I'm Still Here

Hey guys, remember me? Yeah, I’m that guy down in Mozambique who never writes to anyone and never updates his blog… Ringing any bells? Sorry about all that, the world turns, you know? I feel bad, but I’m doing what I can…

So… first things first, I received a nice packet of letters from Mrs. Magee’s first grade class at Ed White Elementary School in El Lago, Texas. To be perfectly honest, the package arrived several weeks ago, but this is the first chance I’ve had to post since then… Apparently the class is learning about geography and the internet, and since my cousin Shannon is in the class, they were checking out my blogsite here. I think the end of the year is approaching, and so I hope they might still get a chance to see this. All the letters were WONDERFUL! The pictures were really good and I’ve hung them all up on the wall in my bedroom so it’s one of the first things I see each morning (right after my puppy licks my face to wake me up). Thank you so much for taking the time to write – I truly enjoyed reading them and they help me remember everyone back home whenever I see them ;-)

And what have I been up to for the past couple months? Well, my teaching schedule has really picked up and I’m spending a fair bit of time out in the bush. I go out for 2-6 days at a time to teach people about the basics of the Bible and the Christian faith. These first photos are from one place, named Mecanhelas, where I’ve been spending a lot of time lately. I’ve arranged to teach there once a month for four days at a time. The first photo is the place where I stay when I’m there – I just stay with a family and then we meet back behind their house. The kids here rarely see cars and so it’s exciting for them to play around them. I told them to see how many they could fit into the back and they just started cramming in. You can’t see in the photo, but the whole back end of the truck is full of kids as well… The second photo here is from a little jam session we had one night. They’ve got all these homemade instruments and they sound horrible, but they think it’s wonderful that they make any sound at all. And somehow they make it work… like I’ve said before; it’s in the blood…

And this is Pastor Haria, the guy who I do the majority of my work with in the actual town of Cuamba. He’s the leader of a church here, and if I’m in town on a Sunday (maybe only once a month), I’m often preaching at his church. He’s a VERY driven individual, and he’s got a great heart. He and his family have really opened up to me and helped me to feel welcome here. This next photo is actually from quite a while ago – I think last December… I’ve been waiting for a chance to post it so I can display my school colors :-) GO BLUE!! It cracks me up when I’m just walking down the street and I pass someone with a University of Michigan T-shirt or hat. This little guy was visiting at a friend’s house when I saw him, and when I told him that he had my jacket on he got a little freaked out at first (nobody wants to be accused of stealing from the white guy). But then I told him that the symbol stands for the university I went to and he was just sooooo proud of it. It was really funny.

What’s this, you ask? Well, if you haven’t figured it out yet, I believe in a careful balance between work and play. “All work and no play makes Homer something something…” It’s a classic line. I took another trip to Malawi a couple weeks ago, and on my way back to Moz I decided to stop for a night at my first game park. Well, this park happens to be known for its ridiculously high hippo and crocodile populations. And so naturally, what do they offer? Why, canoe rental, of course. And I jumped on the opportunity (sorry mom – maybe you shouldn’t read this). And so I went with another guy through this marshy area where we could hear hippos eating and calling from all directions. We eventually came out into a lagoon where we were within a couple meters of a whole family of hippos (photo number two). To be honest, the only thing going through my head at the moment was that statistic that hippos kill more people each year than any other animal… and people just like me – who happen upon them unawares and surprise them into a rage. But no worries, I’m still here and I’ve got some great photos. Man, those things have some big teeth though – one of them gave us a roar when we interrupted his meal. I think hippos are my favorite African animals.

This photo is from about a month ago now – it was Easter Sunday. A few other missionaries and I decided to get up and climb a nearby mountain before dawn so we could catch the sunrise from the top. I’d heard that there used to be a catholic prayer chapel on top, and we obviously found it. It was really something to see the ruins of this beautiful old chapel on the top of a deserted mountain in the first light of the day. A perfect way to start Easter morning – a great time for reflection on all we have to be thankful for. And this next photo is one that I took of Cuamba itself… not really sure how well you can see it. You can maybe see the cell phone tower right in the middle of town. It amazes me that people starve in the streets at certain times of the year and yet it’s a priority to construct a cell phone tower. Gotta love technology.

And, of course, an update wouldn’t be complete without a bit of info about Tali. She’s growing up really fast, and she eats more than I do. She really cracks me up sometimes. Like when she follows me around the house – I’ll be sitting there reading or studying or something and she’s just watching me. Then if I go into another room she picks right up and follows behind. Most everyone around town knows her and shouts out to her when I take her for a walk. We’re the only white guy/black dog combo in town ;-) Most people are afraid of her because she looks vicious – it’s a good thing they don’t know what a sissy she is. The other day she ran away from a cat that hissed at her. Some guard dog…

And that’s about all she wrote for now. Again, sorry that I’m seriously slack in posting updates and in replying to emails but it comes with living in a third-world country.

I’ve got a few things that I’d like to ask for prayer on:

- That my teaching trips will continue to go well. May the people stay eager and may I become competent.
- May my relationship with Pastor Haria here in Cuamba grow as we work more together. That we might complement one another.
- That the Lord would keep me open to opportunities daily to speak and teach about him – not just in pre-planned situations.

Thanks so much for your support through prayer. And thanks, as always, for checking in-