Defining Moment

Thoughts from Carol...

There is a song called Defining Moment. It says what will your defining moment be? That time when you realize that He (God) is all you need. I think last week I reached that moment.

On Monday I received the news that my grandmother on my dad's side of the family had died. She died at the age of 90 and she had lived a good life. I was reminded of the time a few years ago when I had gone to visit friends in Guatemala after I finished my journeyman time there. In the short time I was gone, my grandfather died. Two significant events which I wasn't able to be at. That news along with other things had put me at the end. As most of you know it takes a long time for me to get to the end but I think I was there. I was tired of living in a culture where you have to make 4 or 5 phone calls to get a repairman to come. I was tired after a frustrating meeting at church on Sunday as we tried to make plans for this year. I was tired of being the one with all the answers. I began looking at other things besides God. Then with this song He got my attention. It was like He said is this a time when you can realize that I'm all you need, other people and things will let you down but I won't. There is an English church which is getting started here in Nampula. I've enjoyed going to lunchtime prayer time and Bible study there during this past week.

A fun thing which I did was to get up at 2 am two mornings so I could watch ACC basketball games. Yes, I was awake and enjoyed them even though I wasn't thrilled with both of the outcomes. Alot of ACC games aren't shown so I take advantage of the ones which I can see. The time here is 7 hours ahead of East Coast time.

That's all for now...Love, Carol

A Traveling Companion

January 10, 2007

Hello class,

Today I went on a bush trip. A bush trip is when you go outside of the city to a village.

I got up at 5 am to get ready. Then we left Carol’s house at 6:30 am. We stopped and picked up some lady that was going to help Carol with the teaching. Then we picked up the pastor. I sat on the front seat between the pastor and Carol.

As I rode in the truck I noticed a lot of people on bicycles. Carol said that usually the people either walk or ride a bicycle. But they think it is strange to have only one person on a bicycle at a time. When they ride the bicycle they have at least two people on one bicycle, one on the seat and one on the bar or either behind the driver.

We drove for about 30 minutes on an even road; there weren’t many bumps on that road. Then when we turned on the next road, there were lots of bumps. It felt like I was on a roller coaster. It rained a lot last night so there were huge mud puddles for us to go through. I wanted to get out and play in the water but Carol wouldn’t let me. She said I would get my shoes dirty.

We arrived at the church after about an hour. The mountains look kind of like the mountains of Asheville but not as many. When we got to the church there were only three or four people there. More came after they heard the car pull up.

Carol introduced me and said that I would be writing letters back to my friends in NC.

Then she and the other lady started teaching. They were showing the people how to use books to help other people learn to read. While they taught I enjoyed watching the children go in and out of the teaching. And the men and women sat on different sides of the church. I asked Carol why they don’t sit together. She said she isn’t really sure, it is just the way that they do it. Also the women sit with their legs straight out; they don’t sit Indian style or with their legs crossed. As children they start sitting like this so when they get older it continues.

After a couple of hours she finished teaching and it was time for lunch. I was really hungry by that time. We had rice, beans and chicken. It was good.

After that we started packing up so we could get back to Nampula. Carol wanted to get back before the rains started. When we pulled up in her driveway about 5 pm, it was just starting to rain. And now it has been raining for a couple of hours.

I’m glad you had a snow day, I’m sure you had a fun day!

Talk to you later, Ted E Bear

Some Relaxation at Victoria Falls

--Victoria Falls:

In November I had the opportunity to participate in a Missionary GetAway at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This was one of the places in Africa which I knew I wanted to visit so when the opportunity came up I was one of the first to sign up.

Victoria Falls is spectacular and it wasn’t even rainy season.

--Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River
I had the opportunity to take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River during this trip. We were at the falls for three evenings. The evening which I went on the cruise was the only evening which we saw a sunset because of cloudy weather. Hippos were even there to watch us go around the river.

--Walk with the Lions
My I can’t believe I’m in Africa doing this moment came when I was out in the bush with lions rubbing against my legs like house cats. At first I was standoffish because these are man eating animals. Then I relaxed a little and realized that these were just big house cats. Of course don’t touch the top of their head; they might see that as a sign of aggression!

--Baboons all around
There was a sign in my hotel room which said don’t leave the sliding glass door open because baboons will come in the room. I thought no, they won’t….Well, they did all but come in the room. I was glad I kept the door closed.

--You remember you are in Africa when you land at the airport in Victoria Falls and you have to wait an hour or so for your luggage. Why? Because the key for the luggage hold on the plane did not make it from Johannesburg so someone has to take up some seats from inside the plane. Then go through the trap door of the plane to enter the luggage hold. What could I do but laugh?