…thoughts on the arrival of Spring as those of you from the United States are entering in to Autumn … It is getting warmer. In our house yesterday afternoon it was 96 degrees Fahrenheit. That was with door wide open, windows that are just screens, a decent breeze blowing and our fans on … oh yes, high humidity too! As draining as the factor of this is to daily life I still would say that I prefer this to being cold!

After a very long day, after two previous days of feeling sick, exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed I was waiting to figure out who I could get a ride home with as it had gotten late due to me re-painting Viaze’s game. Maria came and sat next to me and snuggled in. I asked her about the new little girl who arrived today and if she knew her name, which house she is in and etc. Then I said to her “now you are no longer the newest child here” and she bashfully smiled and snuggled in a little tighter. Without words it spoke to me about her comfort and sense of security with us. She has only been here around 3 months. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a part of the team here that is able to lovingly “adopt” these children who are in desperate need!

After waiting an hour I was able to get the ride home. I climbed in the back of a truck and took in the scenery. The baobab trees and our African gazebos were almost silhouetted against the dusk sky. I was thoroughly “spent” but with gratitude marveled at the life I am living.

Sun. August 24^th 2008

On my walk to church a young girl named Manzinia who has been my companion at church the last couple of weeks saw me coming from far away, maybe 30 yards. She cried out “Mama Laura!” and ran full speed to me. I bent over to embrace her and she leaped into my arms with such force we collided and I got my nose smashed! It was painful but heartwarming and comical as well.

This morning had the thought of how amazing it is to be able to hear approx 80 Mozambican men in the Bible School singing their praises to the Lord. (Their dorms and worship area are very close to our house and here there is no glass in the windows.) It would be so foreign to hear anything like that back in the US but here it is one of my M-F daily experiences at beginning at 6:30 am.

Mon. August 11th 2008

…Another memorable moment was at the very end of staff church when we were pray out the visitors who would be leaving this week. One of the Mozambican “mamas” was up there and she had a little boy of about 6 or 7 who I assume was her son. As she was leaning over praying she had him directly in front and underneath her with his hands in hers showing him how to “lay hands on” and pray for the people. It was a beautiful sight!

Communication is especially difficult these days. My computer just up and died on me on the 30^th of June. We even had a computer expert here at the time and he could not revive it. It is very difficult to be here without access to the outside world. At the time I was making arrangements to have some artwork printed and delivered here for the Solemn Assembly. A visitor coming from the States would be able to bring it. In addition I was 2 weeks away from having to leave Mozambique to renew my Visa and still had all the arrangements to make. The embassies have become much “tighter” with the Visa’s they issue. The last time I was in the U.S. I applied for the same Visa as I had on my previous trip, a 6 month Visa which was the longest available. It was after I arrived here I discovered it was different. It was a 6 month Visa, but I had to leave the country to have it renewed every 90 days. This adds a huge expense. It cost me pennies under $1,050.00 for the trip without any food expense or extras. The flight alone was almost $800.00 and then there were busses across the border, Visa Fee, border taxes and accommodations. At the time there is only one airline that flies to the Capital city, Maputo, which is right on the border. I had to overnight there and in the morning take a bus across the border into South Africa. In Nelspruit there is a home that is a “ministry” to missionaries. They have beds available for only $5.00 a night and help with trips to the Mozambican Consulate and etc. The married couple, Kent and Shay, who run it are from Florida and they are fantastic. It is such a respite. For the first time in 3 months I had a warm shower and glass on the windows … both good things because it was cold! We are much closer to the equator here in Pemba. I’d like to say that my trip was successful as well as enjoyable. Since I had to go to all the trouble to leave the country and etc I was applying for a different Visa … a Residence Visa. With this I would be able to get a Dierre, allowing  me to be in the country for up to a year. After some challenges and needing to return to the consulate a second day I was told yes they issued me a Residence Visa. When I came back with this Visa I was informed what they gave me was not what they said and so I would not be able to apply for the Dierre and needed Immigration to revert to my original Visa to avoid having to leave the country again after 30 days instead of 90!!! Thankfully, that did happen. My lessons learned are now benefiting those currently needing to renew their Visas. They are trying other options rather than to incur the expense of travel to SA for a visa needing to be renewed every 30 days. This morning a family of 5 left to drive to Malawi and next week 2 female missionaries will be traveling part of the way by truck with the Mozambican Bible school students who will be returning to their villages after graduation and then taking the train the final way. Life here is certainly an adventure. J