Learning Celebrations!

Our school year finished last week and the summer holidays started here in Mozambique. We concluded the year with a Learning Celebration for each class (8 classes in total, 4 classes at each education site). This is where we invited parents into the classroom to celebrate their child’s learning as well as to demonstrate reading and number activities that we do with the children. Parents expressed a tremendous amount of gratitude during these celebrations and children proudly showed their reading and number workbooks and bible story drawings. All childen received at least one piece of clothing as an attendance reward and for those who had a high number of attendance this year, they received two pieces of clothing. Compared to last year, attendance has been significantly better this year so I was glad to reward all children. 



This is the first year where we have had maths lessons at both education sites to help children with number understanding and I am delighted and hugely encouraged to see the progress of childrens’ ability in math alongside reading. This program is for childern in 1st grade to 4th grade, so we have said goodbye to the 4th graders but they will now enter the youth program that happens on Fridays. 

Visit to Local Churches

Teacher Farai

Farai joined our teaching team at the start of this year, in February. He has had a very successful first year with us. Before working with us, he worked as a tractor driver. He had no prior teaching training however, his willingness to learn new strategies, his rapport with the children and his ability to respond to feedback have proven him to be an effective educator.

He has worked diligently and reliably this year so I am very much looking forward to working alongside him next year. The photo above shows him with some of the 4th graders that are finishing our program this year. 

Last month, Farai’s wife gave birth to their first baby. Both mother and daughter are well and in good health. The happy little family is pictured in the photo below.

Lychee harvest 

The lychee harvest started here at the farm this week. For me, it means ‘eat, eat, eat’ whereas for Matt, it means ‘work, work, work’. A large quantity of local people enter the farm to pick during the harvest so, for Matt, work is increased and intensified during this time. The lychees are sold locally but most are exported to the EU. 

Bugs, Bees & Big Reactions

I have had a few encounters with bees whilst living on the farm this year. Nothing too threatening, however one reaction resulted in my hand swelling up to a size that was extremely uncomfortable. Because each reaction seemed to be slightly worse, the need for stronger medication arose. A few people advised me to get an epi-pen just incase a reaction becomes more severe. However, epi-pens are not accessible here where we live so it looked doubtful in finding one. But the timing of this need coincided with two American nurses coming out to join the mission. One of the nurses managed to rapidly organise an epi-pen and brought it to Mozambique with her last week! The provision and timing was perfect and I am happy to say that I haven’t needed to use it yet. Even though I am celebrating not being stung by any bees recently, I did have a big reation to something else last week. I suddenly became itchy all over my back, neck and arms and was soon covered in hives. We suspect it was a hairy caterpillar that either touched my skin or left it’s hairs in my dress. 

Please agree with us for these prayer requests:

• Preparations for next academic year 
• Lychee harvest on the farm
• Children during summer holidays
• Bugs to leave Abi alone
• Matt & I as we pray about future possibilities next year 

Thank you for your support, thoughts, and friendship,

Abi and Matt

To Support my work in Mozambique with iReachAfrica you can donate one of two ways; through Give.net or through iReachAfrica and designate towards my name. ~Thank you!