My name is Rui Paqueliua. I was born in Pebane, in Zambézia Province, in the northern region of Mozambique. I come from a large family of thirteen siblings. My early childhood was marked by both love and hardship. When I was only five years old, my father passed away. He had been the sole provider for our family, and his death left us in a very difficult situation. 

Two years later, when I was seven, my district was severely affected by the civil war between RENAMO and the government forces. Life became extremely challenging for many families, including mine. Because of the instability caused by the war, I only went to school for the first time when I was ten years old. Studying during that period was not easy. Fear, uncertainty, and limited resources were part of our daily reality.

During those difficult years, my older brothers left our district and moved to different cities to continue their studies and escape the violence. At home, only my mother, my three sisters, and I remained. As the youngest in the family, I watched my mother struggle with incredible strength to hold our family together. Life became harder than ever before. 

At the age of fifteen, I began to make choices that led me down a destructive path. I became seriously involved with alcohol and drugs. I still remember the pain in my mother’s eyes when she saw her young son losing direction. There were moments when I saw her crying because of the life I was living. Those tears deeply affected me. They became a turning point in my life. Eventually, I made the decision to leave my district and move to Quelimane, the capital city of Zambézia Province. Despite my struggles with alcohol and drugs, I continued my studies. Looking back, I can clearly see that God was already working in my life, even when I did not fully understand it. 

In 2001, while I was in Grade 10, I met Pastor Esvaldo and Annmaree through a school program called “Life Skills.” At first, my motivation was simple: I wanted to learn English. But that program became much more than a language class. Through it, I was introduced to Jesus Christ. What began as a desire to learn English became the beginning of a transformed life. Through the guidance of the program and the people involved, I encountered the message of hope, forgiveness, and purpose found in Jesus. From that moment, I decided to follow Him, and my life began to change. 

After three years of discipleship and Bible study, I began serving in prison ministry, helping people who were struggling with their past and searching for a new direction. It was a powerful experience to see how faith and hope could transform lives, just as they had transformed mine.

Today, I am married to my wonderful wife, Dércia Paqueliua. Together, we lead Life Church Chimoio. It is a great privilege to serve God and the community where He has placed us. Every day, we witness lives being changed, families being restored, and people discovering hope through the message of the Gospel. For the past eleven years, we have been serving in Chimoio, and it has been an incredible journey. We continue to see the impact of God’s word in our communities and the amazing ways He works through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

It is our deep desire that through Life Child, we can impact vulnerable children who are at risk in our communities. By God’s grace, we have been able to purchase a wonderful piece of land, and we are currently in the first stages of a building project. Our vision is to build a safe and nurturing Early Childhood Development Centre where these children can learn, grow, and dream about a better future. We are trusting God in faith that this place will become a home of hope, where vulnerable children are embraced, educated with care, and surrounded by love.

Through this initiative, we also hope to impact their families and the wider community, sharing the love of Jesus and the message of the Gospel. We believe that when a child’s life is transformed, an entire family, and even a community, can be transformed as well. This is more than a project. It is a mission of hope, faith, and love for the next generation. My story is a reminder that no matter where you begin, your life can be transformed. With faith, perseverance, and the right people guiding you, a new future is always possible, and you can impact others. To know more about the future ECD, visit: https://www.lifechild.org.za/chimoio-ecd/