The Dalits in India

The Dalits represent about 250 million people who have been oppressed for over 3,000 years and treated as “untouchables.”

Many of them are struggling to decide what they will believe after an almost official departure from the religion of their birth because of the caste system.

Because the Dalits have been denied basic human rights, they have a tremendous need for healthcare, education, women’s rights, and economic opportunities.

Through a partnership in India with Operation Mobilization and the Dalit Freedom Network, we hope to address these needs.

Visit our Fresh Passion India website to learn what we're doing to help the Dalits and how you can get involved.

India Trip Update from The Chapel on Vimeo.

Mozambique, Africa

The Rough in Diamonds

An Impact Story on the 2010 Trip

by Linda Maynard

An often-used cliché in America is “a diamond in the rough.” My experience in Mozambique, on the eastern coast of Africa, was to see the “rough in diamonds.”

During my preparation for a mission trip to Mozambique, I learned that the natives of the country fell victim for decades to oppressive occupation by foreign countries. What’s more, when those countries were forced out, they took with them the country’s education system and infrastructure, leaving the Mozambicans nearly destitute. In order to earn enough income to support their families, men were forced to head for the South African diamond mines. And the time away from their families has resulted in a new host of problems that will require many more years to repair.

The men’s absences are long (upwards of one year at a time) and their allegiances to their families back in Mozambique often give way to new relationships in the land of their work. If the men do return to their home villages, they often bring HIV/AIDS with them. The end result is that far too many Mozambican women and children find themselves with no husband or father and no money, but many challenges. For instance, according to World Relief:

• 4 of 10 Mozambicans live on less than $1 a day
• 6.6% of Mozambicans are orphaned children
• 3 of 10 children die before they turn five
• 16.1% of Mozambicans are living with HIV or AIDS
  

So, while the mining industry of South Africa has afforded men the opportunity to earn decent wages, the toll on humankind has been staggering. Which begs the question: is the price paid for a glittering stone in a setting of gold a true representation of the actual cost? Or are diamonds rougher than we realize?

Jesus Offers Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness

Despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, I was blessed to see that Jesus is moving
in the hearts and lives of the Mozambicans. As a partner church with World Relief, The Chapel of Akron/Green, Ohio has had the privilege of sharing Jesus’ ultimate message of abundant and eternal life with the people of Mozambique while simultaneously supporting projects that provide the gift of a better life here on earth. The most recent team of Chapel members included four men and four women, and throughout our 1 ½ week visit, we witnessed God’s provision of grace, love and essentials for life flowing through the villages of Chaimite and Koka Misava.

• Close to 1000 children learned about Jesus through teachings and songs.
• Teenagers participated in a lesson on purity and were encouraged with ways to avoid
  the temptations of sexual promiscuity.
• Approximately 50 pastors and as many volunteers learned God’s design for relationship with Himself, with spouses, with children and with the community.
• More than 100 purses, which had been handmade by the women of each village, were purchased by The Chapel for resale in the states. The resale profits have been placed in a fund to be utilized for a future village project.
• Three new water filtration tanks were dedicated in Koka Misava, while plans for additional tanks in Chaimite and other villages were developed.

Perhaps the most moving scene that I witnessed, however, was our interaction with the women of Koka Misava. When asked what prayer requests the women had, they poured out their hearts with nearly 20 petitions for their husbands, their children, their villages and the country as a whole. The women prayed for their crops, their health and for the salvation of their loved ones. They prayed for their continued growth in and understanding of God’s word. And we were encouraged by their purchase of Bibles from the proceeds of their purse sales. That act told us that these women were serious about coming alongside one another in the Name of Jesus to grow closer to Him. That is the greatest blessing we could have experienced!

One aspect of this trip for which I was unprepared was the difficulty in saying good-bye. So much time was spent learning about the people and culture of Mozambique and praying over the lessons that we would share with them. Once we were on the ground, a wonderful conversation between new friends began. But just as we were letting down our guards and authentically sharing with one another, we had to put the conversation on hold. The trip was coming to a close, and it was time for this team to depart.

I have since found myself praying that God will show me whether He wants me to return to Mozambique or whether He simply wants me to accept that this part of the conversation was the only piece I’d been assigned. Perhaps another member of His body will carry it on. As I await His answer, I am certain of one thing. I will look differently at diamonds, allowing each one to remind me to pray for my dear friends in Mozambique.

A History of The Chapel in Mozambique

The AIDS Epidemic

Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10 percent of the world’s population, but is home to more than 70 percent of all people living with HIV. HIV/AIDS cases in Mozambique numbered 1.8 million adults at the end of 2005. There are 140,000 Mozambican children living with AIDS and 510,000 children orphaned by AIDS. See our HIV/AIDS site.

First Steps

The Chapel formed a strategic partnership with the evangelical ministry World Relief to provide relief efforts in southern Mozambique, beginning with the villages of Chaimite and Koca-misava (near the town of Chibuto).The initial implementation team traveled there May 20, 2006, for a two-week survey. The team included eight specialists skilled in church development, healthcare, trade, agriculture, women’s ministry, and kids/youth ministry. During the trip, they laid the groundwork for future relief efforts.

Needs Discovered

Our Christ-centered, holistic ministry gained momentum in November 2006. A team of eight taught the Bible to many Bible-illiterate church leaders and served in very practical ways such as health education. Chapel representatives met with village leaders and learned of their biggest health need—water. The village wells yield only brackish water. And, in just a year, 32 women and children were killed by crocodiles in the nearby river while collecting the only potable water available. Added to the problem, severe waterborne diseases in the river threaten the population. Upon return, the team led The Chapel's congregation to give $25,000 for a pump, a two-mile pipeline, and storage tanks so clean water would no longer be a concern. See the video below.

Further Development

In June 2007, a team of seven continued the ministry of teaching the Bible and health education to church leaders, women, and children. A special addition to the ministry was dental hygiene. In September 2007, an eyeglass clinic was added. Since those early days in the villages, many health lessons have been taught (dispelling the myth of curses), mosquito netting has been distributed to every home, more eyeglasses have been provided.

Water Progress

With great delight, as of Summer, 2010, The Chapel has provided four clean water stations in Chaimite (serving 1000 families), with all of the water pumped from the Limpopo River (no more crocodiles or waterborne diseases!!). Three water stations exist in Koka-misava (serving 1500 families), with one station drawing water from a solar-powered well and the other two from another well--all water from deep, clean aquifers).

See the water video clip below.

Spiritual Progress

The two villages have a history of some Christianity mixed with a large dose of animism and witch doctors. Either no understanding or a warped concept of Jesus and the gospel is the norm in southern Mozambique. However, Chapel teams, in cooperation with on-the-ground World Relief personnel and others committed to Christ and sound doctrine, have been able to teach the gospel widely to adults, youth and children. There is a growing embrace of Christ and his Word. Physical water has saved many lives, but our prayer is that the living water of Christ Jesus will quench the thirst of those who are spiritually parched.

Visit Chibuto Now!

For a view of the area in which The Chapel serves, download Google Earth (free), and fly to Chibuto, Mozambique. The adopted villages are within 20 miles of that town.

Mozambique Pipeline from The Chapel on Vimeo.