Gearing Up for 2012

It's kinda nice to be thinking about the warm weather in Africa when you're in the middle of a Canadian winter - but of course, that's not the main reason for the trip!

Plans for 2012 will be a little different than in 2011. For starters, I will be travelling to Mozambique at the beginning of April for a two-month stay instead of just one month. My first task will be to continue the Automotive Training Program that was started in August of last year.

Rick teaching future mechanics in Mozambique (Photo by Todd Green)

So far, we have one volunteer joining us this year, John Topham of Summerland, BC. John is an expert wood worker, and has arranged for the funding and shipping of a high-quality wood lathe to the ASAM mission base in Mozambique. Hopefully it will arrive in Africa by mid-April at the latest.


Rick Cogbill and John Topham discussing how to turn a bowl on a wood lathe (photo by Lynn Lagore)

John will be joining me in Mozambique for the month of May, where he will teach wood-working skills to some of the men at the ASAM mission base.

The other reason for returning to Mozambique is to continue the work on the Maintenance Facility. This 6-bay shop will be the focus point for our continuing automotive training, as well as providing a location for servicing all the mission vehicles and equipment.


Repair pit for future Maintenance Shop (Photo by Dwight Lagore)

At this point, we have poured the foundations and built the repair pit. The next stage is to pour the floors and then begin putting up the concrete block walls. As you can imagine, this is a large project, and we would really value your donations so that the vocational training for Mozambican young people can continue.

If you can help us with this project, please follow this link to our project page. Together, you can help Mercy Tech Mission fight poverty and change lives, one skill at a time...in Jesus' name.

The Reasons Why...

Last weekend (January 8th, 2012), 65 people crowded into the Fireside Room at Summerland Baptist Church to hear Rick Cogbill (Mercy Tech Mission) and Dwight & Lynn Lagore (ASAM) tell why they do what they do. 

Rick (right) interviewing Dwight & Lynn at the missions presentation



Just about a full house!



Dwight & Lynn Lagore, Field Directors for ASAM in Mozambique

It was a great evening as Rick gave an overview of MTM's August trip to the ASAM mission base in Mozambique, and then interviewed Dwight & Lynn about their almost 20 years in mission work.

But the highlight for many was the taped interview of Prosper Fernado, one of the automotive students taught by Todd Green and Ed Hyslip during the trip. It was a rare opportunity for everyone to hear how the concept of taking skills training to Africa can impact a life. Here is the video below:

Making a difference in the lives of people like Prosper is the reason why we do what we do.

Rick Cogbill will be returning to Mozambique in April 2012 for a two-month stay to work on the Maintenance Shop project, and to continue the vocational training program. The shop is still at the foundation stages, and we invite you to join with us as we raise funds to complete this important project.

Donations can be sent directly to SAM Ministries in Edmonton, or to Mercy Tech Mission. Please make cheques out to either SAM Ministries or Summerland Baptist Church, with a notation that it is for the Mozambique Maintenance Shop project.

We thank you in advance for helping us to change lives one skill at a time...in Jesus' name.