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- Like Mozambique Initiative on Facebook today!
- Kreamer Retiring, Future MI Coordinator on Board & 2012 Itineration in Mozambique
- MI at 2012 Annual Conference
- Covenant Partners Available
- One Seminary Covenant Needed
- Safe Water Projects Continue – February wells completed
- Story of the Month – MI Team – Vision, Transformation, Relationship
Now to [God] who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine, to him be glory. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NRSV)
Like MI on Facebook now!
The Mozambique Initiative invites you to…
Stay connected with the Mozambique Initiative (MI) by “liking” the new Mozambique Initiativefacebook page! You can find the MI page at https://www.facebook.com/mozambiqueinitiative. This new facebook page will help you stay updated on the many things happening in Mozambique through the MI. We invite you to share your pictures or stories by posting on the site and tagging us. This is a great way to share about your mission trip or ask questions of people who have already been. It’s also a great resource for staying connected with your church partners or seminary student covenants. Like the page today!
 Mozambique Initiative The Mozambique Initiative partners churches, groups, and individuals with congregations and districts of the UMC in Mozambique. These partnerships strengthen the church in Mozambique and are the backbone of Missouri's mission and ministry. The covenants have literally saved lives by putting food on the table and building shelter for pastor families. We provide many other opportunities for ministry such as leadership development, assisting retired pastors, safe water projects and supporting humanitarian projects. Page: 124 like this
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Kreamer retiring – Future MI Coordinator on board
 2012 is a time of transition for the Missouri Mozambique Initiative as we look to the future. United Methodist missionary, Carol Kreamer after nearly 13 years as coordinator, will retire after the 2012 June Missouri Annual Conference (see full story in Missouri-Conference-Review - October issue).
With the ministry going stronger than ever and making more impact than every in Mozambique, Sarah Bollinger came on board part-time with the Mozambique Initiative in January to begin training to serve as future coordinator. Bollinger, who currently teaches at Washington University in St. Louis, will be full time coordinator as of June 1st (see full story in Missouri-Conference-Review - January issue).
Each month brings new learning and in March, Kreamer and Bollinger will travel to Mozambique together to introduce the new coordinator to Conference leaders there. Departing on March 14th, the two will meet with Bishop Nhanala and travel to visit with each superintendant in the south conference, and meet officials in Maputo during the first week and a half. Then the two will travel up to Beira to meet with north conference officials and visit the Gondola Training Center near Chimoio.
April will be a month of transferring all of the accumulated MI data. During May Bollinger and Kreamer will participate in a Mozambique Consultation, a gathering of all conferences engaged in mission and ministry in Mozambique – from Missouri to New York, Virginia and Texas, to Germany, Sweden, Brazil and more. This event will follow General Conference in Tampa, Florida, and additional Mozambicans will come to the US to attend.
Finally on June 1st, Kreamer will turn over MI to Bollinger who will take over full time. They will attend the June annual conference session and work together for the week following.
Friends, you continue to be generous with your covenant partners, providing not only covenant support for pastors, sustainability projects and training, but also support for students, Bibles for congregations, safe water for entire communities and more.
The Missouri Mozambique Initiative needs your special support this year in order to provide continuity in the ministry with the overlap our coordinators. Please donate online to MI atwww.moumethodist.org/mi or by making your contribution payable to Missouri Conference, marked 8810 Mozambique Initiative using the Special Giving Form found on the Missouri Conference website.
Please welcome Sarah Bollinger at sbollinger@moumethodist.org or on new Mozambique Initiative facebook, https://www.facebook.com/mozambiqueinitiative. Follow Carol on her facebook page (Carol Kreamer) and Sarah on the new MI page during our journey in Mozambique.
Now to [God] who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine, to him be glory. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NRSV)
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MI at 2012 Missouri Annual Conference
Watch for more regarding events and offerings. Sign up for the Saturday morning breakfast through AC2012 registration or contact Mike Harrison at mharrison@moumethodist.org.
Church Covenant Partners Available for January www.moumethodist.org/mi/partnership
The following churches are available for covenant partnership in January 2012.
$495/year Tessouro Navesse UMC
$495/year Hunguana UMC
$495/year Namaacha UMC
$660/year João S. Machado (Malova) UMC
$990/year Inharrime UMC
$990/year Malonguele UMC
$990/year Matsuquetele UMC
$990/year Mocuba UMC
$990/year Nacala UMC
$990/year Nazareta UMC
$990/year Panda UMC
$990/year Ressano Garcia UMC
The covenant, a solemn commitment made with a partner in Mozambique, is a five-part covenant. With your 3-year commitment you covenant to:
1) Appoint a layperson as Mozambique Ministry Leader and send the name of that person to The Initiative(if you are a church congregation or group),
2) Place the name of your covenant partner on your prayer list so that our sisters and brothers in Mozambique are remembered in prayer daily,
3) Support your covenant financially (full covenant is $990/year; partial covenants also available),
4) Write one letter per year to your covenant partner (email to MI representative, Ezequiel Nhantumbo atenhantumbo@tvcabo.co.mz, and
5) Send 5 email addresses to The Initiative to receive first-hand information from and about Mozambique (if you are a church congregation or group - the number of addresses submitted has no limit. MI sends periodic e-newsletter in addition to the specific news of your partner).
Just visit http://www.moumethodist.org/mi/partnership to make commitment online or download covenant commitment card!
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Seminary Student Covenants Needed for one more 2012 enrollee!
www.moumethodist.org/mi/leaderdev
Each year new students enroll for seminary in January and arrive in February. MI will need covenant partners for each new enrollee. These covenants are very personal and are great for small groups, Sunday school classes or individuals. The seminary student covenant has four elements:
- Mutual support in prayer. .
- Financial support. $660/year or $55/month for three years.
- Write at least one letter a year to your partner. Download guidelines atwww.moumethodist.org/mi/leaderdev.
- Photo exchange.
These supportive, prayerful and corresponding partnerships not only do they put food on the table, but they are a symbol of the value that you have placed on their education in order to strengthen the United Methodist Church in Mozambique.
“I planted the seed; Apollo watered it; but God made it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6
Safe Water Projects Continue
February wells completed include Central UMC in Machuuquele, Chibo UMC and Chenguane UMC. All are in very remote locations that never had the hope of safe water. If you wish to donate to safe water projects in Mozambique, visit www.moumethodist.org/mi/wells or send your contributions payable to Missouri Conference, marked 8820 Mozambique safe water project fund, and mail to the treasurer’s office at 3601 Amron Court, Columbia, MO 65202. Contact Tony Blevins 417-581-6853) or Carol Kreamer 636-271-4455 for more information. [Macunhe photo December 2011]
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Story of the Month – MI Team – Vision, Transformation, Relationship
The Missouri Mozambique Initiative constantly seeks to know the Vision of the United Methodist Church in Mozambique, finding those places where our gifts and graces meet the vision of the church. During the December Annual Conference Bishop Nhanala reminded congregations in Mozambique to be alert for accomplishing the Church vision for a spiritually renewed congregation – faithful and committed to Christ – with financial accountability and transparency, and above all for a self-sustainable Church. Nhanala reminded all that in spite of positive progress over the past few years, there are still challenges to be faced where prayer and commitment will be the important weapon for success.”
Sometimes we are in a hurry for the vision but the prophet Habakkuk reminds us, “If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:1-3)
The Mozambique Initiative is a transformative ministry. There are transformations in every corner of the country where the ministry serves. People are transformed whether it is Joanna who saves 6 hours per day because of the safe water well at Mapinhane or Luisa Quilambo whose life was changed through her seminary education. Those lives are transformed. Congregations are transformed as those who hear a message of hope know they are valued beyond their own boundaries. And there is not a single person who goes to Mozambique, for whatever purpose – and they are many – whose life is not transformed in some way.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Relationship - while there are many fruits of the ministry we can learn from our sisters and brothers in Mozambique – which it is all about the relationship. There is a lot more ministry to be done – and it is relational – with God and each other.
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts… Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:1-11
Vision, Transformation, Relationship – God grant MI may continue in that same visionary, transformative, relational ministry. Amen.
Shared with the people of God to the glory of God by MI representative Ezequiel Nhantumbo and MI coordinator Carol Kreamer. Graced to serve, C
Relationship note: A few church to church covenants remain available (listed above), in amounts ranging from $495/year to $990/year. Contact MI coordinator, Carol Kreamer cpkreamer@hughes.net 636-271-4455 or visit www.moumethodist.org/mi/partnership.
To donate to the work of The Mozambique Initiative go to www.moumethodist.org/mi and click the donate button!
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