On Travel

Tonight's story and update is about our car adventures. But first, an update; A close friend of ours from the States is with us for three weeks and we are thrilled to have her here. It is just a joy to wake up in the morning, head to the kitchen, and there is Karlene. Karlene heads up the Men For Missions International (MFMI) prayer initiative for Mozambique and we have been very close to her for many years. Our plan this week was to get the car back from the repair shop in the country of South Africa, and then head north to show Karlene this work she has been reading about, praying about, and hearing about.

She arrived on Friday minus one bag and we've been busy making frequent trips to the airport. Normally, the bags come in a day or two later but so far the bag seems to be still traveling the world. On Sunday, we took her to our church at Khongolote and then we went up to our church at Intaka so she could see the well. We also took some other new missionaries from another mission that live near us to help show them around a bit. It was their first foray through the dirt-track roads of Mozambique and they were a bit shocked according to Ann, who rode in their car with them in-case we were separated. I guess that means we've acclimated a bit because I remember well wondering if I'd ever learn all these dirt-track roads and know we drive on them as much as we drive on paved roads.

On Monday, we headed early to South Africa to pick up our tired car which was ready. (Photo is of me under the car during brighter days!) The Toyota dealer had fixed the damage caused by my close encounter with a tree-stump, did some needed suspension work, replaced some seals, lubricated the four-wheel drive, and told me the starter was fine (wrong - that is one of the main reasons I took it in.). After we crossed the border into South Africa, we called ahead to a further town (Nelspruit) where we maintain a post office drop that is more secure than the one in Mozambique. We learned that our International Drivers licenses were there, so we decided to head on up to get the mail after stopping at Toyota to pay the bill (don't want to carry the money with us). So, I verified that the work was done and then fussed a little about the starter, that they said tested out ok. I told them I knew it wasn't ok and to please check it again and the crazy wiring set up for the battery I'd had installed in Mozambique in January.

We went on and got the mail and returned, being stopped by the police a couple of times to show the license, receive a 'safety check', and sent on our ways. I think they know that most cars from Mozambique are held together with bailing wire, duct tape, and nylon wire ties.

We picked up the car and I started it, and the starter was still sluggish and it was not starting well, but starting. I decided to continue on anyway and we stopped for diesel fuel a little ways from the border crossing. When I tried to start the car, it wouldn't. The gas station guys pushed me off and when the car started, there was an explosion under the hood with smoke flying. I left the car running and pulled the hood to find the positive terminal of the battery had blown out and the top of the battery was melted. Not good. I prayed. The car doesn't need the battery to run, only to start, so I elected to drive the hour back to Toyota. Ann is following with another car we had rented from our School, and we limp back to Toyota. The electric system is acting all spastic. The radio antenna goes up (it hasn't worked for two years) and the radio comes on. Wow. The windshield wipers start working on their own and the flashers and signal lights are doing a little strobe dance and we head down the road and 1/2 the posted speed limit. The bumps seem to aggravate the electrical problems. Pretty soon, I smell smoke, and then I see smoke coming out of the front of the hood. I think that maybe the cable is shorting against the hood, so I pop the hood to the safety catch to give a little clearance and more air - bad idea. The smoke increases so I pull over to flames coming out of the front. I pop the hood and the liner on the hood is on-fire and 1/2 burned away, I think from arcing from the battery. I run to Ann's car for a fire extinguisher and some drinking water, and soon the fire is out.

I call Toyota as we're about 15 km out but the car is still running. They offer to send a tow-truck but I imagine waiting for hours and decide to go for it. So, I put our windshield shade over the cable to keep it on the battery yet not able to touch the hood, and take off again for Toyota. When I arrive, they are waiting and I got my 2 minutes of fame as they were lined up waiting at the door, ushering me straight in to a bay through a gauntlet of service people. That was pretty cool.

The long and the short of it is the battery I bought in Mozambique was put in incorrectly and it was too high of a battery. They used metal pieces to extend the reach of the connections to the terminals, which caused a lot of resistance and a voltage drop. I think when we hit bumps (every few seconds!), the hood would flex and actually sometimes touch the battery terminal. Not good and I praise God that we drove to Nampula and back with this set-up without difficulty.

So, they fixed it and ordered a new hood liner and we made it back to Mozambique quite late without our 'four hour tour' stretching into a marathon day. However, I'm relieved to have everything working now and back to normal. The problem is fixed but I'm kicking myself because I had wanted to re-wire the battery myself and I didn't like it, but finding parts like that here is such a challenge I didn't jump on it. And so I paid.....these experience-based learning opportunities sure can be expensive!

So, in the end, I am thankful that we were able to fix it before traveling. I'm thankful the fire was controllable and didn't cause major damage. I'm thankful that we can leave in the morning with confidence that we've done the best we can to prepare. I'm also incredibly thankful that all of this didn't happen at the border, that it didn't happen on the road in northern Mozambique, and praise God for his mercy and grace on the little things in life.

We head out in the morning and will be out of touch for about a week. We are really looking forward to some special church services this Saturday and Sunday in the Mocuba area and are thrilled at the opportunity to show our friend Karelene what God is doing in Mozambique.

We got pulled over two more times by the police in Mozambique at the normal places. They flagged me through because my car is often taken to be a UN or embassy rig, but then pull over Ann and Karlene. I would stop and wait and the police would actually yell at me to go on - and I know enough Portuguese to yell back that my wife is in the car back there and I'm not moving. They all laughed at that and one of the policemen told me she was a beautiful wife - true. You have to learn to roll with these police stops - they are random and we went a long time without the harassment, but with the little Toyota we rented from the school, we get stopped all the time - show your license, show your car papers, talk a little, sometimes get harassed a little, but generally it's just an inconvenience and goes with the territory.

At the Border, as I stood in line, I watched several guys break line in front of me with the car import form, greased with a 100 metacais bill (about five bucks) that goes in the officials pocket, and they move right on through. I wonder what they are getting away with for five bucks. It's how things seem to work here.

See you on the other side of the trip. We're loaded with Bibles, training materials, medical supplies, and prayer. Our two micro-economic enterprise workers are going with us on their way to Gurue, and we are looking forward to our time together.

Pray for us as we travel.

Blessings,

Dave & Ann

"Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live an possess the land the Lord your God is giving you." Deuteronomy 16: 19-20