Likes and Dislikes.

I like that I can frequently see beautiful sunsets over the lake.

I like that I can frequently see Vilanculos’ beach.  It’s a beautiful beach.  The water is already quite warm for swimming though. 

I like that I can see that orange billed and turquoise feathered bird from my window. 

I don’t like the bugs-flies and mosquitoes especially. 

I’m not as fond of frogs as I was when I first arrived here…namely because I see many of them every evening…there are even some living in the toilet.

I don’t like having rats where I live.

I don’t like living without constant electricity…it would be so nice to have a fridge again.  Eating is really different without refrigeration.

I don’t like depending on public transport.  It would be one thing if they had public transport like Europe.  But transport here involves cramming as many people as possible into a vehicle which I don’t like because its uncomfortable and many have terrible body odor as running water is a luxury where I live.

I miss big grocery stores and cheap food prices for a variety of items.

I miss being able to communicate clearly and effectively like I can in the USA. 

I do like that the food I consume here is fresh and natural…ie. I know the mango I ate today came from a neighbor’s tree.

I miss bathing in hot water without taking a bucket shower.

I’m trying to decide if I miss air conditioning or not. Although it is quite hot now, often there is a breeze.  I can get so cold in AC that I don’t miss it so much…we’ll see how I feel about that in a month or two, though.

I’m amazed at how brightly the moon shines here.  It’s incredible.  When there’s a full moon or close to it you don’t really need a light.  In fact moonlight shines in through my curtains…the way sunlight would. 

I don’t like how dark it is without the moon.  I live a few miles from town and so there are no city lights and it is very dark and can be creepy too. 

I don’t like that there are snakes here.  Thank God I’ve only seen three so far and they haven’t been poisonous like the black mamba (deadly) my team encountered here in 2009.

Neutral things- hearing frogs, crickets, etc at night.

Seeing lots of geckos …not crazy about them but they eat bugs so I’ll keep ‘em.

Putting on bug spray at twilight….prevents malaria so I do it. 

Having a tan…I’m quite dark now, actually.

I don’t like how people yell “malungu” (white person) when they see me.

I don’t like that I can’t go into a chapa (public transport) without becoming a topic of conversation.  I don’t like people staring, especially children and I definitely don’t like unwanted male attention I get in chapas and anywhere else I go alone.

I don’t like that I just stubbed my toe.  (It’s getting dark)

On second thought I do miss air conditioning because that would mean I could sleep without sweating.  I could close the windows and wake without mosquito bites in weird places.

I do like that I am learning new languages.

I do like that there is a challenging aspect to just living here.  Somehow I feel that life in America is too easy.

I don’t like the assumption that I’m rich simply because I’m white.  Although-compared to most people here I am rich.  Its just challenging because we (locals and foreigners) tend to look at each other through economic lenses rather than anything else. People will ask for things with an attitude of entitlement…you owe me this…which I think is sadly due to foreign aid that has come in to help….giving men fish rather than teaching them to be fishers.  I am challenged by this..how to give wisely and promote economic independence rather than dependence.  Plus there are so many needs.

I like that ministry teams come through and help …the group that was here last week was such a blessing.

I like the trying different tropical fruits here..like the fruit from a cashew tree, the fruit that resembles little apples- about an inch in diameter, an unusual fruit called marsala that almost has a fluoride taste to it.  Plus fruits I’ve had like mango and papaya which are far more abundant and better tasting here that what you typically find in the States. 

Drama in Pambarra

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

And do not return without watering the earth…

So shall my word be which goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me empty,

Without accomplishing what I desire.”

Isaiah 55:10-11.

This was my verse of the day for Thursday, 10 November 2011…and how I needed it that day. 

I read it before heading to Pambarra, where I typically meet with some church members and share the word of God with them. 

  Two Thursdays ago when I met with them it was great...many came and more than that the Spirit confirmed this is where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing.  The week after that no one came until it was already time for me to go and then it took me more than 2 hours to get home. It was just a frustrating day. 

Not knowing what would happen, the verse gave me the encouragement that I needed to go on.  I was reminded that sharing the Word of God is never in vain because it does accomplish the Lord’s purposes even if I am clueless as to the specifics of his purposes.  I arrived a little early and no one was there…about 30 minutes later the lady who lives there, Mama Laurentina shows and then leaves to talk to her neighbor, Mama Carlota who also comes to the bible study.  A few minutes later Antonio, Carlota’s husband shows up and is talking with Laurentina…Then he tells me to come to his place and we’ll simply have the bible study there.  Once I arrive there he informs me that Laurentina’s husband no longer wants to have the bible study at his house or even for Laurentina to be involved.  Antonio told me it’s more of Felizarda’s nonsense and he’s not afraid of her and from now on the bible study can be at his house. 

Over the past few months the number of people coming to church from Pambarra has dwindled from about 30 to about 6 people- largely due rumors, manipulation, threats, and confusion that people (who still come) attribute to Mama Felizarda. She’s even given death threats to three people who attend church.  She used to attend church and then she got sick.  We prayed for her healing and after about a month without her really showing any signs of recovery Maria (Pastor’s wife) suggested that there’s a spiritual problem.  Not much later we found out that she’s visiting the sangoma (witch doctor) and from there everything just seemed to go downhill.  This was in September, and since that time there has been quite a bit of drama in Pambarra.

Its been disappointing that many are no longer coming to church.  However, I see God using this as a sifting process, distinguishing people who are committed and not afraid  from the rest who used to come.

Please pray for this situation.  Its been one of the biggest challenges in local church since I have been here.