Francisco Dique Sousa facts for kids
Francisco Dique Sousa was a very important leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church) in Mozambique. He helped organize the church in that country.
Spreading the Church in Mozambique
Francisco Dique Sousa's story with the LDS Church began with his future son-in-law, Chico Mapenda. Chico Mapenda had joined the LDS Church while he was studying in the German Democratic Republic. This country was also known as East Germany. In 1990, East and West Germany became one country again. This event is called German reunification. After this, Chico Mapenda returned to Mozambique.
Francisco Dique Sousa had been a Protestant minister before. In 1995, he was baptized and joined the LDS Church. He and Chico Mapenda worked together. They shared the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ with people in a town called Marromeu. Chico Mapenda also shared the gospel with other family members. This included Sousa's son Maria Dique and her husband Chico Casse Morgan in Manga.
Because of their hard work, something amazing happened. When LDS Church missionaries arrived in Marromeu in 1996, they found many people ready to learn. About 50 people were taught and baptized very quickly! In 2000, a local church group, called a branch, was started in Marromeu. Francisco Dique Sousa became its very first leader, known as the branch president.
Family and Church Growth
The church grew in other places too. The year before, in 1999, a branch was organized in Beira. The leader of this branch was Augusto Cherequejanhe. He was another one of Sousa's sons-in-law. Francisco Dique Sousa had introduced him to the LDS Church.
In April 2003, the Beira Mozambique District of the church was created. A district is a larger group of branches. Augusto Cherequejanhe became the president of this new district. Chico Mapenda served as his first helper, called a counselor.
The family's influence continued to grow. In 1999, Sousa's grandson, Jorge Chene Maunga, made history. He was the first person from Mozambique to be called as a full-time missionary for the LDS Church. This means he dedicated two years to sharing the gospel with others.
