We arrived in Mozambique yesterday after almost 3 full days of travel. I don’t feel like I am in Africa. Everything is in English. The temperature feels like Wilmington, NC in August. It has not hit me yet. After landing in Johannesburg, we immediately got into the van that would be our “home”. First stop Nelspruit, where we had to buy all our groceries for the next two weeks. Corned beef hash, peanut butter sandwiches with bread made in the bush, cream of wheat, pancakes and eggs. Then off we went for what would be 24 hours of straight travel. Here is a glimpse. Party music to keep the driver awake. Sleeping straight up, on the floor, on each other, ankles swollen beyond recognition, sleeping on the side of road, peeing on the side of the road, seeing a few brief moments of my first Mozambiquen sunrise and then sleeping some more. In the heat of the day, we arrived at the Eagle’s Nest in Vilanculos. Jaco, our contact, was there to welcome us. Stumbling out of the van, we transferred our stuff and went in groups to the house. I hung back and was rewarded by riding on top of the jeep instead of being squished in the back.
We arrived to an oasis. Real showers and toilets, a mini lake for swimming, the solidarity of my tent, and a wonderful host family. After riding on the top of the Jeep to the Eagle’s Nest, the name of Jaco and Maria’s property, we unloaded and set up camp in their front yard. First priority, swimming; second was a shower, thrid, dinner and 4th sleep at about 7 pm. Waking up the next moring, I feellike a new person, a person I actually want to be. I am finding that just being recquires more trust in God. It recquires me to relinquish control. To see if God’s character has been formed in me or to what degree his character has taken hold. My preference is to managae my image. I care more about what people see than what God see’s. Hard Truth. Most days, I am not sure what to do or who to be. I am so consumed with acting instead of trusting God in myself. I have learned that I am an all or nothing type of person. Realizing this has diffused the dramatic impact it has on my life. I t has been good to realize that I can chill out, relax and trust that God can handle it. He is in control. He has a plan. A good plan. Today, I can accept grace as a comfort. Everywhere I look I see his grace because I am comfortable. I hope someday that my character will be formed enough to see God’s grace when I’m not comfortable. When I’m miserable, cold, lonely and my hope is dwindling. I hope that one day I can believe beyond a shadow of a doubt His promises and character to be true no matter what does or does not come my way. Today, so much felt restored. I was rescued out of my despair and faithlessness. Today, I sang danced, loved, served and genuinely lived in the moment.
