Maria is Portuguese and was born in Mozambique, Africa.

In 1970 she qualified as a Red Cross Nurse and as a Company Secretary.

She was married to Tony in 1975 and they immigrated (fled) to Zimbabwe after the declaration of Independence.

Maria became a Christian in 1985, and her walk with the Lord went from strength to strength.  She has served the church as a Sunday School Teacher, then in 1997 she did Mission and Humanitarian work, becoming the Southern African Mission’s President of the Church of the Nazarene in Harare, where her love for mission solidified.

During this time she graduated from a Bible School called “Bible Study Fellowship” where she was trained as Class Administrator, Discussion Leader and Children’s Leaders Supervisor.

Maria and Tony came to London in 1998, moving to Exmouth at the end of 2004.  They joined Brixington Community Church in 2005.

In 2011 Maria became involved with the Life2Romania charity and has been doing mission work since then.  This has included launching and co-ordinating the Shoebox project which continues to grow each year. In 2025 Maria joined Hope in Christ Romania.

Maria became a Trustee in November 2018 and has the responsibility for Communications.