For the past two years that I've been pastor at McMurry, we have designated a portion of our Walk to the Manger Christmas offering for the Mozambique Initiative. The first $1,000 of the offering goes to our annual covenant with the Xinavane United Methodist Church and their pastor Paulo Simao. Xinavane is located on the Incomati River in the Manhiça District of Maputo Province, about 50 miles north of Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, Africa. Xinavane has a population of about 23,000 people. It is a major hub for sugarcane cultivation and sugar production in Mozambique. Xinavane's sugar mills contribute significantly to Mozambique's overall sugar production, with some sources suggesting they produce nearly 50% of the country's total sugar output. Sounds like a sweet place! 😉
After the first $1,000 for Xinavane UMC, the remainder of the designated portion of the Christmas offering goes to a particular project in Mozambique. In 2023 that project was solar panels for United Methodist parsonages. For this past year, our offering went for textbooks for Gileteni Methodist School in Inhambane. We weren't the only church, of course, contributing to these projects. United Methodist churches from around the state of Missouri also participated as part of the Missouri Conference's Mozambique Initiative.
Here's a report from the Rev. Dr. Lucas Endicott, Mozambique Initiative Representative for the Missouri Conference. "Thanks to your generosity, we've continued to install solar panels at UMC pastor parsonages in 2024 and bring light to their ministry. Twenty-four panel kits have been installed, and two are in progress." As it turns out, "by nature of the need, these locations are remote, and thepolitical unrest in the country has led to additional delays." This is definitely a work in progress, and it truly is a blessing to be part of the process. We pray that the ongoing work of installing solar panels would go as smoothly as possible, given the political unrest in Mozambique.
Regarding the textbook project, Dr. Endicott writes: "For Giving Tuesday [December 3, 2024], we set the goal of raising $13,000 for the 1,450 students at Gileteni Methodist School in Inhambane, Mozambique, who are in desperate need of textbooks. You rose to the challenge! Over $13,000 was raised to purchase 14,050 textbooks in English, French and Portuguese for students aged 12-18. We are in conversation with our Mozambican partners about other schools in need of textbooks."
It is truly a joy to be in partnership with fellow United Methodist Christians in Mozambique, Africa. I continue to remember the Xinavane church and their pastor Paulo Simao in my prayers. I hope you do the same. Dr. Endicott notes, "United Methodists in Mozambique are asking for prayers and encouraging lawmakers to seek peace as civil unrest in the country continues following general elections in October [2024]." In the future I hope we can strengthen our partnership with Xinavane. Perhaps we can send a letter, letting the people know how much we of McMurry care about them and wish them God's strength and courage for all that they face. Even though we may speak different languages, have different customs, and are separated by thousands of miles, we are united by the love of our Savior Jesus Christ. Together we can make a difference. What a blessing!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Clayton