In 2016, I traveled to Mozambique to document multiple stories with Children’s Relief International. One of the first stories I worked on was with a woman named Aghosta. I witnessed her receive a new concrete home. The community gathered around singing and dancing to celebrate with her. Her pastor dedicated the home to her family and spoke words of encouragement over them. Her pastor challenged the family to use their new home as a haven, a safe place for others in their community. He challenged them to use their home as way to love on their neighbors and care for them.
Little did I know when I visited in 2018, all of this came true. I met with Aghosta and learned of all the good she was doing in her community of Savane. Having a cement home freed up her time to pour into others. Instead of always fixing her roof after storms, she could care for others. Aghosta had a widow move in with them. She was leading a ministry called Tessa Grace to care for other moms and babies in the community. She leads worship at her church.
Not only did I see how she stepped up in her community, I got to share with her how her story was changing more lives. I showed her photographs from our time together in 2016, the photographs that raised awareness for the needs of families to have cement homes. We rejoiced over how her story was changing lives and that others were giving funds to build homes for families just like hers.