True Missionary Experience!

April 2007

This past weekend I traveled out to an area called Mecuburi. It is about 120 k’s from Nampula but it takes a while to get there because of the last 55 k’s of the road. I traveled there with 3 nationals, Fernando, Carlos and Samuel. We went to the area because I hadn’t been there to visit the people in a while. And we decided to take the Jesus film with us and show that as well.

We arrived Sunday around midday or so. The people were so excited when we drove up and then they got even more excited when they saw the Jesus film equipment. They fixed lunch for us. It was chicken and chema, (chema is their traditional food consisting of cornmeal and water) it was good. Then we started setting up the equipment and went and visited a lady who was sick. I said on this trip I did the true stereotypical missionary trip because I went and visited with the people and showed the Jesus film. As we were walking back from visiting the sick lady there was a group of about 8 of us and I had the thought this is what contentment is, doing what God wants you to do where you are. It was a good moment.

I had the pleasure of using my satellite phone to call my church while I was there as well. I had been wanting to call in during one of the Sunday church services but with my being six hours ahead on time it makes it difficult sometimes. But I was able to call on Sunday and it was so neat. We had a great connection and it was good.

In the evening we showed the Jesus film, it was in the African language of Makhuwa. It’s interesting to me that I still haven’t seen the film in English only in Spanish and Makhuwa. I could follow what was going on because I know the story. It is based on the book of Luke which has inspired me to read the book of Luke again.

There was a good group there to watch the film. Public invitations are not something which are done here. But I just have to trust that God knows the hearts of each one of the people who saw the film and He will work in their lives.

This morning we had a good breakfast of chema and pig. It’s interesting that when we arrived on Sunday there was a goat, pig and chickens around. But after their special guests were there the goat, pig, and at least one chicken weren’t around anymore…..We got home about midday on Monday. It was a good trip and thankfully we had safe travels.

Hold On!

Tonight I was listening to a song called Hold On by a group called The Greenes.

It talks about when you can't take it anymore to just hold on through every storm, walk by faith not sight, hold on. Prayer after prayer still there's no way out and it seems like pain is all you gain, hold on, hold on through every storm hold on, even in the darkest night walk by faith not sight, hold on, hold on. There is a father who is waiting to hold you with open arms until the hurt is gone. Through every storm hold on.

In the weeks before the Kenya trip I listened to this song every day sometimes a few times a day and I would cry as I listened to it. I would listen to it and just hang on to every word of it. Tonight I could listen to it and just enjoy it because it is a good song. God reminded me of the difference in the way I was able to listen to it tonight as compared to before the Kenya trip or before the Florida ladies entered my life. It was a joyful and freeing feeling as I listened to it tonight...

A Scary Time

You maybe read about this explosion...While I was waiting in the Maputo airport to go to the conference, I heard loud sounds which I found out later were explosions. The government has a warehouse of old military artillery which was collected after the Civil War ended and because of the intense heat the warehouse exploded. Naturally the flight was cancelled and as we headed to a hotel for the night, we saw parts of the chaos that occurred as families tried to find each other. Thankfully, the power of technology enabled Kim and I to text each other as this occurred! This is just another example of God providing his love and support!

God Already Knows....

I just returned from Kenya after participating in a conference for missionaries who were in the midst of their first term. I didn't know exactly what to expect from the conference and little did I know what answers to prayers God had in store for me. Most of you know that I have really missed having fellowship with friends....You know, those friends who you just "click" with and can do nothing but still have a wonderful time! God sent those friends on a mission trip to Kenya!

A wonderful group of ladies from Cherryville, NC (where my aunt Lib lives) and Florida came to the conference thinking their mission was to provide childcare for the missionaries..>However, God knew that I was needing encouragment, laughter and "southern twang" also. I was even a cousin to one of the ladies from Cherryville who came! She's in the hat with glasses and the big laugh!

If you are fortunate enough to have a set of friends that you count as family, then you'll understand how encouraging this was for me!

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?

A New Roommate....

While I was enjoying my time in the States, I found a new roommate to bring back with me. His name is Ted E. Bear and he is from North Carolina just like me! He'll be traveling with me to see the sights and work in Mozambique.

Transitions

Missionary life involves a lot of transitions and saying hello and goodbye. This week I said goodbye to some fellow missionaries. Here’s a family picture of them at the airport as they were leaving. It’s interesting to think that I’ve been here long enough to see the youngest child from birth to now. I’ve watched him grow from a small baby to an active and cute little boy.

Thoughts from Carol....

October 21, 2006
This is a different type of blogspot than the ones I have been writing recently. It’s not going to tell you what I’ve been doing but it will tell you something which is on my heart right now.
Earlier in the week I helped someone. During the past few weeks we had gone on several daytrips together. On the day of our last trip I was going to say it’s been enjoyable going with you, etc. As we arrived at this person’s house he said what are your plans for tomorrow? I simply said why. I know my mind was thinking what do you want now? (We had left home about 9 hours earlier and I was ready to go home) He wanted me to help him the next day, he needed my transport help. I said no I’m staying at my house and waiting at the house for the telephone repairman to come so he can fix the phone.
By the way, the phone repair guy did come.

Later as I was driving away I was reminded of how Jesus must have felt when he healed the 10 Lepers and only one came back to say thank you. I thought thank you is all I wanted to hear.

A few days later I found the story in Luke 19 about the lepers. I reread it. This time God showed me the situation in a new light. He said how many times have I helped or healed you and you haven’t said thank you? I thought God wants to hear us say thank you and to be thankful for what we do have and what we are able to do.

Today I’ve been challenged and convicted with the thought of how many times did I not share Jesus with others when I had the opportunity to share in my heart language of English? Now that I’m in a culture that is completely different to me with a language that is not my heart language, I am convicted with the times that I missed the opportunity to share with others. Not so I could say this person accepted Christ because of me or that person, etc.; but to save them from death and to give them a hope for the future. How many people are missing out on having hope for the future? A question which I’ve been asking myself lately is how do people make it without having a hope?

I’ve been doing the Beth Moore Believing God study. In it is talking about the spiritual heritage you leave with your descendents. What kind of heritage will you be leaving? Will it be one based on Christian foundations and beliefs? Will it be one they can pass to their descendents? Is it one based on loving God? As many of you know I don’t have children who will be my physical descendents. But I am responsible for spiritual descendents. I am responsible to pass along my spiritual heritage to other generations.

Deuteronomy continually talks about the greatest commandment, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. Is that something I’m doing each day? Is that something you are doing each day?
I’ve been blessed to have a spiritual foundation based on Jesus Christ passed down to me. Will your descendents be able to say the same? Will my descendents say the same? Will the children who are always glad to see the missionary Carol arrive be able to say the same?

The other day another colleague and myself were working on job requests for this area. A question which came up was how do you decide which job is top priority? Is it more important to send workers to the area where no one has heard before or to send workers to an area where people have heard but need discipleship/education? Is that something we can decide? Or do we write the requests and trust God to lead the workers here? I don’t know that there is a right or wrong answer to the question, there may be a better and best answer.

As I write this I reminded of the conviction I felt as I was on a mission trip to Brazil. We were showing the Jesus film in different villages every couple of days. At the end of the trip there were many who had come to know the Lord which is great. But the conviction which I was overwhelmed with was how was one missionary going to visit and disciple all these people?

As I look back over this writing I think were my thoughts really conveyed on paper? Can you see the conviction and questions I am faced with as I write this? I encourage you to ask yourself some of these questions? I’m not writing this to make you feel guilty about anything you might or might not be doing but just to share with you things that are going with me.

Carol

Literacy Training Helper

This is Abel's wife (Abel is one of the workers at my house). She was able to go with me and help with the teaching during the last three trips. She is a good helper because she isn't afraid to speak up.

(Abel is on the left and Arlindo is on the right)

A Typical Day for Carol

Lest we think it's all smiles for Carol....Read her rundown of a typical day in Mozambique and if you ever wonder how to pray, maybe this will give you some ideas.

Relax today....That was the plan...Then things happened. I was so tired when I got home last night from the church day. This morning I got up and went walking. Then I was expecting Fernando at 7 am to pick up some of his money. He's a good guy, I don't mind it when he comes by (most of the time). I could tell I've been at my breaking point the past few days. I thought I have some things I have to do but I also have to have some time. I prayed and I read Psalms 140 where it says and it says when my spirit grows faint w/in me it is you who know my path. I said that is me, I am there!

I went to the store to get a few groceries. Then I stopped at the Duncan's house to pick up my pots and pans which I use to take to the different churches when I go for cooking purposes. That was Saturday's question/dilemma where are the dishes? The pastor was supposed to have brought them back three weeks ago but I'm still waiting. Come to find out the person had dropped them at the Duncan's house b/c that is the Baptist house and they knew where that was at. The Duncan's had no idea that they were mine and that I had been waiting for them. Anyway....

I got those and I came back around 12 ready to fix salmon patties brought to me from a friend who went to S.Africa and to eat them while I watched Grey's Anatomy. I fixed them and ate and started watching the show. Then I heard a voice outside and I thought no...But it was, it was the pastor who came to town yesterday with us. He is going back on Wednesday with us when we got out to that area again.

I thought okay he doesn't know what time it is. I greeted him and we did all that mumbo jumbo. Then he said the reason I came. He said we are buying 5 bags of cement for our church, we want you to go with us and pick them up tomorrow afternoon. He said the bags cost more than they thought they would be so they didn't have money to pay for someone to transport them to the house where they are staying; and then Wednesday morning I could just pick them up there.

I said I can't go tomorrow afternoon in what I thought was very clear and simple Portuguese, I can't go. The other guy said maybe she didn't understand. So the pastor repeated the story again. I kept saying yes b/c I actually did understand it all. By that time my frustration level was about at the highest limit which I have. I was so frustrated that I could feel the tears of frustration coming. I raised my voice and said I cannot go tomorrow afternoon, I have another program. They said oh, what are we going to do. By this time my fleshly side was coming out and I thought you should have thought of that earlier, I don't know what you are going to do.

Then they asked for a drink of water. I said okay and I went inside to get the water. While I was inside I was able to breath and calm down a little. I took the water out to them. They continued talking for a few minutes saying what are we going to do?

I sat there and listened. And after God convicted my heart I said I can meet you tomorrow morning and we can get the cement then. That started a long conversation of where do we meet. When the pastor said you meet us at another pastor's house and we'll go from there I said no. That is going the opposite way of where the store is, I knew kind of where the store is but not really.

By this time it was about 12:35 and I was still thinking about Grey's Anatomy. Finally I said let's go this afternoon at 2 when the stores open up again. So we went at 2.

In the meantime I said you can wait outside with my worker and talk to him. I went back inside. Guess what? The electricity went off. I said okay God you didn't want for me to see G.Anatomy today.

After going with the pastor and then dropping him off I came back home a different way. I thought it would be the route where I see less people. Well I saw one of the English teachers and he said can I come by tomorrow morning? I said sure. When my evening guard got here today he said I saw you this afternoon b/c the different way went close to his house. I said I can't hide can I? He said well when you are in the car and on the road it's hard for you to hide. I said yes it is. Then I clarified that I didn't want to hide from him, my other guard and Fernando. Then I just left it at that b/c I didn't want him to feel like I wanted to hide from everybody. Plus that would be a different mindset from what the Africans have where you are supposed to be in community and they don't believe in privacy.

When I got home around 4 pm I started baking b/c that is a good outlet for me. I enjoy doing it. Speaking of which I better go check on the chocolate cake. Then I was able to watch the last quarter and half of Cowboys-Redskins game. I know you were happy.

So how was your day???

The heat is back here now. It's about 8:30 and sweat is starting to drop off of me from the heat....Take care, Carol
(Before we get judgemental and say "But she's a missionary!" Remember that she's just a regular person who like us struggles with too many demands on our time!)

Trains, Trains!

Trains are a major form of transportation for people from one city to another but also vehicles.

What is Carol up to???

I just thought you would enjoy some photos of Carol chilling and smiling! The past several weeks for her have been stressful so pray that she will have some "relaxing" time soon.

Waiting, Waiting....

Waiting…
What do you do when you are waiting for the program to start? Or waiting for the participants to arrive? Well you either sit in the shade on a log or you pose for the camera!

Chalkboards!!

I must say that before I came to Mozambique I had never thought about making chalkboards. I just thought you went to the store and bought them. But now I know how to make them. One item which the workshop participants love to receive is a chalkboard. It is just a special piece of wood with two coats of black paint. Then they can use either side of the board.

Literacy Workshop

What is a literacy workshop? A literacy workshop is when I go out to one of the Baptist churches and I train the church members who desire to teach literacy. Usually this is done at a centrally located church and then the missions of that church send 2 people who want to teach in the literacy program. I take the books with me and then once the training is completed the teachers take the material with them to their church and they begin using it.

The picture is the most recent group of participants in the literacy workshop training.

My Weekend Travels

Hey,I thought I might send a short report about my weekendtravels. It was a good trip. It was good to see somemissionary friends and visit with them. I went toMilangewhich is on the Malawi border.The weekend trip was fairly uneventful. No pigs in thebathroom. This bathroom was a little brick building,very little and not very tall. It was definitelydesigned by a short Mozambican. It was still a hole inthe ground but it had the fancy brick building aroundand roof on top of it. Actually the ones w/out a roofare better b/c the sun can help dry out the remainswhich don't make it into the hole...Anyway...We arrived at our friends house on Thursday eveningafter a 600 kilometer ride on bumpy roads. Then the nextmorning we left for the bush trip, the church was about40 k's away but it took about an hour and half to getthere b/c of the bumps/holes in the road. When we arrived the other missionary made the comment that thereweren't many ladies there, not like last year. They fed us lunch and then we waited.....We waited b/c there wasa mixup on the dates. According to what we knew it was to start Friday at lunchtime which is when we arrived.Then end on Saturday at lunch. According to what theysaid it was to start Saturday lunch and continue toafter Sunday service. Friday night we ended up singing for about an hour and that was all. The next morning the women's conference started. 7 of the ladies took 30 minute slots of teaching the material. We told them that we needed to leave after lunch onSaturday. At 12 we went to the little gazebo where theyhad been giving us our meals. Again we waited...Theybrought us Cokes, we drank those and waited....Usuallythey brought our food first and then the other ladies ate. This day they were really slow. Finally thepastor who was sitting with us went and asked about ourfood. They had forgotten about us. So we just left.We had been waiting about an hour and it would have been another hour for the food after they realized we didn'thave any.It is hard to get used to it when they want to feed us separate and have us sit in separate places b/c we arethe white person/missionary. They see it as honoring us. It's hard to remember that it is an honor. For instance at the Friday night music time they had the 3 of us, missionary ladies sit at the front of the church at a table facing the others. I felt like I was a governing body over them. We didn't like that. The next day we said we want to sit with the ladies in the congregation and just be a part of the conference. It was much more enjoyable like that.

Today turned out to be a longer trip than I expected.We left at 8 and I got home at 3 pm. It was a good trip, though. We went about 76 k's on good roads andthen about 30 k's on small, "cornfield" roads. Each place I went they gave me some food to eat whether I wanted it or not. One interesting thing that we ate was beans. The beans were cooked in the shell and then you just open the shell and eat the beans out of the inside.They were actually good...Take care, Carol

Translation workshop

For two weeks in July, Carol has been participating in a translation workshop. In this workshop, the participants translate Bible stories and other small pamphlets into the language which they are working with. There are 5 different language groups represented and each group is translating the material into theirappropriate language.

Top of the mountain

On Sunday, June 25th, Mozambique celebrated their independence day. Since the holiday fell on a Sunday, the schools and other businesses had Monday off so we went on a hike with some friends of Carol's. The day started off with a misting of rain but we climbed anyway. The view from the top was AWESOME! As we reached the top of the mountain, one of the kids with us said, "Now you can see all the things our Lord has made." I guess that sums it up!