For His Kingdom

It was 15 years ago that my husband, Don, and I gave up everything we had ever worked for and achieved, as well as everyone we loved and had relationships with, to move to Mozambique. For sure, we did not do this on a whim. And we FOR SURE did not do it because we wanted to. We did it for the sole reason that God called us to go there to bring His Kingdom to the people there. 

Over the years, one of the questions I am asked most often is, “What ministry work are you doing in Mozambique?” People want to know what we are doing to spread the Gospel and bring God's Kingdom to the people there. And I understand why they ask. When people look from the outside at what we are doing, they see the Sunshine Nut Company. They see a cashew business. They see a factory, employees, cashews being processed, and a company that has grown over the years. What they don't always see is the ministry that is happening through all of it. 

And I think part of the reason is simply distance. We are an ocean away. Mozambique is a long way from the United States, and most of the people who ask these questions will never have the opportunity to come here and see it for themselves. They can't walk through the factory, visit the villages, sit in one of our homes, meet the children, talk with our employees, or sit around a table and study God's Word with the people we have come to love. They can't see the relationships that have been built over years or the conversations that happen when no one is taking a picture or recording a video. So, from thousands of miles away, it can be easy to look at Sunshine Nut Company and simply see a business. 

But I want people to know that this IS a ministry. 

The Sunshine Nut Company is a business, but it is also a ministry. The villages we serve are a ministry. The homes we have created for children are a ministry. The relationships we have built are a ministry. The opportunities we have to share God's Word are a ministry. Every job, every conversation, every Bible study, every child, and every relationship is an opportunity to bring God's Kingdom to the people God has placed in our lives. 

That is really the reason I wanted to write this blog. If you can't come to Mozambique and see these things for yourself, then I want to try to explain them in words. I want to pull back the curtain, so to speak, and give you a glimpse of what God has been doing here for the past 15 years. I want you to understand that what may look from a distance like a business or a collection of projects is actually something much deeper for us. It is our response to God's calling to come here and bring His Kingdom. 

When I look back now, I am amazed at the ways God has allowed us to be part of His work in Mozambique. What started with a move to a country we knew very little about has grown into businesses, jobs, communities, homes, relationships, Bible studies, and countless opportunities to share the love of Christ. 

There are three projects that have become the primary ways God has allowed us to do that: The Employment Project, The Villages Project, and The Homes Project. Each one looks different. Each one reaches people in different ways. But underneath all three is the same purpose… to love people, to serve them, to share the truth of God's Word, and ultimately to bring glory to Him. I’d place this right after the paragraph about demonstrating what it looks like to follow Christ. It gives a very tangible picture of how that faith is lived out in the workplace every day. 

The Employment Project- Sunshine Nut Company 

The Employment Project began with the Sunshine Nut Company. On the surface, Sunshine is a cashew processing company. We purchase cashews from farmers, process them, and provide employment for people. But from the very beginning, we believed that Sunshine needed to be about much more than cashews. We quickly came to understand that one of the most practical ways we could bring God's Kingdom to the people around us was simply by providing good, honest work. 

We often think about employment in terms of income, and certainly being able to earn a living is incredibly important. But there is something much deeper about work itself. From the very beginning, God created man to work. Work was part of His design and part of His mandate for mankind. So, in its most basic form, simply providing people with the opportunity to work is fulfilling something God intended for us. When we create jobs, we are not merely creating an income or solving an economic problem, we are giving people an opportunity to do something God created them to do… to work, to contribute, to provide for their families, and to use the abilities He has given them. That realization has changed the way we look at the Sunshine Nut Company. It isn't simply a business. It is an opportunity to participate in God's design for people's lives. 

But we also believe that the workplace gives us an incredible opportunity to demonstrate what it looks like to follow Christ. We want Sunshine to be a place where people are treated with dignity, honesty, fairness, and respect. We want our employees to know that we care about them as people, not simply as workers. We want them to see something different in the way we operate and in the way we treat one another. In a culture and environment where corruption and exploitation can be the norm, we want Sunshine to stand as an example of righteousness… a place where integrity matters, where people are treated fairly, where we refuse to take advantage of others, and where doing what is right is more important than doing what is easy or profitable. We want our employees to see that there is another way to live and work, and that following Christ should make a visible difference in the way we conduct ourselves. In that sense, the workplace becomes a place where we can be a light in the darkness, not simply by telling people what we believe, but by showing them through the way we live, work, lead, and treat others. 

One of the most powerful ways we see this lived out is in the way our Christian employees begin each workday. Every day, they gather together for a time of worship and prayer before they begin their work. Before the machines start running and the work begins, they pause to worship, to pray, and to acknowledge that their work belongs to God. To us, that is what it looks like when faith becomes part of everyday life. It is not something that happens only inside a church building on Sunday; it is something that can shape the way we begin our workday, the way we do our jobs, and the way we interact with the people around us. 

When all is said and done, the bottom line is not how many cashews we process, how successful the business is, or even how many jobs we create. The bottom line is souls. 

The Villages Project 

The Villages Project is what allows us to be vertically integrated through the cashew value chain, all the way to the farmer level. While the Sunshine Nut Company connects us to the people who work in our processing factories, the Villages Project connects us directly to the farming families who grow the cashews we purchase. Through our community farms and mini factories, we have the opportunity to work with some of the poorest of the poor... families who are often living in remote communities with very few opportunities to improve their circumstances. This gives us an opportunity to do more than simply purchase their crops. It allows us to develop relationships, create economic opportunities, provide resources and training, and walk alongside families and communities over the long term. By being present at the farmer level, we are able to meet people where they are, serve them in practical ways, build trust, and demonstrate God's love through the way we work and live alongside them. 

One of the places where this work has become especially meaningful is Palma, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. This is an area that has been plagued by Islamic terrorism since 2017, leaving thousands of people dead and more than a million people displaced from their homes. Palma is also an area where the majority of the population is Muslim. Into this environment, God has given us the opportunity to demonstrate His love in a very practical way by providing people with the dignity that comes through meaningful work. Whether they are working in our cashew shelling factory or working in the fields planting the trees we have supplied, we want people to know that their lives have value and that they have something meaningful to contribute. Our staff don't simply provide jobs and then walk away. They walk alongside these people. They attend their weddings and funerals, they pray together, they work together, and they share life together. Over time, those relationships have become a powerful way of demonstrating the love of Christ, especially in a place where people have experienced so much loss, fear, and displacement. 

One of the greatest lessons we have learned through this project is that if you really want to make a difference in a community, you first have to build relationships and establish trust. People need to know that you are not simply coming into their community with answers and telling them what they should do. They need to know that you care about them, that you are willing to listen, and that you are willing to walk alongside them. For us, those relationships have become one of the most important parts of the work. We have learned that ministry is often less about what we say and more about whether people can see that we are willing to live life with them. 

One of the ways we have developed relationships and trust has been through a partnership with Living Water Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and our Muchenguentava Village Project in the southern province of Gaza. They have come alongside the work in Mozambique in such a practical and meaningful way. They funded the construction of a shade cloth over the community garden located on the cashew farm, providing a resource that benefits the people working and living in the surrounding community. And now they have just approved funds for a chicken project that will establish a broiler chicken production unit aimed at improving the food security and nutritional status of workers and their families at the cashew processing factory, while also benefiting the surrounding communities and contributing to local socio-economic development. 

But, just like everything else we do, we don't see this project as being only about chickens. We are going to combine this project with a discipleship program through CBS, Community Bible Study. This is where the practical and the spiritual come together in such a beautiful way. The chicken project can improve food security and nutrition, while the Bible study gives us an opportunity to nourish people spiritually. CBS changes people's lives when they discover God through the study of His Word, and we are excited about the opportunity to bring that into the communities we are serving. 

All of this is what makes the Villages Project so meaningful to us. Whether it is a community garden, a chicken project, a job, planting trees, or simply showing up and walking alongside people through the joys and hardships of life, these practical acts create opportunities to build relationships and trust. When those relationships are combined with discipleship and the study of God's Word, we have the opportunity to address both physical and spiritual needs. We don't always know where a conversation, an act of service, or a relationship will lead, but we trust that God can use every opportunity to open hearts and point people toward Jesus. 

The Sunshine Homes Project 

Perhaps the most personal way God has allowed us to bring His Kingdom to Mozambique has been through the Homes Project. There are so many children in Mozambique who have lost one or both parents, and many of them have no safe place to call home and no one to advocate for them. God opened our eyes to this need, and we began taking children into our Sunshine homes and making them part of our Sunshine family. Our goal has never been simply to provide food and shelter. We want these children to experience what it means to be loved, valued, protected, and truly part of a family. We tell our children all the time that they are not orphans. They have a Father, and His name is God. 

The majority of the children we have accepted into our Sunshine family have never even heard the name of Jesus before coming to us. Think about that. For many of these children, the name of Jesus was completely unfamiliar. We have the incredible privilege of introducing them to Him and sharing with them the love of God. We have even accepted children who came to us wearing witchcraft cords… cords placed on them with the belief that they would bring good health and ward off evil. Seeing these things reminds us just how significant the opportunity is that God has given us. We are not simply providing a safe home, food, education, and a family. We are introducing children to the One who loves them, knows them, and has a purpose for their lives. What an extraordinary privilege it is to be able to share the love of God with a child who has never before heard the name of Jesus. 

The mothers who care for these children have also become such an important part of this ministry. As relationships have developed, we have had opportunities to study the Bible together, pray together, and encourage one another. We have watched children grow physically, emotionally, academically, and spiritually. We have seen children baptized and become involved in local churches, and we have had the privilege of watching them begin to understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus. These moments are precious because they remind us that what we are doing is about so much more than providing a home. We are watching God work in the lives of children and families. 

This is also where the Beacons of Light Project fits so naturally into the story. We want the children and families in the community where our Sunshine Homes are located to know the Lord. We want the preschool-aged children in our community projects to grow up knowing that they are loved by God and that their lives have purpose. We want them to take what they have learned into their schools, their friendships, their future families, and eventually into their communities. One of the greatest hopes we have for these children is that they will not simply receive the light, but that they will become beacons of light for others. 

His Kingdom 

There have certainly been difficult seasons over these 15 years. There have been disappointments, projects that didn't work the way we thought they would, and relationships that didn't develop the way we hoped. There have been times when we wondered if what we were doing was making any difference at all. But God has continually reminded us that the results are ultimately His responsibility. Our responsibility is simply to be obedient. 

It is easy to look at everything that has happened over the past 15 years and think that this is our story, but it isn't. It is His story. When we left everything behind and moved to Mozambique, we had no idea what God was going to do; we simply knew that He had called us to go. Now we can look back and see His fingerprints everywhere… in every job, every child, every home, every village, every relationship, every Bible study, and every opportunity to share the Gospel. God has written a story far greater than anything we could have written ourselves, and perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all: when God calls us, we don't have to know how the story will end. We simply have to be willing to say yes and trust Him with whatever we are willing to surrender. To God be the glory, because we have been blessed beyond measure to witness His story and to have a small part in what He is doing. And after 15 years, the prayer remains the same: that everything we do, everything we build, every person we serve, every child we teach, and every relationship we form would ultimately point people to Jesus and bring glory to His name. Because when all is said and done, the only thing that will matter is what God has done for His Kingdom and the lives He has brought into His eternal family.

When God Writes the Story

Don and I did not come to Mozambique of our own accord. It was never our dream to move 8,000 miles across the ocean to a country we had never seen, with a culture we did not know, a language we could not speak, and not a single familiar face waiting for us. It certainly was not our dream to struggle and fight simply to survive as we have had to do over the past fifteen years. 

If we had known fifteen years ago what we know today, we might never have stepped onto that plane. 

But we came because God called us. 

No one willingly leaves behind everything they have worked for and achieved to move to a place like Mozambique, now ranked as the second poorest country in the world. Even beyond the poverty, everyday life here presents challenges that are difficult to explain unless you've experienced them yourself. Reliable healthcare is limited, the material things that make life comfortable are lacking, and nearly every task takes more time, patience, and perseverance than you can imagine. It is also one of the most difficult places in the world to do business. 

Yet we know that we know that WE KNOW God called us here and has a plan. Because of that, we have stayed. 

For fifteen years, He has faithfully carried us through every challenge, every disappointment, every setback, and every victory. There have been many moments when we wondered how we would keep going, but God has never failed us. He has always been faithful. 

Those of you who have visited us understand when I say that it is impossible to fully explain life and ministry here. I still remember my father's words after his visit in 2015. As he was leaving, he said, "I can go home and show people the pictures and tell them the stories, but they won't truly understand. You have to come here and walk beside you to get it." 

He was absolutely right. 

As we approach the fifteenth anniversary of our arrival in Mozambique on July 28, I find myself looking back and seeing God's fingerprints over every part of this journey. During my devotional time this morning, He reminded me of something He has shown Don and me over and over again through the years. We are simply the vessels through which He chooses to work. 

God has repeatedly illustrated something beautiful to us through His Word. We will read a passage we've read dozens of times before, and suddenly it's as though He's saying, "This is what I'm doing." 

James 1:27 is one of those passages: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ." 

How many times have we all read that verse? How many times have I read that verse without really seeing it? But one day, after the Sunshine Homes Project was already established, pairing a vulnerable widow with six orphaned children to create a forever family, we read it again. 

And suddenly we both stopped. 

Whoa! 

This wasn't our idea. 

It was God's. 

Lately I've been reading through the Psalms again, something I have done countless times throughout my life. Today I came to Psalm 113, and the final verse says: 

"He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children." 

I cannot tell you how many times I have simply read past those words. But today, they struck me in a completely new way. This time I couldn’t read past it. 

Once again, God reminded me that the Sunshine Homes Project is His project. He is the Author. He is the Mastermind. And in that moment, I felt the incredible weight and privilege of realizing that He has invited me to participate in fulfilling the very promises He has made in His Word. 

Some of our mothers have biological children of their own. Others never had that opportunity. 

I immediately thought of Monica. 

Years ago, Monica's husband abandoned her because she was unable to have children. She was left alone, rejected, and vulnerable. Today, she is the joyful mother of six beautiful daughters through the Sunshine Homes Project. She faithfully loved and cared for the first five girls God entrusted to her, and then He completed her family by bringing three-month-old baby Kiana Adelia into her home. 

Watching Monica become a mother has been one of the greatest privileges of our ministry. God gave the barren woman a home and made her the joyful mother of children. He kept His promise. 

And again… it hit me. 

The Sunshine Homes Project was never our idea. It was never our vision or our ministry to build. God simply invited us to participate in what He was already planning to do. Long before we ever arrived in Mozambique, He knew every widow who would need a family, every orphan who would need a mother, and every home He intended to create. We are simply watching Him fulfill His Word. 

What an incredible privilege that the Creator of the universe invites ordinary people to participate in His extraordinary work. He could accomplish every bit of it without us, yet in His grace He allows us to join Him. Our prayer is that we will continue to faithfully say "yes" whenever He calls, remembering that this has always been His story, His project, His glory, and His Kingdom. We are simply blessed to be the hands and feet through which He chooses to love His children.

Growing into Adolescence in the Sunshine

None of us parents like to watch our children grow up. When they do, we miss them. Their widening interests and peer groups begin to replace the time they once spent with us, and we find ourselves mourning what was. Even now, my heart feels the ache of that transition as six of our little ones began preschool this past week. A noticeable amount of joy has been emptied out of my days. I now wait until 2:00 p.m. for it to come rushing back through the door with them. 

Yet there are profound joys in allowing our children to grow. I often see social media posts from young mothers begging their little ones not to grow up, and something in me cries out, “No! Let them grow!” There is so much more life ahead for them, and for you. As they become teenagers, conversations deepen. You begin to glimpse your influence actually taking root in their lives…whether they want to admit it or not. You can see how their past experiences are shaping them into who God created them to be, and how their future is slowly coming into focus. Those once exasperating traits of toddlerhood…the stubbornness, the intensity, the strong will…begin to reveal themselves as God-given qualities, placed within them for His purposes. Witnessing that transformation is nothing short of thrilling. 

IF we take the time to look for it and soak it in. 

People who know me know that I am a biblical Martha. I find it extremely painful to sit and be still. I never stop moving or working. I was like this as a teacher, a wife, a mother, and now as a mother to our 42 Sunshine children. 

My goal this year is to learn to be still. To pause to take in all that is around me. As I have taken the time to take this time, I have discovered many new and various delights…one of which are our teenagers. 

Half of our Sunshine children are now teenagers. Like all mamas, I miss their littleness…their cuteness…their big hugs as they burrow their little faces into my belly when they greet me each day. But I am getting so much more from them now…and I would not trade it for anything. 

The root of my joy in them and for them comes from the deep, inner contentment I feel from seeing them turning out okay after all! I cannot look at these teenagers without seeing the scared, hurt child that arrived into our Sunshine family years ago. This child has now been replaced with a confident, secure, social, happy teen. Each one of them are well on their way to being what God sees them to be! 

I have taken notice of how readily they step in to help, often without being asked. They recognize a need and are quick to meet it. Whether it’s unloading my car, walking a sick child home, sweeping the floor after an activity, or caring for our younger children, their willingness to serve has become second nature to them. 

I have taken notice of a growing maturity during our Bible study times. They complete the assigned readings and journaling, and they come prepared to share what they have learned. They speak boldly and without fear of peer pressure. One of the greatest joys for me is watching their faces as I teach; they are completely attentive, hanging on every word. And trust me, it isn’t me holding their attention. They are falling in love with Scripture and discovering that it truly is life to them. 

I have taken notice of their devotion in worship and song. They no longer glance around to see who might be watching or judging them. Their worship has become deeply personal, something shared between them and their God. Now, instead of me leading, they are stepping forward to lead worship during our Bible study times...Marica leads with her soulful vocals while Faustino and Vasco accompany her on the keyboard. 

I have taken notice of the beautiful way they express themselves through dance…both the girls and the boys! Watching them glorify God through dance nearly reduces me to a sobbing mess every time. They dance during church programs, at our gatherings, and even on their own, simply because they love to dance. Their joy is unrestrained, and their worship is unmistakable. 

All of these thoughts came to a head yesterday when I set aside my never-ending “to-do” list and chose instead to simply sit and listen. The children have been working faithfully to create bracelets for our upcoming Sunshine Fundraiser Dinner in April. Each afternoon, they come on their own, set up a table in Escola Sunshine, and get straight to work. Normally, I pass by that table dozens of times as I move through my day. But yesterday, instead of walking past, I pulled up a chair and sat down with them. 

Their hands were busy stringing beads, and their mouths were busy telling stories. As I listened, it became clear that they truly are a family, one that genuinely enjoys being together. They laughed and chatted about everything and nothing at all. Faustino shared about a watermelon he once saw that was white inside, which sparked an animated debate about whether it was truly white or just transparent. The girls giggled uncontrollably over his comments. Somehow, this led to a discussion about whether Mama Terri is white or transparent, a conversation I was relieved to see eventually shift to music. Soon they were sharing their favorite music genres, and before long, one of them pulled up YouTube on the TV to play a new song for the rest to hear. 

During it all, Vasco, the ever silent one who never misses a thing, listened in as he quietly made bracelets, his arms lined with all those he has completed over the past few weeks. The younger girls, Tiara and Fatima, still not yet a full part of the teen group, sat to the side on the floor making their bracelets while absorbing everything said. 

At this point, I was pulled away into my office to meet with someone. As we talked, I could hear the music continuing to play. They had a string of worship songs playing as they sang along while continuing to work on the bracelets. And they were not just singing under their breath…they were boldly proclaiming. Their praised filled the room and overflowed into my office. 

After my meeting, I had to leave to get home. I left them just as they were…talking, beading, and singing. As I drove home, I reflected on it all with a deeply grateful heart. God’s goodness in rescuing them. God placing them in our Sunshine family. God growing them and giving them mercy, favor, and maturity. As all parents know, it has not at all been a smooth road. My staff and I have dealt with a lot of issues over the years. We have shed a lot of tears, had a lot of firm talks, and have said a lot of prayers. Yet with every challenge and trial we faced, we have done it together as a family. We have learned and gotten stronger. Each one has increased our faith and taught us more about our Father God. 

So yes, these teenage years may indeed be both the best of times and the worst of times. They stretch us, humble us, and sometimes break our hearts a little. But they also reward us with glimpses of God’s faithfulness made visible in real lives. If we are willing to slow down, to pull up a chair instead of rushing past, we will see it all…the fruit, the growth, the quiet miracles happening right in front of us. And in those moments, when laughter mingles with worship and busy hands serve with joyful hearts, we are reminded that letting our children grow is not something to fear. It is something to behold with awe, gratitude, and deep trust in the God who is writing their story far better than we ever could. 

And being a part of it all comes from simply being still and taking notice of the beautiful growth that can so easily be missed.

Alfredo...Welcomed, Loved, and Home

Our Sunshine family is made up mostly of girls, which is unusual here in Mozambique. In many communities, extended families tend to keep orphaned girls because they are often expected to help with household chores. As a result, most children’s centers are heavily populated by boys. Sunshine, however, is the opposite: 28 of our 41 children are girls. 

Because of this, our boys have been eagerly celebrating the arrival of 10-year-old Alfredo into our family. He is a perfect fit for Sunshine House 8, joining three other boys who are close to him in age and school grade. 

Alfredo arrived this past Wednesday, brought home by Delcio while I was sidelined with a stomach flu that has been making its rounds. Thankfully, Delcio remembered to take the traditional “We got him!” photo in the van, a small but meaningful moment we treasure each time a new child comes home. 

Alfredo is a casualty of poverty, family breakdown, and the recent devastating floods. His mother abandoned the family years ago. She struggled mentally and emotionally and was unable to cope with the pressures of raising a family in extreme poverty. His father is unemployed and lives at a garbage dump, searching for food to eat and items he might sell to survive. Because of this, Alfredo had been taken in by his aunt. 

When the recent tropical cyclone Fytia settled over southern Mozambique, it brought eight days of relentless rain. Alfredo and his aunt’s home was flooded, forcing them to seek refuge in a nearby public school. Now that the waters have finally receded and his aunt has returned to what remains of her home, she made the decision to ask Social Action for help. She simply could no longer care for Alfredo. We are deeply grateful that Social Action brought him to Sunshine and entrusted him to our family. 

I met Alfredo for the first time during our Valentine’s Day celebration with the primary-aged children. When I walked into Escola Sunshine, all 16 children were seated at two tables, busily making paper hearts and cards. Almost immediately, I noticed a new face watching me intently. It was clear Alfredo had heard about me from the other children and was very curious. I invited him over, introduced myself, and gave him our familiar “Welcome to the family… this is how we behave” talk that our new children receive. 

As we talked, I was struck by how easy he was to engage with. He is thoughtful, articulate, and seems mature beyond his years. He even understood my American-Portuguese with ease. 

I always ask new children if they know who Jesus is, and it is rare to receive an affirmative response. Alfredo not only knew who Jesus is, he went on to give a full explanation of how Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of our sins. It was clear he has been attending church and truly listening. I was very encouraged by this. 

Alfredo is a bright and eager young boy. Although he is 10 years old, he has never had the opportunity to attend school. Thankfully, he is small for his age and will blend right in with the first graders. Next month, he will begin school for the very first time, made possible by the support of his new sponsor. 

Alfredo’s arrival at Sunshine is a reminder of both the harsh realities many children face in Mozambique and the hope that emerges when a child is welcomed into a loving community. Displaced by poverty, family breakdown, and devastating floods, Alfredo now has safety, stability, and the opportunity to begin school for the very first time. He has already made a strong impression, and we are grateful to watch him take his first steps toward healing, learning, and a brighter future as part of the Sunshine family.

Now It's Nina's Turn

Our 42 children and 9 mothers who make up our Sunshine families come from varying backgrounds and situations. But the one thing they all have in common was that they were living a life of lack. At times, I sit back and just soak them in as I watch them study, play, dance, and sing. They are carefree, happy, secure, and flourishing. I don’t even dare to let my thoughts stray to imagining where they would be right now if it was not for our foundation that has been blessed with the privilege of caring for them and raising them. 

The goal of the Sunshine Approach Foundation is the same as the one you have for your own children…to see them grow up, become educated, and one day step confidently into independent, successful adulthood. 

We know we won’t see 100% success. Each child must choose to embrace the opportunities placed before them. Each must work hard to build a future in a developing nation that often offers little margin for error. 

But when they do succeed, it is something beautiful to witness. 

Our Cecilia is well on her way. Having completed her university law courses, currently working at a paid internship, and today handing in her thesis (the final requirement for her graduation and certificate), she is about to spread her wings and take off. We are very grateful to Foresight Business Solutions https://foresightcpa.com/ for their financial support of her university studies. 

Virginia has just begun her junior year studying Human Resources Management. Her journey is well underway, thanks to The Gifted Leaders Scholarship Program https://www.giftedscholars.org/ who have faithfully supported her tuition. 

And now…it is Nina’s turn. 

Nina joined our Sunshine family in July 2019, just before her 12th birthday. She is the daughter of Ilda, the house mother at Sunshine House 3. 

Like many widowed and abandoned women in Mozambique, Ilda faced an impossible choice. In order to work and support her family, she had to leave Nina in the care of her grandmother in Inhambane, a six-hour drive from Matola. When Ilda became a Sunshine house mother, it felt only right to reunite mother and daughter. It was our joy to bring them back together. 

Over the years, we’ve watched Nina grow from a gangly young girl into a poised and beautiful young woman. She is calm and steady, bright and studious, sometimes coy, occasionally sassy, and always dependable. Nina is the kind of girl you can count on. 

This December, she graduated from Escola Maria Ana Mogas. Her mother and two of our staff members, Delcio and Celia, joined me at the ceremony. I hardly recognized her as she walked across the stage. It was her Cinderella moment, and we could not have been more proud to see her receive her diploma. She worked hard for it and was very deserving of it. To graduate high school in Mozambique is an accomplishment achieved by only 1% of the student population. 

But Nina did it! 

Now Nina will embark on achieving the dream of her lifetime… to serve others as a nurse. 

Most children change their occupational dream again and again over the course of their growing years. They go from wanting to be a police officer to an astronaut to a pizza maker. But not Nina. She has always had one goal…to be a nurse. She has never wavered but has held on tightly to her dream. 

Next week she will begin her studies at Universidade Politécnica. We are excited for her to enter this new season of life. Yet as with all parents of university students, you can relate to our apprehension in how we will cover the cost. We are beyond grateful to Nina’s long-time sponsors who have covered her high school expenses, even going so far as to pay for the beautiful gown she wore on her graduation day. Over the years, this amazing couple have prayed for Nina and encouraged her by purchasing medical books and a stethoscope for her! They now have agreed to go further with her support over the next four years. But this will only cover half of her university expenses. Therefore, we are looking for someone to come alongside Nina and make her dream come true. 

The encouraging news is that a university education in Mozambique does not carry the overwhelming cost of an American university. To fully fund Nina’s tuition, we need just $80 per month for the next four years. 

That’s it. 

The question is not whether she has the determination. She does. 

The question is whether we will ensure finances are not the barrier. 

Nina has done everything within her power to reach this moment. She studied. She persevered. She believed. Now she needs someone to believe in her. 

For $80 a month, you can help carry her the rest of the way. One day, the patients she serves may never know your name, but they will feel the ripple effect of your generosity. 

Four years from now, Nina will walk across another stage, this time as a qualified nurse. Would you consider standing beside Nina as she steps into her calling?

All I Want for Christmas Is...BARBED WIRE

Now that it is November, whether we like it or not, the Christmas season is in full swing. Already people, like my daughter, are putting up their Christmas trees and decorating their houses. Stores have had Christmas items and decorations out for sale for at least a month. Even last week in Mozambique, our local ShopRite grocery store put out its Christmas stock of artificial trees, lights, tinsel, and wrapping paper and has hung decorations all over the store. 

Whether we like it or not, Christmas is upon us. 

So while most people are covered in tinsel, writing their wish lists, filling out their Christmas cards, buying their cookie making supplies, and decorating their homes, my mind is on… barbed wire. 

In and around Maputo and Matola the crime situation is quite serious and multifaceted. Street crime such as pickpocketing, purse‐snatching, muggings is common, even in broad daylight, especially in crowded areas, transport hubs and where people move about. Beyond that, violent crimes including armed robbery, carjackings and home invasions occur, with criminals using knives, firearms (often “rented” from police) and sometimes working in coordinated gangs. In Matola specifically, there have been recent incidents of targeted shootings and gang‐style murders, even police officers have been killed. Kidnapping for ransom is also a noted danger in the region: more likely to hit higher‐income locals but foreign nationals are not immune. Underlying many of these issues are weak law enforcement in some districts, corruption or harassment of citizens by police, and social/economic conditions that make the area vulnerable to organized crime. 

We and our Sunshine families live in Matola, a suburb located just outside of the country’s capital city, Maputo. Depending on what source you read, 44% to as high as 56% of the crime in the entire country of 33+ million people happens in Maputo. An estimated 33% of the nation’s crime happens in Matola. Put those two together and you realize that we live in an area of the country where 77-89% of the crime occurs. Hmmm…no wonder everyone’s houses have high cement walls topped with either broken glass bottles, barbed wire, or electric fencing. 

Mozambique is a good teacher in the valuable life lessons it presents to you. 

Upon our arrival in Mozambique, it did not take us long to experience the crime first-hand. A year and a half into our residency, we experienced three robberies in a very short period of time. First the outside area of our house was targeted while we were sleeping at night. Random items were taken from the back veranda where we had tools stored. Then while we were away on New Year’s Eve, they busted right through our front door and anything of value was taken- computer, television, my jewelry (even the plastic beaded bracelets made for me by children- thank goodness I did not bring anything of value), Don’s briefcase, William’s new keyboard, etc. Two weeks after this, in mid-January, we experienced an armed home invasion. They stole two cars while holding us at gun point. All of this taught us to be much more vigilant. Our current home has walls so high that only Spiderman could scale them, topped with electric fencing and security cameras. Lesson learned. 

As we began creating our Sunshine Houses, we wanted to ensure our families would be safe and protected. So before moving a family in, we made sure to build a strong, tall wall around the perimeter of the yard. We soon learned that this was not enough. They will climb up, jump the wall, and take anything that is not cemented or welded down. They have stolen the bulbs from the outdoor light fixtures, the sink from a bathroom that was absentmindedly not locked at night, the spigots from the outdoor taps, and even climbed onto the roof of a house to take the outdoor light fixture installed near the roof line. 

They do not even have to jump the wall to steal from us. They can be very clever. While doing work to improve Sunshine House 4, we asked a neighbor if we could store tools and cement bags in his house. We had good relations with this man, and he worked as a security guard for a company. He was the father of a little boy with encephalitis, and we had been to many consults with him seeking help for his little boy. But in the end, we were told that it was too late to make a difference. (While we could not reduce the enlargement of his sweet little head, it would at least not grow anymore as he aged.) We also paid the school fees for his older son and purchased a uniform so he could attend school. We believed we could trust him, but one day he sold the tools and cement we stored in his house. Lesson learned. 

While building Sunshine House 9, one of the workers hired by our builder sold bags of cement to the woman who lives across the street. She knew she was buying cement stolen from our house but did it anyway. No one can be trusted. Lesson learned. 

So we tried having guard dogs to patrol the property at night. That did not work. They throw poisoned meat over the wall to put the dog to sleep or to kill it. Delcio and I now have a saying, “No more dogs!” Lesson learned. 

One evening, thieves walked right into the outdoor kitchen of a house and stole the stove’s gas tank…all while the family was in the living room watching television. 

All of this was unsettling and disturbing. But all bets were off after they jumped the wall of our third Sunshine House and stole our beloved puppy, Pipoca, by pulling him through the metal bars of the front veranda. This moved us to raise the walls of our three houses by two cement blocks and cement in broken glass bottles on the top. 

This theft astounds me to this day! Who steals a puppy from orphaned children?!?! 

Yet even the high walls and glass bottles have not stopped them. Our fifth house has been the most recent target. This is where we park the van that takes our children to and from school each day. This past week, they jumped the wall, broke into the van through a window that was not locked, and stole the battery out from the van! Needless to say, when our driver and the children showed up at 6:30 am the next day, they realized they would not be going to school that day. 

We had to move into action immediately. Whoever stole the battery would know when we drove home at the end of the day that a new battery had been installed in the van. They for sure would return to steal this as well, and maybe even the side mirrors or wheels as well! This robbery was most likely committed by a neighbor, someone who knows us and our routines. I was sooooo tempted to hang a sign on the gate saying something like “Congratulations! You stole a car battery from a group of orphaned children. I hope you feel like a big man now!” But Don warned me that this might challenge them to steal more. So, I relented. But ohhhhh how I wish I could have done it! 

We first installed a car alarm in the van. This probably should have been done when we purchased the van. Lesson learned. 

Next, we hired a man to install barbed wire on the wall around the perimeter of houses 3 and 5 (because they are joined together). 

This will for sure prevent anyone from jumping the wall or gate. The houses now look like a high-security prison! But it for sure sends a clear message to our neighborhood thieves. Lesson learned. 

With the coming months of December and January where our budget is strained due to paying the 2026 school registration fees for our children, Christmas presents and family meal provisions for our families, our bi-annual clothing shop where the mothers receive $100 to buy needed clothing for our growing children, and then the back-to-school shopping extravaganza in January of uniforms, shoes, belts, book bags, school supplies, and text books…we did not need this additional expense. But we were left with no choice. 

The crime that occurred this past week at Sunshine House 5 is not exclusive to this house. All of our houses and families, are susceptible to theft, even with the high cement block walls and broken glass. It is for this reason that I am dreaming not of a white Christmas but a barbed wire Christmas. We now have two houses that are fully protected. This leaves seven houses that still need this anti-theft measure installed. The cost would be about $500 USD per house. If you feel led to bless our families with THE BEST Christmas present ever…we would be overjoyed! 

So yes, this Christmas, while others might be wishing for cozy sweaters, glittering lights, or the latest gadgets, I’m wishing for barbed wire. Not because it’s pretty or festive (Even though it does sparkle in the sunshine!), but because it means safety, peace of mind, and a good night’s sleep for our mothers and children. It means that the little ones in our care can grow up laughing and learning instead of being afraid. In a world where so much is uncertain, we want to give them the certainty of protection and of knowing that someone cared enough to make them safe. If your heart feels moved to help us wrap our homes in that kind of security this Christmas, know that your gift is more than metal and wire… it is love in its most practical form. And from all of us here in Mozambique, we are deeply grateful.

A Life Unexpectedly Impacted...Mine!

We have now brought home a total of 42 orphaned, abandoned, rejected, abused, and hurt children to live in our Sunshine Homes over the past 11 years. I am sorry for repeating myself here, but while bringing a child home is a joyous occasion because we are providing them with a new life and opportunities, it is also a very heavy day as we get a much too up-close view of how children hurt and suffer. Yet with all I have seen and felt and experienced, nothing…NOTHING has broken my heart like these three little ones did last Saturday. 

I am not sure why. Their story is no more tragic and sadder than that of any of our other children. 

Maybe it was because of how recently their mother, died. The day we met them and brought them home was the “Oitavo Dia”. This is the ceremony held eight days after a burial where the family members re-visit the grave of their lost loved one to remember them and place flowers on their grave. This means that their mother would have died only about ten days before I met them. Knowing this alone made me weep for them. It left me feeling raw and hollow for them. 

Maybe it was because of the numerous family members who assembled that day in a circle to meet and question us. They wanted the best for these children, but not one of them have the ability to bring them into their already impoverished homes. They can barely feed themselves and keep themselves alive. None could take in three more mouths to feed. But they for sure wanted to be certain that we could take care of the children. 

They had many questions and concerns. Delcio and I responded to them all. What convinced them most were the photos. I showed them photos of our current families and of the transformation of our Sunshine children from the day we collected them and then the difference in them less than two weeks later when I took another photo. Delcio and I told them about our children who are now succeeding in university, secondary school, and primary school. We told them about our oldest, Cecilia, who is soon to graduate university and has a position with a local law firm. With each photo and story we shared, they visibly relaxed. They rejoiced with smiles and comments about how amazing it all is. And finally, they agreed that the children will be well cared for in our Sunshine Approach program. 

And then…we shared a meal. Again, I apologize for repeating myself from previous blogs, but there is no more humbling experience than to share a meal offered to you by people who have absolutely nothing. As we drank tea and ate the bread and salad offered to us in reused Styrofoam take-away containers, I was overwhelmed with so many emotions that I cannot even put words to. I am at a loss right now to put any of this into words. 

Maybe my struggle is because accepting these children into our care will be a huge step of faith for us. We already have so many children and mothers to care for. Taking on three more when our budget is already stretched was a hard decision to make. When I received the message from Delcio about the need these three children had, I cried. I never want to be in a position where I have to turn orphaned children away. But with our current financial constraints, I was not sure we could afford them any more than their family could. But I really felt like God was telling me to test Him and see how only He can provide. 

Maybe my sore heart comes from seeing the older 20-year-old sister, Olga, on this day as she presented to us the story of the children and shared with us the documents she had for them. She was so composed and well spoken, so elegant, so strong…but inside, I knew that her heart was also breaking. She has nowhere to go and is too old for anyone to take her in and care for her. She has cared for her three younger siblings for the past year during their mother’s illness. Today, she was releasing them into our care because she knew that their opportunity for a better life lies in our means and abilities, and not hers. She will now be left alone, all alone, to make her way in this horribly challenging and ugly third-world country we live in. 

Maybe it was seeing how strong the eldest of the three children was as she stood by her older sister. This little 11-year-old girl had just lost her mother. She was now about to lose her older sister too. She knew exactly why we were there. She stood alongside her older sister, not shedding a tear, not showing any emotion at all. But I did notice that occasionally she reached over with her hand and gently touched the edges of the capulana her sister wore around her waist. Just to let her sister know she was there. 

Maybe it was looking in my rearview mirror and seeing the tears fall down the cheeks of the older sister in the backseat as we drove away after leaving the children in their new home with their new family. Her sister would now be returning to an empty room that she rents. It will be silent. She will be alone. My task now is to determine how we can also help her. 

Maybe it was learning that not one of these children have had the opportunity to go to school. Their feet have not set foot inside of a classroom. An education is the most basic of rights for children all over the world, but here in Mozambique it is not a right, it is a privilege. One that far too many children do not receive. How sad that my own children fought and argued and complained about going to school when other children are denied this opportunity. We really do not know at all how privileged we are. My staff and I now have a challenge ahead of us to educate these children and catch them up with their peers. 

Maybe it was seeing what little they personally owned in the blue plastic bag they brought with them. Bless their sweet hearts…they had so little. Their bag of clothing consisted of worn out, dirty, tattered items. There was not a single pair of underwear or socks for any of them. 

Any time we drive home with any new, precious little ones in our car, I am overwhelmed by the weighty responsibility of what I am taking on. Yet with this recent experience, I am feeling it all the more. 

As with all of our children, my joy has come from seeing these three children blossom over the past few days. Above is the photo of when we brought them to their new home and to meet their new house mother, Ester. The photo below I took yesterday, only four days later… 

Over the past few days, seeing their smiles and the light in their eyes, hearing their laughter, and feeling their tight hugs when they greet me has helped to heal my heart. It just now occurred to me as I am writing about this experience…how odd it is… that we brought these children to our Sunshine family to heal their hearts…but they have healed mine! Tatiana, age 11, Tanay, age 8, and Gildo, age 6, are already being used by God to impact lives, my life in particular. May God give us all the wisdom and resources we will need to grow them into the amazing adults He has purposed them to be.