WORLD RACE MONTH 7
Where:
Chibuto, Mozambique
When:
June 28th – July 23nd
Who:
The Thunderbirds (Abbie, Jackie, Jillian, Lindsey, Lauren, and Britney)
AND…
The Fire Followers (Hayley, Kayla, Nicole, Alyssa Q., Monique, KP, Hery, Carissa)
Ministry:
This month, both teams are working with a ministry called Africa on Fire (Ministério Africa Em Fogo).
Hosts:
Pastor Felito Utuie
Currency:
Mozambican Metical
Language:
Portuguese and Xangana
Dress Code:
This month, modesty is a must. Around campus we wear longer shorts or yoga pants and shirts with sleeves. It’s pretty laid back. When we leave campus for any reason or go to church, we have to wear skirts. The locals here wear these beautiful and colorful pieces of fabric, called capulanas. So obviously we all had to buy them so we could fit right in to the Mozambique culture! (Fun fact: capulanas are $3 USD)
Food:
Carbs on carbs on carbs. This month we are eating real authentic Mozambique meals. Their food staples include bread, rice, noodles, peanuts, and fish. It is very basic, but it’s all we really need. Most of us are just craving some good ole’ protein! One day, I even bought a live chicken at the market, killed it, prepared it, and cooked it all for the sake of meat! #survivor
Sample Menu
Breakfast:
– a bread roll
Lunch:
– rice
– lettuce
Dinner:
– rice
– peanut and coconut greens
– fish
Lodging:
Tenting again! We are living on a 74 acre property outside of the town of Chibuto. The property is in the very beginning stages of becoming a huge compound that includes a church, a school, a clinic, an orphanage, a farm, and much more. We were able to set up our tents inside some of the grass wall dorms and some chose to set up right outside.
Bathroom:
Hallelujah we have toilets! They don’t have running water, but at least we have toilets! In order to flush them, you have to bring in a bucket of water from the hose outside (it’s known as the walk of shame). Our bathrooms also have “showers”. Which is actually just a pan in the ground where we bucket shower.
Laundry:
Hand washing! We fill a basin with cold water, throw some soap in, and scrub til our hands bleed!
Ministry:
• Manual Labor: Chopping down trees, raking leaves, weeding, planting seeds, hoeing fields, cleaning buildings, and tons of administrative work.
• Village Evangelism: Several times a week we head out into the local villages to talk and pray for people. This has been an awesome experience to see miracles happen such as a woman being able to walk again and people burning voodoo jewelry and choosing to follow Jesus.
• Church: EVERYDAY!!! Here in Mozambique they hold a church service every night and on Sunday’s it’s in the morning. The service includes tons of singing, prayer, and a sermon in xangana (the local language).
Adventures:
• Chibuto Market: We took several trips into the local market to shop for capulanas and snacks. It was a crazy market with people trying to sell things everywhere. It felt like a giant scavenger hunt every time we went.
• Nelsprit & Kruger National Park: At the end of month we had saved up enough adventure days in order to be able to leave our ministry a couple days early and head back to South Africa. While there we met up with a couple of the other teams and stayed in a hostel together. Some of us chose to head to the Kruger to go on a safari while the rest stayed behind to chill by the pool at the hostel. It was a much needed break before our journey to Asia.
Thank you sooo much for your continued prayers and support. It means the world to me.
If you want to reach out to me, please do! Even just to say hi! Facebook is the way to go and I’ll reply as the the wifi allows.
Love you all!
Cheers, Abigail Sheckells
