Traveling

Friday we received the call that our car was repaired and ready for pickup. We had to have the 4-wheel drive rebuilt and the windshield replaced and reset because a water leak (rusted out) was causing electrical problems (like the lights and flashers coming on in the middle of the night!) and yes, it cost about a gazillion rand - whatever number is in your head - go higher!

Around noon we headed to South Africa, honestly dreading the border crossing because it was Friday afternoon. However, we were pleasantly surprised (thank you Lord!) and made the crossing without delay and picked up the car, dropping off the one we were renting from our Christian School as it was due service. We drove back home, crossing the border again without delay and were home shortly after dark. With our car done, we have a short window of opportunity to drive north to check on our church multiplication work in Zambezia, resolve some problems with a land purchase for a seminary extension site, and work on some other issues that have arisen. So, Monday morning we will leave very early for the two-day drive, stopping to visit some new missionaries we know living in Beira.

Today was a day of preparations as we needed to assemble our training materials, purchase some Bibles for distribution, some mosquito nets, some medical supplies, and a few other things we needed for the trip (like a new tire repair kit - we will need new tires after this trip!). Also, word is out we're going, and friends and family of our Juka and Elina are bringing things to take to them so the car will be full. We're looking forward to the change of pace. Our field schedule becomes extremely full for the next several months so we knew if we didn't go now, it could easily be October, November, or even December before we could make it.

The photos are at the Bible League where we purchased the Bibles and discipleship materials, part in Portuguese, part in the tribal languages of the area where we are going. The Bible League operates out of the garage of a house in the center of Maputo and the lady, Rose, is always a pleasure to deal with. She speaks good English but today we did the entire transaction in Portuguese. I had forgotten that she spoke English and as we were leaving, she said "See you next time Dave and Ann!" in English - and we laughed. She gives us a decent discount because we have purchased so many bibles and materials from her during our time here. In the remote areas we will be visiting, there are few Bibles and they are received as great treasure. The few we see in the villages are shared, dog-eared, worn, and marked in; well-used. They are also a great item to give a policemen when they pull me over to check my papers instead of the bribe they are normally looking for.

Some of my friends ask where is Ann? She is in each of the pictures above - right behind the camera!

I look forward to sharing with you about what all is happening in the north when we get back. I'd written that our new camera died but somehow the old one decided to start working so we should have pictures! We're wondering if the bridge will be open or if we will get to use the Ferry one more time to cross the Zambeze River. The news reports are that it is very very close to opening.

So many things we could write about, the seminary class students we talked to this morning, the church discipline that is once again in review after comments have been incorporated, the Christian School picnic at our place last weekend, how I trashed the computer at Khongolote trying to add a new drive to a Windows 98 computer, about a dear man we know who lost his job in a conflict between linear western thinking and more circular African thinking, my plumbing exploits, Ann's removing stitches from someone's hand, all of Ann's nursing exploits, a special baptism service, a couple of sad stories we learned counseling with some people - just too many things and not enough time!

As a final note tonight, Belarmino Junior is growing rapidly and the family is doing great. The photo is of Ann holding him while we visited with them a couple of days ago.

Thank you for standing with us!

See you (well - write to you) in about 11 days!

Dave & Ann

"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:10-11