Two young men who volunteered as interpreters and the woman who opened her homestead to host nightly meetings were among the first five people baptised at an Impact Mozambique evangelistic site in Manica Province, Mozambique.

The site is operated by the Zimbabwe East Union Conference (ZEUC) and led by Pastor Chris Mutweri, one of only three Adventists stationed in a community with no local Seventh-day Adventist presence. The meetings are being held at the home of Maria, known locally as Mai Leombo, a non-Adventist woman who agreed to host the programme after initial venue arrangements changed.

Pastor Mutweri said Mai Leombo listened to the sermons each evening from her doorstep before deciding to be baptised herself.

"Initially, we were supposed to camp at Felicidade homestead, which is why the site was named Camporee Andrea Felicidade," he explained. "However, we later ended up at a non-Adventist homestead, and the woman who welcomed us into her home was also baptised."

Also baptised were Edson Moises and Mendel Manuel, who had volunteered to interpret sermons from Shona into Portuguese after organisers struggled to find translators. The pair alternated each evening, interpreting Pastor Mutweri's messages for the local community.

As the meetings progressed, both interpreters began to personally connect with the messages they were translating.

"They both came every evening," Pastor Mutweri said. "Even the one who was not interpreting on that particular day would sit and listen attentively, and sometimes one of them would even give the opening prayer."

Edson said his decision followed careful reflection on the biblical teachings presented.

"I did not take this decision lightly," he said. "I made it after thorough self-introspection and understanding of the Word. I hope to continue learning and, in the future, also be involved in the salvation of others."

Pastor Mutweri described the experience as evidence of God's leading.

"You realise that perhaps the whole programme was designed by God to reach these individuals who thought they were simply helping with a task," he said.

Alongside the evening preaching, Mrs Chisewe, another member of the small Adventist team, has been conducting health lessons for local women and teaching children in the community during the day.

The Zimbabwe East Union Conference is currently operating 234 evangelistic sites across Mozambique and has mobilised more than 800 volunteers to support the Impact Mozambique initiative. Church leaders say 165 people were baptised during the first week of the campaign across ZEUC sites, with many others indicating their desire to be baptised before the close of the outreach.