Just Like Home!

Ruth & I were woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of a thunderstorm and all the windows frantically flapping, we went back to sleep, no sign of Roland & his mates for a few days now. We were woken up again by the sound of the Mullah and the sound of rain - I thought i was back home! We had a great breakfast of rolls and cheese slices and were picked up - on time! to go to the conference.

Us girls did not know where we would be going today, in case we were going to Dondo i collected some of my little shower gel bottles for a gift for the older girls as we had not time to shop, i had given one some wet wipes the day before and she was delighted, us ladies like perfumed things. I had one small bottle that was empty so i filled it with some of my CKin2U (A Christmas present i was given as i cannot normally afford such luxuries, i had brought it so i would feel special while away if needed as to me it is a real treat for high-days and holidays) I filled up the small bottle and was reminded of the woman who anointed Jesus and the value of the fragrance, but more importantly the value of the act, to my friends at Dondo it would not matter if it was CKin2U or Wilko value shower gel (my usual!), it was the act involved and it made this story very real to me. Left is Douche, the girl i spoke about yesterday, i sat her in a beautiful spot and she is beautiful, however the reality of where she lives, and most people here is shown in the other picture, a view from Casa Reom balcony where we are staying.

Martin & Dave went to the conference in the morning and Ruth, Anne and I went to Inhamizua (Dondo tomorrow). We played team games and made parachute men, they all followed our demonstration - Blue Peter style - and it was a huge success, much better than just handing stuff out we all did it together!

We were told we would be picked up for 12 to go to the conference for lunch - we were picked up at 12.10!! amazing!! hope they don't get too English with their timing. Anne gave her talk on Aids which was received with great enthusiasm and she was great, she was really pushed out of her frying pan as she had not given a talk in public before, (God's great at chucking us in at the deep end but he never lets us drown, even in those rivers of difficulty not only do we float often we discover we swim real well!) she has also been texting, which she had never done before so we smile that God had to send her to Africa to learn how to text!!

Time has gone so quick, it does not seem possible we arrived a week ago, well some of us anyway!, time is drawing to an end and i will be sad to leave, I have learnt a lot from the people here, i wish everyone could experience this - whether they want to or not! - it has certainly had another huge impact on the way i view things.

We have just had tea, fried chicken and chips! - how things have changed since my last visit when i had fish heads and nearly every meal was satza (a sort of maize gloop!) just so i didn't forget we had some at Dondo yesterday, well some of us did!! it has been so much easier, particularly with the freedom of going out to the cafe on the corner, souvenier market and just for a wander around, last time we spent most of our time in the base which was fustrating at times but we were only the second team to visit and it was new to all of us, I think it helps having Pastor Martin with us.

There were two little street children outside when we went to the cafe, on my last visit we were told not to give money as they all run to you, but on this occassion i felt compelled to, later Anne & I were having a Fanta in the cafe on the corner, the same 2 boys came in and bought a muffin each, such joy on their faces and then they beamed thro the window waving at us. As we left they came and held my hand, i thought they were asking for more money but they just wanted to know my name, one was Rudolph and i forget the other, but when they asked me i told them "I am Madrugada!" they smiled and inside i beamed, I like the name it just feels right!

I don't know how you value riches personally, but to me I am reminded, as i discovered on my last visit, i may have more in other ways but (in my opinion) the people of Mozamique are far richer than u or I.

I know i am going home soon and am sad, but i hope God brings me back before another 7 years pass!