Die verwoesting van Mosambiek sedert 1964 was deeglik. Die Suid-Afrikaanse weermag het hieraan meegedoen. Toe vrede uiteindelik na 28 jaar van oorlog in 1992 gesluit is, was dié land ook amptelik die armste land ter wêreld. Meer as ‘n miljoen mense was dood, sowat 20 000 kinders is wees gelaat. Die ekonomie en landbou het tot stilstand gekom. Infrastrukture, mediese dienste en onderwys het feitlik nie meer bestaan nie. Vlugtelinge wat uit buurlande met hul karige besittings na hul tuisland teruggestroom het, het teruggekeer na ‘n “geskroeide aarde” wat oënskynlik niks gebied het nie.
Maar die Here het genadiglik ingegryp deur die visie en toewyding van vredesdraers, ook uit Suid-Afrika. Binne enkele jare het ons susterkerk die Igreja Reformada de Mozambigue (Gerformeerde Kerk in Mosambiek) van 3000 tot 30,000 lidmate gegroei. Saam met die span van baie jong kerkleiers en ons as vennote uit Suid-Afrika ontwikkel die jong kerk van Christus daar weer allerlei bedieninge op die vlakke van Woordverkondiging, opvoeding en opleiding, mediese dienste en ontwikkelingsprojekte.
The devastation of Mozambique since 1964 was thorough. The South African army had a part in this. When peace eventually came in 1992, after 28 years of war, the country was officially the poorest in the world. More than a million people were dead and about 20,000 children were left as orphans. The economy and agriculture came to a standstill. Infrastructure, medical services literally no longer existed. Refugees who flocked back to their home country with their meager possessions, returned to a “scorched earth” which apparently offered them nothing.
But the Lord intervened through the vision and diligence of peace bearers, also from South Africa. Within a few years our sister church the Igreja Reformada de Mozambique (Reformed Church of Mozambique) grew from only 3000 to 30,000 members. With the team of very young church leaders and partners from South Africa the young church currently develops various ministries in the fields of preaching the Word, education and training, medical services and development projects.
