What have I been doing?

Hello friends,

I'm sure some of you have been wondering how I'm doing in the United States. I must say that it has been an adjustment time even though I was coming home to my home culture. I was given good advice when I was reminded that I had patience with the African culture when I was first learning about it. Now I need to have patience with the American culture as I get reacclimated to it once again.

I did have tooth surgery the other week. It turned out to be more intensive than what I expected, hence the bruise/yellow spot on my jaw.

I am still enjoying being cold and wearing cold weather clothes. I think I am definitely in the minority on that one based on what other people have said!

If you know me, you know that I am enjoying watching ACC basketball and the football playoff games. It is so nice to be able to watch a game almost every night. I could easily get spoiled with that.

As I have been looking back on these 3 past years in Mozambique I am continually reminded about how faithful God is and how blessed I am. I pray that as I share about Mozambique others will see the needs there and pray for the people and share with them in whatever way they can.

I will be traveling soon to different areas to share about the work in Mozambique. I hope to see you soon!

Reuniting with friends

One of the good things I have been able to do recently is to get back in touch and visit with some friends who I haven't seen in a while. Just thought I'd share pictures of them. Of course sharing meals with them at nice restaurants has been enjoyable.

A little snow in North Carolina

If you look hard enough you can see the snow flurries that happened today in North Carolina. Even if the snow didn't stick it was so nice to enjoy seeing it fall and to enjoy the cold weather.

Church photos

The despedida which my Mozambican church had for me was nice. We had a good service and then enjoyed some good food and cake. I just thought I'd share some of the pictures with you. The one thing which I can't transfer to you through the blogspot is the hot heat of that day. It has been an adjustment going from 30C to 30F.

Carol is in North Carolina

After a plane delayed day on Friday in Atlanta, I did make it home to North Carolina on Friday evening. My first meal was pizza and wings and they were good. My family and I opened a few Christmas presents but then we stopped and decided we would enjoy it alot more on Saturday after a good night's rest. We watched Wake Forest win their football bowl game over UConn and then opened presents. Its nice to be able to do things like drink water straight out of the tap and not have to worry about filtering it.

It didn't take long for my cat, Jasper, to find my bed and make himself at home. Actually he is probably more mom and dad's cat since they have had him for the past 3 years that I've been in Mozambique. But its still a cute picture no matter who's cat he is.

Pastor Manuel

If you have been keeping up with the blogspot you probably remember my mentioning a Pastor Manuel, the main pastor who I traveled out with on trips. The morning I left he showed up at my house for one last time. I must say it was sad. I had spent some time with him and his church people on Christmas Day which was a blessing.

Unexpected guests

On my way out of Mozambique I had unexpected guests at the Maputo airport. My first Portuguese teacher, Elsa, and her family came to the airport to say goodbye. It was so sweet. They did know what time I would be in the airport and they wanted to see me for one last time.

Coconut

What did Coconut do while I was packing? Well, Coconut found a little rest time.

A special night

One of the highlights of the going away party was a night at the farm. In the Nampula area there is a family who owns and operates a chicken farm business. On the last Saturday night before I left the missionaries had a going away for me. It was a special night.

Friends of mine planned the night and had some of my favorite things. We started the night with a time of worship lead by some of the teenagers then we had a Mexican food meal followed by ice cream and brownies. We would have had volleyball and outside games but the rain changed those plans.

Thank you Carola and others for making it an extra special night!

Two good guys

Leaving Mozambique was bittersweet as you can imagine. It was a place I called home for 3 years and during that time these two guys worked for me and helped me in many ways. They will probably never see their picture on the internet but I wanted to put it on their anyway. Their names are Arlindo and Able. If you can read their hats you can see which one is which.

African dress for Carol

My last Sunday in Nampula the church had a despedida (going away) for me. One of the things which they took great pleasure in doing was to have an African type dress made for me. They were so excited as Albertina was dressing me in the dress and fixing the headdress for me. It was a hot day and the extra outfit made it hotter but I wouldn't trade the memories of it, it was a good day.

On the pictures you'll see Carol before, during and after the "dressing" process.

Who's taking the picture?

I just thought this was a cute picture. The kids are so amazed when they can see themselves in the camera. Its fun to show them and to use the zoom feature on them.

The latest....

Several people have written and said where did you go? It has been a busy few weeks since I lasted posted a blog. I had friends come visit for a ministry vacation. I'm not sure how much rest time they actually had but it was a good time of ministry and fellowship. We were able to travel and do alot in a short amount of time.

Now this week I am sorting, packing, cleaning and doing all that fun stuff in preparation for my departure on December 26. Then I should be in the states on December 28. As I sit here with sweat pouring off my face because it is so hot I think I'll be glad to be cold for a while. It will be interesting to go from the 30C temp to the 30F temp.

I'll look forward to seeing alot of you soon. I hope to update my blog again before I leave but tonight I"m not making any promises!

A friends 30th Birthday

The other week a New Tribes missionary friend of mine celebrated her 30th birthday. To help her celebrate we had a progressive dinner for the ladies.

We went to 3 different houses and enjoyed some really good Mexican food ending with a dessert buffet at the last house.

At each house she received 30 of something whether it was 30 m&m's or 30 recipes or 30 Scripture verses.

There was a good group of ladies who were able to participate. We laughed as we thought about the sight we must have been 20 ladies piling in and out of cars going into the houses and coming out a little later. It was a good time.

The anticipation of it all...

People have been asking me what I'm most looking forward to when I get to the states....I said I'm looking forward to going to a convenience store and getting a large cup of soda with ice! The other week when I was traveling it was so hot. I said where is the 7 Eleven so I can just stop and pick up a cold drink?!



But you know something I'm not looking forward to is having to pump my own gas when I fill up the gas tank. I admit it I've gotten spoiled here by just pulling up to the gas station and saying fill it up. They do it, I pay and I'm on my way.



Just a few things I've thought of as I look towards heading to the states in a month.



However today I am looking forward to receiving my guests who will be arriving from Florida!

Mozambican Wedding

On Saturday November 10th, I had the opportunity to attend my first wedding here in Mozambique. Victor, a Mozambican was marrying Cristina an American young lady. They met through Teen Missions program.

The day started at 10 am at the government office in Nampula. It was the official civil ceremony for the wedding and mainly involved the signing of the wedding document. Everyone arrived on foot or in the back of trucks or however they could.

From there we went to different locations in the city to make pictures of the bride and groom. It was a neat idea because everyone who wanted to could then have their picture made with the bride and groom as well.

It was a really hot day but I guess this is the really hot time of the year for Mozambique.

After the pictures we went to the church for a church wedding. To add a part of the American ceremony to the wedding there were bridesmaids and groomsmen which is not usual for a Mozambican wedding to have.

The church finished and we left for the reception around 4 pm. At the reception there was a lot of good food including goat, chicken, potatoes, rice, eggs, and lots of cake. It was really nice.

I'm sure Victor and Cristina would appreciate your prayers as they begin their life together in Mozambique. Victor runs as orphanage in Nampula and Cristina will be a big part of that ministry. In a way she has "inherited" 58 children in this marriage. Thankfully God knows all this and He wasn't surprised by any of it!

You watched ESPN?

I saw the most interesting tshirt when I was on one of my travels. I saw this little boy with a shirt on which says I watch ESPN with my daddy. I had to laugh because I know he doesn't know what ESPN is. Plus they didn't have electricity where I was at so I know he hasn't seen a TV. He was cute though with a cute shirt on!

Someone was praying...

Have you had a time when God has changed your attitude as a result of prayer? I had that experience last Sunday when I was out on a day trip to one of the churches who wanted the missionary to visit. I admit I didn’t have a good attitude towards the trip for different reasons.

I arrived at the church and we started the service. I was sitting at the front of the church where the guests sit and I admit that my attitude wasn’t the best as I was sitting there listening to the Makhuwa words and songs. Then all of a sudden I had a complete attitude change. I was sitting there and my bad attitude changed to one of a peace and enjoyment about being there. I looked at my cellphone to see the exact time because I knew at that moment that God had lead someone to pray for me. It was at 9:58 am Africa time on Sunday November 11 which 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard time.

So if you were praying for me at that time I just want to say thank you. And I want to say thank you for the many times that you have prayed for me whether it was middle of the night or middle of the day. Your prayers do make a difference!

Carol and the kids

I was at a village the other week and I had a crowd of followers with me. It is fun to watch the children as they imitate what you do. For instance if you jump on one foot then they will do it too. Or if you skip down the road they will do it too. I guess that is a good lesson to be learned to do the things that you don't mind other people copying in your daily living.

A girls trip

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take a "girl's trip" to visit a New Tribes missionary friend. It was a fun time. There were 5 of us who traveled from Nampula to a small village about 8 hours away. It was so good to see our friend, Debi, using her newly acquired language skills to communicate in the heart language of the Lolo people. Above is a photo of the group. Debi is the one holding her 1 year old daughter, Melody.