This is a typical day for me in Mozambique:
I usually get up around 7:00 because that is what time my roommate starts stirring. I live in the big house at Iris Ministries, which means I have a kitchen, a little sitting area, 4 bedrooms (only 2 of which are occupied unless someone gets sick), and 4 bathrooms.
Every morning we have bread for breakfast which arrives outside my front door, so I have the whole squad in my kitchen no later than 7:45 every morning. By the end of the month our plain bread turned into peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or really anything else just so it wouldn't be so bland.
At 8:30 (usually earlier which was shocking for us since this is Africa and most of the time everything runs late) our truck would pull into the gates of Iris ready to take us to Kedesh. My team plus another team of 7 and maybe a couple of squad leaders would crowd in the back of the truck and hold on for dear life for a 25 minute drive over roads that have pot holes beyond any imagination.
Riding in the back of the truck.
When we arrive at Kedesh we go upstairs in the tree house (two-story building with trees surrounding it) to put our backpacks down. Then we start on whatever project John (the person in charge of Kedesh) has for us that day. It could be anything from helping build Heather's house from the inside out, transplanting trees, digging trenches, or cleaning out the pond to help make it safer for the boys. Whatever it is we usually end up very messy and jump in the pond before it's over.
Jumping in the Pond after digging trenches.
Around 12:30 we would eat a very delicious meal prepared by one of the boys and Joyce. (Rice and beans day was always my favorite!) After lunch we would either sit around and talk to John or play games with the kids (my personal favorite), while John pelted us with water balloons.
Playing Jenga with the boys.
The truck would sometimes arrive at 5:00 to take us back to Iris for the evening. Dinner at Iris is at 5:30 and if you are too late, you miss dinner, so there were several nights we had to cook as a team. Dinner consisted of rice and beans or rice and greens or just to spice things up rice and fish (unless we cooked).
From 6:30 to 7:30 we have team time. This time is basically a time that we, as a team, can process what has happened during the day and give constructive or even positive criticism (a.k.a. feedback) to one another in a safe environment.
At 7:30 we have worship and session. Worship is generally just singing and praying. Session has consisted mainly of us being vulnerable with each other. We had the opportunity to tell our story about who we are and how we got here, and maybe even the chains that have been holding us back. This is one way to get to know each other on a deeper level and build trust amongst the squad. We have also been discussing at session how to break free from those chains and move into redemption and freedom. It has been a huge blessing to see some of my squad-mates release the things that have been holding them back from a closer relationship with God.
Usually session ends somewhere around 9:30 and I go back to the house to get ready for bed. I will usually take a "shower" before bed, which means bucketing in my own water and taking a bucket shower.
My bed was the bottom bunk.
Unfortunately, I am a night owl and so is Kristen (a squad leader living in the same house with me) but my roommates are not. So there have been many nights Kristen and I stayed up until 12:30 talking about our day while the rest of the house sleeps.
My days in Mozambique have been awesome and a huge blessing. As I am about to leave the country I can't help but ponder what God has in store for me in Swaziland.
