Day 3 - Coming face to face with people who persevere....a trip to the Bocaria.

Our blog for Day 3 actually needs to begin with the night before. My son, William, and I left the guesthouse around 10:30 pm for our 15 minute drive home. We arrived home, pulled through our gate, parked, and got out of the car. Will then went to lock the gate for the night. This is our normal routine at the end of the day. As he approached the gate, two men swung the gate open, entered our property, and the entire family found ourselves faced with an armed robbery which resulted in two of our cars being stolen. Praise be to God that no one in our family was harmed in any way. God was with us and fully protected us from harm. He is good in all things!

Our first concern was for the team. Practically, the next day was their trip to the Bocaria garbage dump. This is an important part of this trip. It is impactful and really places the team members face to face with people who live in the most deplorable conditions possible. Yet these people face daily life with perseverance and determination. However in the world could we get them to Iris Zimpeto, a 45 minute drive away, to go on this outreach without our vehicles? We called the director of the Iris children’s center to tell him we would have to cancel. Yet our son Will kept saying that the team needed to go and that he believed that what happened was the enemy trying to prevent the team from having this life changing experience. I awoke the next morning wondering if indeed Will was right. I racked my brain trying to think of someone who could take the team for us. Into my head popped the names of two of our dearest friends here, Jonny and Becky Wakely. They are former Iris missionaries from England who have been given a vision from God of placing orphaned children into Mozambican families and coming alongside these families to build strong relationships.  I knew they were still seeking God’s will for the implementation of this vision and that they would be relatively “free” to help us. As soon as Don called Jonny, he gladly offered his assistance in not only taking the team for us, but to also pick them up in the afternoon. I met Jonny and the team at the guesthouse where I told the team I would be unable to take them and that Jonny was taking them. I then spoke privately with Tracy Castelli, sharing with her the details of what happened the previous night and why I could not go with them. I knew that together along with the DC administration, they would decide how to best tell the students and their parents about what happened. So the team went on their way with Jonny while Don and I went into town to buy a new van.

The day looked like it would be a total washout. The skies were gray and rain was falling pretty steadily. Yet I prayed asking God to clear it up for the team and to stop up the rain at 10:00- the time that they would be arriving at the Bocaria. As Don and I drove to town, the skies cleared and the rain did indeed stop. I looked at the clock in our car. It was 10 o’clock. Thank you Lord! You do hear and answer our prayers! The team spent their morning at the Bocaria with the Iris missionaries that lead this outreach. Half the members went up on the dump itself and half went out into the community of homes around the dump. Each group prayed with and shared God’s love with the people there. Then they returned to the Iris church at the dump for a service. (If you would like to read more about the Bocaria, read a previous blog I wrote about my visit there.) They then returned to the Iris Zimpeto children’s center where they had lunch (Mozambican rice and beans) with the children and they had a tour of the center led by hospitality.  By late afternoon, my husband arrived to bring them back to the guesthouse in Matola-Rio in our new van. It was at this time that the rain began to fall again.

I met the team at the guesthouse with a spaghetti dinner. I must admit that I did not know how I would be received or how they would respond to the news of what happened to our family the previous night. I was still trying to process and make sense of it myself. Truthfully, I didn’t even want to go out and see them. I felt so sad that this happened while they were here. I was literally prepared to drop off dinner and hightail it back home again. However, I am so glad I went… and that I stayed. During the day, the chaperones told the student members of the team what had happened to us. The team met us with hugs and concern for me and my family. Their concern was for us and how we were doing. Several shared with me that they now knew why God brought them here- it was to minister to us, to encourage us, and to support us through what happened. After dinner, they wanted to pray for us. We gathered in a circle and held hands while Tracy Clark led us in prayer, bringing our family before the throne of God and leaving us at His feet. Our family was enveloped in His perfect peace and compassion. Tracy Castelli summed it up well when she said that the Larson family is clearly up to something good for the enemy to do this to us. We know this is true. We know that our battle is not against flesh and blood. We know that we have been called here to change lives and to bring hope and a future to many. We know that the enemy does not want to see us succeed in what God has called us to do. This attack against our family occurred on the very day that the equipment for the factory was delivered. This is the very day that the vision God gave Don began to become a reality. We know what we have been called to do and we will not be deterred in seeing it through to completion. The team members “get it”. They are committed to support us and see us through this. God gave them to us, and we love them dearly for standing with us. We look forward to seeing how God is going to also use them in the lives of the children at Iris Matola-Rio in the coming week!

Day #2 - J-Term Team 2013

The team’s first full day in Mozambique began with a hearty breakfast at the guesthouse. I then took them to the Iris Matola-Rio children’s center where they would be spending most of their time while here. When we arrived, everyone was a bit shy. The children were spread about close to their dormitories curiously peering at their visitors. This was very unusual for them. Usually when I go there, they are out on the road and covering my car chanting “Mama Terri” before I even pull through the center’s gate! The team got out of the van and peered right back at them, a bit unsure of how to approach them. I called all of the children to the veranda to be seated so I could introduce the team to them. They sat strangely calm and quiet. They are usually a very rambunctious and noisy group. I shared with the children that the team would be at the center each day working on the room that would be added to Mama Corrie’s house as well as playing with the children. They began to smile. I then told them that the team would have special Bible stories, crafts, songs and games to share with them. Their smiles widened a bit. I finished by sharing that they brought special treats and presents for them also. The smiles broke into full grins. I introduced each team member to them and released them all to begin playing. The children sat still, unsure of what to do. But one by one, they got up and began mingling with the team members.

Within an hour, each team member was either playing with or holding children. Meanwhile, Scott Ryle and Ron Hoch got busy working with our team of Mozambicans led by Pastor Berto who were there to help with the building project. They had already begun the work the previous day. They continued adding layer upon layer of cement bricks to the walls that would form the new room. Tracy Clark was busy photographing the children, and Tracy Castelli was bandaging boo-boos and feeling the foreheads of feverish children. By lunchtime, the temperatures had reached at least 100 degrees and the humidity had us all uncomfortably hot, hot, hot. No one complained though, and they kept right on playing, bonding and working. We finished our time there with singing in the church. First Ron led them with his guitar, and then Tracy Castelli moved in with her songs with accompanying motions.

Around 4 pm we went to a project that the woman who works in my house began a year ago. Berta lives in a lower income area. She took note of the children in her neighborhood and recognized a need. Many of the children lived with their elderly grandmothers because their parents had died. These  grandmothers have a difficult time providing for the children, especially in purchasing uniforms and school supplies. She also noticed how many children had nothing to do, and that many would often play in the garbage dump behind her home. So she turned half of her home into a project for them where they come to learn Bible stories, songs, verses, as well as traditional African dances. She teaches them to make crafts- weaving, jewelry, potted plants- that they can then sell for income. We arrived and were greeted by the children who then sang and danced, delighting us all! The highlight of the program was when each member of the team was individually invited up to receive a gift from the children- either a headscarf or a purse (in the case of PJ, it was a “man purse”). A second highlight was when each team member was invited up by a child to dance a traditional African dance with them. Each member was gracious in honoring the children by accepting, even though it was highly embarrassing!! We then presented the children with candies and a toy to thank them for having us.

It was then time to return to the guesthouse for a traditional Afrikaans meal of fetcook (a deep fried bread filled with mince meat) and salad. We were all tired, hot, dirty and sweaty, but no one cared- because we were all in the same boat together with this. After dinner, some members returned to the guesthouse to relax and talk while other chose to go for a late night swim at the guesthouse pool. It was a good day and everyone was ready for bed!

J-Term 2013 Has Arrived!

Tonight we welcomed this year’s J-term team from Delaware County Christian School to our beloved Mozambique. They have endured 34 hours of travel consisting of a bus ride to JFK airport, one 7 hour flight to London, a 30 minute race to connect with a second 11 hour flight to Johannesburg, and finished up with 8 ½ hour transport across the border and to Matola, Mozambique where we met them at the guest house. They arrived in good spirits and were surprisingly peppy for a group who has been through so much. After we unloaded the people, suitcases, bookbags, and pillows from the transport, we greeted each other. We got to say “Welcome Back!” to former team leaders Tracy and Scott. Then we got to welcome our new team members for their first time in Mozambique. It was already dark when we began moving everyone into their accommodations. I overheard a student comment on how beautiful the African sky is; which it is. There are no city lights to obstruct the view of the stars so they shine brilliantly in the dark night sky. I knew I would like this team very much. They already were noticing the little things about Mozambique that make it such a special place.

Each year I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the students and chaperones who make this trip. It is not easy travel and their time here is demanding as they adjust to the summer heat of Africa each day. It is also a very costly trip to commit to.  Not to mention the fact that they are coming to a third world country where they will be stretched beyond their comfort zone. They do all this to share the love of God with the people here. They do all this because Jesus said to go out into the nations and share the Good News. They have put aside their needs, their wants, and their comfort to put the needs of others first. Thank you to Machaela, Kendal, Grace, PJ, Haley, Ron, Tracy, Scott, and Tracy for coming, and thanks to all of you who are supporting them financially and with prayer for this trip.

After a dinner of KFC chicken, potato salad, and Mozambican Cokes, we had an informative meeting to introduce them to what to expect while they are here. My family then left our travelers to get a good night’s rest. We traveled home with a car filled with suitcases of donations (15 to be exact!) to unload and sort through. I now sit here in the midst of toys, soccer balls, shoes, candy, playing cards, hula hoops, construction tools, more shoes, crayons, coloring books, clothing, school uniforms, jump ropes, puppets, Kleenex, soaps, deodorants, even more shoes, Band-Aids, rubber gloves, pillow cases, gummy vitamins, skateboards, hats, playing cards, nail polish, Frisbees, and… did I mention, shoes? There are also 300 pillow cases that were tie-dyed and decorated by the DCCS elementary students- FINALLY we have gotten them here!!! THANK YOU to all of you who donated these items for the children here. You cannot even begin to imagine how treasured each and every item will be to the children here. You really would have to come here and see them to know how needy they really and truly are to comprehend how needed these items are.

In addition to these items are others that were sent to bless us personally – good coffee, candy of all types, macaroni and cheese, hair gel (for me!), Auntie Anne’s pretzel making kit, and chai tea (Guess who that is for?) which was given, according to Tracy Clark, from all over by everyone. J You all know me so well! There were even home baked chocolate chip cookies from a very good and thoughtful friend as well as little blessings from other friends like candles and Vera Bradley items that make me feel so pampered! Don, Brent, Will and I thank you for thinking of us and sending a little bit of America to us!

We have a full schedule in these 7 days ahead of us. The team will be spending the majority of their time at the Iris Matola-Rio children’s center. They will be adding on a visitors’ room to the director’s house. This is no small feat considering that the work is very labor intensive. For example, concrete must be made by mixing wheelbarrows full of sand and stone with bags of cement and buckets of water by turning and turning it with shovels. While working each day on this project, the team will also be present to interact with and love on the children there. They have prepared Vacation Bible School types of activities and stories to share with the kids. They are going to introduce new games to the kids like whiffle ball and card games. It will be fun to share these new experiences with the children and to see how they react to it all.

Please keep us all in prayer as we go through the upcoming week. The work that will be done is physically demanding. Loving on these children can be emotionally overwhelming. Fitting in and feeling comfortable in a drastically different culture is challenging. Each member of the team will face situations that will stretch them and grow them. They really do need covered by your prayers and they really will feel your prayers as you lift them up.

Life as we know it now....a new perspective since moving to Mozambique.

This blog comes with a warning to its readers. Do not read this if you do not want to be stretched, challenged, and maybe even convicted. I write this not to point any fingers anywhere- except at me, myself and I. Yet I have felt compelled to share this for some time. I wrote most of this last month but didn’t post it because, to be totally honest with you, I felt so guilty. I see the poverty all around me. I hold these orphaned children in my lap.

 

But because I am embarrassed to have blankets on my bedroom windows, I went and bought curtains when I could have helped someone in need. I only need to walk out my front door to meet hundreds of them. Yet a friend’s recent post on Facebook (which I will soon share with you) and spending the past two days crying and praying with the woman who works in our home about her desperate situation have prompted me to not sit on this any longer.

This is what my friend recently posted (to the tune of 10 likes and 3 comments):

It’s almost Christmas time. I remember reading an article several Christmases ago by an economist who theorized that if each and every one of us took all the money and energy we spend each year on Christmas stuff and focused all of it instead on appropriating food around the world, we could end world hunger almost overnight. Easily.

Think about that. The world having the power and the ability to celebrate Jesus’ birth, if even for just one year, by ending hunger on this planet. Right now. That’s pretty powerful. But would we?

For some, this might start to sound like a real sacrifice. Give up Christmas?! Surely not. But Jesus’ parable gets serious and challenges many of our easy assumptions of what sacrifice looks like when we live in abundance compared to those who have nothing.

I wonder if the parable in Mark’s Gospel might challenge each of us to imagine how Jesus would want his birth celebrated this year. Just something to think about.  Marc van Bulck

I read such things like this and think the same things you are thinking right now to yourself. And then…I go on with life. The problem for me now is that I just can’t go on with life, or with Christmas. I can’t go out and buy decorations, cards, presents, gift wrap, supplies for baking cookies, an extravagant Christmas meal, etc. anymore. These starving, struggling people are now part of my daily life. I laugh with them and cry with them. I cannot ignore them and their needs anymore. Let me just share a few of their stories with you.

Let me start with our caretaker, Juliao. Juliao is a lovely man. He is gentle, intelligent, dependable, and trustworthy. He comes and cares for our yard every day, rain or shine. He is the father of 9 children. In order to provide for their family, his wife lives and works in Inhambane, about 4 hours away. She lives with two of their children there. She farms and sends food back here for their family. Juliao sees his wife only once each year. He takes leave for the month of December to spend time with her. This is an all too common situation for many families here.

Berta is the woman who works in our home. She has such a heart for others. Her husband was hit by a car and died 9 years ago, leaving her with 7 children, the youngest only 2 months old at the time. Berta has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She takes in all kinds of needy people and provides for them with the little she has herself. For example, she took in and cared for an elderly widow who was ill and had no one to care for her. Berta also took note of the children in her community. They had nothing to do and spent time rummaging through the garbage behind her home, looking for things to sell or eat. She devoted a fourth of her small home and began a project. The children come each day and learn Bible stories, songs, and verses. They learn dances and songs. They learn how to make simple crafts like baskets and jewelry to sell. Berta lives in two small rooms that make up about one-fourth of her home. She has only three children at home with her now. She rents out the largest section of her home, the equivalent of half the building, to a family. She does this so she can give the money to her oldest son for the rent on his home and food for his family.

Berta came to me this week very troubled and asking for prayer. The husband of the family she rents half of her house to, abandoned his wife and three children at the beginning of the month and went to Tete in northern Mozambique. He left her with no money, no food… nothing. Berta has been caring for them, but she has nothing herself. Her pastor and godfather have spoken with her about her situation. They told her that God knew what He was doing when he brought her a woman like herself- a woman with no husband and children to care for. They tell Berta that she should care for this family. The problem with all of this is that Berta has nothing herself. She is really struggling and does not know what to do. She does not have enough money to provide for her own family. Just last month she came to us a week before her pay day and asked for money. They had no money and no food in the house. Can you and I even relate to this- having not a single thing in our cupboards to feed our children? And now, her church is asking her to care for another family as well.

Today I was at the Iris Matola-Rio children’s center. I had taken Lieza and Herminia for shoes. Lieza had been sad all week because she did not have any. So I told her we would take a Girl’s Day Out and get her new ones. I brought Herminia along for company. As Lieza began trying on and selecting a pair of shoes, Herminia stood by us in an old, beaten up pair of shoes that had seen much better days.  I realized that I would need to buy a pair for Herminia as well. Lieza chose a pair of sweet little Mary Janes made from flowered canvas material. Herminia had her eye on a pair of very dressy white shoes with little kitten heels. I talked her into a more everyday kind of shoe. She chose a cute pair of blue plaid high top canvas sneakers. At the register, they were eyeing up the candy bars, so we took home a chocolate bar as well. At home, I treated them to Cokes to enjoy with their chocolate bar. And yes, this was all before lunch. But, hey…they are orphans, okay? Just to add- I did have them eat a banana first so that they did get some valuable nutrition in them. When I brought the girls back to the center, I realized how quickly news travels there. I was met by about a dozen children showing me their battered shoes, telling me that they also needed new shoes. They wanted to know when I would take them to the store. They stood before me in their dirty, tattered and torn, over- and under-sized used clothing. It made me just want to weep. They need much more than shoes.

 As I was about to leave the center, Joaninha came running telling me that the tias (the term for the women who care for the children) wanted to see me. They were gathered on the covered veranda to escape the hot midday sun. They cleared a space and asked me to sit with them. They shared with me that they needed my help. A young woman that I did not recognize was with them. She quietly sat amongst the other women with tears rolling down her beautiful cheeks. I learned that she is building a cement block home in the area. While it is being constructed, she was living in another home that belongs to someone else. For whatever reason, the owner of the home suddenly decided today to put her out. She came home from work to find all of her belongings in the yard and the door locked. She now has nowhere to go. Her immediate need is to find a place to live until she can finish her home. After her home is finished, she can bring her four year old daughter to live with her. Her second need is to get the funds to finish her home. She needs 300 cement blocks, seven chapas (metal sheets) for her roof, and the wood to provide the support for the chapas. All of these items would most likely cost the amount we drop at the grocery store or mall on any given day.  At the very same time, Pastor Helena and I both said we must pray. (Pastor Helena herself is right now in a fight for the home she and her children live in. Her husband has abandoned them as well and wants to sell the home. She is fearful because he is using witchcraft against her to get her out. My struggle in this is…the cost of building her a new home is even less than the amount of the cost of a plane ticket to bring our daughter, Cassie, over to spend time with us at Christmas. My dilemma- a home for Mama Helena or a week with my daughter.) Praying with Mozambican women is such a privilege. They begin by singing- Pastor Helena leading and the group echoing. Then they all simultaneously break into fervent, heartfelt prayer. When we finished, I shared words of encouragement with Delcia and told her that I would not forget her. I don’t know where she is tonight, but I know that she is the daughter of the Most High King and I know that He sees her tears and I have faith that He will provide for her in her time of need.

The part that can overwhelm and discourage me is that these stories are repeated in most of the lives here. I can’t help everyone. These people look to us for help, thinking that because we are white we have loads of money to give.

 

The poverty is so real and so widespread. It can really overwhelm me. This, however, is why we are here. Not to give handouts, but to give a hand-up. Through the Sunshine Approach, we will transform lives one community at a time with jobs, education, health care, and basic needs like water. Please join us in praying that God continues to provide favor with the needed business and government connections and the funds to bring His vision for the people of Africa to completion. And please keep the poor in your prayers as well.

What I love most....The Children!

If I were asked what I love most about Mozambique, I would not hesitate to immediately respond, “The children!”  I have always loved children.  I was, after all, an elementary teacher for 17 years.  And while I love children everywhere (my own included), the children of Mozambique have a tender, joyful endearing quality about them that just delights me. They captivate me as I see them out and about.  At first glance, they appear to be little dirty ruffians in even dirtier clothing.  But to me, they are just adorable and I want to wrap them up and love on them!  The dirt and tattered clothing just makes them all the more appealing to me.  I think it is because of the joy they have despite their material circumstances.  They have so little materially, yet they are so content and happy.

Of course I am totally smitten with the children at the Iris Matola-Rio Children’s Center.  Who wouldn’t be?  As my car rounds the bend in the dirt road that leads to the center, they begin chanting my name repeatedly, “Mama Terri!  Mama Terri!” as they come running from every nook and cranny around to gather around my car.  As I get out, I am swarmed with hugs and smiles.  They are filthy, their noses are runny, their feet are bare, and their clothes need a good washing, but I could care less.  God has truly given me His heart for these children.  I just scoop them up and love on each one until  each child has received an individual greeting, hug, and kiss.

 I don’t even have to know the children to be delighted by them.  It is often these little ones that bring the biggest smiles to my face.  As I drive down the road, they are out everywhere- playing, singing, talking with friends, walking to and from school in their blue uniforms with their little backpacks on their backs.  Some are working hard wheeling wheelbarrows full of bags of rice or cement or large plastic containers of water for their families’ use. Others are out using a primitive hoe to tend their families’ plantings. Little boys that can’t be a day over 8 years old are herding enormous cattle with really big horns guiding them along the road to graze. Older siblings are given charge over their younger ones.  I love seeing the older children walking holding onto their younger brother or sister’s hand, watching protectively over them.  Little girls, as young as 7 or 8, can be found walking along with their little siblings tied onto their backs being carried along.   In the US, we are so guarded with our children.  We keep them close by and their only freedom to play is often in our fenced in back yards.  But here, they roam about freely. 

The children out here always look at passing cars inquisitively to see who is in them.  Not many cars travel the back roads. They step to the side of the road as I approach and stare intensely as I go by. When I look back at them in my rearview mirror, I often see that they have stopped and turned to watch me as I continue on.  As they look at me, I can’t help but wonder what they must be thinking- their faces are so still.  Yet when I lift my hand to wave and smile, they break into a full ear to ear smile as they wave back at me.  It just tickles me and makes me giggle every single time.  What I wouldn’t do to have a big bag of DumDum lollipops from America to pass out as I go by. 

I must add that the adults I pass are just as inquisitive and kind.  They also step to the side as I pass.  I wave to thank them for their courtesy and to simply acknowledge them and bless them. They smile and raise both hands to say, “You are welcome”.

As I said, most of these experiences happen on the back dirt roads that lead to our home and on the road I travel frequently to the Iris Matola-Rio Children’s Center.  We are soon moving into the town of Matola.  I am already sad that I won’t be driving on these roads anymore.  Yes, there will still be children everywhere doing the same things in town as they do out here closer to the bush, but there are so many more cars passing by and so they pay little attention to them. Fortunately I will still be coming out this way to spend time at the children’s center and with friends, so I will still get to see them.  Life in Mozambique for me would be less meaningful without these experiences.

Mango Fruit Flies...they really like to get under your skin...literally. Unfortunately William found out first!

Life in Africa continues to expose us to situations we never imagined experiencing.  This is one we could have been happy without - especially for William. 

When we first arrived, we received counsel from some people (mostly ex-pats who were not born and raised here) regarding mango fly eggs. 

We were told that these flies will lay their eggs on your clothing as it hangs to dry on the line outside.  When you wear the clothes, your body heat enables the eggs to hatch and the worm will embed itself into your skin.  We were told there were two ways to combat this. Option  #1- Dry your clothes in an electric dryer.  The heat will kill the eggs.  The problem with this is that not only are dryers difficult to find to purchase, but they are outrageously expensive.  At this point, we were just not able to afford one.  Option #2- Iron everything you wash.  Ironing is my very least favorite thing in the whole world.  The thought of ironing everything I wash- sheets, towels. shirts, pants, socks, underwear- overwhelms me.  Most people hire an Impregada to do this job.  We again are not able to afford this either. 

So we listened to the other group of people (mainly Mozambicans who have lived here all of their life) who said this was silly. They don’t iron their clothes, and they have never had a worm.  They said you just need to not leave your clothes on the line too long, make sure they are in the hot sun, and try not wearing them immediately after taking them in. I was not convinced, but Don reassured me that the first group of people were paranoid and they we had nothing to fear.  (Just to be sure though, I always brought our underwear inside to dry!!)

Well, we should have listened to the first group of people.  Last week, Will had what we thought was an infected bug bite on his left upper arm.  The owner of our home we rent was here with a man who was giving us a quote on putting up an electric fence around our property.  I showed them Will’s arm.  Both immediately agreed that it was not an infected bug bite, but a worm imbedded in his arm.  I exclaimed, “What?”  They said it was a worm.  I again exclaimed, “What?”  And they repeated their answer.  The man, Pete, said all I needed to do was squeeze it out.  Simple, right?  Well, clearly he saw the shock and disgust on my face and offered to show me how to do it. 

After washing his hands, he began squeezing with his thumb nails on either side of the site.  He did this at least a dozen times as Elizabeth (who has become like a family member to us) held Will tightly as he grimaced in pain.  I must admit, I stood on the other side of the kitchen watching from afar.  Pete was so brave to do this as pus not only seeped out but flew at him.  (Sorry to share this with those of you who are easily sickened by it, but hey- this is Africa!)  After multiple attempts, he squeezed out a small white worm.  Ew, yuck, disgusting!  And then squeezed more to make sure it was all out.  By this time, our brave Will was shaking and cringing, but he held fast and stuck it out.  The area where the worm was had a glaringly red circle about the side of a half-dollar coin and the center was a bloody crater.  Yet we all breathed a sigh of relief that the worm was out and the ordeal was over.  Will’s arm was so sore the rest of the day.  Poor guy could barely even stand to play video games!

P.S.  There is now a brand-spanking new electric dryer in my house. 

Church Dedication Service - 7 Hours Long!

Life here is such a mix of emotions.  Just yesterday I was missing home, family, friends, DC… I was pining for a normal life again and wanting to go home.  And then, God gave me today. He gave me an experience that very few people are able to have, and I found myself thankful for being right where I am.  I was able to participate, or maybe I should say observe, a true Mozambican church service.  During the service, I found myself often snapping to my senses in amazement of what I was privileged to be a part of.  The culture here is so different and it felt so surreal to take this event in.

The kanisoo church built by the DC students on their J-term mission trip had its inaugural service yesterday and we were invited to attend this special event.  We were told that church begins at 9:00 African time.  So we showed up at 9:30. 

We arrived at the site and parked in our usual spot that we used while the team was here.  It was very strange to not have all of the kids with me as I got out of the car.  I was greeted by the same adults and children who were with us as we worked last month, and it was very sad for me to be there without the DC students.  As I walked along the house and down to the church, I recalled the many trips between the car and church carrying water for thirsty laborers, tools to build, cement blocks to be laid, and going to open and close up the van every time someone needed to get something out.  At the end of the path was the small tree that we would gather under to find a bit of relief from the hot sun in the shade.  It seemed bigger before.  I found it hard to now believe that this little tree gave us such comfort.  I then rounded the corner and entered the church building.

We went inside the church to see that we were preceded by two men.  Shortly after us, a woman and her child arrived.  One by one they began to filter in.  After about an hour I turned to Don and commented, “We need to build a bigger church!”  All of the chairs, benches, and grass mats were filled with people.  And there were more still yet to come.  The local Iris churches from Matola-Rio and Chinoquela were attending as well to show their support for this new church.

As the church began to fill, a woman began to sing out and was joined in by the people.  They sung in Shongon, the local tribal language.  No one had a hymnal, no words were posted on an overhead screen, but they sang song after song knowing all of the words by heart.  Their voices were accompanied by a woman playing the drum with her hands.  I just love hearing their voices joining together.  It is hard to describe.  The best way to put it is that is sounds just so African!!  The Matola-Rio group showed up with their own drum and joined in with a little boy playing.  He was amazing and I could not believe how long he played without tiring.  These people sing with their whole heart and soul.  I clapped along as well.  After a while, my hands began to get sore, but I kept going.  Also my mouth began to hurt from smiling so much!  It was so fun to participate and to watch the people.  The men are especially energetic dancers and love to show off.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, participates.  Every mouth is moving, every hand is clapping, and every foot is dancing.  The worship is alive and vibrant.  This continued for about three hours.  Yep, you read that right, three hours!  These people were so hungry for God and so in love with them.  They loved worshipping and loving Him!

The churches were then each invited to come up and perform for the people.  Each group sang and danced.  They danced so hard that the room filled with the dust from their stomping feet.  No one seemed to notice the dirt or the heat.  They were just loving this time of worship.

We then settled into our chairs to hear of the history of the property.  The people had been meeting and praying under a tree on this property for years.  A few years ago they bought the land with the hope of building a church.  That hope is now a reality.  As I heard them recount these past few years, I was humbled by God’s goodness.  You see, at times when things have been hard, I have questioned whether I should have come with Don this past year.  I have wondered whether I should have stayed back for Brent’s senior year and Will’s 8^th grade year. Yet God clearly showed me today that I have been in His will.  If I had not come, these people would not have been worshipping in this church!  I am not implicating that I deserve full credit, or much of any credit at all, so hear me out on this one!  J 

Last March after visiting Mozambique for 2 weeks with Don, I returned to DC with the vision of bringing high school kids over to experience this culture for their J-term experience.  The first time I saw Scott Ryle, the head of maintenance at DC, I thought to myself, “He would be great to come over the lead the kids in a construction project.”  But I was afraid he wouldn’t be interested, so I kept it to myself for the rest of the day.  The next time I saw him, I felt that I was to say it, so I blurted out, “Scott Ryle… I have a J-term mission trip with your name written all over it!”  That afternoon he stopped by my classroom to find out what I had in mind and by the end of the week it was officially proposed and accepted as a J-term trip.  At that time, I envisioned a new playground for the children at the Iris Matola-Rio children’s center.  Yet when I asked the director, Corrie, what she would want the team to build, she said a new church.  This is a true example of how selfless Corrie is.  So that is how it all began.  God reminded me of all of this. and brought me to the realization that if I had not come here, this J-term trip would never have happened, and this church would not be standing in the bush!  During the testimony time at the service today, several people thanked God for this church. 

I join them in praising You and thanking You, Lord, for working in the hearts of so many people - me, Scott Ryle and the other chaperones, the students who came, their families and friends who supported them financially, and so many others.  These people made this place of worship possible.  And they not only built a church, they built relationships.  I looked around at the congregation and saw many people who touched us and were touched by us.  There was “Jim” (name given by Scott Ryle.  He had trouble remembering everyone’s Mozambican name, so he gave them all American names.) , a quiet, gentle Mozambican man who gave his time and expertise to help us build the church.  I recall how patient he was with the students.  He could have laid and mortared those cement blocks in half the time it took the team to do it.  But he patiently taught the students and stood at their side to intercede should they run into trouble. Many of the children with whom the team played soccer with each day were present.  The little girl who during the time of construction was suffering from a severe sinus infection and scabs on her head that was so bad that she was covered in flies was there.  She was well and no longer showed signs of any infection.  Throughout the day I saw here snuggling with her mother, always at her side. Sambo, the owner of the house by the site was there.  He clearly was proud to have this church being dedicated to the Lord.  The women who so kindly cooked our rice and beans each day for us were there.  Mama Helena who had come to pray with us over the site as the foundation was being laid was there.  It was a blessing to see them again and to see their joy in worshipping in this place.

The pastor of the church, Pastor Paulo, shared from the book of Ezekiel with the people.  I looked around at their faces during his preaching.  Every face was alert and attentive to the message.  The people again showed their hunger for more of God as they listened to His Word.  Pastor Helena and Pastor Janito, who will be assisting with the church, also shared and led the people in a prayer of blessing the church.  There was lots of sharing (Mozambicans love speeches!) and lots of prayers and even more singing for the next two hours.  The sign that was designed and painted by members of the J-term team was presented.  Sambo even presented the kids with the soccer ball that was left for them by the team. 

If you are keeping track of the time, by the way, you may have noticed that we now have been in church for five hours!  Yet no one was growing weary and everyone was hungry for more.  At this point, my stomach was beginning to growl, and I wondered if anyone else was having this experience.  It must have been so, for things soon wrapped up and we all went out to have lunch that was prepared by the women.

Everyone sat around in small groups.  I joined Corrie and some of her girls under the tree where we had previously eaten each day while building the church.  A woman came around with a pitcher of water and a basin.  She poured the water over our hands and gave us a towel to dry off with. She began with me, which was an honor.  Then mega-sized pots of rice, fish, and fried potatoes were brought out and dished up.  Each person was brought their meal where they were sitting.  I was humbled, almost to the point of embarrassment, when I realized that Don, Will, and I were again served first.   We were the guests of honor at this event when all we ever wanted was to serve.  We all ate as we were served and then sat and fellowshipped for the longest time.  It is always a challenge to talk with people for us.  We are still learning our Portuguese but we always seem to get by. It helped to have Corrie and Amina (our faithful Portuguese teachers) nearby.  The Mozambican people are very social and love to talk.  Eventually our thirst for a glass of fresh, cold, bottled water overtook our desire to stay.  So we said our goodbyes and headed down the road to home again.  We had such a delightful time and were thrilled when before leaving they asked us how long it would be until we came back again!