The Effect of a Gift

During the recent trip to Mozambique in March, I had the opportunity to present a laptop computer to Tariro, a small trades school near Gondola. This computer was donated by Toshiba Canada through the efforts of Rhona Bartolotti, one of the IT support folks at SAIT in Calgary, Alberta. Thanks, Rhona!

Loaded on the computer was a copy of the automotive training program, CDXPlus, a very effective teaching tool supplied though Tim Spurlock of Jones and Bartlett Learning-CDX Automotive. We have used this program on most of our training trips, and the students find it extremely helpful, especially because of its video content. Thanks again to Tim and also Jonathan Berkompas for making this program available to our work.

Presenting the laptop to Aaron Beecher, director of Tariro

One of my original automotive students (March 2011) is Prosper Fernando, and he has progressed remarkably well in his pursuit of an automotive career. In spite of numerous obstacles, Prosper is close to finishing his training and will receive a certificate in automotive repair from Tariro in December of this year.

Rick Cogbill and Prosper Fernando

Prosper knows the CDX program very well - having been trained on it though Mercy Tech - so when the new computer arrived at Tariro, the other students immediately asked him to show them how it works.

Because the content is in English (of which Prosper is fluent), he also has to do the translating. When I asked him if the computer is getting much use, he laughed and said, "Yes. They are always wanting me to translate the lessons for them - I don't even have time to eat!"

Tariro automotive students accepting the new laptop

A CDX training session

Our hope is that one day soon Prosper will return to the new maintenance shop being built at the ASAM mission base, and from there begin to pass on his new skills to other young men from his village.

It was also a privilege to present Prosper with his first set of personal mechanics tools, graciously donated by Andries Mulder, manager of ACDC Express in Nelspruit, South Africa.

Prosper accepting a tool kit donated by Andries Mulder of AC/DC Express in South Africa

Thanks to all who have been a part of this ongoing process - the results are starting to show, and it wouldn't be happening without your help.

Mercy Tech Mission - Changing lives, one skill at a time.

Video Wrap-up of our trip

Thanks for waiting patiently for an update to this blog. Since arriving home from Mozambique at the end of March, I had to do a little business with a malaria bug that wanted to interrupt life for a few weeks, but things are back to normal now. Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement! (and thank heavens for Coartem)

Last night the team gave a report of the trip to friends and supporters from Summerland, and one of the highlights from that meeting was a short video of our trip. I've included it here below.

Thanks so much to everyone who made this trip possible. Although no dates have been set as yet, I know that one day we will be heading back to Mozambique. There is still much work to be done, not only on the maintenance shop project, but also with the training programs. The most common comment we'd hear from the folks there was, "When are you coming back? There is still so much to learn!"

God bless you all.
Rick, Don, Bob, and Bob - The Mercy Tech Team, March 2013

Final Field Report

It was our final day on the project here in Mozambique and by the time many of you read this, we'll be on our way back home to our families.

Quite a lot has been accomplished during the past 4 weeks, considering the size of this shop we are building, but a few things will have to wait for the next team to complete. Even so, here are some pictures of what we were able to do.

Don showing Vashco and Revy how to hook up power at the main panel

Burying the main power cable to the new shop

Presenting Vascho and Revy with their own electrician's toolkit (donated by Andries Mulder of ACDC Express in South Africa) 

Revy up a tall ladder to make some wire connections

Finally, all the trusses up and in place

Carrying in the roofing panels

Installing the first roof panels

Finishing some window frames

I even found time to weld up an exhaust system in our new pit

Presenting a set of tools to Tome, who did most of our welding

The shop as we left it - roof panel installation will continue after we leave

 

Thanks for following along with us on this adventure of faith and hope.

 

MTM team March 2013: Bob Brown, Bob Denesiuk, Don Bryce, and Rick Cogbill.

Many Directions at Once

When you're working with limited supplies, unpredictable weather, and unforeseen emergencies that divert you from your established plan, you will find yourself going in many directions at the same time. But sometimes that's the only way to get things done!

With that in mind, this post will be a collection of photos of the many different things that we are currently involved in here in Mozambique.


Wood turning instruction

Checking off the electrical supplies

Attending a local bush church

Lifting heavy beams into place

Donating a laptop computer to Aaron Beecher, director of Tariro training school

Enjoying a Sunday afternoon braai with friends and colleagues

Putting the finishing touches on the trusses

Digging ditches for electrical cable

Bending steel beams with heat (Dennis, your trick worked perfectly!)

Welding the beams together

Forging a new chisel for concrete work

Putting wheels on the scaffolding

Painting the beams before they go up

Plastering the repair pit

Singing worship songs with Wilhelm and Kelvin, two friends from Zimbabwe

Watching Pastor Mariano jump rope with the kids

So our days (and evenings) are pretty full. But we're enjoying our time here, and thankful to be able to put our skills to use in a practical and beneficial way. Thanks to all of you who are standing with us with your support and your prayers. It really means a lot!

Cheers from the MTM team - Bob, Bob, Don, and Rick

 

Raising the roof

Last Saturday the team joined with other mission staff and volunteers from the local community to put up the rafters for Joao Benjamim's new house. Joao is the administrator here at ASAM and a key member of the ASAM staff. He has been living in a tent in the campground for the past 3 or more years, and this new house will be a very welcome improvement for him indeed! It was great to see all the volunteers show up to take part in this labour of love.

Early morning coffee

Rick Neufeld and Bob Denesiuk discussing roofing techniques

Drilling the rafters for installation

The roof taking shape

Joao (in the centre) providing refreshments for the volunteers

 

Rick Cogbill and Prosper Fernando

One young man who came out to visit for the weekend was Prosper Fernando. Prosper was one of my first students who began learning the mechanics trade 2 years ago with us here at ASAM. He is currently studying at Tariro, a mission-run trade school a few hours south of where we are.

After helping us out with some vehicle maintenance on the weekend, we took Prosper back to school. Here we visiting his rented room where he stays while school is in session.

Aaron Beecher, director of Tariro, with Rick

The school's sawmill where they produce lumber for the carpentry class and for resale

Checking out the mechanic's shop

Artwell, the mechanics instructor at Tariro

Some of the metal products produced by the students

Don Bryce, Bob Brown, Prosper Fernando, Rick Cogbill, Bob Denesiuk

It was a great visit, and encouraging to see Prosper nearing the end of his formal training. Soon he will be ready to enter the work force as a trained mechanic.

Once again, it's evidence that lives can be changed, one skill at a time.