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Our adventure story
AKA Testimony
Five years ago we were a couple travelers with no children and not a care in the world. I, Andrew, had been visiting Mozambique every few years since 2006, and Ashlee my wife had already been to Kenya and Uganda back in 2011. As a couple we visited Mozambique in 2016 and after both of us being called by God in 2018 we decided to sell our US home, our property, our cars and everything we owned so we could move to Africa. Thankfully we were embraced by the warm and friendly Macua community with open arms. We currently reside with a Macua Pastor and his family, approximately 20 of us live on the property. In 2019 our family suddenly grew to include six Mozambican born children. Two of which were young war refugee girls that have been formally adopted, one boy, biological, also three others with sad and troubled pasts whom we have taken into our care as foster parents. This year 2023 we welcomed a seventh addition in the form of a second biological baby boy (not pictured below). Although we are quickly depleting our savings and not yet funded by any churches I believe our future is tied to Balama, and we will continue to trust in God's plan for us as we navigate the challenges that come our way.
But why do we live in Balama?
Northern Mozambique is a land of great arid beauty and vast stretches of wild uninhabited land. It is a place of diverse cultures, friendly people, and rich history, due to our area being so wild, many of the Macua people have had little interaction with foreigners, and the majority have never heard the name of Christ. The Macua people are known for their strong sense of family and community, and by living among them, we have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in their rich culture and traditions.
In light of our adoptions and us living among the Macua we gained respect in the comunity and have had an opportunity to share with them the Gospel message by example first and only then by using words. Although Northern Mozambique is currently facing terrible political instability and the dangers of Islamic insurgent attacks, burning of villages and taking lives indiscriminately, we believe that the benefits of living in this region outweigh the risks. There is no safer place in this word than being in God’s will. Living in Balama allows us to raise our family in dynamic and vibrant community, learning values and morals imparted by scripture. Perhaps most importantly, by choosing to live in Northern Mozambique, we can trust in God’s plan for us.
More than Parents
Aside from our calling as parents, we tried to find where we could be of most use to the community, thus RadicalHomes.org was born. A non profit org focused on teaching and training the Macua to build better homes. The average traditional house built by the Macua lasts 6-10 rain seasons. Fire, Cyclones, Termites and Rain are the common cause of homes being lost, causing a sad cycle of poverty. We envisioned sustainable fireproof, bulletproof termite proof housing, Imagine a Mud Brick and Concrete Igloo. We usually have 12-22 workers on salary, usually they are the ONLY providers for the home, meaning somehow over the past 5 years we have became responsible for feeding aprox 130 people and 20 at home. These people by working along side with us have learned technical skills such as Construction, Carpentry, Metal Works, Masonry and Mechanics as well as digging concrete lined water wells to provide clean water for families. On the weekends we have been riding motorbikes to remote villages to evangelize and share the message of salvation. Recently we have been able to take Micro SD cards and share them in the villages. The cards have the Bible recordings in their language and +250 songs in Macua ranging from the story of creation, all the way to Redemption and the plan for
Salvation and Eternal Peace.
Our Future
It has been wonderful to see the eyes of happiness and surprise as these remote villagers get to hear the word of God in their own language. The geographic Isolation, Political instability, delayed adoption process, Islamic Terrorist attacks, our ever diminishing savings account month by month and a seeming lack of interest or support for our mission in Mozambique have definitely taxed our spirits and resolve. Yet I believe that our faith in adversity gives us purpose and helps strengthen our resolve as well as guide us in the face any future challenges that may come our way.
We believe that raising a family in Balama among the Macua people is the best thing for the future of our children. By exposing them to different cultures and ways of life, we are equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-changing world, preparing missionaries that can impart the call of discipleship to other nations in their own language. Moreover with the strong family values of the Macua people, our children will be surrounded by love and support as they grow and develop.
Northern Mozambique is a place of great missions opportunities, beauty, and growth, we are grateful to have been welcomed by the Macua people. By choosing to make it our home, we have embraced a new way of life and are laying the foundation for a bright future for ourselves and our children, but most importantly for the Kingdom. We are focused on developing our Radical Homes Project until it can become self sustainable, until then we will continue to soldier on with open hearts, and trust in God’s long term plan for us.
