MozamWeek

We are down to the final countdown! I have about 5 more nights in Mozambique. I have lots to do. My satellite TV  subscription is suspended... and I'm not renewing it. I no longer own a piece of Africa, but Africa holds a piece of me for always. I'm thankful for friends who are praying for our family as we prepare to leave. I'm thankful for friends who have helped and more who have offered to help. I'm thankful for finalizing a couple of big last-minute financial issues. I'm thankful for kids who take all of this in stride (at least on the surface) and look forward to moving on while holding good memories of Africa, Mozambique, Tete, Home. For now, I need to disconnect from all this communication. For a week or so I will experience all the new things that my travels will bring. When I'm settled somewhere else, I will touch base. You can always email me... I'll get the message eventually.

My English speaking friends here all talk about ticking things off their lists. I usually check them off in America, but I find myself ticking off things from the long list today! Paperwork from immigration - check Paperwork #1 from City council - check Taxes completed and signed and photocopied - check Taxes mailed off in a registered envelope to USA - check Lodging for Lilongwe confirmed - check Lodging for Nairobi confirmed - check Lodging for Stockholm confirmed - check What remains... is... a lot! BUT, I have tomorrow... and the weekend.... and the next week! I hope I REALLY get TOTALLY ticked off NEXT week!

I've been waiting for June all year long! This is the month of potential "winter" weather. Tonight, my toes are chilly for the first time since I was in Cape Town back in December! Only a person raised in the NORTH and living in an extremely tropical area (at low altitude) can really understand our craving for cool weather. We glow with glee when the thermometer drops below 80F/28C... Tonight it is even lower than that after a sprinkling of rain. I had a cup of tea in the middle of the day! But this year June brings another joy... we are going 'HOME'! Our three-and-a-half year term is coming to an end. We have booked our tickets and are packing and finishing and selling and giving away. Everything in the house is categorized: give away, throw away, sell, ship, save, maybe. The "maybe" category is hacked away by necessity. The "keep in Tete storage" is an easy default. "Give away" becomes easier as the days go on... the burden of &q