New Years in Mozambique. It was hands down the most insane, great, awesome, intense, rewarding New Years of my life.
On Christmas day, some of our team ended up helping with a feeding program that a local church runs. The Pastor at that church, Isaac Williams and his wife Carol, are great people! They came and picked the team up, and really treated them well while they helped with the feeding. When the team got back to our ministry site, they were so excited about the day and what all they got to be a part of. They loved it! When they got back, Isaac got out of the vehicle and stayed for a little bit so we could chat with him. As he got ready to leave, he mentioned that the church was doing a HUGE New Years Eve celebration, and they invited us to come and be a part of it! So, we immediately started planning to make it happen.
As planned, he showed up about 8pm and took 17 of the 20 of us to their place. We dropped our stuff off at their house, and then headed to the church. When we got there it was already slammed packed with church folks! There was well over 200 people there! So we get out and he asked us if we would be interested in helping prepare the food for the church. So we accept and start fixin’ the food to serve to the members. While that was going on, there was a dance party going on inside and the worship band was singing and playing. Most of our group went inside to hang out with the african people, but a couple of them stayed outside to help prepare food. After a good while, we decided to watch a movie in Portuguese (because that is their native language in Mozambique). I ended up going outside with Sara and we set and held 2 african kids that eventually fell asleep in our arms, and we just chatted for a bit.
Eventually it was time for supper and after eating we headed inside for the worship service and to pray in the New Year. At midnight everybody cheered, hollered, and celebrated! Then everybody headed outside for an incredible fireworks display! IT WAS AWESOME! Apparently in Mozambique, EVERYBODY shoots off fireworks at midnight on New Years. So for hundreds of miles, all you could see was fireworks! One of the coolest moments on the WR so far! My only beef with it is, in the USA we try to implement the 18+ age limit on fireworks… that doesn’t happen here! LOL… EVERYBODY had fireworks shooting them off! I kinda felt like I had gone to war and was dropped directly in the middle of the action, LOL…
Ended up, there were no fatalities, praise the Lord! Eventually it was time to head back to Isaac and Carols house for the night. The girls stayed in a dorm, and us guys stayed inside the house in a spare bedroom. IT WAS SO NICE! We got to watch ESPN, eat “Special K”, sleep in beds, and run the AIR CONDITIONING! It was such a blessing and such a nice break! I spent most of the evening sitting down chatting with Isaac and getting to know his story and hear his heart for Africa. It was great. I told him a lot about the World Race and I think he might even try to get a World Race team in the future. That was cool to hear! After a bit we called it a night and headed to bed.
The next morning we started the year off right! We ate chocolate chip pancakes and they were delicious! We chilled for most the day and then at lunch, they decided to fix us some top sirloin, potato salad, and chicken salad. BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED! The Lord has really let us all eat good this month! Later that evening it was time to say goodbye and head back to our ministry. Isaac drove us back and the whole way the group laughed and aggravated him and I about how much we resembled each other, laugh alike, and could pass for relatives or brothers who were separated at birth, haha.
So, thats what my New Years looked like! It was awesome! God continues to bless us so much and blow our expectations out of the water. When we though we would have a very difficult month, God had other plans and opened up the flood gate of His love and provision for us once again! I am excited to see what this year has in store…
I can say one thing… that was the coolest and most blessed New Years I have ever had! Papa is so good to me. I couldn’t ask for more. So, if you ever get the chance… celebrate the New Year in Mozambique! I bet you won’t soon forget it!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
Love y’all.
