Mozambique Trip Journal
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Greetings Family & Friends from Dondo!
It has been several days since we last communicated with you, so we thought it best to send out another update to let you know how and what we’re doing. Our weekend was full of course, but so much happened, most of you will just have to wait until we return to find out better details. I will say that a visitor here should never walk to church without a local escort – it will take you longer without one! And you will miss the local living at its most honest.
It is Tuesday morning, and though we planned to have breakfast at 7 am, we didn’t finish eating until 8:15. And then we sat around waiting to start the day. We have learned that punctuality is not important here – nothing ever starts when it is supposed to and plans never happen the way you think.
Yesterday was a prime example of such. The team was spread out all over Dondo & Beira as we painted and primed Tanneken’s new house (Allen, Mitch, Gail & Ernie), taught art at the school for the deaf (Joanna & Jamesie), drove to Beira for supplies and the much needed rental car (Tim, Joan, Del & Tanneken). At 2pm, Jeannie, Joanna & Jamesie delivered lunch to the house crew, along with much desired water. (We have consumed at least 5-6 Liters of water a day! Though we’ve released most of it through our sweat.) Tim & Del finally arrived at the worksite at 4 pm after an afternoon of waiting and waiting in Beira at various places as they shopped for parts and picked up the rental car. We didn’t see Joan & Tanneken again until 730 last night.
(Just an aside here - Tim decided not to get the rental car last week when we arrived at the airport. So until yesterday evening, anytime we have gone anywhere in a vehicle it has been in Tanneken’s overly used, beaten up truck. The craziest part of it is how many people we can fit in the back! Keep in mind, our team here is 10 people along with Claudia and often a local Mozambican and some children are with us. We definitely aren’t worried about personal or intimate space on this trip.)
So now, the team is spread out again. Most of the men, along with Gail, are at the worksite. We hope to accomplish a lot today at the house. There is finally electricity so they will be able to use the power tools we brought along. Tim has a fairly extensive list of tasks he would like to see finished by the time we leave Friday. Be praying for us, as things NEVER go as planned. Some of the ladies are at the market, picking up items for lunch and dinner. This afternoon most of us will be together at the house working to finish those tasks.
Our health has been good. No one has been sick, though we have experienced minor headaches from the heat and low water availability since we’ve drinking so much of it. Our eating habits have changed slightly – not as much junk food definitely, and not nearly as hungry. But we are enjoying the local produce and loving the fresh bread from the market.
Well, it is time to close this message. We have lunch to prepare for the hard workers, and another art lesson plan to finish. We hope to send another message soon. Our love to all of you. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers!
It is Tuesday morning, and though we planned to have breakfast at 7 am, we didn’t finish eating until 8:15. And then we sat around waiting to start the day. We have learned that punctuality is not important here – nothing ever starts when it is supposed to and plans never happen the way you think.
Yesterday was a prime example of such. The team was spread out all over Dondo & Beira as we painted and primed Tanneken’s new house (Allen, Mitch, Gail & Ernie), taught art at the school for the deaf (Joanna & Jamesie), drove to Beira for supplies and the much needed rental car (Tim, Joan, Del & Tanneken). At 2pm, Jeannie, Joanna & Jamesie delivered lunch to the house crew, along with much desired water. (We have consumed at least 5-6 Liters of water a day! Though we’ve released most of it through our sweat.) Tim & Del finally arrived at the worksite at 4 pm after an afternoon of waiting and waiting in Beira at various places as they shopped for parts and picked up the rental car. We didn’t see Joan & Tanneken again until 730 last night.
(Just an aside here - Tim decided not to get the rental car last week when we arrived at the airport. So until yesterday evening, anytime we have gone anywhere in a vehicle it has been in Tanneken’s overly used, beaten up truck. The craziest part of it is how many people we can fit in the back! Keep in mind, our team here is 10 people along with Claudia and often a local Mozambican and some children are with us. We definitely aren’t worried about personal or intimate space on this trip.)
So now, the team is spread out again. Most of the men, along with Gail, are at the worksite. We hope to accomplish a lot today at the house. There is finally electricity so they will be able to use the power tools we brought along. Tim has a fairly extensive list of tasks he would like to see finished by the time we leave Friday. Be praying for us, as things NEVER go as planned. Some of the ladies are at the market, picking up items for lunch and dinner. This afternoon most of us will be together at the house working to finish those tasks.
Our health has been good. No one has been sick, though we have experienced minor headaches from the heat and low water availability since we’ve drinking so much of it. Our eating habits have changed slightly – not as much junk food definitely, and not nearly as hungry. But we are enjoying the local produce and loving the fresh bread from the market.
Well, it is time to close this message. We have lunch to prepare for the hard workers, and another art lesson plan to finish. We hope to send another message soon. Our love to all of you. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers!
KimiStar, 8:47 AM
