Under the bright blue skies and baobab trees
deep under the dust and mopane trees
lies more than meets the eye
skeletons hiding in the closet
wars with others and wars within. Floods and droughts
A quick glance at recent Mozambican history
Portugal move into Mozambique in 1600's
1962 saw the start of Frelimo, who started the war against the Portuguese in 1964
In 1974 Mozambique gained independence from Portugal, and the Portuguese given 24 hour notice to leave the country.
In 1976-1994 they had Civil war with Renamo and Frelimo fighting each other with various other countries backing these two parties,
With the war ending in 1994.
Just 6 short years later in 2000 the area had wide-spread devastating floods
And you ask me, this happened 19, and 25 and 45 years ago, and what has that got to do with us, today in 2019?
Scratching on the surface we find
Skeletons from the war is still scattered all around
Ruins of homes and hotels, engine parts and others rusted goods chilling under trees.
In the memories of those who lived during the war, or even fought in the war
Memories of families that died, or fled to other countries - never to be seen again
and even more practical - there is a generation of people that can't read or write
simply because they didn't go to school because there was a war going on
and today can't read a Bible even if they will receive one.
How does that affect you who didn't go to the war, or might not even know about it?
Perhaps you can consider donating money towards Audio Bibles so that this generation can have the Word of God spoken to them, that can set them free.
Freedom and forgiveness of sin and show them the way to eternal life, and free them from the skeletons of the war still stuck in memories.
And you can Pray.
Riana Odendaal
July 2019 Mozambique
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