Another week has been put in the books. This past week went fairly well. I did however get to experience some semi construction that they do here in Mozambique. This past Saturday, after we got the Land Rover back, Dionisio wanted to use it to pull their ox cart and fill the cart with dirt. One of the walls inside the building that we have our church, as well as where the grinding mill is, the wall had become very lose and had begun to break away and there was a big chunk that missing. Since most of the buildings out in the bush are either made of cob or brick, mainly cob, they use the dirt around them to build, or re patch something. So Dio and I and a couple other guys, including Manwell, the man that had the legal problems and God saved his life last week, was also amongst the guys who worked. I’ve seen and been around Manwell before and rightly fully so the day after he was released, he was fully of joy and happiness. We hooked up the ox cart and drove onto a dirt path off the road to go to a spot that had some already dug up dirt. Instead of using a tractor and getting the cart full in a couple scoops, we used shovels, because there just isn’t a tractor around. We all had our fair share of loading and would swap places with a couple shovels. We even had a couple local guys come and help us with the work. It’s their personality type, I’ve seen so many people just come up and help, whether it’s loading several kg of flour onto a truck or rolling a truck for someone to help them pop the clutch to get it started. I actually experienced that later example. So Dio and I would trade spots driving to and from the church and grinding mill. It was after we delivered our first load where we had car troubles. Apparently one of the relays had gone bad and the starter wouldn’t turn over in the Land Rover. So we unhooked the ox cart and Dio was in the driver’s seat and two Mozambicans and one American began to push the Rover and then get it to a running start and Dio would try and pop the clutch and it just wouldn’t turn. We attempted this a few times, and fairly early on another national came over to help us. It must’ve looked funny to some with 3 Mozambicans and an American trying to get this car going. Dio got frustrated and turned the keys to me. I got in and they got it rolling and I got it started. Guess it needed the special touch haha. After we got it started we didn’t turn it off. We got all our dirt hauled and then we came back to the farm and got a couple of huge drums to fill up with water. Reason being was Manwell was so convicted that he wanted then to get baptized. So we got water and filled the baptismal for him for the next day. The next day, being Sunday, church was good and Jacob gave the sermon. After the sermon was the time where people could be baptized. The baptismal isn’t the easiest to fill, nor is it filled that often. So we had 9 people come and be baptized. Dio explained what it was that we were doing before it took place, so people could understand what it was. People weren’t just going to go, they went because they wanted to, which was awesome. After the baptisms, I gave the communion and offering meditation. The church wants the newly baptized to have communion the day in which they have been baptized. I’ve opened up way more since I’ve been here and when it comes to either preaching or teaching. For those of you that have heard me preach I can get energetic, but when I’m in a new setting it’s hard for me to do so. They love parables and they love energy in a message. It makes it fun for them, especially when a white person is getting animated. I gave the parable of the lost son, and when it came to the part of where the father runs to him in the story, I ran to one of the children with my arms open wide. The child was so scared, but everyone else loved it and thought it was funny, then when the child realized that the boogie man wasn’t trying to snag them, they thought it was funny too. I enjoyed giving it and look forward to whatever I might preach or teach on next. On Monday, Jacob and I went to town to drop off the Rover in exchange for the Surf, since the Rover had the relay problem. People had heard that we were going to town and the Rover has a couple of rows in the back that are long ways and is great for hauling people. So we heard it was going to be a couple, but anyone who knows the African culture, once one hears, everyone hears. We had around 8 people go with us stuffed inside with their stuff, whether it was a chicken or some food to be sold or shoots of bamboo on top. We got all the people in town and dropped them off to do their thing. Jacob and I then went to the mechanic and left one car and picked up the other. We then went and ran some errands to get some things for the week. We knew we were going to be coming back with some of the people, but didn’t know how many. We met them in a market outside of Chimoio and there was one a couple with all their struggle gear. We loaded up and headed back home. Couple of days went past and it’s now Wednesday. Jacob, Jaynie and myself then load into the surf and head to town to get some groceries and other supplies before our big get together on the 4th. We also knew that the Rover was done, so once we got done with our shopping and had lunch, we then went to pick it up. One thing about a few of the restaurants that I’ve been too here, they really aren’t bad at all. Some are even fairly nice in appearance and the food and service are great. However you shouldn’t have a time conflict, because on African time food shows up when it does. People realize here that food has to indeed cook. Unlike some people in America who think that in fast food that food is immediately ready. They can’t wait when something has to be cooked for a couple minutes and be in front of them seconds after. It’s amazing how patience is tested here. Like I’ve said before, generally I’m pretty laid back, but without some structure, it does cause me to be in a funk about things sometimes, but I got used to it pretty quick. We then get to the shop and Jacob gets the Rover and I drove the surf back to the farm. It was the first trip from town that I had, only because the opportunity had provided itself. Once we got off the tar road and onto the dirt road back to the farm, it literally felt like I was on a trail that I try and find on purpose at home to have some off road fun. Here in Africa you don’t have to go far to find that. Here your standard American fun off road trail is the typical African road here. Well the 4th is upon us and the three of us are in a bustle to get things ready. We decorated and put food together to either be cooked, or cooled, etc…People started showing up around 11:15 and most were American families. We did have a few South Africans who were married to Americans and a couple from Brazil. It was tons of fun and the cookout went successful. Many laughs and much love to go around that’s for sure. People started to leave around 4:30ish only because they don’t like traveling in the dark that much. Understandably so because not every bike or car has a light or reflector. After we got everything cleaned up, we sat down with some homemade apple pie that Jaynie had made the night before and we watched Air Force One, upon my recommendation. I’ve learned so much already and I’m past the halfway point. I continue to learn so much every day, either about myself, the life of a missionary, the hardships of Mozambique, or how well off we are in America. I’ve changed so much already, not to mention I’ve had the best diet ever. I eat so well, but I’ve lost 20 lbs since I’ve been here. Here the food doesn’t have all the junk in it like what we have in America. I wish you all the best and until my next blog. Thanks for all the prayers and support.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 07:45:48 +0000
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