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At least that's what I thought when we first arrived. We had only been in Mozambique for about a month when one day in September last year we arrived on our land to take some measurements to get the paperwork started for the building licenses. And sure enough, there was a small locally made house from mud bricks, and a little family living on our land. A few hours later, we found out that the community land secretary had actually given 2 plots of our 8 to a Congolese businessman.
I know - you're probably like "what?!" How do you just "give away" another person's land?! Well, this is Africa - the continent where lawlessness is normal. Even when you do things the legal way, you can still have your land sold or stolen. This is just the way it is.
Anyway, we talked to the family living on our land and asked them how they ended up here, who the "owner" might be and how we can solve the confusion because it is not their land. We explained we are an NGO and we are preparing to start building the beginning of 2016.
We found out the family was acting as the guard for the Congolese man, and the guard's name was Fernando, or Nando for short. We slowly got to know Nando's family - his wife, Manjuma, and 3 beautiful daughters. We learned about their struggles - often times we would show up and they hadn't eaten since the day before.
As we slowly solved the confusion around our land being given out, we agreed that Nando and his family could stay. Neither of us could bare the thought of sending away a family of 5 - where would they go?
We prayed about it, and we decided the best thing to do was to let them stay, at least for now. This was a huge risk for us as we had no idea who these people were, and suddenly, we became responsible for the whole family. We didn't know if they were good people, if they would take advantage of us (which happens to most foreigners here) or if they were honest, hardworking people. We prepared ourselves for the worst and hoped for the best.
We're now approaching a year of being in Mozambique, and Nando has more than proved himself to us. Each day he tends to the coconut trees, keeps an eye on the supplies in the storage unit, makes blocks for our fence, helps unload supplies from the truck and generally helps our construction team however he can. When there is a major problem or an urgent issue, he comes straight to the house to talk to us.
The test of his true character happened last week. Nando and one of our new bricklayers got into an argument. The new bricklayer only speaks English and another tribal language, so he doesn't understand Portuguese or the local dialect, Makhuwa (Ma-koo-wa). After a misunderstanding and a broken pillar, the other worker slapped Nando across the face. None of our other workers were present when it happened, and it was extremely early in the morning, around 4am, so we also were not present when the incident occurred.
When we heard this story later in the morning, we were shocked and very upset. How can anyone just slap someone because they're frustrated? If that was the case I'd be slapping people everyday as I struggle to get a solid grasp on this language!
We were upset. We were a little taken back. We were scared & worried. You see, whenever there's an argument or a problem on your job site, even if you weren't either of the parties involved, you are responsible for what happens on your job site. Period. And as foreigners, we are often the target of exploitation - we are seen as a way to make a quick buck. It's the reality of how our friends here have been oppressed for hundreds of years - its the direct effect of oppression.
Immediately we confronted the offending party and Nando saw our support of him and our anger for what occurred. We asked Nondo to come with us to make a police report when a sudden and angry mess of confusion broke out. Nando's brother intervened and began causing a lot of confusion and frustration, shouting and making demands in Makhuwa, many of which we couldn't understand.
Before we knew it, the brother was whisking Nando away and making threats to bring the police and have the offender arrested. We knew that as soon as an arrest was made, there would be some kind of investigation and we would have to stop building. That is typical here - complications come to the extent that we would have to stop work on the building until the 2 parties go to court and "solve" the problem. But our workers jumped in on our behalf and talked to Nando.
After 2-3 hours of talking, we were finally able to get the two men to talk; with some help of a translator, Nando concluded that the best thing to do was let it go. He understood that if the police came to the job site, everything would stop. He later decided he didn't even want to make a police report even when we encouraged him to do so; he said he just wanted to let it all go.
WOW! We were shocked by his character and willingness to forgive. He knows our hearts - we don't condone that kind of behavior - and he also knows his rights, but he chose to let it be. The next day, he was back right beside the very man who slapped him and was mixing cement for him. Talk about letting it go! He even said, "I already forgot about it!"
Nando & Manjuma are a blessing to us. We appreciate their honesty and hard work, and their friendship. We consider them family and we try our best to learn from them both as we work together. Hopefully, our relationship will continue in this manner.
Will you pray with us that God will continue to grow them as leaders in our area? We want the community to see how Nando behaved, and how it is possible to show forgiveness, even when he had the right to do so much more.
Peace & Blessings,
Phil, Laura and Jadon, too
Anyway, we talked to the family living on our land and asked them how they ended up here, who the "owner" might be and how we can solve the confusion because it is not their land. We explained we are an NGO and we are preparing to start building the beginning of 2016.
We found out the family was acting as the guard for the Congolese man, and the guard's name was Fernando, or Nando for short. We slowly got to know Nando's family - his wife, Manjuma, and 3 beautiful daughters. We learned about their struggles - often times we would show up and they hadn't eaten since the day before.
 |
| Nando & Manjuma - very serious! |
We prayed about it, and we decided the best thing to do was to let them stay, at least for now. This was a huge risk for us as we had no idea who these people were, and suddenly, we became responsible for the whole family. We didn't know if they were good people, if they would take advantage of us (which happens to most foreigners here) or if they were honest, hardworking people. We prepared ourselves for the worst and hoped for the best.
We're now approaching a year of being in Mozambique, and Nando has more than proved himself to us. Each day he tends to the coconut trees, keeps an eye on the supplies in the storage unit, makes blocks for our fence, helps unload supplies from the truck and generally helps our construction team however he can. When there is a major problem or an urgent issue, he comes straight to the house to talk to us.
The test of his true character happened last week. Nando and one of our new bricklayers got into an argument. The new bricklayer only speaks English and another tribal language, so he doesn't understand Portuguese or the local dialect, Makhuwa (Ma-koo-wa). After a misunderstanding and a broken pillar, the other worker slapped Nando across the face. None of our other workers were present when it happened, and it was extremely early in the morning, around 4am, so we also were not present when the incident occurred.
When we heard this story later in the morning, we were shocked and very upset. How can anyone just slap someone because they're frustrated? If that was the case I'd be slapping people everyday as I struggle to get a solid grasp on this language!
We were upset. We were a little taken back. We were scared & worried. You see, whenever there's an argument or a problem on your job site, even if you weren't either of the parties involved, you are responsible for what happens on your job site. Period. And as foreigners, we are often the target of exploitation - we are seen as a way to make a quick buck. It's the reality of how our friends here have been oppressed for hundreds of years - its the direct effect of oppression.
 |
| They laughed when I told them they were too serious. |
Immediately we confronted the offending party and Nando saw our support of him and our anger for what occurred. We asked Nondo to come with us to make a police report when a sudden and angry mess of confusion broke out. Nando's brother intervened and began causing a lot of confusion and frustration, shouting and making demands in Makhuwa, many of which we couldn't understand.
Before we knew it, the brother was whisking Nando away and making threats to bring the police and have the offender arrested. We knew that as soon as an arrest was made, there would be some kind of investigation and we would have to stop building. That is typical here - complications come to the extent that we would have to stop work on the building until the 2 parties go to court and "solve" the problem. But our workers jumped in on our behalf and talked to Nando.
After 2-3 hours of talking, we were finally able to get the two men to talk; with some help of a translator, Nando concluded that the best thing to do was let it go. He understood that if the police came to the job site, everything would stop. He later decided he didn't even want to make a police report even when we encouraged him to do so; he said he just wanted to let it all go.
 |
| A little less serous! |
Nando & Manjuma are a blessing to us. We appreciate their honesty and hard work, and their friendship. We consider them family and we try our best to learn from them both as we work together. Hopefully, our relationship will continue in this manner.
Will you pray with us that God will continue to grow them as leaders in our area? We want the community to see how Nando behaved, and how it is possible to show forgiveness, even when he had the right to do so much more.
Peace & Blessings,
Phil, Laura and Jadon, too
