For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope - Jeremiah 29:11
This well-known verse has long been one of my favorite verses in scripture. It’s so full of promise! You can just feel God reaffirming, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this!”
Last year, Lourenço Caetano, a member of our medical outreach team, was taking his final exams for his nursing program. He had asked for prayer because the curriculum had gotten very difficult. He had worked so hard, and he was now at the moment of truth. I can only imagine what thoughts must have been going through his mind. Perhaps the enemy even tried to bring him down and make him doubt his abilities, but how reassuring it is to know that when we are in the center of God’s plan for our lives and we are giving it our best, he will pull us through, and that’s exactly what God did for Lourenço!
Like many children in Mozambique, Lourenço became an orphan at a young age. Thankfully, he was taken into a Christian orphanage where he was loved, encouraged, and taught about Christ’s love for him. It was there, in 2009, that Jason and I first met Lourenço.
In 2018, we traveled back to Mozambique and were blessed to reconnect with Lourenço, who was then a young adult living on his own. It was his dream to make a difference in the lives of his people as a medical professional, and he was in the process of attaining higher education in a nursing program of a local university.
Over 60% of Mozambican adults cannot even read or write, and a 2003 Mozambican Household Survey discovered that only 0.26% of the population had a university degree or equivalent education. In comparison, 27% of Americans in 2003 reported a bachelor’s degree or higher while 52.5% reported at least some college.
So, Lourenço attending a university was not only a big deal; it was life changing and something that had the potential to impact generations. When we found out that his sponsor was no longer able to continue their support, we made the decision to assist, so along with some of our family, we began supporting his education. Then when Hope of a Nation was founded in 2019, this support continued, and in December of 2020, Lourenço completed his nursing program to become a Nurse Practitioner! Shortly after, he began serving with our medical outreach program, saving lives and bringing hope to some of the poorest people in his country.
And now... Lourenço’s hard work and dedication has paid off! He recently accepted a position with a government hospital in Mozambique where he will utilize his education to serve the public in need. Not only will he be representing Christ to those who may not know Him, but he will also be able to provide even more financially for his wife and young son.
Though Mozambique is greatly short of trained medical professionals, job openings are difficult to come by. Those who gain real-world experience by working with an organization like Hope of a Nation, have a much greater chance of securing a paid position in the field.
When Lourenço is not hard at work helping others get well, he enjoys playing soccer, playing guitar with his church’s worship team, reading the Bible, and spending time with his beautiful wife and young son.
- Lourenço Caetano
We are so blessed to have been a part of Lourenço’s journey in seeing his dream fulfilled and can’t wait to hear how God uses him mightily to bring hope to the people of Mozambique!
Give online today to partner with us in helping Mozambicans like Lourenco attain a higher education!
