August and September

Dear friends and family,

For those who have heard, we are safe. About two weeks ago there were riots in Maputo City that lasted three days. Prices of food etc went up very sharply. The government has held the prices down for as long as they can, but simply couldn't contain it any longer .

In July this year the price of passports rose 600%, visitor visas 500% and our annual permanent resident documents went from USA$80 to USA$700 each. On September 1 the price of a bus ride doubled, bread rose by 30% and the price of a 50kg bag of rice is more than half a months salary for an average Mozambican (if he is one of the 14% of people that has a job) People are angry and scared, as they have no idea how they can provide for their family.

So the people rioted -upturning buses and burning them. A few buses have been burnt right outside the Iris Base in Zimpeto. People are also looting shops, burning tires, petrol stations, bakerys and throwing rocks and bricks. The city closed down as were schools, shops and the airport. The official figure is thirteen dead with hundreds injured.

During the afternoon of the first day the police and army have been controlling the rioters and streets with tear gas and rubber bullets but on the middle of the second day, the police ran out of rubber bullets and starting shooting real bullets. The third day seems calmer with the army on patrol and police having compulsory check points, the buses are back on the roads, airport is open, though the schools remained closed for a further three days.

During the riots we are all safe and sound in the house and stayed close to each other, and were thankful we had a large box of spaghetti noodles and half a bag of 15kg of rice. The one thing that has been on our hearts is that its always good to know above ALL God is in control.

Before and after the riots, the church in Maputo has had a conference and a wedding and we have also hosted two teams and gone up to Chibuto and camped on the land, done outreaches and had our first church service up in Chibuto.

This is Mozambique it is still the 6th poorest country in the world and living in such difficult circumstances. Please pray with us for a miraculous breakthrough.

Felito and I and a small team from USA & NZ headed off to Giyani in South Africa for a conference and then to Palm Ridge for a conference at the AOF church the following week and then rushed back to Maputo, as at the end of September one of Felito's older brothers is getting married

(For photos, please go to my facebook page)