the road from Zimbabwe to Beira was one of just two routes that were opened. But mercifully a peace agreement was signed later that same year which brought the war to an end.
Communications at that time were very different. With international phone calls being expensive, and the internet still ‘light years’ away, the only means of our keeping in touch during that period was by weekly letters that we would write. These would arrive, or be sent, through the post via contacts travelling between Zimbabwe.
Within a very short time in Beira Chris’ Portuguese was being put to use in a number of practical ways, such as for interpreting, giving Portuguese lessons, making contacts with local pastors who would then be inviting him to preach in their churches. It was during this first visit that Chris saw the need for material to help teach people the Word of God, and actual Bibles were in short supply in some areas. Chris then returned to the UK in April, somewhat thinner than when he went out.
Going Strong
In the meantime, Cámica’s progress in learning English had gone so well that she struggled to remember her own native Portuguese language! After getting married in Portugal we immediately set about getting literature from churches and Christian organizations from there to send out to Mozambique. As it happened, GLL was sending containers from the UK to Mozambique at that time. So in Portugal ask people to help us buy Bibles, and we also received a good amount of very good material to help teach God’s Word. This we would then transport in a jeep and box trailer that we had, taking it all the way from Portugal to the UK from where GLL would ship it out in their containers that they were sending at that time.
After two further trips to Mozambique, the second we could do together, plus further literature and Bible collections in Portugal, we travelled back out (still through GLL) to take up residence in the city of Beira, staying for about three years.
Going Strong
In the meantime, Cámica’s progress in learning English had gone so well that she struggled to remember her own native Portuguese language! After getting married in Portugal we immediately set about getting literature from churches and Christian organizations from there to send out to Mozambique. As it happened, GLL was sending containers from the UK to Mozambique at that time. So in Portugal ask people to help us buy Bibles, and we also received a good amount of very good material to help teach God’s Word. This we would then transport in a jeep and box trailer that we had, taking it all the way from Portugal to the UK from where GLL would ship it out in their containers that they were sending at that time.
After two further trips to Mozambique, the second we could do together, plus further literature and Bible collections in Portugal, we travelled back out (still through GLL) to take up residence in the city of Beira, staying for about three years.
Family Life and Expanding the Work
At that time we had our first child Peter who was just over a year old. Then, about two months after we arrived in Beira, Ana was born at the mission base where we first stayed. Timothy was born, also in Beira, about two years later. During this period of about three years we developed the Sunday school activity lessons and Christian literature for the adults. We were also busy working with audio/visuals, such as the Jesus film (mainly in Cisena) and Bible films for children. We also recorded on cassette the Gospels of Mark and John in the Cisena language for those unable to read.
During this time we bought our first vehicle. It was a series 3 Land Rover which we got in Zimbabwe. It was somewhat slow when driving on the tarmac roads and the engine would run hot, but it was very good when driving off the road, never once getting stuck in mud!
Family Life and Expanding the Work
At that time we had our first child Peter who was just over a year old. Then, about two months after we arrived in Beira, Ana was born at the mission base where we first stayed. Timothy was born, also in Beira, about two years later. During this period of about three years we developed the Sunday school activity lessons and Christian literature for the adults. We were also busy working with audio/visuals, such as the Jesus film (mainly in Cisena) and Bible films for children. We also recorded on cassette the Gospels of Mark and John in the Cisena language for those unable to read.
During this time we bought our first vehicle. It was a series 3 Land Rover which we got in Zimbabwe. It was somewhat slow when driving on the tarmac roads and the engine would run hot, but it was very good when driving off the road, never once getting stuck in mud!
Returning to the UK and Founding Project Mozambique
We were then back in the UK for almost three years, with short trips back to Mozambique two or three times a year. It was during this time that we set up the charity, Project Mozambique, we returned to live in Mozambique, staying for a much longer period.
During this period we developed the work more fully and established a small team from local churches to work with us to help distribute the material. We also set up a small printing project to print our material and material of other missions which they needed printed. In addition, we continued working on recording parts of the Scriptures in local languages. In this we joined up with Good News Media (now part of Global Gospel Recordings), in translating some of their material on different biblical themes which were then recorded; all of this was accompanied with the colourful Good News Media flip charts. Those years were especially fruitful as we got to work in many remote areas in the centre of the country. We then had a Defender Land Rover which we bought brand new in Mozambique. It was faster than our old Series 3, but this one would sometimes get stuck in the mud!
Returning to the UK and Founding Project Mozambique
We were then back in the UK for almost three years, with short trips back to Mozambique two or three times a year. It was during this time that we set up the charity, Project Mozambique, we returned to live in Mozambique, staying for a much longer period.
During this period we developed the work more fully and established a small team from local churches to work with us to help distribute the material. We also set up a small printing project to print our material and material of other missions which they needed printed. In addition, we continued working on recording parts of the Scriptures in local languages. In this we joined up with Good News Media (now part of Global Gospel Recordings), in translating some of their material on different biblical themes which were then recorded; all of this was accompanied with the colourful Good News Media flip charts. Those years were especially fruitful as we got to work in many remote areas in the centre of the country. We then had a Defender Land Rover which we bought brand new in Mozambique. It was faster than our old Series 3, but this one would sometimes get stuck in the mud!
God's Protection and Leading
We thank God for how he led us during those years. We also thank God for His protection for us all as a family, including when Chris fell badly from a lorry after visiting churches in Caia e Mopeia just before Christmas in 1995.
In 2012 we felt it right to return to Portugal and the UK, from where we continued to direct the work through our small team in Mozambique. This was from our base in Beira, and we continued to make regular trips back out to Mozambique.
Then in 2023 we felt that the Lord was leading us to restructure the work in order to reach a great area of His harvest. So now, with our base situated in Portugal, we work into Mozambique via the southern city of Xai Xai. This change has enabled us to open up the work further by working with others in the mission field, including Mark and Lesley Harper of Pro-Mission Mozambique, and Carol Powell of Terra Bonita Mozambique.
God's Protection and Leading
We thank God for how he led us during those years. We also thank God for His protection for us all as a family, including when Chris fell badly from a lorry after visiting churches in Caia e Mopeia just before Christmas in 1995.
In 2012 we felt it right to return to Portugal and the UK, from where we continued to direct the work through our small team in Mozambique. This was from our base in Beira, and we continued to make regular trips back out to Mozambique.
Then in 2023 we felt that the Lord was leading us to restructure the work in order to reach a great area of His harvest. So now, with our base situated in Portugal, we work into Mozambique via the southern city of Xai Xai. This change has enabled us to open up the work further by working with others in the mission field, including Mark and Lesley Harper of Pro-Mission Mozambique, and Carol Powell of Terra Bonita Mozambique.
Expanding the Mission: A Wider Reach (2023-Present)
So, we continue to follow God’s leading in equipping churches with materials they need in their work with children, young people and adults, but now it is over a much wider area of the country. The difference being is that, together with others in the Body of Christ, the material we produce reaches a much wider area of the country.
Meanwhile, in Portugal itself we translate material into Português for other missions working in the wider Portuguese speaking world and we prepare new material for the work we do.
We have good relationships with other missions/organizations, including in Portugal itself, which we value greatly. As we all work together we can do so much more. That’s an important ‘Plus’ for these days as we all see the Good News of God’s kingdom being announced throughout all the world, just as Jesus said it would be…
“And this gospel (good news) of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”. (Matthew 24:14).
Expanding the Mission: A Wider Reach (2023-Present)
So, we continue to follow God’s leading in equipping churches with materials they need in their work with children, young people and adults, but now it is over a much wider area of the country. The difference being is that, together with others in the Body of Christ, the material we produce reaches a much wider area of the country.
Meanwhile, in Portugal itself we translate material into Português for other missions working in the wider Portuguese speaking world and we prepare new material for the work we do.
We have good relationships with other missions/organizations, including in Portugal itself, which we value greatly. As we all work together we can do so much more. That’s an important ‘Plus’ for these days as we all see the Good News of God’s kingdom being announced throughout all the world, just as Jesus said it would be…
“And this gospel (good news) of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”. (Matthew 24:14).