domingo (sunday)

as i sit upright and Indian-style, taking my malaria pill with warm bottled water and a had full of almonds, sweat beaded on my upper lip, under my mosquito net, stained with tiny remnants of the vile creatures, i don't quite know where to start. in writing, you are supposed to know your audience. i am supposed to see who i am writing to and tell them them story. so here i see, Graham & Teena, my sister, Terra, Christine, Betty and my handful of loyal readers. so if you were here sharing this bottle of Agua de nascente with me, i guess this is what i would tell you: 

the flight here was an incredible blessing. i packed in a daze, methodically packing, as i have done all of this before. not much is required to come to Mozambique, flip flops, a dress that covers the knees, malaria pills, and peanut butter. you can even get that here, but Jif is way better than Black Cat. in the International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson i start to dream. about my future you would ask. no, i would say. i dream about the possibility of first class to jo'burg. sleep. lying all the way down. the little silver tray with ice-cream and your choice of toppings. i have been told i am 3rd on the stand-by list. i position myself close to the gate agents but far enough away so i remain unrecognized as the over-eager, annoying, obnoxious standby passenger that i am truly becoming. i want to know! this woman holds my fate in her hands, will i be escorted to a night of deep sleep, full-size pillow bliss or will i be stuck in the back in an upright position, strangers on either side, in misery? she calls my name. seat 11B. first class, baby! 

so i am going to Mozambique to stay on the base at Iris Ministries and help out. one of their founding directors is an African by the name of Supressa Sithole. he is on my flight. i just found it completely ironic, that one of the leaders of the ministry i am going to serve, is on my flight. upon arrival to jo'burg i had two tiny dilemmas: 1. i needed to call cathi who was picking me up. i would be staying with her during my two day layover. 2. i needed to get to the shuttle and fast because our flight was delayed in the ATL and i was running late. at baggage claim Supressa dialed Cathi for me, and even had her number in his phone and then quickly escorted me to the shuttle because he was taking the same one. even though i could have done all of that on my own, it would have been difficult, but i would have found a way, it was so incredibly nice to have an escort. it was also so evident of God and how on He could orchestrate such a random connection.

nelspruit was beautiful and way too quick of a visit. cathi is a missionary at African School of Missions and teaches mission students. it is in the African countryside outside of Nelsprit. i stayed there two nights, and attempted to recover from jetlag. i got to sit in on one of cathi's classes and watch this beautiful woman pour out her life into eager young students and that was an honor.

travel to Pemba took an entire, very exhausting, day. the only excitement was, that upon arrival to Jo'burg i checked my email. i had one telling me i needed $84 cash for my Visa. i didn't have $84 cash and there were no ATM's. i had $65, not $84. i only needed $20 and it would cost more than that in fees to get money out at the airport and i was short on time. i decided to just have peace as God is faithful and good and plus i was too tired to muster up too much stress and anxiety. i boarded. i arrived in Maputo and stood in line to get my Visa, just assured that it would all work out. it is my turn at the counter and i find out i owe $66, not $84, i hand over all my cash, $65. she presses me for the remaining dollar. i turn my wallet upside down. the cute German guy in white capri pants in front of me, who is sorting his Visa back into his bag, realizes my dilemma and pays the extra dollar for me. i grab my Visa, thank him, and board my flight to Pemba.

so now i am here. and everything is more than fine. i have my OWN ROOM right across from my friend Tanya! i thought she would be living on the other base and i would never see her, but she is my neighbor! i went swimming with the dolphins yesterday morning and that was a day i will never forget. we all piled in to a wooden boat with a motor on the back, drove till we saw dolphins and then all plopped over the side and chased them. you could see under water with your mask and see them gracefully turning and circling underneath the water. you could hear their conversations under water. it was incredible. the only thing that would have been more amazing would have been if they stopped and let me grab a fin. i want to go back and do this again. we then went to a little island and snorkeled along the reef. so many fish. in so many colors and patterns and shapes. coral. so many eyes under there, inches away. we drank Coke in a bottle. the panoramic views were breathtaking. it is rainy season so everything is lush and green. words cannot describe. i fear that attempt to upload pictures will only be in vain. but i will try. 

for now, i think i will get dressed and find my french press and make a cup of coffee. it is hot. so coffee honestly doesn't sound so good right now. but instant oatmeal does, so i will make that too.  big plans this week to interview the director of education for this region. excited about that. little girls are clapping and singing outside my window to the left. a hear a giggle. visitors are playing a guitar outside my window to the right. my mosquito net stinks and i reckon i kinda do too. my legs need shaving badly. my face is sunburned. i'm so happy that this is my life. so undone that the State of Georgia released me to go and do, painful but full of peace. great things are coming. more soon.