Koti Journey

Date

Event

1994

A prayer burden developed in Toronto for the Muslim world.

1995

An outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Family, Osaka – much carpet time!

1996

A growing burden for the nations in JF and a realisation that God was drawing us to Africa and particularly Mozambique.

1996

Translators in place in Angoche undertaking initial work in order to translate the Bible.

1997

Jesus Family Osaka was already supporting a Japanese missionary called Yuki based in Manica working on unreached people group research. He wanted to visit the Koti people group. GF and Yuki made a first visit to Angoche with a team from Jesus Family, prayer walked in Inguri and held an impromptu outreach, with an amazing response. They sensed an open door that the Lord wanted them, JF, to go through.

1998

In August Lucy Fawcett travelled to Angoche with a team from JF and visited Catamoio and Caluculo islands and found a significant response from the people. 2 months later Graeme went with another ream. They visited Catamoio and met the Koti tribal chief; he welcomed them, inviting them to take the message to all his islands. On the way back to the mainland, their boat was caught in a storm and blown onto the island of Buzu. The islanders made a fire to warm them; they sang and shared the gospel with them; the islanders said “God has sent you to us!”

After returning to Osaka and seeking the Lord with the JF leaders, the Lord confirmed clearly that an Angoche based church planting team be established.

April 1999

GF and LH made a visit to Angoche with a team drawn form the Maforga Mission base in Mozambique (an orphanage and school). They invited members of that team to return as part of a permanent team.

Aug 1999

A team was created in Angoche led by Chico and Sylvia (ex YWAMers from Moz and Zambia respectively), Dorcas from the Maforga Christian Mission, Shiori from Jesus Family in Japan. A primary school was begun on Buzu in August, with Pimo as the Principal.

2000

The team was joined by Keiko and Seiji from Japan. Construction of the school building was begun and completed, with help from Maforga people.

Annie Bullen visited with LH and a team from the UK.

From 2000 two teams visited every year.

2001

The team was joined by Becky Weir from Pioneer People, Farnham, UK for 6 months

Julian Bullen visited Angoche and Buzu with GF; Graeme & Lucy, with Ken and Emily, relocated to Maputo in May, Angoche from Aug; in Dec the first Koti baptism was held in Buzu, with 92 people washed.

2002

The work spread to other islands and into mainland Makhua communities; hundreds were baptised, especially in the Namaponda area, as a result of the initiative of Buzu men. Greg and Sarah from NZ spent a year with the team in Angoche.

2003

The work continued to spread; by May into about 10 communities; then there was an explosion of growth to 36 churches by October; Chico & Sylvia left in August; GF & Lucy left in Oct, passing the work to a group of 9 local men, with Selemane as the main link person.

2004-6

GF continued to visit and mentor the leaders twice a year; the work continued to grow, many new villages, islands evangelised; in 2006 people evacuated Buzu/Wilumo to move to other islands and the mainland because of the erosion; in December 06 a church planting training school was held in Angoche with participants from several nations, 6 new churches initiated, including the first town/Portuguese-speaking church.

2007

Selemane stepped down from the leadership; Inacio came back from Maforga to work with the leaders; people from Buzu/Mukata began to relocate to Praia Nova because of the erosion) Pimo, former principal of the Buzu school (now under government administration but soon to be closed because of the erosion) joined the Angoche center as an administrator; there are about 100 churches/communities, and about 4000 people have been baptised up to this point