Xai Xai

When you think of Africa, what do you typically think of? I think we all tend to picture little grass huts and huge, dry savannas full of lions, elephants, and giraffes. I guess it never really dawned on me that many of the countries in Africa have a coastline - and Mozambique is one of those countries. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel about 4 hours north this weekend to stay with a couple who lives in Xai Xai. Xai Xai right on the coast, and it is beautiful! Their house was right by the beach. When I say right by the beach, I mean when you step out their front door you see the palm trees and the ocean! It was so great! We spent the whole weekend there, visiting, relaxing, and walking on the beach. We even got to go see a small farm that they started to help raise money for the Bible school there. I felt like I was in the garden of Eden! All the trees and the huge garden...it was all so pretty. It was such a great, refreshing weekend.

Last Friday night we had the school potluck. It was fun - parents come and the kids participate different ways. Some sing songs, do skits, play instruments, etc. K-2 sang Everlasting God - they did a good job!

This week is a short week - we have Friday off for holiday and tomorrow we get out of school early! Next week is my last week here. Two months has gone by incredibly fast, yet at the same time it seems like I've been here a long time...if that makes any sense...

I'm excited for this weekend! A friend from school and I are planning to try to go visit Iris Ministries on Friday, I'm going to the market in town on Saturday, and Sunday I am going out to a church with Aimee. It should be fun! I've had some stomach pains the past few days, so I'm hoping those are gone soon and don't get worse...I want to really enjoy the last days here! Well, until next time....

Your Face a Memory

I was sitting in prayer meeting yesterday afternoon telling my stomach to stop growling. It had been 6 hours since I ate my early lunch, which felt like a lot longer to me, and I was excited to go out for dinner. I made it through the next hour or so, and then we headed out. We went to a nice Portuguese place and I got crab curry. It was delicious! Just what my stomach needed to shut itself up. I had ordered the big portion, and there was plenty left over for lunch the next day, which I was already looking forward to as we headed out of the restaurant. I was feeling full and content as I walked across the dirt and rock parking lot towards the car, when suddenly there was a man next to me saying something in Portuguese. I'm sure I had a blank look on my face since I didn't know what he was saying, but when he began gesturing toward my doggy bag I began to get an idea. I gave it to him, and the whole exchange really hit me deep. There I was, thinking how long 6 hours without eating was, yet knowing I would be eating a great meal shortly. I wonder about this man's story. I have never had to ask someone for food before, and I couldn't help thinking what a humbling experience to wait outside of a restaurant, hoping for the left overs of someones meal to fill your stomach for the day. As we drove back home, we passed the lady who lives on the sidewalk across from CAM. It was dark and she was curled up on the ground covered with and clutching her few belongings. Again, what is her story? Everyone has one, and the contrast of all of our stories was really striking me. I am so used to having all that I need, when I need it, yet there are so many people out there who don't know when they're going to get a meal, whose only place to call home is the sidewalk. I am thankful for the life that God has blessed me with, though it is difficult to be comfortable with it when I hear and see stories like this. These are pictures that will never leave my mind, I'm sure, and as we drove home I remembered a song my best friend showed me. It was written by Sara Groves after she returned from a trip to Rwanda. It is a different country, but the same continent and similar stories....so here it is:

"I saw what I saw and I can't forget it

I heard what I heard and I can't go back

I know what I know and I can't deny it

Something on the road, cut me to the soul

Your pain has changed me

your dream inspires

your face a memory

your hope a fire

your courage asks me what I'm afraid of

(what I am made of)

and what I know of love

We've done what we've done and we can't erase it

We are what we are and it's more than enough

We have what we have but it's no substitution
Something on the road, touched my very soul

I say what I say with no hesitation

I have what I have and I'm givin it up

I do what I do with deep conviction

Something on the road, changed my world"

<3

Man Arms

Today I was told by two of my first graders that I have man arms. Or monkey arms. Or maybe even man monkey arms. Why, you ask? Is it because of my flexible, finely toned, incredibly strong arms? Of course not! It is because my arms are "so warm". Let me put it another way. "Only boys have that much hair on their arms! Oh! It's like a monkey!" Ahhh...you can imagine that as I sat there with these two kids petting my arm my confidence just shot through the roof... :)

It has been pointed out to me that I should update my blog more (thanks Janita :) so I apologize for slacking off. I will do my best to recap the past week or so...Last Friday we left school early and Larry, Susan, Aimee, and I headed off for South Africa. I had such a great weekend! We stayed with a South African missionary couple, which was really neat. Their house was awesome - it was up on a mountain overlooking more mountains and a lake...the view was beautiful! And they had the cutest dog, Josie. She had a brother, but he died recently...he was bitten by a mamba. Comforting thing to hear within the first ten minutes of arriving, eh?

Saturday, we drove around to a lot of different places. We went to this one place up on a mountain called God's Window. The view was AMAZING. All throughout the day it just kept hitting me...I'm in Africa. AFRICA. On top of a mountain, gazing at the vast expanse of AFRICA. wow. Anyways, we went to see a few other places as well, including a short hike up to the Bridal Veil - a really pretty waterfall. I found a fun tree on the way up that was full of crazy vines, that of course I had to climb up and sit on...I was a little nervous of the drop back down the hill on the other side of the tree, but I made it...maybe the monkey arms somehow helped. It was really a great day of exploring and experiencing God's beautiful creation. The day only got better when we got back to the house and had pizza braai. I've never had pizza made on a BBQ grill before. They were the biggest pizzas ever! I was in heaven...sitting outside eating monster pieces of pizza while looking out at the beautiful landscape of AFRICA. What a day.

Sunday, we went to church, which was great. Then we went out for lunch with the family we were staying with. After lunch, we went to the mall for a little while, then drove to Marloth Park which is right next to Kruger. We stayed at Marloth overnight - it's really cool, there are animals in the park that just wander around freely...impala, warthog, zebra...fortunately they moved all of the lions across the fence to Kruger. As I walked around I was trying not to think of the possibility that they may have perhaps missed one... We got up and left by 5:15 to get to Kruger when it opened at 6am. We spent the whole day there, which was so fun! We saw tons of animals, and 4 of the Big 5! Elephant, rhino, buffalo, and lion! We were just missing leopard. But it was such a great day. I made friends with a funny little squirrel. He must have been used to people feeding him, because he climbed up my leg and even ate some muffin off of my hat! I semi-freaked out when a funky looking hornbill came flying at my face. He must have gotten a whiff of the muffin. Last time I feed wild animals on an African safari.

We headed back Monday evening. I had to apply for another visa at the border, which was nuts! There was a huge mass of people pushing and shoving and waving their passports and money at the guy working behind the counter. Of course there was only one guy who tended to disappear for extended amounts of time. And it's kind of weird because I applied for, and PAID for, a double entry visa, and the paperwork I got with it said double entry...but they actually sent me a single entry. So I had to buy another one. Oh well, gotta do what ya gotta do. We got back around 8, and I had a killer headache so I just settled in and went to bed. I was up during the night cause my head hurt so bad, and ended up staying home from school Tuesday and sleeping a lot. It is finally mostly gone today...

I would just like to say that I never thought I'd be freezing in Africa. Monday was SO hot - about 100. Today feels like winter. I'm wearing sweats, socks, and a hoodie and I still feel like curling up under all the blankets on my bed. crazy...

This week has gone pretty well. I know I keep saying it, but I can't believe how fast this is going! This is the end of week 5! Only 3 left. It's really an awesome experience and I'm so thankful to have this opportunity. If you feel like it, I would love some prayer about guidance for the future. I have been praying about it a lot lately, wondering what God has next for me, after I graduate. It is hard to explain but recently I have had this building anticipation inside of me, like I know I'm going to find out soon what He wants me to do. I totally am trusting Him - whatever He tells me to do will be great. Sometimes it's just nerve wracking not knowing. But He has been clearly telling me "wait". I have been asking for Him to show me what He wants me to do, and He keeps saying "wait". I am thankful to hear Him, but if you would like to, you could pray that I would have patience and would really be listening for when it is no longer time to wait.

Well, the kids were really funny throughout today, so I thought I'd close with something Gabriel said...We were talking about getting angry when someone does the wrong thing and Patricia said something about your mother not being happy when you do the wrong thing. Gabriel goes, "She'll smack you with a slipper! You have to be careful with your father and mother...BE CAREFUL!" Haha, this of course launched the class into a very animated discussion of the various instruments mothers use to smack you with when you are doing the wrong thing. Needless to say, it was extremely entertaining. What a week. <3

Somber Brides and 'KFV'

"If anyone feels this couple should not be uinted in Holy Matrimony...you can just leave". When I heard this through translation at a Mozambican wedding on Saturday, I couldn't help but be thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a neat cultural experience. There were many aspects of this wedding that were quite a contrast from the Western weddings that I am accustomed to. For instance, the bride is not supposed to smile at all! I sat there for the first ten minutes or so feeling sorry for the poor girl, wondering who was putting her up to this wedding and wishing she would just leave herself if it was such a painful thing! Luckily, it was explained to me that Mozambican weddings are supposed to be somber occasions for the bride because she is leaving her family. I can't imaging having to maintain that look throughout the wedding with my family and friends all smiling and dancing! Another difference was that the bride and groom sit facing the crowd, and even do their vows and everything facing the crowd. I thought that was really neat, because then we all get to see the couple, not just their backs. There was also a fairly long sermon preached before the couple took their vows, which was interesting - the men speaking seemed pretty fired up! We arrived late, so we missed the part of the wedding where they all dance up the aisle to the front of the church...Also, the wedding also goes on for the whole weekend, which is neat. Getting to the wedding was interesting, too. The roads were sand/dirt and only as wide as the car! It was like driving through a maze. Overall, it was a really cool event to be a part of and I was glad for the opportunity.

Sunday, I was blessed to go with a few people to a church a little ways out of the main city. It was really a great experience. This is a picture of me, Aimee, and one of the pastors standing outside of the church. Aimee and I sang a song at the end of the service, which went ok considering I can't sing, haha, but it was fine! It is always exciting to woship with believers from another culture. We sang songs in Shangaan, and they were beautiful. Ireally enjoyed the church and the people.

This week is my fourth week of teaching! It is going SO fast. This week has gone well, although a lot of people at school have been sick. I think there have been at least two people out from my class every day so far. And almost half of those who are in class are coughing and sniffling and falling asleep on their desks. It is so sad. The art teacher was out this week, so I got to do art with the kids, which was a lot of fun. It's also really funny, one of the teachers once mentioned that there was some 'KFV' upstairs for us (Kentucky fried vegetables). Patricia and I laughed about it, and somehow the expression stuck, so every day when it's time to go grab something to eat Patricia or I will go, "Time for KFV!" and then she laughs so hard. It has transferred to other foods as well - today, Patricia had KFB (bread) and I had KFA (an apple). Anyways, the kids are all so cute! They continue to say the funniest things...here are a few examples....

There is only one boy in the class who, from my American point of view, has no accent. But somehow he has taken on an accent when in class! It's hilarious, especially because sometimes he says things in his accent, trying to sound like everyone else, and they will all correct him on how he's saying it! For example: the other day he was saying something was "in his deeesk". Two other kids yell out, "It's not 'deeesk', its DESK!" haha.

Ariel continues to say such funny things. This week, he has taken to answering every instruction or request with "Yes Maaann". And the other day, while everyone was eating quietly, he yells out "I also like beans! They're my FRAVRITE!" And when talking about Mr. Golden he goes, "Draw Mr. Golden with an elephant...(thoughtful pause)...I like elephants...(another thoughtful pause)...I want to EAT elephants!" Haha, I have no idea where these things come from!

Today, I was talking to one little girl who is so little and cute, and very smart. She had a sweatshirt with a dog on it. This is how the conversation went:
me: Alisha! I love your sweatshirt! Do you like dogs?
Alisha: shakes her head no
me: No?! Well, how about cats?
Alisha: (pause)...I like butterflies. And stars and diamonds becasue these are good.

And then of course there is little Monique who is only 4. The other day she blurts out: "I have a BIG dog! It's GIANT! But it's just a little bit small."

Haha, I can only look forward to what the next few weeks will bring! Plenty of laughs, I'm sure. I am looking forward to this weekend, it is a long weekend for a holiday Monday and we are going to South Africa! I am very excited, not only for the break but also to visit some more areas of South Africa. It should be a fun time <3