Above is the 13 acre Zimpeto Center taken from Rolland Baker's bush plane. The entrance off Mozambique Avenue is left of the soccer field.
Late News from Zimpeto
Children's Day, June 1, 2008
The people of Mozambique celebrate Children's Day throughout the country with many festivities. At Zimpeto, we were honoured by the opportunity, last week, to welcome visiting dignitaries, a marching band and over 500 residents from children's centres in and around Maputo.
On Saturday, Zimpeto missionaries hosted a party and outreach at the local city dump and blessed the attending children with a meal and presents. On Sunday, the gates were flung wide and the community invited into Zimpeto for a special lunch of chicken and rice. Our own 300 children at the centre were wearing their new outfits presented especially for the day and enjoyed a special dinner in the evening.
To honour the children of Zimpeto with a special day such as this is a highlight of the year. It reminds us all over again of just how precious these children are in the sight of God and of the privilege it is for us to be here caring for them and raising them in this huge rowdy family under the protecting hand of their Heavenly Father.
Enoque and Lena
Meet our newest babies, twins Enoque and Lena. They arrived just a few weeks ago one month old, after their mother died. They are healthy, strong and thriving on the vast attention they receive as the youngest residents of the Baby House. Give praise to God for the healing of Nehemias and Mindah and other sick babies in past months. Continue to pray for health for all in the Baby House.
Florida Outpouring
God is moving in Florida and the blessing of this healing outpouring is beginning to spread throughout the world. The God of Heaven and Earth is on the move in a new way!
At Zimpeto, we are contending for His Presence to come in a more powerful way than this nation has ever seen. So, each Thursday evening after church, many of our team gather to watch the Florida Outpouring via God TV on the only cable hook-up on base. We bring the sickest of our children with us and pray over them through the evening. Would you pray with us? Join us as we contend for the healing of these children, the poorest of the poor, and for the life-changing, nation-shaking power and glory of God to come to this land.
Zimpeto Medical Team
The medical team at Zimpeto works long and hard to ensure the best medical care possible for our 300 children and 1,200 yearly visitors. Our missionary and Mozambican nurses, Iara, Solange, Jani, Rosa, Fernanda, Justinha, Erin and Erin work side-by-side to fill a variety of roles, ranging from managing outbreaks of malaria at the Centre to dealing with infections and illnesses in the Baby House and dormitories, designing care plans for our new babies, running a baby care clinic and milk programme, and supervising an open clinic for the community. Go Team!
The HIV programme at Zimpeto supports 30 resident children diagnosed with HIV who are currently receiving care. This programme includes education, additional medical surpervision, dietary supplementation and monthly visits for medical checks and meds provision at Medecins San Frontieres in Maputo.
Please pray for our HIV kids. God is in the business of healing and no illness is beyond His mighty reach. Pray especially for Thabo and Tino. (On July 2, 2008, the caregivers at Zimpeto said goodby to Thabo. He's with Jesus now.)
South African Unrest
At least 56 people have died, 650 have been injured and up to 100,000 displaced by violent riots in Johannesburg, Cape Town and other parts of South Africa this month. This week, the violence has subsided somewhat but tensions remain and the South African government has sedt up makeshift camps to assist the many thousands of displaced families. The Mozambican government has declared a state of emergency to deal with the flood of more than 30,000 Mozambicans who have returned home to escape the violence.
Pray for peace in South Africa and the surrounding nations, including Mozambique, and for God's solutions to cultural issues that have a long and complicated history in Africa. Pray also for those who have lost family members to the violence, as well as for the many thousands who have had to flee thier homes.
April 27, 2008 Update from Zimpeto
Baby House
Please continue to pray with us for the health and protection of 40 young Baby House residents, many of whom have been ill in past months. We have watched the miracle of healing as Nemais recovered from a life-threatening illness and we have also grieved the loss of one of our precious babies, Irene. As Steve Lazar, Centre Director, said, “We spend our time loving these kids into life. Occasionally we love one into the arms of Jesus.”
Mattais
Remember Mattais? Mattais arrived at Zimpeto, October, 2006, weighing just 3 kg
(6.6 lbs) suffering from severe malnutrition. He is now full of life, good humour and mischief. He runs everywhere, rarely stops smiling, and loves dancing in church. He is the life of the party and a favourite of the visitors. His enthusiasm for life keeps the Baby House tias on their toes.
Mattais, December, 2006
Martinha and Mattais today after a lot of love and prayers
Dino
Meet Dino. Dino is three years old and came to us in January, malnourished and very underweight. Pray that Dino continues to gain weight and strength as his health and his bright smile return.
Tino and Thabo Tino and Thabo, two of our precious little boys, are still struggling to win their individual battles against illness. We believe in the healing power of Mighty God and ask you to pray with us for complete and full restoration for these boys.
RIOTS AT OUR FRONT DOOR
Life in Mozambique is never boring and rarely predictable. In February, riots raged throughout Maputo for 24 hours, bringing the city to a standstill and isolating its inhabitants completely. Workers were protesting the rise in “chapa” or minibus fares, the main means of transport here. The chapa drivers were blaming rising fuel costs for the unrest.
Some of the action took place right out the front of Zimpeto Children’s Centre, on the main highway north from the city. God is our Protector and He was faithful at every turn to look after all of our staff, children and property, despite fires, tear gas, army trucks full of soldiers and gunfire at our front gates throughout the day. We are constantly thankful for His unwavering protection of us here at Zimpeto.
Within the week, the government had put a temporary freeze on fuel prices and chapa fares. Please pray for God’s solutions for this very poor nation and its people as they struggle to overcome years of devastating poverty. Pray for change that is long-term and brings health to the economy of Mozambique. Pray for wisdom, courage and integrity for the nation’s leaders.
PASTORS’ CONFERENCE
Zimpeto attracted a crowd of around 1,500 pastors and their families from all over southern Mozambique to the 2008 Iris Ministries Pastors’ Conference. Heidi Baker and Surpresa Sithole led a dynamic team as they preached and prayed. All who gathered cried out to God for Mozambique and witnessed miraculous healings as God moved in power. In the photo below, Pastor Surpresa preaches up a storm with Pastor Nico translating.
CBN VISITS MAPUTO
Last week we welcomed a team from CBN Jerusalem who were filming a documentary about short-term missions. Zimpeto Children’s Centre attracts 1,000 visitors every year whose lives are changed forever by spending time here. Many will come back to the mission field to serve long-term. If you are interested in visiting us, see the information on the website or email hospitality
March 18, 2008
Ros and I are encouraged by a number of projects that we had a vision for 8 years ago. They are slowly coming to pass: the library; youth project; computer room; carpentry workshop; bakery; dining hall tables; chairs and more! Over the last month four independent people have contacted us regarding a "widows house." There are many elderly grandmas that we see in the clinic. Their daughters and kids have died or abandoned them. We have plans to build this house during 2008. This fulfills the scripture "pure religion is to care for orphans and widows."
This is very exciting and we thank God for His faithfulness and your generous love and support.
Blessings,
Steve and Ros
The new tables in the dining hall
Our new computer room at Zimpeto
January 6, 2008, by Steve Lazar, A year in review
Dear friends and family,
We were blessed earlier in June, '07 to have Bill Johnson share at our
staff retreat. One of the keys to his messages was "look at the things
God has done, not at the things he hasn't yet done".
Having been in Mozambique for over 7 years now and helping the poorest of the poor, there will always be disappointments, sickness, death and suffering. You can not escape the reality of life yet amongst these events are precious jewels every day.
The opportunity to pour in love and see situations change in the
lives of children, the community, and in our own family life keeps us moving forward.
We reflect on 2007. Below are some of the "highlights," including
photos of course!!
- birth of Lena Joy to Liz and Betinho in September. We are very proud and young grandparents
- explosion of army base in Maputo in March. Although many lost their
lives we had an amazing opportunity to rebuild houses, visit families,
attend medical emergencies, comfort those in grief, and bring the light into the darkest of situations
- two amazing children's conferences, one for our school children and one for community kids. Many children who have not heard the gospel message came and had heaps of fun
- the children at Anna's project in the community now turning 7,8 & 9 years. It is a delight to see them growing up in a Christian environment
- the opening of a youth project for young men with no families and no long-term options for life after the centre, housing, church and future bakery and carpentry workshop
- the youth outreach in the city each week bringing the gospel to hundreds of young people,
- the opportunity to "stop for the one" as we have opportunity to love up on the most desperate and sick children and to see God bring miracles to pass in their lives
-sewing and carpentry training for youth
-Peter and Trish, our son and daughter-in-law,joining us for Christmas in Durban, South Africa
We are so thankful for the amazing support and encouragement of friends, family, and churches who have kept us in Mozambique for over 7 years now.
May God richly bless your lives as we look to Him for 2008!!!
Steve and Ros Lazar
Remember what Mother Theresa said "what we do is but a drop in the ocean but without that drop it would be missing." What a great year God has given us. Thanks for being part of it and partnering with us in Mozambique.
The church after the bombings
Youth learning carpentry
School sports day
Worship team
Sewing project
Baby milk program
Maracuene youth project
Lena Joy
Children's conference
Anna's project
September 14, 2007, One Good Apple , A Wonderful Testimony by Steve Lazar
In 2000, Acacio, a Portuguese visitor, came through Zimpeto. He was an ex drug addict who had a vision to build a centre for drug rehab patients. He had been in prison, went through drug rehab, and had met the Lord in South Africa. Acacio had a dream, a vision, a small bag of clothing and a guitar.
Heidi in her generosity, many would say wasteful, gave him $500. Over the next year, we gave him bundles of clothes, food left over from the flood, and medicines as he joined us for homegroup and worship.
We lost contact for 5 years until I ran into him last week. He invited us to Bella Vista, a small town on the other side of the harbour in Maputo. A European couple had given him 500 hectacres, 1236 acres, of land. He sat on the land for a year as he ate the emergency rice packages we gave him and fished in the river with a small boat that Iris had given him after the floods.
Four of us visited him yestedray. He has 80 drug rehab patients, a staff who helps with body, soul and spirit healing. Acacio employs about 100 community people to run a massive commercial farm. He has a feeding program every afternoon for 200 children, a school, a bakery and more!!
Wow, where would he have been if Heidi hadn't listened to him in 2000 and given him a "chance." True, many who are given, bury the money or squander it, but when one runs with the vision, it is worth it.
Acacio must have said 20 times, if it were not for Iris and our small help in 2000, maybe he would have never gotten started.
Amidst the theft and disappointments, this story is a true miracle and testimony to the awesome work Iris does. Well done team, especially Heidi and Rollland!!
Some of our graduating Bible School students in worship
A Prayer Hut meeting familiar to many of our visitors
Zimpeto Missionary Contact Information List
We respectfully request that you do not contact our missionaries by cellphone unless it is an emergency,you are
a family member, or you need to talk to a missionary about an important issue. In Mozambique, a cellphone is
not charged for incoming calls. However, all of our missionaries are very busy and sometimes very over
extended with time limitations. So, please use email when possible.
Following is the information we are authorized to post in the following order: name(s), home country, email
address(es), cellphone number(s), and primary area(s) of responsibility. An email address will be posted on your
email program by clicking on the missionary name.
Directors of Zimpeto Steve and Ros Lazar doing what they like most last
Christmas, spending time with the children. Steve served as a headmaster
in Australia.
Ros, also a nurse, with one of their children
Steve and Ros Lazar, Australia, 258-82-474-2720 and 258-82-524-9598, Directors, Zimpeto
Laura handing out gifts at Christmas
Laura Anderson, USA, 258-82-776-4410, Dorm 4-11 year old boys, Websites: www.clearlyliving.blogspot.com
www.mydarlingboys.blogspot.com
Nancy with Aidenha at a birthday party for some of the Zimpeto girls
Nancy Anderson, Canada, Girls area, Bible School and Director of Hospitality
Website: www.xanga.com/maputobound
Bob at work with his helpers
Betty teaching sewing at Zimpeto
Bob and Betty Blanchette, Canada, Teachers of woodworking and sewing classes
Marcia with one of children at Zimpeto
Marcia Bulgarelli, Brazil, 258-82-912-1300, Bible School and clinic
James and his apprentice Zilio
James Cannon, Maintenance and instructor for apprentices
Pictured are two of Anna's girls from the rather large girls area next to the visitors compound.
Anna Coumos, USA, Girl's dorm, Website: www.annacoumos.blogspot.com
Iara de Paula, Brazil, 258-82-950-4370, Clinic
John and Sandra Ewert with some of the pastors they serve while assisting with the Bible School at
Zimpeto under the direction of Pastor Eduardo Utui
John and Sandra Ewert, Canada, 258-82-811-9030, Bible School
Go to Iris Canada Website for current update by the Ewerts.
Brooke and the girls at play
Brooke Harris, NZ, Dorm parent, finances, Sunday School coordinator, hospitality assistant
Ellie Hawke with Marta, one of our little girls at Zimpeto
Alex Hawke in the prayer hut with our newly graduated Bible School students at Zimpeto
Alex and Ellie Hawke, UK, Dorm 14-16 year old boys/girl's discipleship, outreach
Larry Martin with the hard working kitchen staff at Zimpeto
Larry E. Martin, USA, Kitchen, Bible School and Dorm Parent
Celia, now 4 years with iris, in the midst of a group of faces at Zimpeto
Celia Mendes, Brazil, 258-82-862-3600, Bible School/re-integration/chefes/outreach
Sarah Olds , USA, 258-82-710-8017, hospitality, Website
Vella with some of her boys from her dorm
Vella Passmore, UK, Bocaria children's church and donation's room/houseparent new boys ages 4-6
Betinho and Liz with Ernesto. He has been in the family since he
was a baby. Ernesto, from the time Liz's parents took him into
their home, has had a lot of physical problems but look at him now!
Betinho and LIz Puze, Mozambique and Australia, 258-82-460-5230 and 258-82-967-6190, Youth/worship/school resource room (Betinho), Re-integration/girl's area (Liz)
Jannie Rasmussen, Denmark, Baby House nurse
Jimmy and Linda Read with their dorm guys
Jimmy and Linda Read, USA, Dorm 16-18 year old boys/guards/Bocaria (Jimmy), Hospitality/dorm
16-18 year old boys (Linda), Website: www.bornforintimacy.com
Jonny and Becky Wakely are back at Zimpeto following the birth of their daughter Graciana.
Jonny and Becky Wakely, UK, Finance/dorm 10-12 year old boys (Jonny), Hospitality/dorm 10-12 year old boys
Wendy with Yuran on the playground in the sand
Wendy Walker Australia, primary school program, sponsorships, admin support, Website
Tracey Williams with her "little dorm." Six of the children from the Baby House now live
with Tracy to help them make the transition to a larger dorm.
Tracey Williams, UK, Baby House/toddler house/Bocaria outreach
Visiting Zimpeto
When you visit Zimpeto,"What can I do to serve?," is an important question. Some of you will
visit as a group to participate in pre-planned special ministry. Whether you come alone or as
a group, the following weekly schedule offers a typical schedule of activities, of course, always
subject to time and event changes. (Submitted by Zimpeto Hospitality)
Monday (Segunda-Feira)
09:00 Meet with Hospitality to discuss participation in outreaches, vision of Iris Ministries, center
policies, etc.
10:00 Staff worship at prayer hut
13.30 Bocaria (garbage dump) children's ministry
18:00 Youth worship meeting in the city (leave at 18:00)
Tuesday (Terca-Feira)
09:00 ShopRite shopping trip (South African grocery in Maputo)
10:00 Hospital ministry
11:30 Children’s church
15:30 Street ministry
Wednesday (Quarta-Feira)
08:00 Prayer time for clinic patients
09:15 Khongolote/Machava children's centers or Benjamin Project at Boane
16:00 Street ministry
19:00 Home groups (Short-termers may want to organize their own group worship in the kitchen.)
Thursday (Quinta-Feira)
18:00 Pre-service prayer at prayer hut
18:30 Church
Friday (Sexta-Feira)
09:20 Bocaria (dump) outreach
13.00 ShopRite shopping trip
Saturday (Sabado)
Free Day. Usually there is an opportunity for visitors to be taken into Maputo for souvenir shopping.
14:00 Hospital ministry
Sunday (Domingo)
09:30 Pre-service prayer at prayer hut
10:00 Church
14:00 Hospital ministry
Note: Many outreaches/events have a limited number of participant spaces. Please note that not everyone can participate in every event. Nor, can all members of a team necessarily participate together. We may combine members of a team with other visitors.
We always appreciate your patience. Our international and local staff are often over extended by their schedule
and have limited access to transportation. Come to serve and be changed.
Other Opportunities to Serve:
Adopt-a-Dorm: While you are here, you may wish to "adopt" a dorm. There are several dorms which house a group of children of specific age. The young dorms are co-ed but then are separated as they mature. You are encouraged to do special activities with children from the dorm, work with the missionary involved in that dorm, or perhaps do a special craft or activity with the children. Here are some examples of ways in which you can be involved:
Laura's dorm: 5-9 year old boys. Each afternoon, Laura has her dorm separated into different groups, some play football, some play in her yard on playground equipment, etc. Each group is in need of adult volunteers to interact and play with the kids. This is a great opportunity to be with the kids in a smaller setting. Each night, after showers, she has a short TLC time for kids who need a band-aid or just a hug. If you have first-aid experience, or even if you don’t, you might love this time of comforting the kids, the way a parent would their own child! Please see Laura for times and activities!
Other dorms: Other dorm parents may also be running activity programmes during your stay. Jonny and Becky run an activity program for their dorm (boys aged 10-12) most afternoons; Paul and Sally's dorm (boys aged 12-14) have an activity time on Monday and Thursday afternoon. Jimmy and Linda (boys aged 16-18) and Paul and Sally's dorms have a weekly "milk and cookies" time. it is always helpful to have someone else help pour milk!
Clinic: If you have first-aid or medical training you might be able to assist with the health care at our Center. The medical staff is always eager to have people pray over the patients in their care.
Baby House: The baby house consists of approximately 30 children under the age of 4. The children often have been abandoned or come from families too poor or sick to care for them. You may help in the baby house by assisting with their pre-school time in the morning, signing a baby out for a few hours and giving them some one on one time, care and attention, or going in to help with the evening routine. The children love and need all the love and stimulation they can receive.
Special Projects: Throughout the weeks that you are here, various special projects will be posted on a board in the visitor's dining and kitchen area. You are encouraged to participate in any area where you have interest and/or skills.
Special Skills: If you have special skills such as computer, sewing, Bible teaching or other skills, please mention it to the hospitality staff upon your arrival. We are often seeking people to help us out in various areas.
You have asked about bringing your children to Zimpeto For both short-term and
Long-term
The following was submitted by Sally Cosgrove, long-term missionary with two children from the UK. Bringing your children includes added risks and requires careful monitoring. The greatest risk to the health of your children continues to be Malaria, potential for personal injury and limited access to emergency medical care. Young children have the potential of spiking fevers more quickly than adults and usually do not have the maturity to sense danger or monitor their personal safety. Iris Ministries does not recommend medications but we will relate some of our experiences with Malaria medication.
Bringing your children must be a process that includes clear leadership by the Holy Spirit and His protection. Iris Ministries cannot guarantee the safety of any of our visitors. Many visitors do not bring their children when they visit Zimpeto. Sometimes this is for financial reasons but there may also be concerns about health, food and drink, culture shock, etc. If you have such concerns, I hope that this information will encourage and inform you!
Why bring children to Zimpeto?
Visiting Zimpeto is a life-changing experience whether you are young or old. You get a glimpse of what life is like for the world’s poor, fatherless and disenfranchised. As God shows you His heart for the people, your own heart is changed forever. Children, as well as adults, benefit from having their eyes and hearts opened to how life is lived here; not the least being because they can then better appreciate what they have back home. If you’re visiting to “sound out” a future in missions, it is vital that your children share the experience with you so you can see how they react.
What will our children do when they’re here?
PLAY. Zimpeto is full of children who want to play, whether it’s football (soccer), basketball, climbing trees or scrambling around the adventure playground. The children are incredibly inventive and your children will probably see toys and games being made from junk, from wire cars to chess boards and miniature snooker tables! Most Zimpeto children speak some English and language is rarely a barrier to friendships developing. Girls might like to get their hair braided by the Zimpeto girls. You can also “borrow” toddlers from the Baby House and bring them to the visitor compound to play, often a popular activity for visiting children! There is a small, clean swimming pool about a 10 minute walk from Zimpeto. You can visit as a family or with additional Zimpeto children. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Zimpeto children watch movies in the church building.
(We require that you never leave your children unattended at Zimpeto.)
GO ON OUTREACHES. You can take your children with you on most, if not all, outreaches. However, you might want to think carefully about taking them to the Bocaria (garbage dump) simply because of the smoke, dust and unhealthy environment. Often, visiting parents take turns babysitting while the other goes on an outreach.
LEARN about God’s creation! The wildlife at Zimpeto is small scale, no lions or elephants, but there are lots of interesting beetles, lizards, chameleons, butterflies and frogs. (The frogs love to sing in the rain.) There are beautiful flowers and trees often growing in waste ground. On clear nights, the stars are amazing. Some visitors manage to visit the Kruger Park (South Africa) during or after their time here. Whether you go for a day or a week, visiting Kruger Park near Nelspruit, South Africa, is an unforgettable way to see African wildlife.
EXPERIENCE
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life without TVs and playstations
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unpredictable road journeys (You will be amazed at what you’ll see on or next to the road.)
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church meetings where everyone sings and dances
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being with children who are happy, despite having little materially
Where will you stay and what will you eat?
You will stay in the visitor compound, along with other visitors, who may be visiting in large groups or as individuals. We will usually give you a family room to yourselves with bunk beds. Accommodation is basic but adequate with communal showers and kitchen facilities. We have flushing toilets and our tap water is drinkable even though you may wish to drink bottled water if you are sensitive to water changes.
You can eat with the Zimpeto children if and when you want to do so. Bread (white) is available every morning at no cost to you. You can also self-cater in the communal visitor kitchens, which are well equipped. Twice a week, we take visitors to the supermarket where you can buy most Western products , even popcorn and tomato ketchup! Prices are similar to prices you would pay at home.
What about medical care?
Zimpeto has a clinic which is usually well-staffed and well-stocked. For more serious medical needs, there is a private South African clinic in Maputo. There is also a dental clinic in Maputo.
Malaria is a serious risk in Mozambique and we ask all visitors to take a prophylaxis. Discuss this with your doctor at home. When we (Cosgrove family) visited Zimpeto, we all took Lariam and had no side effects. Since serving here long term, we have continued with Lariam, but we have had breaks from it in low mosquito season because it is not advisable to take it continually long-term due to possible liver damage.
(Editor's note: Lariam may be prescribed by your physician who will generally go to a large book in his office that lists treatments in other countries perhaps not found in your country. In some cases, Lariam is OK for small children. We do not recommend the use of Lariam by adults based on some very scary side effects especially suffered by young women. It appears to mess with the glandular system and sometimes causes bizarre emotional responses that include suicidal tendencies. Personally, Lariam "wired" me so much that I was unable to sleep until I changed medications. All three of the most popular Malaria medications are antibiotics. Doxycyclene is the oldest, most popular and cheapest, that can be purchased over the counter in South Africa. However, it causes extreme sun sensitivity for many and is the least effective, about 52 %. Both Lariam and Malarone are around 82% effective. I've tried all three. For me personally, Malarone works the best but it is also the most expensive. As with all drugs, almost everyone reacts differently. Be sure to look for physical or behavior changes especially in children. Only your family doctor, that has a history with your child, can adequately prescribe medication.)
Of course, traveling with children is not without risks and you will need to weigh these up as you pray about visiting. Iris Ministries cannot and does not guarantee your safety, health, or comfort. We are serving in an underdeveloped country in unpredictable conditions. You will be joining us in trusting God as provider and protector. One scripture which has encouraged us before and during our time here is Isaiah 54 13: All your sons will be taught by the Lord and great will be your children’s peace.
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