MAPUTO, Mozambique — Mozambique, one of four countries comprising the expansive South Africa Johannesburg Mission, was organized in January 2005 to create the Mozambique Maputo Mission, the 339th mission of the Church.
The new mission includes the nearly 30 million people in the two Portuguese-speaking countries of Mozambique on the east coast and Angola on the west. The countries are on the opposite sides of the southern tip of South Africa separated by Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Nampula...northern Mozambique. There area few faithful members that live there, however, the Church has not officially arrived in their province yet. Elder Landon Taylor from Alpine, Utah and Elder May Bernardo from Luanda, Angola, traveled out to the remote village Luah, a four-hour drive along a dirt road from Nampula. A member, Lucas Bento, had a congregation of over 80 meeting regularly on Sunday, although none had been baptized. They eagerly awaited the day that the elders could come to perform their baptism. This day, 10 Oct 2004, 18 members of the family of Lucas Bento were baptized in a small pond near the village. Directly after the baptism a sacrament meeting was held with over 80 in attendance.Photo by: Estacia Santana from Nampula, Mozambique
Photo by Estacia Santana
Since the first baptisms in Mozambique in 1996, the number of missionaries serving in the country has grown to about 30. Membership, likewise, grew at a steady, incremental pace tallying nearly 2,800 in 2004. The 810 baptisms last year were nearly evenly divided between the two districts of Maputo and Beira.
With no missionaries serving in Angola, membership of the single Luanda Angola Branch is about 600.
The South Africa Johannesburg Mission now includes the northern area of South Africa and the neighboring countries of Lesotho and Botswana. The mission comprises the six stakes of Bedfordview, Benoni, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Roodepoort and Soweto with a membership of nearly 19,000.
After gaining legal recognition in Mozambique in 1996, the first branch was organized in Beira in January 1999, then under the direction of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission.
In May 2000, missionaries reported teaching 69 first discussions in four days to people in the village of Marromeu, some waiting all day outside the huts to hear the missionaries.
Since the land was dedicated by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve on Oct. 29, 1999, membership in Mozambique has doubled three times in five years. There are now 11 branches in the Beira and Maputo districts. Two branches are located in Marromeu.
Members of the Inhamizua branch march to the Manga chapel to perform baptisms. Due to road construction, members and missionaries had to get off a bus and walk through the jungle and homes for about 30 minutes to arrive at the chapel that has a cement baptismal font. It's a fun walk, especially with such wonderful members. This is the beginning of April during rice season. So all the fields are full of thriving rice and as green as ever. There were seven people baptized this day.
Photo by Elder Benjamin Garrison
Another indication of the growing strength of the Church in Mozambique was evident during the Maputo District Conference held Nov. 21, 2004, when 40 men were presented to receive the Melchezidek Priesthood.
The first Church-built meetinghouse in Mozambique should be completed in early 2005 in Beira. Additional land is being considered for future buildings. Meetings are now held in remodeled houses, a former movie theater and a renovated chicken coop.
Other missions in this area include: South Africa Cape Town, South Africa Durban, Zimbabwe Harare are Kenya Nairobi missions.
This was the meeting place of the newly formed branch of "T3." Church was held under this Mafura Tree in a member's front yard for over five months while chapel arrangements were made. The branch was officially created on 09 May 2004 with about 65 members. Since that time the branch has grown to over 158 members is planned to be divided during this year. Photo was taken on 8 February 2004. Over 60 were in attendance, the highest ever achieved. The next Sunday the members moved into a rented chapel. The elders in front are Elder Mark Suman and Elder David Phipps.Photo by: Elder Mark Suman
Photo by Elder Mark Suman
The Beira Chapel, the first building built by the Church in Mozambique. Construction is scheduled to finish by the end of Feb 2005. Pictured are President Lynn P. Wallace and his wife, Sister Dorothy K. Wallace, with the project supervisor. The picture was taken on 13 Dec 2004. This chapel is unifying the members in Beira and has the entire town excited. Everywhere you go, doesn't matter if the person is Mormon, Catholic, or Protestant, they refer the building as "A Nossa Igreja" translating to "Our Church." When completed it will be the nicest building in the entire city. It is located right by the beach on the land where the Portuguese were going to construct the governor's palace in colonial days.Photo by: Elder Landon Taylor
Photo by Elder Landon Taylor
