Christmas in Mozambique

We celebrated Christmas here with the kids on Christmas Eve. I had helped Emelyn sort the gifts for the boys in the Jimmy dorms and found them all lifting their new backpacks to make sure they were all the same weight. They promptly went through the wallets looking for money and stuffing it in their pockets and wearing their new threads and sunglasses. The younger boys got water guns and climbed up in the playground fort and had a blast. I did too. (photos below)

Manuel and I had an agreement. He has coveted my watch for a long time. I have, on occasion, let him borrow it. He asked again recently for the 100th time and even told me where I could buy them, how much they were and the kind that he wanted. So we agreed to exchange gifts this year. I got a bag of potato chips and a package of cookies and he got a new watch from the China store. I think he liked it. He was wearing it at church on Sunday. 

Christmas Eve, Helene Inga and a few friends came over for dessert. I plugged in a single strand of Christmas lights. Ruth put on Christmas music. The air-con makes the lights go off intermittently. We each shared about our own holiday traditions in Brazil, Mozambique, Iceland and America. It felt so very at home but so far away from home at the same time. 

Christmas Day the church was packed. I was in charge of getting the goat to the live nativity. He broke loose and a boy chased him down for me. He broke loose again inside the church but was quickly caught and retied and wrangled up to the manger scene. We feed 4000 people on Christmas Day and the congregation was full of anticipation of the chicken dinner that awaited them. I had big plans to spend the day on the beach but wound up taking a rare afternoon nap and then cooking mashed potatoes for our missionary staff Christmas party. We played the White Elephant gift exchange game and I got a candy bar. I gave a Barak Obama belt from the street market. I thought it was cool but no one took it away from Jeff. Lucky him. Other than Christmas 1977 when I got a rattle, I have to say it was the leanest Christmas, materially, a girl could have. Yet it was the richest by far.  Manuel’s face opening his watch was priceless. The girls all dressed up and waiting to open their presents and delighting in their gifts was fun. Intermittent Christmas lights and dessert made from baracca basics with my new family was unforgettable. A Christmas spent getting to bless those in need was an honor. A Christmas spent here will change you forever. I have all I could ever want or need and then some. 

I was able to Skype with Laura and that was bitter sweet. I miss her terribly. She is my confidant and she makes me laugh so hard it hurts. I need her. John was quick to point out what a difference a year makes and how this time last year it was I who was Skyping him with Laura and the family. He was in Iraq and Laura and the kids and I were opening presents by the fire on Christmas morning in Kansas.  

Christine got a webcam for Christmas and I cannot wait to Skype her too! Internet and electricity permitting. If you have Skype, add me. I would love to hear from you. jena.grace.davis

I missed being with my own family and regret having missed them in the past. If my Visa situation stays the same, I will be home for Christmas next year and I already know it will break my heart to not be with my family here. My heart is in so many places.

School plans are progressing and we have lots in the works. For now, we simply need to get classes started in January. I am awaiting curriculum by mail and email and to be brought over by a few visitors. I am making files on each child in the coming weeks. We already have a few business ideas and I will share more as they progress. We may have the opportunity to open our own banana store! It would be the perfect set-up to teach the students about sales, supply and demand, marketing, savings and profit. It fits in perfectly with our social business model and would provide an excellent learning opportunity and equip our students in a tangible way. Rodrigo is leaving tomorrow for England and Brazil but coming back full-time in March. 

I remain in awe. I can’t believe I get to live this life. It is all because of you I get to do this. God is ever present, ever faithful. He is good. I am lifting all of you up this season. I am so grateful for you. Thank you for giving to me. I pray you are blessed ten fold for your generosity and prayers and that 2012 brings all that you want and need and then some.