We've enjoyed the Brazilian friends we have met through the Zambezi Jr. School here in Tete. They came as "set up" crew for the new mining boom. They brought their children into the African unknown with a hope to grow and make a difference in a hard place. They have added a new wrinkle to the Tete landscape and the school's culture. We have carpooled and shared ideas and dreams and frustrations about living in this place.They have let us invade their homes (when our home was no real refuge.) They have walked beside us and prayed beside us. We have been friends! In February, one family relocated to Malawi leaving holes in the classrooms they left. Then we heard that the second family was relocating as well. Just this morning I learned that a departure planned for May was moved up to tomorrow. When they leave for vacation, they won't return to Tete, but will set up house in Maputo. In this life we have chosen we are faced with constant turnover. We meet new fr...
It has been a long time since I posted here in Mozamweek. This was the blog that I created back in 2008 or so to document our lives as missionaries in Mozambique. I never posted weekly as I'd intended. This has been a place to express my thoughts as a missionary, mom and migrant between the USA, Sweden and Mozambique in ministry and life in general. In December of 2017, we said good-bye to our Mozambique-based ministry. Our part of the Bible translation ministry for Nyungwe was basically complete. Our last child was finishing at the international school in Tete. My new Little Zebra Books groups were becoming more and more independent. A chapter was closing. New plans were forming. Furlough was scheduled and we moved on. Setting up house in Sweden was a transition. We were ready for this move. It had been planned as a practical place to restart ministry in new roles. It was necessary to reconnect with family and our church and invest in friendships back "home". All of ...
Mozambique is generally accepted as being one of the poorest countries on Earth. That said, a lot has improved since we moved here in 1996 for the first time. My first confrontation with street begging was in Portugal in 1995. I was torn: Give to whom? How much? How to say "no" and not feel guilty? After living with my uncomfortable wealth and struggling with odd reactions to my giving and refraining, I asked God what to do. To my surprise, He answered. In Portugal, I realized there was a 10 escudo coin that would buy a bowl of soup at any corner cafe. It wasn't extravagant, but it was something substantial enough to help someone who was hungry. This wasn't the most common coin in my pocket. It was almost rare. God "said" through a still, small voice in my heart, "Give those to me and trust me with them." I understood that if I had a 10 escudo coin and someone asked me for money, I could willingly give it and trust God to do the choosing. I did...
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