Hoyo-Hoyo is how you say “welcome” in Shangana the native tribal language here. So Hoyo-Hoyo to my blog if you have never been here before!
What a whirlwind of a week it has been. It started with a 15 hour plane ride, 3 hour bus ride, (seeing a giraffe!!!!!!! in the wild), 2 hours of sleep at a hostel, another 2 hours in a bus, exiting South Africa, entering Mozambique, another hour or so in the bus, stopping for lunch, then 4 more hours in a van to reach our ministry site for the month.
Life in Chokwe, Mozambique has been a lot of fun! Sybil is our host of the month and she is so great. She runs a school here for orphaned and vulnerable children. She believes education is an important part of life and does all she can to make it accessible to those who have lost their parents. She is such a strong, positive influence in her community and especially in the lives of the kids and youth; it has been amazing to see.
Currently the kids are on holiday and so our task for the next few weeks is to repaint and decorate the classrooms in time for them to start school on the 1st of February. Many days covered in paint splatter lie ahead of us but we are excited to minister to Sybil in this way. We are also exciting to get to participate in the many youth and kids clubs during the week.
Here are a few observations I have quite enjoyed in my six days in Chokwe:
> Mozambicans are wonderfully musical. I have yet to see an instrument being played which is perfectly fine because their voices and harmonies are beyond incredible to hear.
> There are two boys that live here with Sybil and her daughters, one is her son Tom and the other is his best friend Jerry. So yes, I am staying with Tom and Jerry and they are hilarious.
> The youth here are so passionate for the word and diligent in their seeking of God. Friday we joined them in fasting all-day and praying all night for their community, country, and coming school year.
> It’s a great thing that I love bread especially when we eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is so fresh and good!
> When you get people together to pray for rain, it rains. It’s been completely dry during their rainy season. We joined people from all the churches in the area to pray for rain at a service on Saturday morning. And guess what, it rained that day and at least a little each day since. (God is so good!)
> Mangoes here at de-lic-ious! (ask my family, I don’t eat mango in the states) I can’t get enough of them here.
> Really getting to know 5 new people (my teammates) in a new place where everything is uncomfortable is hard. But when you are willing to enter into vulnerability, amazing community becomes the result of it.
Another blog is coming soon with what the Lord has been speaking to me this month so be on the look out. Also, I am still need of some more financial support. If you are interested in getting me fully funded, just click the “support me” button at the top of this page. Thank you!
