AFRICA...And Beyond...Ver. 1

AFRICA…And Beyond…
Maputo, Mozambique to Pemba, Mozambique
July 27, 2009-August 9, 2009

Salama! Salama!
(Hello Hello in Makua!!)

It is with great pleasure and much anticipation that I am finally able to write about our recent adventure in Mozambique, Africa. I would apologize for my delay, but a crashed computer and a bit of African time delay has made the timing of this letter—just right!! So here we are!!

First, I will express metas obrigados (many thanks) to you who joined me on this adventure in prayer and finances. The overflow of love was and remains astounding!! Your support made the trip much more meaningful as it was refreshing to have gone with sooo many of you!! The prayers you poured out lifted my heart and my spirit when my eyes saw some tough conditions!!

This will be the first of a series of letters about Mozambique. And I will continue updating as time progresses. Pretty soon you will be able to find these letters on my website: www.desirama.net There you will also be able to follow and continue on the journey as this is just the beginning. The adventure has not stopped…more adventures await!

Enjoy this portion of Africa and Beyond…Stay tuned for more!!
Ciao,
Desiree
e.mail: dunamisdesi@gmail.com
MOZAMBIQUE 2009

MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE…Ministerio Arco Iris, Zimpeto Base…

After two rigorous days of travel, including a 12 hour delay in Frankfurt, Germany (and no plane…long story), and a 9 hour delay in Johannesburg, South Africa, team Soul Safari arrived in Maputo (Mah-Pu-too), Mozambique. It took 3 hours to get through customs and receive our visas. We were the last to leave the airport. We arrived at the Ministerio Arco Iris, Zimpeto (Zim-Peh-too) Base—a children’s center that feeds and houses orphaned children. On the base is a school and a soccer field for play.

Our trip in Maputo was very quick and adventure-filled, but the highlight was when we visited the Bocarilla garbage dump city. Never before had garbage taken on the appearance of beautiful treasure as it did that day. Amid miles and miles of mounds of dirt and filth were beautiful people with such loving hearts. Who was I to be found so worthy to bring song and dance to a people who is forgotten, forsaken, and abandoned? Climbing to the tops of the heaps of garbage and seeing beautiful smiles as we brought LOVE to them, I felt like I was an observer witnessing a phenomenon…The stench of burning rotting goods became an aroma of pleasure as we saw the villagers come to life as we sang songs and spoke to them and listened to them talk. When they realized we were there just for them, they and we wept for joy. To embrace those who’s lot in life was to be born into abject poverty, I felt poor. What could I truly offer these beautiful people that they did not already have? I did not have the means, the medicine, or the food, yet I could hug and love, and sing and smile…and what did I receive? Perfect Love. Not even dirt, flies, and garbage could disguise the wealth hidden beneath these mounds. The villagers, especially the children, were so eager to share the bread WE brought for them…They were the wealthy ones…Though I was singing and playing my guitar, I was very silent as I pondered, “What LOVE is it that even the poorest of the poor are willing to share their bread with me? How can I know and begin to love like they?” Here I was, a California girl, who knew NOTHING about lacking anything, and yet the generosity of the Bocarilla villagers showed me that there was a greater depth to LOVE that I needed to learn. In the midst, of the garbage, I began to learn about and see the goodness of the Lord through little acts of love and the mission to expand my own capacity for love became established…

After the Bocarilla, the Maputo portion of our 12 day adventure flew by! We were able to watch a sunset graduation of Iris Ministries’ newest pastors. Many of them, young and old, men and women alike, have left their villages, both near and far, to spend three months learning to read and preach the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to bring back to their villages!!

Less than 36 hours of our arrival in Maputo, we hugged many children, took tons of pictures, and in a flash we were back at the airport, flying to the next destination…




UP NEXT: Pemba...Prison...The Bush...and MORE!!!

All Pictures from Maputo and Bocarilla...at right, Amy, Jessica, Shawna and Me!!