Early in 2006 Mario decided to spent a year in South Africa in order to learn English in a language school that is offered in the YWAM base of Worchester, SA.
That year turned out to be a life changing experience for him (and for me!)...
Learning English in South Africa...
Every week the English students were involved with outreach to kids in a local community (township). One of the townships they ministered in had 55% of HIV Aids.
Mario made many good friends during his time in South Africa...and through some contacts he decided to skip the last 3 months of English school and immerse himself in English through a church planting school. The 3 month outreach was in
Kenya
While in Malindi, Kenya the church planting team faced many trials because the city is 98% Muslim and there were 12 mosques surrounding the apartment where they were staying.
Despite the hardships in sharing the word, God opened doors for the team to share about Jesus Christ with the family that was living in the first floor of the apartment building they were staying in. It was during Ramadan and Mario also decided to fast the 30 days (to the Lord of course) and God used him tremendously in his witness and even in healing a little girl that was sick in the home! God is doing amazing things there!
It was during the church planting school in Kenya that God gave Mario the vision to train evangelism teams in Africa, to reach the lost in their own nations and cultures. Since the church planting team could not plant a church in a place that was 98% Muslim in 3 months, Mario gave them the idea to plant an evangelism team inside the church instead...that is how the first evangelism team was born!
Team Pambazuka (which in Swahili means "A new day")
Mario in Kenya in 2006 with a church planting school, visiting a tribe called Geriama, an 8 hour walk into the bush.
After Mario's return to Brazil in December of 2007, he challenged his evangelism teammates with the vision God had given him. It was also upon his return that we began dating! Shortly after Mario shared his heart for Africa, one couple (Junio e Lorena) decided to go to the English school to prepare to be part of the Africa Mobile Team! Four others decided to take a short-term trip with Mario. A few months later the team spent over 3 months in September- December of 2006 in Mozambique and South Africa!
MOZAMBIQUE
Check out this amazing creature. It's so small you might miss it, but if you happen to notice it, it's impossible not to marvel at it's beauty and perfection!
It's the same with these beautiful children...so specially and wonderfully designed by our Creator!
This was the group of young people who we trained in Mozambique.
Today they are called Team Muvuruane (means "Listen" in Shuabo)
The team bought the material for their pants and had their uniforms ready to go!
Here is a picture with team Muvuruane and the team of 5 Brazilians from YWAM who trained them; Mario, Elisama, Fran, Ana Flavia and her husband Diego.
For a whole month they trained the team. Every day for almost the whole day they taught dramas and choreography and also shared devotionals on several subjects like "Fear of the Lord", "The paternity of God", "Forgiveness", "Family", "Submission to leadership", "Working as a team, etc.
Our goal is not only to teach them dramas and other evangelism tools, but also to deal with their character and help them to see the importance of "living out" evangelism, and not just speaking about it.
(above) Elisama and Ana Flavia teaching a choreography...
and (below) Mario teaching a drama...
SOUTH AFRICA
Back at the YWAM base in South Africa the team meet up with Junio and Lorena (in the middle) who were already half-way through English school...
Presenting a drama called "Identification" at a church in South Africa...
Unnanisille Team- South Africa
(means "It's True" in Khosa)
Fran teaching the team a dance...
Face painting is a strategic way to get people's attention when we present on the streets...
The teams first presentation at a church...
down time is also important...
South Africa has some breath-taking sights, like the Cape of Good Hope (the tip of Africa)
Mario in front of Table Mountain in Cape Town
THE VISION:
Since the vision began, God has confirmed and strengthened the vision even more. Today we have a solid team of 7 people (3 married couples and one single guy), who have taken on this vision. Everyone (except for me, Lika) have already been in South Africa for the English school, and one couple is currently in the process. We are planning to return to Africa as a team (it is not the same team that was in South Africa and Mozambique in 2007). Mario and I will be spending 2-3 months this time, but the rest of the team is moving there with a vision of planting evangelism teams (like those you have seen above), starting in the neighboring countries to South Africa for the next two years. In September we plan to spend a month in Botswana, planting one more team for the glory of God!
Here are the people that make up the Africa Mobile Team:
Junio and Lorena Rodrigues
Junio and Lorena have been missionaries for almost 7 years. They meet in YWAM in Goiania and have been married for almost 6 years! They are a very talented couple. Junio leads worship at our base and works in the communications department, updating the website and helping with computer problems. Lorena is a talented speaker and teacher and loves to teach drama and dance. We are fortunate to have them on the team!
Marcello Chaves
Marcelo has also served with YWAM for about 7 years in the evangelism department. He is always a cheerful spirit and a loyal friend. He is the only single person on the team.
Rogerio and Gabriela Assis
Rogerio and Gabriela left in January of 2009 for South Africa; They were the only ones on the team that still hadn't been through the English school of the YWAM base in South Africa. They will be finishing the course on September 20 and are already speaking good English! We will be meeting them there!
This is Cape Town where we plan to be based out of for the next two years:
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