Oh The World Race!
Since being on the race there is one thing I can expect of every month—that it’ll be completely different from the month before! Just because I’m on the same continent means nothing! And this month compared to last month is probably the biggest change I’ve experienced thus far on the race! Here’s a little intro to my life in Mozambique and how completely different it is from last month in South Africa!
Housing:
Last month I lived on a farm, slept in a tent, had to share 2 bathrooms with 28 other people and daily had to deal with creepy spiders and gross snails.
This month I live in a rented vacation home (our contact was able to get this amazing deal because the guy is his friend!) with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a VIEW OF THE OCEAN! Creepy spiders have been replaced with HUGE spiders (creepy is not a strong enough word for how terrible they are and they are fast! ) and snails have been replaced by lizards. (Oh and a tick totally inserted his unwelcome self onto my foot; I almost cried in front of my contact but I kept it together). (OH! And people keep dropping the phrase, “Oh yeah and there’s cobras” like it’s no big deal. I haven’t seen one yet, but know if I do I won’t be able to stop the tears.) And there’s just the 7 of us which all of a sudden seems like a really small group.
Ministry
Last month I worked a few hours each day in the afternoon doing field day extravaganza with adorable little kids. I was driven to and from ministry every day and I had a lot of free time.
This month I wake up around 7am every morning to eat breakfast and do devotions before heading out the door by 8:15am to walk 15 minutes in the sweltering heat to our ministry site where we work from 8:30-12:30 scraping and painting. Then we either walk back to our place for lunch or eat there. We then resume ministry at 1:30 and work until 5pm. We walk back home exhausted and unbelievably sweaty and to be completely honest, super gross. We then shower, make dinner, have team time, alone time and bed between 8:30 and 10:30pm. (10:30 is only if there’s something special going on, like movie night—I think we’ve done that twice.) My entire body literally aches each night.
Our walk to work each day
Church:
Last month we went to a mega church with fancy lighting, full band with PowerPoint lyrics that lasted exactly one hour and had a large tourist population so we were just more new faces.
This month we’ve been to two churches. One is made of reeds and the other cement, church starts between 8:30 and 9:30am because it typically lasts 2 to 3 hours and it’s unbearable in the heat if it starts any later. Both churches have the most incredible music I’ve ever heard. One church’s music is just with their voices; the other church has voices and a lone keyboard. Here they love visitors so it’s completely expected that the visitors will do something in service. In one church we sang Amazing Grace and in the other one Cory preached. In both we have to introduce ourselves and answer these important questions: name, age, education and most importantly; are we married or single.
Day Off
Last month our days off were spent in the city enjoying the beach, shopping, food and social time.
This month our days off are spent resting! I have yet to actually go to the beach other than walking through it on my way home (yep it’s that close!) because by the time Saturday comes I just want to sit or sleep all day! I’ve read A LOT this month!
So that’s basically my month so far. It’s interesting to say the least!
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So my internet this month is sporadic at best so I’m just putting it out there that I probably won’t be able to keep in touch again this month. I’m super sorry and I miss you all tons but know that I love you all and am praying for you all! Love M
