march newsletter

by- Corrie Ockhuysen

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

This has been one of my favorite Bible verses because through the years we have absolutely seen God upholding us with His righteous right hand. We are sad that we haven’t had visitors from abroad, but we have seen God’s faithfulness in many ways, for example through finances and being able to receive 6 new children in the center. Social welfare initially wanted to send all the children who have a relative or a family back to their families and told us that we could not take in any new children. Afterwards, they changed their mind and brought us new children themselves. Here they are:

Meet Artur en Rahima Nacional!

They're brother and sister!

Artur is a sweet and smart little boy and Rahima is also sweet, a child who smiles all the time. Artur looks a lot like his father, and Rahima loves to be held in her father's arms. The children's mother died in 2019, and their father in need to leave the house early every single day in order to look for work left the children alone from morning to evening. Their father is a friendly and responsible man but was forced to leave the children alone so many times. Both Artur en Rahima have Aids and take medication. Rahima does not hear very well and has difficulties speaking and understanding things. Artur will be repeating the 3rd grade once the schools reopen after lockdown. 

dear family & friends

Meet Isabel Francisco!

Isabel is an 8-year-old girl who looks like she is 5 or 6 years old. She has suffered so much from Aids and other health issues related to her heart. She has also suffered from malnutrition. Isabel's mother died and she was being raised by her father who is an alcoholic and did not know how to take care of her. The hospital asked if we could help Isabel and help her, so we did. Now, she is gaining weight and we see a lot more joy in her. She still longs to be with her father and asks all the time when he will come to be with her again, so we pray for healing for the both of them. 

Meet Milton & Zeca Augusto!

They are brothers!

Although they look like normal healthy boys, their story is a difficult one. We picked them up two weeks ago from this Newsletter. It was an adventure through sand roads and lots of floods to get to them. We saw a lot of poverty and mud houses destroyed by the heavy rain. Milton and Zeca had been abandoned firtst by their mother and later by their father, and a neighbor had asked us to help because she saw the boys living by themselves, sleeping in an old house, and eating what they were able to find in the fields. The boys have never been to school. We hope to be a family for them and pray that they will get to know Jesus as the One who will never abandon them. 

Meet Aron De Jesus!

Aron is a cute little boy and we are happy that he is with us. We hardly know anything about his background, other than he has special needs. The police found him on the streets all by himself one late evening, and reported of violence but did not explain what and how. He has probably been through a lot. Aron has mental disabilities. He told me that he was with his mother in a car and when he got out of the car, his mother left? He doesn’t see well and will probably need an eye operation. 

schools are opening up again! the first-grade teacher will have a busy job: milton and zeca have never been to school and will have to start in the first-grade, and isabel will also have to start again in the first-grade.

On another note, Richard (Ricardo) and Katie. Richard (Ricardo) who worked with us as a missionary for many years has now found “his Katie". They got engaged and want to get married soon. They are currently in South Korea where they minister to refugees. We pray that one day they are able to return back to our center. Richard is currently seeking to network with people interested in their mission work in South Korea, with a desire to be involved in their work through prayer and support. To learn more and receive their newsletter email Richard at: Richiemvula@gmail.com or call via Whattsapp +821042974110

learn more about our children 18 years and over

who still need our support 

As I mentioned earlier in this Newsletter, it can be difficult to get children in the center, but many times it is even more difficult to send a child back to their family once they are over the age of 18. It is difficult at times to explain to them that the time has come for them to be responsible for their own life and their future. How will Betinho finally learn to use the money that he has made to pay his bills instead of buying a television? Or when will Colacio learn to open his barbershop at 9 instead of 12 o'clock? But with a lot of patience, we do see some good results. Amelia is gifted in sowing.  Augusto is a hard-working boy, working in maintenance and making bricks. Nelia is tutoring our school kids at the moment
through sowing courses, computer lessons, and English classes... all in the same room in my house. In a little shelter on our new property, we have a welding course. Here are some of them in action:

Thank you so much for your friendship and support!

Corrie, Kids and Team & a smile from Zoe

Corrie Ockhuysen | Iris Ministries Matola Rio

Call: 00258 847033054 | Whattsap 00258 827889850

Email: Corrie.moz@gmail.com

Skype: Mama-Cor

Facebook: Corrie Ockhuysen

TAX DEDUCTABLE FINANCIAL DONATIONS CAN BE SENT VIA:

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NETHERLANDS: God’s Embassy Amsterdam | ACC.nr: NL32 INGB 0004 9787 45 Children’s Center Mozambique