Ancestral worship is much in the mix while mosques multiply across the landscape.

In Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, a young man who we'll call Bakar, was secretly listening to Christian broadcasting. He accepted Christ and began to visit an evangelical church in the city of Pemba. When Bakar's parents learned about it they harassed the young man and he could not continue going to the church. His parents said that as long as he was under their wings it would not be possible.

Goals of Islam

The influence of Islam is growing rapidly in the country. One of the goals of Islam in Mozambique is to establish a mosque in each major city. This is happening so subtly but surely. In the heart of Maputo, the capital, there are three main mosques in very strategic areas of the city and several mosques in outlying neighbourhoods. The North of Mozambique is strongly influenced by Islam with the Angoche district as one of the pinnacles of their work. (The Koti peoples are strongly Muslim in Angoche.) There is also a strong presence of Muslims in Niassa province - very few evangelical churches have had much success in this province.

Animism expected

According to the Religious Freedom Report, the new census being conducted in 2007 is expected to show that much of the population practice traditional beliefs or animism. The countries leading mosques and Roman Catholic Church leaders say they are trying to eliminate indigenous practices. But in reality, rituals such as travel to ancestors' graves to say special prayers for rain are common. According to the report, Christians and Muslims consult curandeiros, traditional healers or spiritualists, some of whom themselves claim to be Christian or Muslim, in search of good luck, healing, and solutions to problems.

Mozambique Flag

Map of Mozambique

While Mozambique posted some of the world's largest economic growth rates in the late 1990s, it has suffered enormous setbacks because of natural disaster, such as the terrible damage caused by severe flooding in the winters of 2000 and 2001.

Pray together in faith for Mozambique

* Our prayer is that Bakar somehow might continue listening to Christian radio for his spiritual nourishment since he is not allowed to go to church. Pray for people like him.

* Pray for the churches in Mozambique to take courage and define strategies to reach our Muslim people. As pointed out above, the majority of Muslims are in the north, but we have Muslims in the South of Mozambique as well - but not much is being done to reach them.

* Pray that the Lord will, through the testimony of his people, present the message that makes them see the need for salvation. AIDS is rampant and life expectancy is just 39.82 years

* In recent years, Islamic primary and secondary schools were established in several cities, many with financing from the African Muslim Agency or from prominent local Muslims. Pray that Christian schools could also be built.

Interesting facts about Mozambique:

* The majority of Mozambique's farmers are women.

* The Brazilian Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, established in Mozambique in 1993, has continued to make significant inroads.

* The world's fastest woman over 800 metres is Maria Mutola, from Mozambique.

* Mozambique's civil war was one of the most brutal conflicts ever waged in Africa. By the time it ended after sixteen years, close to one million people had lost their lives through violence, hunger and disease. Around four million people were forced to flee their homes to different parts of the country. Nearly two million escaped to neighbouring countries. Schools and hospitals were burned out. Industry was left in ruins. Land mines continue to take many lives in Mozambique.

History of Mozambique

Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy.

Economy of Mozambique

At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of the population remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. A substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date, has increased export earnings.

Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level. The sharp decline in aluminum prices during the global economic crisis lowered GDP growth by several percentage points. Despite 8.3% GDP growth in 2010, the increasing cost of living prompted citizens to riot in September 2010, after fuel, water, electricity, and bread price increases were announced. In an attempt to contain the cost of living, the government implemented subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal measures.

Statistics on Mozambique

Population: 22,948,858 (July 2011 est.) (see note below). World Rank #51

Life expectancy at birth: 51.78 years. World Rank #210

Ethnic groups: African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Religions: Catholic 28.4%, Muslim 17.9%, Zionist Christian 15.5%, Evangelical Pentacostal 10.9%, Anglican 1.3%, other 7.2%, none 18.7%

Languages: Emakhuwa 25.3%, Portuguese (official) 10.7%, Xichangana 10.3%, Cisena 7.5%, Elomwe 7%, Echuwabo 5.1%, other Mozambican languages 30.1%, other 4%

Literacy: 47.8% -- 63.5% male ; 32.7% female

School Life Expectancy: 9 years

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246.

Video: Volunteer work in Mozambique

Mozambique in Africa and the volunteer work that we have done in a Teacher's Training College.

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| · 16.6% Muslim

Welcome to your dream holiday! is what many brochure headlines read. Famous destinations include Pare Laval's shrine, located at the Ste-Croix, famous for religiously "converting more than 67,000" people. Pilgrims will tell you that at certain times there is power to receive healing by just touching the statue there. Close by, you can gaze at and appreciate the Islamic architecture at Jummah Mosque. It was built in the middle of Chinatown in the 1850s.

Religions in Mauritius

Half of the population in Mauritius is Hindu and approximately a fifth is Muslim. Both religions are descendants of laborers that were brought during colonization to work in the sugar cane fields. Many Christians and ministries can be found in Mauritius - Christians comprise over 30% of the population. There are also many Chinese and Sino-Mauritians, Creole (descendants of African slaves) and Franco Mauritian (the original settlers of the island).

The north is more Hindu, and the south is more Catholic. Muslims tend to be concentrated in the main cities of Port Louis, Quatre Bornes, and Curepipe. Most mosques and churches are concentrated in these areas. The offshore island of Rodrigues, with a population of approximately 36,000, is 92 percent Catholic.

Muslim merchants and traders arrived in Mauritius around 1835, establishing firms and stores and becoming leading dealers in foodstuffs and textiles. They prospered and soon began to venture into the sugar industry and eventually became owners of sugar estates and factories.

Ramadan in Mauritius

At the end of Ramadan, the streets are filled with people out visiting friends and family along with fairs, music, dancing, fireworks and children's games. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly and partying often goes on well into the night. Muslims greet one another with the salutation of "Eid Mubarek" and join in the festivities to mark Eid al-Fitr. Eid means recurring happiness or festivity in Arabic and Al-Fitr literally means the breaking of fast.

Flag of Mauritius

Map of Mauritius

Christians minister to Hindu's and Muslims alike in Mauritius and have good relations with each other. An evangelical media ministry focuses on providing quality Bible teachings on DVDs, CDs and MP3 cds. The MV Doulos visited the port for the third time and called the visit a success. The Doulos was relatively happy that 27 leaders from 17 churches/ organizations worked together to coordinate the visit.

Pray for the beautiful people on the islands of Mauritius:

* The MV Doulos visit revealed that not all the Christians in Mauritius could work well together. Pray for Christian partnerships and collaborations to function properly and to flourish, it is essential to maintain transparency, keep an open spirit, build trust and practice good accountability in order to effectively reach any nation.

* Praise God that over 50,000 people visited the ship.

* Pray that tourists will pray and share the Good News while relaxing and that indigenous ministries can do follow-up and discipleship.

Background on Mauritius (World Factbook)

Mauritius is a volcanic island located in the Indian Ocean but nestled against Africa, east of Madagascar. Culturally diverse, you can celebrate Chinese Spring Festival one month and Maha Shivatree, Divali, or other famous Hindu festivals plus Islam's Eid-Ul-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan on other months.

In Mauritius, its ethnic groups, known as "communal groups," are tightly knit. An individual's name tends to identify his or her ethnic and religious background. There is a strong correlation between religious affiliation and ethnicity. Citizens of Indian ethnicity usually are Hindus or Muslims. Those of Chinese ancestry generally practice both Buddhism and Catholicism. Creoles and citizens of European descent are typically Catholic.

Economy of Mauritius

Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on expanding local financial institutions and building a domestic information telecommunications industry. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Statistics on Mauritius

Population: 1,303,717 (July 2011 est.) World Rank #153

Life expectancy at birth: 74.48 years. World Rank #99

Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religions: Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, other Christian 8.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4%

Languages: Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4%, English (official; spoken by less than 1% of the population), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3%

Literacy: 88.4%

School Life Expectancy: 14 years

MAURITIUS (Tourism Video)

Sights and sounds of Mauritius.

Mauritius 1VT.Beitrag 5 from Pierre Tirier on Vimeo.

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| · 13-20% Muslim

In southern Africa, east of Zambia, one of the poorest countries in the world swings between an almost endless cycle of hunger and disease. The country is Malawi, which caught the worlds attention when pop star Madonna began the "Raising Malawi" orphan programme. Malawi also came into the limelight as video and reports flashed horrific scenes from overcrowded hospitals ill equipped to handle the overwhelming HIV / AIDS crisis.

Malawi's fame

Malawi is actually a very pretty land and tourists enjoy the friendliness of its people. Nature lovers adore the parks and game reserves, mountain hiking and plateau trekking. Others are fascinated by the various people groups and their colorful history; the Jumbes, local rulers who represented the Sultan of Zanzibar and the famous Yao who were displaced from their original homeland in Mozambique causing many to migrate to Malawi.

The great toll

Still, life in Malawi is hard. The average life expectancy is around 40 years and there is little hope for most Malawians for a better future. The people are very family oriented and there are various customs for how a person treats members of his own family. Many families are farmers who eke out a meager existence from growing food or tobacco, tea or sugar. Even the children will be involved heavily in this work.

Dr. Livingston I presume

The first Muslim to set foot in Malawi probably did so some five hundred years ago. By the time Christian missionaries arrived, not the least of which was Dr. David Livingston, Islam had already gained a head start. Despite the influence of both Christianity and Islam, spiritism, worship of ancestors, belief in "black magic" and secret societies are a major part of any Malawian's daily life.

Flag of Malawi

Malawi Map

Muslim Missions

Muslim organisations, with oil money to spend, have found it easy to buy land and win converts in Malawi. Mosques and Islamic centres are being erected all over the country. Malawi is a strategic target for Muslim missionaries who see it as a base from which they can bring Islam to the whole of southern Africa.

Let's pray for Malawi:

* Radio is the chief source of information for many Malawians. State-run MBC is the main national broadcaster. Television was introduced in 1999. Pray for Christian programming.

* Many public schools offer a course entitled "Bible Knowledge," which is Christian oriented, and another entitled "Moral and Religious Education," which is more Muslim oriented. Pray for Christian-based education.

* Pray for practical projects to open doors. Some medical missions work to bring clean, piped water to people who normally could not afford it. These projects speak volumes.

* "If anyone doubts the presence of demons and their power let that person live in Africa." Pray for those in Malawi so bound by black magic.

* Pray for the predominately Muslim Yao people - that Yao churches of faith and love will open.

Background on Malawi (World Factbook)

More than in most countries of Africa, the nation of Malawi has been greatly influenced by the missionaries from Europe. The most famous of these was undoubtedly David Livingstone who came to Malawi in the mid-1800's from Scotland. Much of his work centered near Lake Malawi, and a mission can still be seen today at the Livingstonia Mission. Dr. Livingston met with the Jumbe and other Chewa chiefs to sign the treaty the ended slavery in 1861. This ushered in the beginning of what would become modern day Malawi.

Economy of Malawi

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for about one-third of GDP and four-fifths of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. Investment fell 23% in 2009, and continued to decline in 2010. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services.

About Malawi

Population: 15,879,252 (July 2011 est.) World Rank #63

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Life expectancy at birth: 51.7 years. World Rank #211

Ethnic groups: Chewa 32.6%, Lomwe 17.6%, Yao 13.5%, Ngoni 11.5%, Tumbuka 8.8%, Nyanja 5.8%, Sena 3.6%, Tonga 2.1%, Ngonde 1%, other 3.5%

Religions: Christian 82.7%, Muslim 13%, other 1.9%, none 2.5%

Languages: Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6%

Literacy: 62.7%

School Life Expectancy: 9 years

More background information is available from, "Beliefs and Practices of Muslims: The Religion of our Neighbours, Kachere Series:" by Steven Pass: Zomba/Malawi, 2006

www.raisingmalawi.org - Madonna's website to 'help 1 million orphans in Malawi'.

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Ravi Zacharias on the Life of David Livingston from Shane Trammel on Vimeo.

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Madagascar growing quickly

According to tradition other Muslims originally came from Arabia and settled on the southeastern coast of the island (the region of Vohipeno). This group apparently became isolated from other Arabs, and over several generations they intermarried with the Malagasy people and adopted the local religion (animism and ancestor worship). In recent times Muslim preachers in that area have been calling their people to return to the religion of their ancestors (Islam). Many people are being attracted to this call and even a small number of Christians have renounced their faith to become Muslims. During the last 10 years the number of mosques and Islamic centers in the region has increased from 10 to 50.

Many Muslim immigrants from the Comoro Islands settled on the northwestern coast of Madagascar during the French colonial period. They built several mosques and spread their religion among the indigenous Malagasy people. When one considers the whole Muslim population of Madagascar, it is obvious that this region is one of the least touched by the Gospel.

The Spread of Islam in Madagascar

The Muslims of Madagascar have developed a strategy to spread their faith throughout the island. Many Malagasy youth have been trained in Islamic universities overseas. In several places Muslims have built medical clinics, schools, and social centres. Islam is proclaimed through national television and radio.

Madagascar Flag

Madagascar Map

Some Indian Muslims living in Madagascar (the Karanas) kept their beliefs to themselves for a long time. They never really thought of spreading their faith. Now some Karanas are largely responsible for the proclamation of Islam to the Malagasy people. They have also created the greatest number of medical dispensaries and schools.

Prayer Guide for Madagascar:

* There are still good relations between the Muslims and the Christians of Madagascar. Pray that this may continue.

* In some villages, the Muslim population is 99%. May many Muslims have an opportunity to acknowledge Christ as their Lord and Saviour (Isaiah 55:3).

* Pray especially for the Christians in the region of Vohipeno that they might be faithful witnesses for Christ to their Muslim neighbors (Luke 12:8).

* Many of Madagascar's Muslims are refugees. (Approximately 50,000 including the Karanas, Comorians and Somalians). There are very few Christians among them. Pray for these refugees (Psalm 69:29).

* Pray for the churches of Madagascar.

Background on Madagascar (World Factbook)

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. Following negotiations in July and August of 2009, a power-sharing agreement with a 15-month transitional period was established, but has not yet been implemented.

Economy of Madagascar

Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years. Tourism dropped more than 50% in 2009, compared with the previous year, and many investors are wary of entering the uncertain investment environment.

Statistics on Madagascar

Population: 21,926,221 (July 2011 est.) World Rank #53

Life Expectancy at Birth: 63.63 years. World Rank #174

Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy: 68.9% male: 75.5% - female: 62.5%

School Life Expectancy: 11 years

Madagascar - Video

Andilana, located in the interior of Nosy Be. The white sandy beach is being reborn as a tourist resort, but further inland, where lines of houses dot a pretty landscape, an atmosphere of honest simplicity remains strong

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