I was thrilled when Joao and I realized that we could sleep
in a bit longer. Our dear missionary friend and great helper was knocking at
our door early. We checked the time on our American phone. The time had changed
when we were in South Africa when it connected to some cell phone service
through roaming. So, when our friend arrived and knocked to see if we were
ready to head to the center for a special time with the children to pass out
gifts and then celebrate Children’s day with a special chicken and refrescos
meal, we noticed she had arrived early. We knew she would make herself at home with
some coffee or water while she waited. So we happily rolled over to catch a
little more shuteye.
We waited about twenty minutes after our phone alarm went
off at what we thought was 8 am, then we finally got dressed for the day, washed
up and brushed our teeth before heading to the breakfast table where our lovely
friend sat waiting patiently for us. My hubby said ….7:40 isn’t 9. You told us
you would be here at 9. She chuckled kindly and said ,“But it wasn’t 9. Sorry I
was a little bit late getting here at 9:15. You must have been tired….” she
went on talking while my husband and I exclaimed, “How could you have gotten
here at 9:15? Our phone said 7:40?” Our Mozambican pastor said, “Look Baba,” pointing
to the battery powered clock in our living room, “it is ten to 11. I think the
time on your phone is wrong.” He is so kind and gentle not wanting to embarrass
us by telling us ‘I think’ and maybe our phone is telling us the wrong
time. It’s pretty obvious that we were wrong as our phone had lost track of
time since it couldn’t connect to any roaming cell phone service in Mozambique.
“Ohhhhh Sorry!!!!” we said in unison. We all had a chuckle
after we said our robust apologies for having our friends and pastor wait for
us while we continued to sleep. They all said not to worry, that we must have needed
the rest because of our jet lag. They are all so generous. Our hearts are melty
at how great a godly connection we have with our International Mozambican family.
They graciously moved the time to give the children presents to after lunch and
everything worked out fabulously!
We greeted each one of the children with hugs and more hugs.
There’re so sweet. Oh my goodness, how I had missed them. There is nothing like
that big bear hug from our girls, and shy sweet hugs from our adolescent boys.
Their culture doesn’t normally allow big boys to have hugs, but I tell them it’s
great to get hugs from your parents at any age. They’ve seen my parents hugging
me and Joao, so they accept it as our show of parental affection as they hug us
in return.
We all sang songs and danced vibrantly to African praise
songs in dialect and Portuguese. Then my hubby and I shared about our time
overseas and how the green card process for Baba is going to take a lot longer
time than we thought, and Mae (that’s me) is in University, but we will keep
coming back during the process and trust Papa God to keep sending mommas and
Pappas to oversee their care while we are away. Then we all prayed together
before a special extra Children’s Day lunch.
The children had already celebrated a special meal and received gifts of
new flip-flops and long pants on June 1 for Children’s Day. On Saturday, because
my hubby and I couldn’t celebrate with them until the Saturday after we arrived
on June 4th, the children had a second special meal and had a
precious time of giving out brand new clothes from America.
They had an abundantly blessed week with TWO children’s day
celebrations!
We love to show them Papa God’s lavish love, so we told them
that sometimes in Papa God’s family we have abundant love and gifts and
food!!!! They laughed and laughed as they ate their mountain of rice with
potatoes and chicken, and drank as much coke as they wanted.
It’s such a special meal because the children hadn’t had a
chicken meal since Christmas. It’s one of their favorites, and we love
to celebrate by giving them their favorite!!!
Thank you to everyone who is giving and praying so that we
can be here! Your generous love that you lavish on us and the kids is such a
fragrant offering to Papa God!!!!!We are blessed to see our Mozambican family
after such a long time away. We definitely miss our three sons by birth, who
are staying with their grandparents while we travel, but we believe they will be
able to come with us next time. It’s so hard for them to wait to see their
Mozambican brothers who have grown up and two of them are in university, and
have built houses on their own property. Their other Mozambican brothers are
finishing up high school and working on plans to build houses on the land that
we purchased for them. We are so proud of them!!!! Everyone here is growing up,
and they are so mature!!!! They spent their energy this morning in dance as we
all worship together. They pray such heart felt prayers for their South African
grandparents who are going on a trip to visit family in South Africa. They are
so sincere in their love for Jesus and his kids! Oh it’s wonderful to be back
in praise and worship, and prayer and fellowship with our beautiful children
and friends! The presence of Holy Spirit during our little church service was
sooooo sweet! We love you God!!!
We are so thankful to sweet Jesus for such a gift of this
time with our Mozambican family. Please keep praying for us to have favor,
blessings, heavenly wisdom and open doors, as we have a short time to get a lot
of work accomplished and catch up on as many hugs as possible!
Lots of love,
Missionary Momma Mia
