TEACHING BASIC HEALTH – SHARING THE GOSPEL
The laughter came first… shock, disbelief, then curiosity.
“Do you eat poo?” It’s not a question you expect to hear in a classroom! But as Johnny revealed a set of simple cartoons, the group leaned in. Together, they began mapping out how germs travel - through dirty hands, contaminated water, and poor sanitation – finding their way into people’s bodies.
For many communities in rural Sub-Saharan Africa, this isn’t theory, it’s everyday reality. Basic health, hygiene, and sanitation practices are often unknown. The consequences are devastating - over 500,000 people die each year from diarrhoea, most of them children under five.
Wim and Johnny recently travelled to northern Mozambique as part of Reach Beyond’s mission to partner with local churches and radio ministries, sharing the gospel not just in words, but through practical, life-changing action.
Pastor Carício, who leads both a church and a Christian radio station, invited them to train his team. He also asked a simple but urgent question: could they help bring clean water to nearby villages?
Twenty-five local leaders gathered for the training, people already serving their communities, now being equipped to go further. The goal wasn’t just to teach facts, but to empower them.
“We want to help participants discover things for themselves, rather than just sitting back and passively receiving information,” says Wim, who leads Reach Beyond’s community development efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa.
By asking questions and encouraging participation, the training becomes something they experience, not just something they hear.
LEARNING TO BUILD A TIPPY TAP
So how do you wash your hands properly with no running water?
The answer is simple. A “tippy tap” is a handwashing station made from sticks, rope, and a plastic container.
Rather than providing ready-made materials, Wim and the team showed participants how to create solutions using what they already had. Then, together, they went into a nearby village.
There, something powerful happened. Men, women, and elders all joined in. Hands got dirty as people worked together to build their own tippy taps. What emerged wasn’t just a tool - it was ownership, dignity, and pride.
As Wim shares, “Seeing local hands build something for their own community makes all the difference.”
THE GOSPEL IN ACTION
This is only the beginning. Pastor Carício is now preparing his team to go out, sharing the gospel through word and action in the communities they serve. Reach Beyond will continue walking alongside them, offering support and guidance.
At the same time, conversations are underway about drilling a well, ensuring any future project is shaped and sustained by the community itself.
Because of your partnership, lives are being transformed physically and spiritually. And as these seeds are planted, we trust God to bring lasting fruit for generations to come.
Please pray for Pastor Carício and his team
As local churches bring practical health education and the message of Jesus to their communities, please pray for:
● Open hearts to the gospel
● Safe access to clean water
● Wisdom for local leaders
● Lasting change in villages across Mozambique
