Travel

At 04h30 this morning I left to take Allan to the airport. His flight to Cape Town left at 06h15. It only took us 30mins to get there - as opposed to the average 40mins - because there was hardly any traffic. On the way back, there was already a long line of car lights in the direction I had been travelling, but opposite to my return trip. The time was 05h50. By the time I arrived home at 06h20, I had passed two joggers, 1 man taking his dog for a walk, and a handful of people walking from bus stops towards their places of work. I was amazed at the numbers of people checking in and boarding flights. I know that people travel at 'ungodly' hours of the day, but it's only when actually seeing them there that the reality of the extent of air travel strikes home. The stupidity of the remark that the gasses burped by cattle are a major contributor to global warming strikes home at a time like this - there is no way that cattle-burp can compete with the gasses emitted directly into the strathosphere by airplanes, or with the emmissions from the traffic on our freeways as thousands of people commute to their places of work.

My gratitude was awakened at a deeper level that my trip to work takes 10-15mins on a good day, and 20-30mins on a bad day. Praise God for that, and that my contribution to global warming is limited in that regard.

Moz. trip 2008 - Relaxing In Espungabera

It is not all work on a mission trip. There is also time available to take in the local sights and do some shopping.
Ladies visiting the Espungabera Mall.

A visit to the fish merchant - they didn't make any purchases because the team takes all its food along for the whole trip.

Do you wish you were there?
I must say that I am missing not being there this year. Perhaps I will be able to go next year again.

Moz. trip 2008 - In Espungabera

The team arrived back in Espungabera on Thursday afternoon (3 July). They showed the Jesus film on Friday night in town, and have been busy with work in and around the mission house.
Cheryl, as kitchen coordinator, has a very responsible job in seeing to all the 'innermen' of the team.

Jeremy involved in sports ministry.

There is always maintenance that needs to be done.

Pastor Alberto has been living in the church building while it has been under construction. It is now time for his own house to be built. The foundations are being dug.

New Church at Mpengu

This is what the framework looks like. The local members will continue the construction by weaving branches along the sides and then plastering them with mud. The roof will be either thatch or corrugated iron.

The church is dedicated and handed over to the pastor and elders before the team departs.

Moz. trip 2008 - more travel

These are more pictures of the journey, and what happens to tyres - sometimes the roads are more like dongas, or have large potholes (see my earlier post on potholes)
Kathy thought it safer to cross the river in a little 'canoe' rather than on the pont with the vehicles.

Which is not surprising when you see the pont/ ferry.

The Isuzu 'lost' a tyre!

The journey to Mpengu was a trifle dusty. There have been occasions when the local people have cut a road by hand - widening a footpath - in order to accommodate the vehicles that will be coming to them, in preparation for the team. Goes to show how eager they are to hear and receive the gospel.

Unusual Farewell

I conducted a memorial service for an 83 year old lady this afternoon. As the hearse was driving away, with everyone having said 'goodbye' by placing rose petals on the coffin, two Hadedah's flew overhead and landed in a tree over the road. They were making their usual calls, which at that moment sounded like 'Good-bye, Good-bye'. Not often that we have an official send-off like that!

Moz. trip 2008 - Mupengo

This year a new church is to be built at Mupengo. There is already a pastor and a small number of members. The team set out on Tuesday morning, and travelled the 50Km (or less) to Mupengo/ Mpengu, where they spent a successful three days. Ned wrote in his email: "We showed the Jesus film twice, and hundreds attended, but is difficult to know how many in the dark. This place is a bit further north, but not as far as Chimanimani. It is about 4km from the Zim border, and someone said that it was possible that some people might come from there, as well as those who have already come across because of the trouble in Zim. We watched the men build the frame of the church structure, which was completed quite quickly. The other activities were going on at the same time: groups for the children, the men, the women, and of course the football."
Team and church members praying around the perimeter of the church-to-be.

The framework of the new church being erected.

Ladies of the team hard at work!

A teaching session. This year the team did dramatic presentations of scripture pertaining to relationships between men and women - particularly for husbands and wives. This is much needed not only in Moz but in S.A. as well!! Wife-beating is the norm in Moz.