First Family Camping Trip

A few weeks ago we went out as a family to visit a new work area and to share the Jesus film with the people there. We took our faithful friend Pastor Choosie with us and traveled for about 4 hours to what felt like the end of the earth. 

Everyone did very, very well, however there were challenges!

The Mozambican mountains!
It is crazy because we live near the ocean
and don't think much about our country having mountains!

The sun starting to set.....and we were not there yet!

A full car

This was the happy Meghan!

Their brand new structure

Guests are ALWAYS honored with a seat in this country.
Here was our set-up when we arrived.
Be assured that this was the absolute best they had to offer.
(They insisted that Lee sit in the "big" chair -- the green one)

So......we sat down
and...they watched us!

Beginning to unload the equipment

Then we started with out tents.
The problem was that everyone in this community wanted to stand and stare at us.

So......I decided to get some frisbees going before my children came unglued!!!!

The group really enjoyed these flying objects, even the older ladies.

But, eventually, they grew tired of this game and came back to stare.

So, we continued to put up tents as the sun went down and the people watched over us.

We were able to set the tents up in a way that gave the girls a little bit of privacy.
Then the Jesus film started and all the kids went to watch that.
Praise the Lord that Jesus draws a bigger crowd than the white girls!!!!

Finally, about 9:30pm they had our dinner ready.
We had rice and goat.
Then, I put everyone in bed!

Despite trouble with equipment....the Jesus film was shown to around 200 people from this tiny village and surrounding villages.

Pray for this work to continue in Jesus's name!

I want to be able to say that we loved on these people and 

share Jesus with them, but it was hard to do. 

For one, almost no one spoke Portuguese. 

Also, it was so hot and dusty that doing anything was very difficult.

We had no electricity, no bathroom....well...

we had a little square grass walled structure where you "go" on the ground. 

We had only the water that we carried.....which we ran out of!

Then, it was so hot!!! There was only one tree in this whole village for shade.

And we did not sleep much........

We have learned that when a church has guests, it is customary to play the drums and 

sing as long as possible through the night.

It is kind of like the longer they keep you awake.....the more they are glad you came!!

Well.....they were glad we were there.....and we got very little sleep!

The next morning Lee enjoyed talking with some pastors that he knows from some neighboring villages.
Everyone else was having a very hard time getting going.
We had some bread and bananas for breakfast.

Trying to put on their big girl pants and a smile.

Time for church to start.
Can you see how hot they were?

Lee preaching!!

After church we went and sat under the one tree to wait on lunch.
ALL of the kids came to look at the white kids.
I thought Meghan might take someone out at any point.
Notice that you do not see her.
She is in the car taking this picture.
She wanted you to be able to see how the kids were crowding around us.

Normally the kids and I try to interact with the women and children,
but this day it was just too hot and we were so tired.
It was very hard to show Jesus's love this day.

As soon as we had lunch, we jumped in the car and headed to the nearest town (an hour away) to buy soda and cold water!!!! 

Then, we headed home for some cold showers and our beds!!!

And, we will press on!!

Tracy