A recent mission trip to work in a clinic in Mozambique shed new light on the words "childhood malnutrition" for retired Bermudian nurse Cynthia Stovell.

"Malnutrition was just a word in a book," said Mrs. Stovell. "But I saw it first hand in Mozambique.

"It was heart-rending. When you see it on television you sometimes doubt the reports are accurate, but I actually saw children suffering from malnutrition."

Mrs. Stovell was part of a team of ladies from the Richard Allen AME Church and St. Paul AME Church that went to Mozambique on a mission of mercy recently March. Other members of the team included Zina Darrell, Naomi Fox, and Joan Simmons.

Mrs. Simmons, a financial advisor at BF&M Insurance Co., first assembled a team to help in Mozambique two years ago.

"In 2008, I sensed that God was speaking to me to go to Mozambique to work with the newly assigned Bishop of the 18th Episcopal District, Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr. and his wife Patricia Russell-McCloud," she said. Mrs. Russell-McCloud was in Bermuda last year to speak at a conference.

Mrs. Simmons was put in touch with Bishop McCloud who invited her to into his camp to work with him and his wife in Mozambique.

Since that time Mrs. Simmons has been back several times with different groups and have worked on a number of projects including building a church. They are currently trying to raise $1 million for an orphanage and clinic to be built in Beira, Mozambique. They have already purchased the land for the project and drawn up architectural plans.

On the most recent trip, the group met with the Mayor of Beira, Daviz Samango, and discussed plans with him to build an orphanage and clinic.

"We met him at the municipality and he was really excited to see the plans for the orphanage and the clinic," said Mrs. Simmons. "The moment he saw the plans he was very happy. He said 'great here we have outside missionaries coming to help us'.

"We prayed with him. We invited Jesus to come into the municipality. He has a vision for his city."

They took $3,500 worth of medicine and medical supplies to a clinic in Mozambique – the money for supplies was raised by people in Bermuda.

"When people heard that we were coming to distribute medicine, they walked for miles to be at the clinic at the crack of dawn," said Mrs. Stovell. She said she was so touched she began to cry.

The medication included HIV drugs, antibiotics and antimalarial drugs. A single dose of HIV medication cost $35, which was very expensive for many people living in the area. The HIV drugs were given to women in the maternity ward at the clinic.

"It was an experience working in the clinic," said Mrs. Stovell. "This was my first visit. I just enjoyed the fact that I was allowed to go, and the humility of the people. There was sadness and I couldn't begin to fathom how they functioned. It was in a slum area."

Also with the group was Naomi Fox, an administrator at the Physical Abuse Centre, and Michelle Doars, who works in the information technology department at HSBC Bank of Bermuda. They volunteered at a school for disadvantaged young people run by a missionary called Barbara Cilliers.

Each year 30 young people from age 16 to 24 are chosen from around 200 applications to attend Ms Cillier's school.

"The school was located on a nine acre farm," said Mrs. Fox. "Students were not allowed to leave the farm for three months."

The entire programme lasted from one to three years. Students learned English, math, computers and basic lifeskills. It was a Christian-based programme. "It gets them ready for the world," said Mrs Fox. "These children come from shanty towns, made of tin and plastic.

"Most of them live in one room without any sanitation with their entire family, plus extended relatives. At the end of their time they will go on for higher training or she will try to place them in the workforce."

Because of Mrs. Fox's work with the Physical Abuse Centre, she was assigned to teach the students about positive relationships.

While there, Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Doars also visited two orphanages, one for girls and one for boys, to make a donation.

Mrs. Simmons said one of the biggest challenges was the language barrier. "It was a significant challenge to find the right person who can provide language interpretation," she said. "The first language is Portuguese and few residents speak English."

But they did find two fine interpreters in the end.

Now, back in Bermuda, Mrs. Simmons has made it a priority to learn Portuguese.

"The opportunity Bishop and First Lady Russell-McCloud have given us to work with the people of Mozambique touches our hearts," said Mrs. Simmons.

"It is our remembrance of the thousands of children we met on our way as we visited the different churches that serves as a clarion call to what can and must be done for the people of Mozambique."

She said at first the people seemed helpless, but later the team found that many people still had hope. "Specifically, our hearts are directed towards the needs and challenges of the people, young and seasoned of Mozambique.

"It was ours to observe teenage mothers and diseased children looking for medicine and food for their children.

"A whole nation, it appears, is, in many ways stuck in poverty and is looking for assurance that they are not forsaken and neglected. These realities, renew our commitment to join with those who are willing to give their time and resources to touch these people at their point of need."

To make a donation or to contact Mrs. Simmons telephone 297-2327or e-mail her at joansimmons319@gmail.com