Dec. 8th

Today, Ernest ran us to Maputo to get money exchanged. The travelers cheques my bank convinced me to get are useless – keep this in mind if any of you plan to travel here. I did have some cash thankfully. Then we ran to a grocery store, was just like HEB except we’re in Africa. We got personal supplies and I bought everything I need to make soap except Coconut Oil which is the one the Mozambique Embassy told me would be the easiest to get. Another day we will travel to a market to purchase it.

We got a flat tire in all of our running around. We stopped right beside the city limit sign for Marracuene. Others came to help, which lessened the stress. So far it seems that Ernesto takes everything in stride. He simply takes each new task and works through it without frustration or complaint.

Then we arrived at the Real Dream Community Center. We did not know where we were going until we were there. They were singing and praising God as we got out of the van. Their voices and dances were amazing, Lorraine just joined right in. She did not know any of the words but she began to dance with the women as everyone sang. They danced together for many minutes and then lifted Lorraine high into the air above them. Lorraine just soaked it in. I stood there in shock.

We had fellowship with them for a short time and then we all loaded up to go to Maputo to their church service. They all loaded in the bed of a pickup and we loaded into the van. Two vehicles, two drivers so Richard stepped up and took charge. He did a great job considering the steering wheel is on the right and traffic moves on the left side of the road here. At the church service we three Americans were exhausted and kept nodding off. The service was exciting enough it was just that none of us had recovered from flying yet. Well, three of us were bad but only two of us got caught ! There are ushers at this church keeping watch over the sheep and if you nod off for too long you will be nudged by someone close to you and then given a dirty look from the usher in charge. Yep, I was first to find this out and I was humiliated ! I thought to myself

“I’m the only white person in the building and I fell asleep !”

Richard soon followed and got nabbed but little Lorraine kept her dozing under wraps. I wanted to apologize to the usher but I did not get a chance. As we all piled up to head home it started to rain. Rain does not bother anyone in Mozambique – they still pile into the truck bed and ride home. Even though Richard was tired in church he woke up and got us back to the hotel safe and sound