Short snippets of moments/thoughts I will always remember fondly during my time in Mozambique…in no particular order.
1. I am now proficient in washing my clothes in a bucket. I was doing it wrong but now I am good to go. A lady from the village stopped as she was passing by to tutor me. I guess I looked like I needed help. Two days later she passed by, patted my head, and gave me a thumbs up…I guess we are friends now.
2. I've become a great shot. 4” in diameter? No problem. I can fill the squatty day or night without making a mess.
3. Confident in my looks. It has been almost a month since I've seen a full face mirror but on the occasion I've pulled out my pocket mirror to survey my face, I am glad to report, it is still there. No need to check continuously throughout the day in reflections or elsewhere…his mug ain't going nowhere.
4. A Hostess with the Mostest! “House Guests” need not be limited to people. Our most recent count includes a handful of chickens, cats, dogs, spiders (one the size of the palm of my hand), scorpions, ants, flies, lizards, a chameleon and two or three frogs in the “shower room”.
5. Buzz Light Year! I saw him. Here. Here in the village a boy came flying thru with a gallon zip lock bag on his head and a stick in his hand. It was so apparent that he was on his way to save a damsel in distress. Play – you can find it in the most simple things if you just open your heart/eyes.
6. “Good Day to you Sister!” No, my beloved brother did not make a surprise appearance (I wish!) but this is how three boys greeted me the other day. Two had come originally but they did not speak English and I am struggling with my Portuguese. They returned five minutes later with a peer who spoke clear English and this is how he greeted me. It caught me off guard and, once recovered, I realized I really liked it. It is just so much warmer than, “Hello strange white girl who won't actually know the answer to our question but we'll give her the benefit of the doubt.” Kidding aside, I took note that the mere greeting made me want to help them.
7. Endless JB. Yes, Justin Beiber, the neighbors have ensured that I go to sleep to your songs routinely. I am even listening to “Baby” now. Somehow, you've become a little bit of home that keeps me going. Well, you Chris Brown and Usher.
8. “Will you hold?” She didn't exactly ask me but when she placed her 6 month – 12 month old brother into my arms but what could I do? I guess yesterday when I taught her a hand slapping game she felt she received a gift so today she returned the favor by fetching and allowing me the joy of holding her newest sibling.
9. “HOLA!” He said as came running, RUNNING! Les, is a disabled boy at House of Blessing and his greetings make you feel like a movie star. I hope in my future I will incorporate running into the greeting of those I love and that I am delighted to see. Makes you feel like a million bucks!
10. Lovely are the ladies who greet me at the water hose each morning. I am often the first of our group awake so I start my day outside reading the Word. There are few places to sit so the watering hole has become my spot. I love how they have taught me to greet them in Portuguese, how they glide away with gallon bucks on their heads and in the arms making what I know would be disastrous for me look so easy. I will miss their smiles as we acknowledge one another later in the day as we move about the village.
11. “Where's Majil!?!” The look on JM and Nicks face as they literally pulled each of us off the African bus will forever be burned into my mind. African buses, words can't even describe the experience. Thanks guys, I owe you one!
12. Lee and Eunish, how I will miss their hugs. Lee, is the missionary behind the House of Blessing and she inspires me to love people better (and to learn to make a fiercely delicious mango cake). Eunish is a little orphan girl who is HIV positive and gives the best, I mean the BEST hugs. In my Christmas blog she is the one to the left of me in the picture and the picture says it all. She is a child of great smiles and joy!
