Goodbyes and Good News!‏

Oi (Hi!) 
   This week starts off with good news from across the ocean - the China travelers returned in 

one piece! Yippee! That was a "Whew" relief! Here's a few pics from their trip: 

 What an adventure!!  Glad they are all back safe and sound!!! 

 We found out last week that our cute neighbors are 

moving, so Monday Vita found out that I didn't know about a couple of grocery stores and said that she 

had to take me that day so she could show them to me. So off we went! The one store was so, so tiny 

but they had sliced turkey and whipping cream, something I haven't been able to find. And pretzels! 

 Oh, the simple joys...Last week, Vita - the mom - sent me a text saying that Christina, the younger 

daughter wanted me to help her with some homework. She said, "I can help her but she wants you."

 So I said "Sure, send her over." Turns out it wasn't help with her English class or a report, like I've 

done in the past.  It was a colored and labeled map of Africa - with all the terrains and had to be 

on cardboard and have a legend, yada, yada. 

 Yeah, it was one of those dreaded 'parent projects' that I thought I'd left behind years ago. 

Two hours later, we were done!

  ( she did get a 94% on it and said she was the only one that turned it in on time....score!) 

 The next day, we had them over for dinner. The dad, Enrico, had already gone to Maputo 

so it was just the women folk.  Isn't Vita pretty?

So, we found out that her sister was just baptized in Maputo and her mom is investigating the church. That was a surprise and reminded me yet again that you never know who's watching you, so be mindful of what you do - or don't do, like not being as kind as you should be. It reminded me of that time that we were on a trip somewhere and we ate in one of the airport restaurants before we boarded the plane. I had noticed that some people were watching us and thought we were being too loud. It turned out that they were the flight crew on our flight and one of the stewardesses said to me, "We were watching your family in the restaurant and we were saying that you all seemed so happy and seemed to get along so well." I thanked her and told her that we do have a good time together but I remember thinking at the time that it was a good thing that nobody did something rude or ornery. I've never forgotten that. Anyway.....dinner. I made BBQ chicken, but wasn't sure if they liked it - I've never seen anyone eat it here - so put it on the side but after coaxing the girls to try just a little, they did, and LOVED it! And ended up putting it all over their chicken.

The next day, Isabel had asked if Sandi and I could take her shopping for the food for the lunch for a Relief Society activity that was on Saturday. I told her 'sure' and to bring her two girls if they wanted to come. Riding in a car is a novelty for them so I thought they would have fun and then she wouldn't have to leave her girls. Mariana ended up coming along too so it was a party. ;) Here we are dropping everything off at the church:

Later, Vita asked if I could follow her to the airport to help her take her things there to ship to Maputo so she wouldn't have to make two trips. I was so nervous! I hate driving here with the crazy roads/reverse steering wheel/reverse sides of the road, dodging goats/bikes/pedestrians that are more afraid of the rain than cars. It really is nuts!!! But I did it just to help and prove to myself that I'm not a scaredy-cat. But I prayed fervently going and coming. I'm happy to report that I didn't hit anybody - or anything - and found my way back home by myself. (She had to stay to oversee the shipping.). Here's a picture I took yesterday to give you an idea of the traffic. 

The chapas are like N.Y. taxi drivers and come within inches of your car. We've been scraped and once we had a truck come at 40 mph and he clipped our car and knocked the mirror clean off. I thought we were goners that time. I shut my eyes a lot when we drive......really. Bikes, people, motorcycles, chapas, and the little chapelas (the tiny red 3-wheeled car) cut in front of you with no warning. It's very scary!
That night, the Boriellos came by to say their final goodbyes. I'm gonna miss them...:( Vita wanted a picture of us with the girls.

Friday, the Kretlys came in for Zone Conference. We took them to the new apartment for some elders - the ones that have been without water so much. Their new apt is so nice! They sent us a text the night they moved in and said it was the best shower since the MTC. Haha! We laughed, but knew what they meant because when you have been without water, you are really grateful to get it back!
Saturday was the District Relief Society activity. After we arrived, Isabel asked me and Sandi to go to the local paderia (in the rain) to buy rolls for the lunch.

  Here's me and another girl loading up the bags of rolls. They were huge bags!

The paderia on a Saturday morning...

Loading the rolls in the truck:

That's a 50 kg flour bag full of rolls!
Isabel had asked Sister Kretly and I to speak. I spoke on charity and gave examples of what people have done for us since we have been here, like the bracelet that one girl, Rudy, made me and the family that had us to dinner. I was going to read the sand-dollar story while I held up a sand-dollar, so I had a little panic moment when I realized that I'd forgotten to bring the story. There are a lot of weird words in the story that I don't have the vocabulary to translate off the top of my head, and I hadn't memorized it in Portuguese, so I just told it in English and Sister Kretly translated it for me. "Adapt"and "go with the flow" are part of our mantra here.
Sandi did a crochet demonstration. She's figured out how to cut plastic grocery sacks into strips and crochet them to make stuff. It's pretty cool and the ladies loved it because they are not creative here. Here's some one the things that she's made. It all made from plastic grocery bags!

After we spoke, each Branch did a performance. Here's Beira 1 doing a dramatization of the organization of Relief Society. 

 Mariana played Joseph Smith. They did a good job but it made me chuckle a bit...;) 

Here are the pioneer women:

Here's Joseph Smith and Emma (as played by Mariana and Emilia):

It was Chad's birthday so I made the signs and took them with me to the activity, looking for photo ops. Everybody was happy to help...
Here's the whole gang helping me wish Chad a Happy Birthday!
Everybody wanted to hold the signs. The gal in front looks happy, doesn't she?? Ha!

This group did a modeling show. That's kind of a big thing here: to just walk in a line and model your capalana. 

  Dad and I were at the church for a baptism the day before and these gals were practicing their walk so I asked them if they wanted me to show them how we model in the U.S. They said "Yes!" So I showed them and they all applauded. It was hilarious! But I noticed that they did do the 'stop, pause, turn, pause' technique so I guess they took it to heart. ;)
I held the gal on the end's baby while she modeled. He was a healthy little guy!

This group danced and they got into it. They were fun!

Then Ana Maria (my cute little widowed mother of 8) cut loose! I love this woman!!

That night, Brooke and Josh face-timed us with more good news and told us they are expecting #3!!! Wowie, Wowie!! That was a big surprise!!

Then dad surprised all of us, while Bee and I were chatting, by saying, "Here's some good flights for Virginia." I told him that he better not say that in front of Brooke unless he was serious and he said, "Of course, you've got to go back." So, Wahoo! I'm going to the U.S. of A. to see my little grand babies and meet the newest one!! Oh, and to help Brooker...;) I know I'm in for some reverse culture-shock so it should be exciting. But I'm way excited to see the babes!! So September it's 'goodbye Africa' - temporarily...
Sunday I had the sweetest thing happen: two boys were standing by the car and when I got out, one came up and handed me an orange. I asked him if it was for me and he nodded yes. He was so shy that as soon as I said thank you, he turned and darted off. Gosh, I appreciate it when the people give me things, but I also feel bad because I know it's usually a big sacrifice for them.
The people here aren't very demonstrative and especially with their kids. It's interesting. They do love babies here but after about age two they don't really hold them or touch them so it was weird for the kids when I hugged them or patted them. They didn't know what to do. But now they all come up and they'll lean against me or sit by me and lean on my lap. Today, a boy, about 8 or 9, came up while I was talking to someone after church and sat down and held my hand, so I squeezed his hand and he squeezed me back. Some other kids had gathered around, so he passed my hand to his friend and I squeezed his too and pretty soon everybody wanted to hold my hand and squeeze it. Funny kids. :)
Well, that's our week! We love you guys and pray mightily for you every day -

 often multiple times a day! ;)