Mavago, MozambiqueSaturday, April 10, 2010
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500 km Scouting Trip to Mavago
This past couple of days marked the longest scouting trip that Jesse and I have ever taken on motorbikes. We rode our motorbikes altogether over 500 kilometers from our home in Lichinga northeast past the village of Mavago in search for an airstrip that a small airplane can land on.
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We got a message from Pemba that “Papa Joe,” the missionary pilot who flies Heidi and Rolland Baker all around Mozambique and beyond to minister, has it in his heart to help us reach the most isolated, unreached villages in the northern Niassa province. In order to do this, we would need to first take scouting trips to the airstrips to see if they are still operable, and in good enough condition to land his small plane, as well as use my GPS to get the exact coordinates (latitude and longitude) of where the airstrip is, in order for Joe to be able to find. We have two sets of maps from the Agricultural Center in two different scales. The smaller scale maps that we have taped together to make one giant map indicates that there are a few airstrips in the Mavago area.
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So on Friday, Jesse, Victo and I, set out to locate one of these airstrips; the one north of the village of Mavago, on another, different road leading all the way to the Tanzania border. We had already planned last year to reach this area with the gospel, so we were excited to go. We went on “Acceleration,” the strongest of our 50cc evangelism motorbikes, and on “Impartation,” my Yamaha 125cc dirt bike, which I just recently rigged with a 12 volt adapter, enabling me to mount the GPS to the dirt bike. It was a long, long journey. We left at close to 7:00am Friday morning and arrived in Mavago at around 12:30pm. We had actually hoped to return to Lichinga the same day, but our plans changed.
So on Friday, Jesse, Victo and I, set out to locate one of these airstrips; the one north of the village of Mavago, on another, different road leading all the way to the Tanzania border. We had already planned last year to reach this area with the gospel, so we were excited to go. We went on “Acceleration,” the strongest of our 50cc evangelism motorbikes, and on “Impartation,” my Yamaha 125cc dirt bike, which I just recently rigged with a 12 volt adapter, enabling me to mount the GPS to the dirt bike. It was a long, long journey. We left at close to 7:00am Friday morning and arrived in Mavago at around 12:30pm. We had actually hoped to return to Lichinga the same day, but our plans changed.
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When we got to Mavago, we began to ask around about an airstrip. We found out that there was a functional airstrip in Mavago, which is a relatively large village that even has electricity. We also asked if there were any churches in Mavago. One man told us in Portuguese that there were at least three: Catholic, Anglican and Assemblies of God. Realizing that this village was already reached by the gospel, we asked about the airstrip we saw north of Mavago on the map. That man did not know, yet as we asked other Yao people, they told us that there was an airstrip overgrown with grass about 40km north in a village called “Mavago I.” Apparently we were in “Mavago II.” This sort of lined up with some research we had done by asking our missionary friend, Keith, who served just south of that area in the past, before he and his family were missionaries in Malawi and then Meponda.
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We heard it was a difficult road to ride on, and that it would take some time to maneuver around. We looked at the time, counted the cost, and decided to go for it. It WAS DEFINITELY a difficult ride. Jesse crashed while climbing a hill of rocks, cutting his face. We finally traveled over sand, roots, rocks and washed out roads 25km to the village of “Mavago I.” It is a normal sized village that is very isolated due to the difficult travel. When we enquired about the airstrip in that village, we had found out that there was an airstrip that the government once owned and sold to some other “Asungus,” or white people, but they said it was further than the village. This wasn’t a surprise to us as we were actually in the Hunting Block, where hunters from all over the world fly in to hunt big game. We decided to give it a shot, seeing as we had come this far. We rode over more treacherous roads, and after 15km and not yet reaching the airstrip, we realized that it wouldn’t work anyway, as Joe wanted to bring the Jesus Film equipment on the plane and show the film right next to the airstrip itself. We were also being bitten up by tsetse flies, which cause sleeping sickness. We then ran into two men on bicycles from Tanzania. They only spoke Swahili and broken English. I spoke some conversational Swahili with them (as I learned how to speak a bit of it back in 1995 when we were in Kenya and Tanzania), but they were able to tell us in English that the airstrip was still another 5km. They did tell us about a large village at the Tanzania border called, “Milepa.” My heart was stirred for that completely isolated village, and I felt that we would be able to return someday, perhaps by a long day’s motorbike ride, to reach that village with the gospel of Christ.
When we got to Mavago, we began to ask around about an airstrip. We found out that there was a functional airstrip in Mavago, which is a relatively large village that even has electricity. We also asked if there were any churches in Mavago. One man told us in Portuguese that there were at least three: Catholic, Anglican and Assemblies of God. Realizing that this village was already reached by the gospel, we asked about the airstrip we saw north of Mavago on the map. That man did not know, yet as we asked other Yao people, they told us that there was an airstrip overgrown with grass about 40km north in a village called “Mavago I.” Apparently we were in “Mavago II.” This sort of lined up with some research we had done by asking our missionary friend, Keith, who served just south of that area in the past, before he and his family were missionaries in Malawi and then Meponda.
.
We heard it was a difficult road to ride on, and that it would take some time to maneuver around. We looked at the time, counted the cost, and decided to go for it. It WAS DEFINITELY a difficult ride. Jesse crashed while climbing a hill of rocks, cutting his face. We finally traveled over sand, roots, rocks and washed out roads 25km to the village of “Mavago I.” It is a normal sized village that is very isolated due to the difficult travel. When we enquired about the airstrip in that village, we had found out that there was an airstrip that the government once owned and sold to some other “Asungus,” or white people, but they said it was further than the village. This wasn’t a surprise to us as we were actually in the Hunting Block, where hunters from all over the world fly in to hunt big game. We decided to give it a shot, seeing as we had come this far. We rode over more treacherous roads, and after 15km and not yet reaching the airstrip, we realized that it wouldn’t work anyway, as Joe wanted to bring the Jesus Film equipment on the plane and show the film right next to the airstrip itself. We were also being bitten up by tsetse flies, which cause sleeping sickness. We then ran into two men on bicycles from Tanzania. They only spoke Swahili and broken English. I spoke some conversational Swahili with them (as I learned how to speak a bit of it back in 1995 when we were in Kenya and Tanzania), but they were able to tell us in English that the airstrip was still another 5km. They did tell us about a large village at the Tanzania border called, “Milepa.” My heart was stirred for that completely isolated village, and I felt that we would be able to return someday, perhaps by a long day’s motorbike ride, to reach that village with the gospel of Christ.
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After Jesse, Victo and I prayed together for wisdom from above, we decided to turn back for the day. As we rode back in to “Mavago I,” we decided to share the gospel with the people of that village. We asked about the white people who owned the airstrip, and that to their knowledge, they weren’t Christians. In fact, the people of that village had never even heard of Jesus (“Isa Klisto” in the Yao language). A group of 20 or so, men, woman and youth gathered to hear about Jesus. In the end four of the men gathered together with us in a circle, and holding hands together, they prayed and asked Jesus Christ to enter into their lives, forsaking Islam and animism. It was a huge win. Although our search for the airstrip wasn’t a success, the trip was a success, because those four men were changed forever.
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We decided to stay the night at the only guest house in “Mavago II,” for only 150 mets a room (less than $5 U.S.), which was just a room and a bed w/mosquito net (except Jesse’s room didn’t have a net, so he didn’t sleep). They were all out of food, though. But we had packed some bread and peanut butter. We spent the night there, woke up and left around 5:30am, just before sunrise. The ride back was just as long, but this time, we were to stop in Chiconono. We knew some SIM missionaries who ran a Christian radio station there. We arrived at 7:30am in Chiconono, unexpectedly on Armand and Henrietta’s doorstep. They lovingly welcomed us in for a hot cup of coffee (home grown from their garden) and cheesecake, which hit the spot as my hands were frozen and numb from the cool air from that morning’s ride. They showed us around the radio station and even showed us maps (they went to the Agricultural Center to get the same maps we have after Jesse had last talked to them) of how far their FM radio station travels, which was very intriguing. They also showed us their lovely garden. We were able to talk to them, as well, about how we might be able to partner with them to follow up in the local villages that listen to their radio station, daily.
After Jesse, Victo and I prayed together for wisdom from above, we decided to turn back for the day. As we rode back in to “Mavago I,” we decided to share the gospel with the people of that village. We asked about the white people who owned the airstrip, and that to their knowledge, they weren’t Christians. In fact, the people of that village had never even heard of Jesus (“Isa Klisto” in the Yao language). A group of 20 or so, men, woman and youth gathered to hear about Jesus. In the end four of the men gathered together with us in a circle, and holding hands together, they prayed and asked Jesus Christ to enter into their lives, forsaking Islam and animism. It was a huge win. Although our search for the airstrip wasn’t a success, the trip was a success, because those four men were changed forever.
.
We decided to stay the night at the only guest house in “Mavago II,” for only 150 mets a room (less than $5 U.S.), which was just a room and a bed w/mosquito net (except Jesse’s room didn’t have a net, so he didn’t sleep). They were all out of food, though. But we had packed some bread and peanut butter. We spent the night there, woke up and left around 5:30am, just before sunrise. The ride back was just as long, but this time, we were to stop in Chiconono. We knew some SIM missionaries who ran a Christian radio station there. We arrived at 7:30am in Chiconono, unexpectedly on Armand and Henrietta’s doorstep. They lovingly welcomed us in for a hot cup of coffee (home grown from their garden) and cheesecake, which hit the spot as my hands were frozen and numb from the cool air from that morning’s ride. They showed us around the radio station and even showed us maps (they went to the Agricultural Center to get the same maps we have after Jesse had last talked to them) of how far their FM radio station travels, which was very intriguing. They also showed us their lovely garden. We were able to talk to them, as well, about how we might be able to partner with them to follow up in the local villages that listen to their radio station, daily.
.
After spending a couple of hours with them, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Lichinga. The ride was breathtaking this time of year, with the green vegetation, the majestic jagged mountain peaks and the baboons running away from the sound of our motorbikes. Even with a very sore back and butt, I can still say that there is no other life for me, than to be a missionary, here in Africa, going where missionaries have not yet ventured, and carrying the glory of God across the face of the earth. It is God’s call upon our life. Yet, it is the great commission, which all of us Christ-followers have to heed. Wherever you are right now, may you inspired to do your part and carry the glory of God to your home, school, workplace, or wherever it is that He has called you to.
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Christian Young
After spending a couple of hours with them, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Lichinga. The ride was breathtaking this time of year, with the green vegetation, the majestic jagged mountain peaks and the baboons running away from the sound of our motorbikes. Even with a very sore back and butt, I can still say that there is no other life for me, than to be a missionary, here in Africa, going where missionaries have not yet ventured, and carrying the glory of God across the face of the earth. It is God’s call upon our life. Yet, it is the great commission, which all of us Christ-followers have to heed. Wherever you are right now, may you inspired to do your part and carry the glory of God to your home, school, workplace, or wherever it is that He has called you to.
.
Christian Young
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