Bought some trees!

We (AIM) bought some trees!

Here’s a photo of part of the land that AIM purchased this last week for us to build our house on.

In case you had not heard we are planning to stay in Mozambique for another 10 years or so. This being the case and the work here being so vast and our hearts fixed we did some figuring during our last term and with rent being what it is and inflation ever increasing it is more economical (read, MUCH cheaper) to buy land and build than to rent for 8 years.

So i found a nice piece of land, passed it through our leadership who unanimously agreed with our conclusions and started the process over a year ago. Well last week AIM signed the paperwork and officially owns the trees on five or so acres of land in sunny Nampula.

You may be asking yourself, “trees? Why did you buy the trees?” Good question, glad you asked. You see we live in a “democracy” here in Mozambique but the government still owns all the land. So one has to purchase what is on top of the land via the local owner and village leadership, who can for any number of reasons deny you and then rent the actual dirt from the government for 99 years—by paying taxes on the said dirt.

Let me just say the local government LOVES us and the owner of the land is thrilled with the idea of missionaries moving in teaching and training in his community, but it still took over a year to make happen.

“What now?” Oh, now comes the hard part, getting the municipal government to go out with the local leadership, walk the boundaries, mark the corners, decide on our access road (there is none) and then tell us what the taxes will be on the land. And then we have a year to build on it or we are fined. Oh, and then find water, dig a well, run electric over half a mile….fun, fun, fun!

All this to say it is thrilling news. We own the trees. Cami has yet to be out to see the land but let me tell you it is wonderful, outside the city, with a stream running down one side and huge cashew and mango trees scattered about. I can’t wait to live out there. Toby and i went out today on the motorcycle (as there is no driveway) and imagined a tree-house and prayed over the lot.

What can you do?

1. Pray.
   1. Pray that the municipal government doesn’t invent problems for us or stall because we will not pay brides.
   2. Pray the money needed comes in quickly over the next year so we can start with digging a well and putting up a boundary fence and clear a road to the property…oh, and run electricity from the main road.
   3. Pray for us. Patience is not easily come by and we are going to need it.
   4. Give. We are committed to serve here in Mozambique and a safe, relatively comfortable house is always a struggle. Please give so we can build a home which will serve us as a family and future missionaries after we leave.
   5. Come on out and help. The estimated build price is around 50,000 to 60,000usd of which we have about 8,000usd. But this does not include putting in the wiring or plumbing. We would love to have small teams come out when we are ready and help us with this and in so doing learn more about what God is doing in Mozambique, us and in his people here.

So. Rejoice…and never stop praying.

And thank you ever so much.

In the shade!

Kevin