While in Mozambique, we got to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s together as 3 teams along with some very special people. On Christmas Eve, all 3 teams and Angie’s family gathered together for an hour or so long service of singing songs, praises and communion. For Christmas, Angie’s home was decorated with paper snowflakes, socks hung on the hallway, a 3 ft. tall Christmas tree in the living room with presents placed underneath, and cut out paper “hug” mistletoes- that was actually hollies and berries but we forgive who ever cut them out. For Christmas dinner, Angie and her family made coleslaw, fries, roasted chicken and maybe stuffing…probably not I don’t quite remember. Anyways, after dinner we played extreme “dirty Santa” where everyone sat in a circle, picked out a number and in order of the number the person either takes a gift from the table or take someone else’s present before them, in which a present can be taken 3 times. It got pretty intense but it was fun. I ended up with a beautiful kapalana, a long piece of fabric that Mozambican women use to wear as a skirt. Afterwards, Angie’s family and the World Race family exchanged words of thanks to one another and prayers to Angie’s family. Continuing the fun, World Race Santa, aka Dusty, came and gave each of us our presents from our secret Santa (each team did Secret Santa, where a person is given another team member’s name and gives them a present). In the end, the night finished with all of us getting our pictures with Santa “Dusty” and recreation of the scene in “A Christmas Carol” where Ralphie and his brother sees Santa in the mall.
For New Year’s, we spent it with Isaac and Carol, their two of the most adorable, sweet baby girls Esther-1 and Elena-2 and Jack, their Boer Bull dog. Meeting these two wonderful people from Louisiana was one of the highlights of our month if not just me. We first met them when a group of us went to help prepare food at his church, Healing Place Church, and worship. Afterwards, he invited us to his home to have lunch with his family and spend a couple of hours enjoying great fellowship. There, we were treated with wonderful hospitality, amazing food, and here’s the kicker a T.V. showing Sports Center and working internet!!! It was…it was…completely out of words. We decided to plan another gathering but on New Year’s, so we came back to their home after we spent time at his church’s New Year’s Eve celebration which was phenomenal!! This time we stayed the night and not only were we treated to another great feast, fellowship and fireworks but where we stayed at his guest house there was AC!!!! I was in happy land that night. The next day for New Year’s lunch we had steak!!! Meeting and spending time with Isaac and Carol was exactly the break we needed from World Race life so far and I was and still am truly blessed to have met them. Most importantly I’m thankful for His generous provision.
Isaac and Carol in the middle
