Greetings from Chicuque! This post will be about the "R" portion of S.O.A.R. - Resources. We are making progress in determining leadership and structure as we have been able to meet with several people to help us unravel some of the mysteries we were presented with when we first arrived. Nica is helping translate. We met with Nelsa and her friend Ap(a young man from the Netherlands who has been working in Mozambique for 4 years training men in carpentry and design. He is the creator of the bags and cosmetic bags made from billboards that we sell at The Shop...where Mission Matters and he has connections with a company that is recycling waste in Maputo and is branching out to other towns, but not here in Chicuque yet.  He and Nelsa both offered suggestions.  Lea, a young nurse from Germany  has helped with translating and idea development.  She also did some exploration in Maputo for beads and other materials and it's exciting to know that these things are now available in Mozambique. Maputo is still a 6- 8 hour journey away, but that is definitely an improvement from 2006 when not a single bead was available for purchase in Mozambique. Many of the other supplies needed are now available in Maxixe ( a ten minute ride by chaupa) or in Inhambane ( about a 45 minute journey by chaupa and then ferry). It looks like there are several shops that could now special order materials that are needed, including the Methodist bookstore.
It's also possible that Rita, Dr. Arlindo's wife, might be able to serve as a business adviser after Amman has helped them initially.