We have safely made the trip back to Mozambique. Our luggage all came through and although we had the notice that TSA had opened and inspected two of our bags, they had locked everything back, restrapped the suitcases, and everything came through just fine. We did have two suitcases damaged beyond repair - so that makes three on this trip that were totaled. We think we can canabilize one here and repair the other, so that would be only two! It doesn't seem to matter - name brands or the ulta-cheap brands; the trip is hard on luggage. At Johannesburg, we watched from the plane as they removed a bunch of bags looking for others and then put them back on the plane - the guys coming out from luggage compartment were all frisked by a supervisor so maybe that is a part of the program for stopping the problems at Jo-burg. But then we watched them literally throw the bags they had removed from the ground into this open-bed truck, up over a rail, one after the other - crash bam bam bam - hope they were well packed!
It is hot as blazes here, which is normal for this time of year but things are very very dry. What was really special for us was that our colleges where we live and the friends who picked us up threw a little party of sorts as they knew we wouldn't have food when we arrived, so it was really nice to get together with them all - we felt so welcomed and we are so thankful for these dear people God has placed in our lives. Aleta made Mango pie - at first I thought it was peach and apple - but it was mango and it was absolutely amazing. It is the tail end of one type of Mango tree season and another is just beginning. It was the highlight of the meal for me! I want to have that again sometime!
The next morning I worked on getting our Internet going again. We pay for about 3 months at a time. I had all my receipts and talked to them on the phone but it was clear it might take more so I went to the office in town. Well, I thought they tracked our account by our name, but no, it is by our email address (with them - we don't use this email address). When we went through the various receipts, they had typed in different email addresses on each invoice, so we had five different emails linked to OMS International and they thought four were in arrears and one was current, so they cut our service. I had to explain how it was one modem, one account and we finally got it worked out and they deleted all the ghost accounts and we're back to one with the correct email (and now I know how they track it!). So, we're good to go!
Our car air conditioner died while we were gone (leaked out) so driving around in the car that first day was like being in a oven set at 350 degrees, but after freezing in the States, I just enjoyed sweating again! We have an appointment to get the air conditioning fixed next week - it is a security issue for us - it is not good to drive around with your windows down. But, the car we need to borrow (rent) while the other one is in the shop - the battery is dead and it wouldn't push start, so that will be the next challenge! I just missed the stores today to get a new battery - things close early on Saturdays here!
We did get to visit with our dear friend Juka and his family and we have a business meeting with him later this week. We brought a puzzle from the States for his daughter Milca and it was fun to work together to put it together. However, I felt like my brain wouldn't engage in Portuguese real well after the month in the States. It was doing better by the end of the day but Ann was on-top of the language and between the two of us, we managed - takes both of us! We have much to cover: the start of the training center in Mocuba; a planned training conference; expense reports; year-end reports; status of our church planter/trainers; our planned trip - lots of good stuff!
Our seminary director has 30 students ready to begin classes in February - Praise the Lord for this! We need to meet as a mission this week to work out some details relative to the start of class, including funding issues prior to officially accepting the students. It will be a busy week, especially for our colleagues are up to their eyeballs in the start of CAM School for the new semester.
We will attend church at T-3 tomorrow, looking forward to seeing the newlyweds who were married while we were in the States and our other dear friends at this church.
Blessings!
Dave & Ann
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night..." Ps 92:1,2
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