What Mama Heidi’s World Looks Like in Mozambique

A picture of what Heidi Baker sees on a regular basis.

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200 parentless children live on the Iris Ministry base near Pemba, Mozambique which also has a school for children from the surrounding villages.

Gary Gnidovic

Heidi Baker and her husband Rolland began their ministry among children in Mozambique in 1995.

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Heidi Baker and her husband Rolland began their ministry among children in Mozambique in 1995.

Gary Gnidovic

A young girl on the ministry base in Pemba.

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A young girl on the ministry base in Pemba.

Gary Gnidovic

Heidi teaching at the discipleship school on the base.

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Heidi teaching at the discipleship school on the base.

Gary Gnidovic

Women waiting with anticipation during the portion of a worship service where healing prayer is offered.

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Women waiting with anticipation during the portion of a worship service where healing prayer is offered.

Twin girls attending school at the Pemba base. Approximately 2,500 children, study at the school here.

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Twin girls attending school at the Pemba base. Approximately 2,500 children, study at the school here.

Gary Gnidovic

During worship time, when she is not speaking from the stage, Baker can usually be found near the front of the crowd among the children.

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During worship time, when she is not speaking from the stage, Baker can usually be found near the front of the crowd among the children.

Gary Gnidovic

At the Iris base near Pemba, a Bible and practical-life study with mothers from the surrounding villages.

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At the Iris base near Pemba, a Bible and practical-life study with mothers from the surrounding villages.

Gary Gnidovic

Heidi Baker's office door on the Pemba base. She is called 'Mama Aida' by the children.

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Heidi Baker's office door on the Pemba base. She is called 'Mama Aida' by the children.

Gary Gnidovic

Walking toward a baptism which will take place in the Indian Ocean—100 yards from the Iris base entrance.

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Walking toward a baptism which will take place in the Indian Ocean—100 yards from the Iris base entrance.

Gary Gnidovic

Worshipers in prayer and praise during a service at the Pemba base.

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Worshipers in prayer and praise during a service at the Pemba base.

Gary Gnidovic

Baker prays for and comforts a young disciple who was overcome with emotion during a time of confession.

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Baker prays for and comforts a young disciple who was overcome with emotion during a time of confession.

Gary Gnidovic

Chantal is one of Heidi and Rolland Baker's several 'adopted' Moazambican children. She has lived on the base for 10 years but has recently left for college where she wants to become an architect.

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Chantal is one of Heidi and Rolland Baker's several 'adopted' Moazambican children. She has lived on the base for 10 years but has recently left for college where she wants to become an architect.

Gary Gnidovic

Ezekiel now heads up the Iris prison ministry in the region. A former inmate himself, his life was changed after an encounter with Christ through Iris's prison ministry.

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Ezekiel now heads up the Iris prison ministry in the region. A former inmate himself, his life was changed after an encounter with Christ through Iris's prison ministry.

Gary Gnidovic

Anesto is an orphan who has lived on the Pemba base since he was quite young.

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Anesto is an orphan who has lived on the Pemba base since he was quite young.

Gary Gnidovic

A young boy from a surrounding village who is attending school on the base.

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A young boy from a surrounding village who is attending school on the base.

Gary Gnidovic

A boy entering a classroom on the Pemba base.

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A boy entering a classroom on the Pemba base.

Gary Gnidovic

A young man in a surrounding village church that was established through Iris Ministries.

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A young man in a surrounding village church that was established through Iris Ministries.

Gary Gnidovic

The Jesus film is shown during outreach to the Mozambican bush.

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The Jesus film is shown during outreach to the Mozambican bush.

Gary Gnidovic

Baker gives words of encouragement during an outreach to a Mozambican village.

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Baker gives words of encouragement during an outreach to a Mozambican village.

Gary Gnidovic

Baker introduces part of the outreach support staff to village elders. YWAM and other organizations regularly send short term missionaries to Iris in Mozambique.

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Baker introduces part of the outreach support staff to village elders. YWAM and other organizations regularly send short term missionaries to Iris in Mozambique.

Gary Gnidovic

A baptism takes place in a small stream at the end of a two day village outreach. Iris claims 10,000 churches have begun in Mozambique and around the world as a result of these missionary efforts.

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A baptism takes place in a small stream at the end of a two day village outreach. Iris claims 10,000 churches have begun in Mozambique and around the world as a result of these missionary efforts.

Gary Gnidovic

Baker officiates a wedding of several couples during a village outreach.

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Baker officiates a wedding of several couples during a village outreach.

Gary Gnidovic

A large Balboa tree at night on the Iris base near Pemba.

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A large Balboa tree at night on the Iris base near Pemba.

Gary Gnidovic

This slideshow accompanies CT's May 2012 cover story "Miracles in Mozambique: How Mama Heidi Reaches the Abandoned."

- More from Photos by Gary Gnidovic

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