After a long and tiring month in Mozambique we were ready to go to debrief. Little did we know that its just as hard to leave the country as it was to enter.
We woke up at 4 am to start packing and loading the truck and then go to the ferry. We were supposed to have a minibus but it didn't show. Then around 6 Jaco comes with an open air truck. So all 19 of us pile into the truck and head out to the ferry.
We get to the stop at 8am to find out that the ferry doesn't come until 10. So we take naps in the truck and try to stay out of the sun. At 11 we find out that the ferry isn't coming at all. So we drive down to a bridge that we can walk the 3.5 kilometers to the other side of the river. We rent bike taxis to carry our big packs so all we have to walk with is our day packs.
The walk was long but beautiful. Sometimes some of the cement spaces were missing in the bridge other times there were metal sheets covering those spaces. All the time there are bicycles and motor bikes driving past us.
Eventually we get to the other side. There we're stopped by the police asked for our passports and then told that we will have to go to the station so they can check our bags. A friend that we met along the way convinced the police that we don't have to have our bags checked and that he would find us transport to the border.
A little while later Conrad shows up beer in hand and tells us that he has a truck we can use and that we can stay the night at his place if we need to. At first we were a little wary. But after talking with him some more we decided to take him up on his offer.
Some very small kids take our giant 50 pound bags and carry them to the truck, on their heads.
The truck we end up in was used to transport crocodiles so they had to cut through the wire so we could get in. We pile in along with our luggage and head out.
We make a short pit stop at Conrad's boss's house. There we meet Peter. Peter has one arm but a very kind spirit. He blessed us with cold sodas and kept apologising that he couldn't do more for us. After thanking him for his kindness we get stopped by the police again and are escorted to the station.
We end up staying there for awhile. Luckily Peter comes to the rescue again and helps us fight for our passports back and the clearance needed to go on.
During this 3 or more hours we waited for our passports to come back to us, we were able to minister to Peter. We prayed with him and for him. Told him our testimonies and how much God loves him. He kept telling us that God had put him in Mozambique just so he could help us that day. I believe its true and that God put us there for him.
Eventually we get the clearance and drive towards the boarder with one hour till closing.
We get a phone call that our contact is at the boarder and is fighting to keep it open.
God answers our prayers and the borders stay open just for us. The guards even walk our passports to the chief's house so they can be stamped!
I believe that everyone who helped us that day was sent by God. Without. Them we wouldn't be at debrief now!
