A Last Note from Mozambique

Dear ones,

Our time in Africa is rushing past at a dizzying pace; tomorrow
morning, early, we pack up and drive to Swaziland to visit some of the
most historic sites in Nazarene denominational history, including the
location of the very first mission station in Africa, founded in the same
year that the Church of the Nazarene itself was founded. We will also
visit the current mission station and a Nazarene hospital. Then, on
Tuesday afternoon, we head to S. Africa and Kruger park -- a huge
game park where we will enjoy photo safaris, hunting for lions,
elephants, hippos and other wild life. We promise to keep our distance
and rely on zoom lenses!

these past few days have been as instructive, interesting and tiring as
all the rest. On Thursday morning, the Field Director for Portuguese
Africa, Dr. Paul Sueia, addressed our group, helping us to understand
church organization and the ways in which the US church can partner
with the church in Africa to help spread the Good News. Africans, we
were reminded, no longer need US evangelists -- the church is strong
in Africa and has many willing men and women who will gladly give
their lives and energies over to preaching and missionizing. The US
can support African efforts by sending teachers -- of theology, church
history, English and other topics. We are encouraged to trust in the
marvelous possibilities for the future of the church, if only we have the
courage to trust the Holy Spirit and each other. We also tackled topics
that currently present the most challenges to the church in Africa.

The afternoon was spent luxuriating over tea at the Polana Hotel, on a
cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. A grand hotel in the truest sense of
the word, and "home away from home" to visitors like Jimmy Carter
and Queen Elizabeth II, the Polana evokes the heyday of Portuguese
colonial rule, with sumptuous surroundings, beautiful gardens and
delicious food.

Friday, Phil LaFountain and I both lectured, then the group lunched
and went shopping for souvenirs (a first crack at shopping was made
outside the Polana, where bargaining with street vendors was
undertaken with varying degrees of success and lots of help from the
Restricks!) This trip was to the handicapped handicraft store (say
THAT 3 times fast!). The marked prices and lack of haggling was a
relief to many of us -- American shopping did not prepare us for
haggling in the marketplace. The crafts, truly beautiful, were all
created by handicapped artists, who use this shop to help support
themselves. Look for some of our purchases when we get home --
you'll agree that the selection was superb!

Saturday was a bit more leisurely, with a trip downtown to buy
capulanas, the most versatile garments every devised and the
everyday wear of most Mozambican women. Large rectangular pieces
of cloth, they come in every possible color and pattern (the store was
dazzling and overwhelming in its selection) and are used primarily as
skirts, but also as slings for carrying babies, as cushions for carrying
carefully balanced loads on one's head, as pillows, as blankets, as
seat cushions, as ponchos, etc. We spent about 45 minutes in the
shop and, when we returned to the van -- parked on a busy street with
lots of pedestrians and merchants -- our still-locked vehicle was
missing its radio! Apparently, a not uncommon occurrence.

Last evening, we attending a showing of the Jesus Film in "the bush."
We drove about 2 hours north, then turned onto a wide dirt road that
led into the sugar cane fields. After a while, we turned on to a
narrower dirt road, then on to a dirt track, then onto what might, with a
little imagination, resemble a dirt track in the making. Then we
stopped under a huge tree and set up a screen and sound system with
the help of a local pastor who regularly comes from the nearest town to
preach to the field hands who lived out among the cane fields. We
were concerned, since there had been no advanced notice, but the
pastor assured us that such was not needed -- all visitors were noticed
and word would spread quickly among the neighbors in the fields.
Sure enough, as darkness fell, people began arriving and we ended up
with about 200 in attendance. After praying fervently for help in fixing
technical problems and preventing rain, we all listened to Jesus
speaking to us in Shangaan. Most of the audience responded to the
pastor's invitation to accept Jesus as savior. What an amazing
experience it was -- a time of friendship across cultures, races and
languages, with all of us enjoying the warm African evening.

This morning's church service was at another bush church, this closer
to Maputo. The congregation greeted us as we have come to expect,
with warmth and grace. The building was made of reeds and had a tin
roof, the seating was backless benches, but the church was rich in
faith and friendship. We sang our Shangaan song, and received hand
made gifts at the close of the service, to thank us for visiting!

We are packing up and heading to bed early tonight -- we'll be back in
Boston at 1:30pm on Friday, assuming that flights and weather
cooperate. We love and miss you!
Mary Lou and all