THE GALLERY
GRANDMOTHER
By Tyler Reber
During our most recent trip in the Philippines, I met a young man named Justin. Justin frequents the dream center, founded by Pastor Edwin, in Pinagbobong. He approached me and asked for some lessons on photography, something I was ecstatic to do for him. In the middle of our lesson we got pulled aside to go deliver food to those who needed it in the community. Justin and I both brought our cameras along. We walked from house to house, delivering food and solar lights, praying over each recipient.
As we approached the next home, Justin leans over and says, “This is my grandmother”.
From the moment we walked up, Justin’s grandmother was all smiles. We learned about the legal battle Pastor Edwin and Jo helped walk her through. We saw her home, a humble house with a garden on the outskirts of her four walls.
We handed her the bag of food, which contained enough rice to feed her for a month, sardines and cooking oil. Her garden provided her with the fruits and vegetables she needed to support a healthy diet. Pastor Edwin asked if we could pray for her, so our team gathered around and laid hands on her shoulders. After the prayer, Justin’s grandmother goes inside her house and grabs a machete, sitting on her home was a cacao pod that she proceeded to crack open so we could try the slimy membrane on the beans inside. A treat for those who have never had the opportunity to taste the Sweet-Tart taste of this membrane.
She disappears into her home once again and brings out a bundle of bananas for us. As the bananas make their way throughout the group we are reminded that this gesture would be similar to us emptying our half of our fridge to visitors. A comparison that brought the true nature of her kindness to light. Justin’s grandmother is one of many stories like this that Mosaic International has come across.
UNITY AND JOY
By Mark Sherman
What a beautiful moment in Tanzania! This ball in Francis’ hands represents much more than a victory on the field; it symbolizes the end of a perfect day filled with outreach,
unity, and love.
Earlier that morning we held a food relief outreach at the local church, where the entire village showed up.
The invitation drew people from all tribes, ages, and faith backgrounds in the community. The local church demonstrated Christ’s love by caring for everyone’s physical & spiritual needs without asking for anything in return.
Later that same day we held a soccer tournament at the nearby soccer field, drawing
in families from neighboring villages as well. The atmosphere was electric, with even village elders describing this as a “historical event”. Through this outreach the local church communicated to their neighbors their desire to be a people that care deeply for one another with words and deeds, modeled after the example we receive from Jesus.
Francis’ joy in this moment reflects the success of our mission at Mosaic. Our goal is not to impose solutions from the outside, but to empower local churches to be the hope and light in their own neighborhoods. I’m grateful to have been part of this incredible experience and love how this photo turned out! Easily one of my favorite moments in life.
BEACON OF HOPE
By Tyler Reber
Take a moment and imagine yourself walking through your normal day. As the sun starts to fall theres this sense of urgency to get tasks done while theres still light. Students are rushing to get homework done, mom or dad is trying to get dinner finished while the other cleans up from work.
It’s not as easy in places like Tanzania and the Philippines to flick a switch and have light. They rely heavily on the sunlight to get through their days, which is why this simple, $10 light changes so many lives. This is a solar light. Charged from the sun during the day, it gives families the opportunity to continue their tasks after night fall.
Let’s use a student in Tanzania as an example. More often than not, this student has to walk 1-3 miles to and from school everyday, leaving little time to get their schoolwork done in the daylight by the time they get home. A student in school is often a beacon of hope for a family in a developing nation. A student in school is far more likely to help a family escape the cycle of poverty than a child working from a young age. Solar lights are both literally, and figuratively a light in the recipients life.
This photo is one of many from an outreach in Arusha, Tanzania that happened in June of 2023. An outreach with a mission to meet the needs of the local church to reach the Maasai tribe. Aside from solar lights, Mosaic International provided food, and water filters to 100+ families.
WORSHIP IN SECRET
By Tyler Reber
Christians are still subject to heavy persecution in South Asia. Mark Sherman and I took a trip in early 2023 to meet with our ministry partners and encourage the local churches. We found ourselves in this super colorful tent, in the middle of a pastors conference. Over 200 pastors had gathered in secret to learn, rest and be encouraged.
In a country where women are not often valued or raised up, over 50 women pastors were seated in this tent. Worship broke out. Dancing, singing, laughing and crying. I can’t accurately explain how strong the emotions were in this tent but I’ll try my best.
Imagine this: you walk on eggshells every time you walk into church. Why? In fears of being killed. The government has spies that go into churches and report Christian pastors back to the police. Most of these pastors are jailed, or killed. Christianity is not accepted in parts of South Asia. These pastors, all knowing their lives are constantly in potential danger, are doing this because God called them to minister to His people. It would be easy for them to say no and live a safer life, but they love God and the people of their church so much that they persevere.
By gathering them in a safe space where they can pour their hearts out in worship, they filled the room with every pain filled tear and joy filled smile. It was an overwhelming sense of love for God. Images like this don’t just show a gathering of people, but it captures God Himself.
SHINE
By Mark Sherman
Following a powerful church service in Rwanda, Pastor Pacifique asked the congregation if anyone lacked access to electricity at home, and about 80% of the church members raised their hands. Anticipating this need ahead of time, we invited
them outside where we had a bag of solar lights ready to distribute.
This photo captures the pure joy of three women in particular who had just received their solar lanterns. Their faces radiate happiness, each holding up a light that will transform their daily lives.
These small but impactful lights bring more than just practical benefits like improved safety and visibility for cooking; they also help families save money and enable children to perform better in school. The joy on these women's faces reflects their immense gratitude.
They understand that this gift is not from Mosaic, but from the Lord, delivered through the local church. This moment beautifully encapsulates our mission: to empower local churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus, providing practical help and spiritual hope. It's not us who are the saviors—it's Jesus.
MADE NEW
By Brittany Sherman
This powerful photo captures a deeply significant moment in the Philippines, where 25 people publicly declared their faith through water baptism. In this image, you see the first person of the day being baptized, with Mark on one side and Pastor Edwin (our key partner) on the other side.
Our work in the Philippines encompasses a wide range of initiatives—from food and disaster relief to the creation of a student center where children can access free educational resources. We've held countless Bible studies, delivered food to families in need, and offered prayers and support to those we meet. At the core of all these efforts is our mission to build up the local church and make Christ known.
This man's baptism signifies his personal story of faith and transformation, but it also represents the collective journey of everyone present. Each person being baptized has a unique story, and through their faith, the lives of their families and communities are also being transformed.
CURIOUS EYES
By Tyler Reber
I’ve found the children around the world love when they see a camera come out… expect for maybe here in the US. One of my favorite photo collections I’ve done is about the eyes of children around the world. Children tell the story of the moment like no other. Their posture, emotions and eyes tell you everything.
Children aren’t quite worried about looking “cool” or hiding their emotions like we are. More often than not, their wear their feeling on their sleeve and you can see it in their faces. This was a special moment for our team, but one that Elena Bassi (our videographer), Lizzy (My girlfriend) and I were spoiled during.
This moment happened during our second outreach of the day in Tanzania. We had just come from a tribe in one area and we pulled up to this church where another tribe was waiting for us. Greeted with singing and dancing we came bearing water filters, food and solar lights. There was a group of children tucked away inside of the church structure. Elena, Lizzy and I made our ways over to this group on our own time, with the similarity of all having cameras in hand. On me in this moment I had my digital camera (which took the photo above), my 35mm film camera, and a Polaroid camera. Oh man did the Polaroid get some reactions!
Moments like these are special, children are drawn to this piece of technology that they aren’t familiar with and show the upmost curiosity for it. As often as possible, we try to give them the opportunity to place the camera in their hands and snap some photos, sharing our love for the art with others. God opens up doors you would never expect. In Rwanda, theres a small photo/video team forming amongst the young adults because of curiosity and love in the arts. In the Philippines, theres a group of teens/young adults exploring a camera donated to the Dream Center last year.
SEEKING HIM
By Mark Sherman
I had just taught a message about seeking the Lord and the joy it brings Him to be found, comparing it to playing "hide and seek" with my own kids. Following the sermon,
I walked to the back of this Rwandan church to continue in our time of worship.
That’s when I opened my eyes and saw this mother, deeply immersed in
worship, with her baby resting serenely on her back amidst the sounds of the congregation singing
together and seeking the Father.
While we engage in various outreaches in Rwanda, from community support to educational programs, moments like these hold a special place in my heart. They remind me of the true essence of our mission at Mosaic International: seeking the Father and encountering His presence in worship. Seeing this mom and baby encapsulates the profound peace and hope that faith brings to families and communities around the world.
It’s a powerful reminder that at the core of all our efforts—whether it's building infrastructure, providing aid, or supporting local initiatives—is the unifying presence of Christ that matters most. This image beautifully Illustrates the heart of our ministry: to foster environments where worship thrives and faith flourishes.