The Trip To Beira

How could I begin to tell you of the beautiful and seemingly endless the land was that we crossed going to Beira. Mile after mile of unbelievable roads! Chuck holes soo deep some I'm sure you could take a bath in! Village after village, some clean with inviting paths leading here and there to different dwellings appeared busy and happy, others not so well kept with a lot of people hanging out watching the road traffic like it was the Super Bowl Games. It was pretty interesting. In the wide fertile valleys we saw many herds of Watusi cattle. Men and woman walking along the highway with hoes and things to take to market on their heads, some with pretty unreal burdens and they were moving right along. Charcoal, firewood, grass mats, water, laundry etc. There were single and double donkeys and watusi drawn carts. We saw a lot of artisans selling their wares along the road. Baskets, clay pots (wanted a closer look!) and fish carvings out of the local wood. Also Kanisu which is long lengths of a stick like reeds I believe bound together in bundles to form strong round lengths of building material. There were a lot of building projects of all kinds going on From the simplest mud huts to elaborate cement dwellings. Then of course all these interesting things were mixed up in with the miles literally of mangoes, coconuts, pineapples cashew, and all the flowering varieties of trees and plants I could not begin to tell you the names of. After a rainy muddy lot of kms we came to more chuck hole pavement and it was so funny. Boys of all sizes some way too small to be on the big highway alone would throw dirt out on the road pretending to fill the holes and beg for money for their help as you go speeding by (60- 120 km) and yes some of the trucks and buses full of people go that fast on the holes and consequently you see them broken down all along the way. Saw some big trucks with an axle dragging in the road or a wheel totally broken off. Bad wrecks are very common, and we saw plenty! Can't wait to send pictures of huge log trucks overloaded tied on with ropes! From what we saw there could have been a lot more casualties except for heavenly intervention. People walk and bike all along this road day and night too. We stayed over in Maxixe (masheesh) the toilet barely flushed with added sink water no shower and lots of mosquito’s waiting for us. Maxixe is on a bay across from Inhambane. They ferry people over continually. It was neat to see sailboats in the sunset. We were glad we brought our mosquito nets. We have a problem in this country. We are way too tall for the beds. The nets make this space even smaller and if you're touching you get bit. Poor dear sweet Brundee!!! After all the travel all cramped up he could hardly stretch out and rest. But we did have some delicious pineapples for supper and then off to sleep. It might have been possible IF the whole town didn't party under our window all the night long. Some of the music was so reminiscent of the Ra Ra Voodoo bands of Haiti I spent a lot of the night praying. Next morning we were happy to find all of our things safe on the truck and pushed on to Beira. We passed through more bad roads then actually had some good highway and made good time for awhile. Because it was New Years Eve every village or town we passed through was killing a watusi or a pig. In one place I saw two tiny girls daring each other to touch it. Some of the heads still dangled in the tree where they were butchered next to the skinned carcasses being readied for barbeque. It was quite a village affair. We saw so many fruit markets! All the colors of the fruits and the brightly dressed sellers made it a very pleasing sight. In some places all they had for sale was mangos. I laughed thinking how hard it would be to choose between sellers 20 baskets of identical mangoes from whom and which mangos to buy? Guess you could buy one from each! Bruce bought me a beautiful bunch of ladyfinger bananas and one at the end of the bunch was yellow… So I picked it off and peeled it and then heard an African man say “no it’s green” in perfect English, but I had already bitten and much to my chagrin he was right! It would be 3 more days before we enjoyed the bananas. We all had a good laugh over that one. We ran out of fuel and had to unload tools and fill up with the tanks we brought just in case by then it was almost sundown. Where we stopped I couldn't describe. African huts dotting a rolling landscape of sections of shoulder high green corn with smooth beaten paths between and palms trees at the honey time just before sunset. Finally we arrived in Beira in the dark and the celebrations had already begun. Our friend Miguel found us and took us to a safe quiet hotel right near the beach. And for the first time even at home in Matola we had a quiet sleep. A few fireworks but then quiet. Everything was closed on New Years. So no food no parts! The boys got a lot done at the new church servicing the vehicles. Changing the huge Samil tires then going over the trucks and making the plan and parts list. The Maranatha church here is so nice. The hotel kitchen let us it to make our dinner (lentils and rice) we were thankful. Got up early Sabbath am to go to the Portuguese SDA church just around the corner. My they love to sing. We recognized many of the tunes so sang along. Especially the children liked to listen to our strange words and I would catch them staring and smile and they always smiled back. They had a men’s group, oh my! Could they sing! All most as good as the old accapella. The lesson study in English thankfully was all about the fruits of the spirit and how we can do nothing without Christ. About not just knowing the right things but doing them through Christ. The importance of being connected to the vine. All very thought provoking and in the light of Jesus coming soon and being fit for the master to use to reach the lost. Then church. We happened to be sitting by a door by a room with windows but they closed it while the pastors prayed before coming to the front. We sang and sang and at one point I was so hot I thought I surely was going to pass out. Finally they opened the door… I have never before sat and done nothing and had sweat running down my back. Then they had a dedication of new church workers for the year with thankyous to the ones from last year and all in the front of the church with the Union President giving the ceremony. It was all very important. This church has 700+ members. Then they had the Dorcas woman’s group give a special music first what a blessing to have Jesus in my life. This they sang as they gathered from where they sat all over the church. It was so beautiful. Next a song in their native tongue equally as nice but even harder to understand. The sermon was by their new pastor and 20 minutes long about being like Paul in that all that mattered to him was the gospel of Jesus Christ. From Acts 2 end of chapter. After church we cooled down. Ate raw lentils (story all in itself) and decided at the advice of Miguel to enjoy a walk along the beach. We decided to drive then park and walk. As we drove we felt that we maybe shouldn't go walking. We kept looking for a good place and then got stuck in some soft sand. Bruce and Brundee hurried and put it in 4wd (hubs) as 5 drunk guys saw the opportunity and came running to "help". Bruce finally got it into Low and out we drove with 3 still on the back. While we were on the sand he tried to get them off. No luck! So carefully we drove back towards safer ground and lo a police station complete with policeman bearing AK47. We pull in front of him. The thugs climb down and come to our window bewildered with hands out. Bruce smiled said thanks and we drove away. Quite an experience. I don't care what anyone says about how safe it is here, Beware take care. Everyday we sense God looking out for us in special ways and in the evening our hearts are filled with praise to be safe together… We came back to the hotel and took a 1 block stroll to the beach (forget the lighthouse) and then around the park in our round about. There was a huge tree. Brundee got pictures must be ancient. We were out of water half of Sabbath. But Sunday came at last. Stores don't open till 10:00 on Sunday. Thirsty can't wait. What a let down. The shoprite here is dirty hot and so crowded. But there is water and peanut butter and jam and bread?! Scary! Got a hot plate so we can cook the oats and beans and rice I brought along. So we're in business again. Boys got a lot done today but will be glad when the parts store opens tomorrow. At work there is a huge rubber tree. Makes the best shade ever, can't wait to show you. My Grandma Ella had a rubber plant! (her pride and joy) Every Friday I got dust and wax the leaves then wax the mop and wax the living room floor. I wish she could see this tree. She wouldn't believe it. Well, I’ve rattled on and on and never so much as mentioned what I really am writing for. Thats you back at home. Carrie and Brandtley and my onliest Teagan, my forever and ever Eden and Kailah that gettin big girl grandma loves so much. And Brandon and Mel oh I think of all the fun we had together in Hawaii glad we have those pictures with us. And Brett and Tenae and Valyncie how I wish your mom and dad could come surprise me like they use to at Leoni and I could see for myself all the cool things you can do now. I'm so pleased with you! And Mom so glad you're praying for us and praying with me for our families. We so appreciate the prayers of our friends and neighbors too! We pray for all of you everyday and think of you more often than that. They really needed the guys help here and by God's grace Maranatha built over 352 churches by November last year. We saw many out in the bush along the drive to Beira. At this point in Mozambique we are close to Zambia. And we wish we could go on to Zambezie province and see the Munguluni Mission. Check out the map too as to how close to Malawai we are. Too bad we have to go back to Maputo. On our way home we will stop and see the South African friends the Paul’s in Chomoio and do a little exploring and spend the night then head home from there. Its Brundees B-day tomorrow and I can't do a thing about it. (Sighs........)