26 Aug - 1 Sep 2013 Pie,PDayWalk,Elder Cyrier,TestimonyMtg

Monday of this week marked our 1^st month from when we left the United States.  I made an apple pie for FHE dessert – we invited the Hobsons over for FHE.  I had to use margarine instead of shortening for the pie crust, so the crust was more elastic and firm rather than flakey, but it was still very delicious as it was made with Granny Smith apples!

Monday is “P” day and our goal was to get close enough to the water to see the waves breaking on the edge of the sea wall.  We were gone about 4 hours and walked about 3 miles.  (I originally wanted to find the sand and beach to walk along, but Dad said we would have had to have walked probably another 3 miles or so).  We saw some very interesting things on our walk.  When we went by one of the schools, it was recess, we supposed, and the children were by the fence buying little wrapped candy treats from street vendors through the fence.  We turned down “Avenida Guerra Popular” and threaded our way through street vendors selling everything from apples and pineapples to shoes and electric converters.

We walked quite a ways and then were surprised to see this huge statue by the city’s old train station, “Estação dos caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (1908-1910).” 

 

The statue is in memory of those of died in WW I. This woman warrior armed with a shield and a gládio (also known as “glaive” an ancient European weapon composed of a blade on a shaft) defended her people by killing the serpent.  Words around the statue were:  Evala; Mecala; Forca (force) Quiomba; Genio (genius)  The statue is part of the “praca” (park) of the “trabalhadores” (workers). 

The next historical place we found was the Mozambique Fort restored in 1955 from the 1800’s.  This was on the sign:  “Fortaleza (1955) Nossa senhora de Conceicão Reconstruida no espaço da Velha Fortaleza.” 

They didn’t have a tour, but there were lots of historical maps, anchors, cannons and other things to look at.  Here are some of the iron reliefs which depicted battles in Gaza, which was an earlier name for part of Mozambique.

Representação da Prisão de Naungunhar Imperador de Gaza; Sculptor, Leopol de Almeida:

Naungunhar (1850-1906) was the tribal king and vassal of the Portuguese empire who rebelled and was defeated by Joaquim Mouzinho de Albuquerque and lived the rest of his life in exile.  He was the last ruler of Gaza.

Representação das Campanhas Miitares de Ocupação do Território; Sculptor, Leopoldo de Almeida:

Joaquim Mousinho de Albuquerque Comandante de Cavalria (with Richard); Sculptor, Semôes de Almeiea:

Representação de Militares das Campanhas de Ocupação:

This wooden casket, made by Paulo Como, holds the urn with the remains of Ngungunyane (1845-1906) King of Gaza from 1884-1895.   He was a hero of the resistance of Portuguese colonization.  He was exiled and died in Africa.

These hedges are Bougainvillea.  We have seen them in red, orange, purple and white.  The blue flowers are Plumbago.

We finally made it to the water. 

This is a ferry that goes to Catembe Island.

Part of the plan for our walk was to go to the Kentucky Fried Chicken down near the water on “Avenida 25 de Setembro.”  Well, we found the place and were going in, but were told that it was closed because they didn’t have any power!  That was at noon – so we walked home and had leftover goulash at 1 p.m.!  On the way home we saw this interesting panel on one of the roadsides:

Sunrise in Maputo:

We are busy with our assignments at the Mission Office; we have also been entering many convert baptism records on the church’s system.  I love the weekly Staff Meeting.  Even if the President is not in town, he still “attends” via “GoToMeeting” software.  There is much to coordinate every week.

On Tuesday evening we went to the English class which the sister missionaries are teaching at the Maputo church building.  Many young people and some adults were there and it was interesting to observe that they had the same feelings of feelings of reticence about trying to say English words as I have in trying to pronounce Portuguese words.  In the practice time, Richard and I spoke with João, 17 years old.  I would ask him things in Portuguese and he would answer in English.  It was fun helping each other. 

In the evenings I have been working with Zoe on the Etienne LUSSIER & Victoire RENAUD family.  She is researching on FamilySearch and I am researching on Ancestry.com.  This family started out with 5 known children.  We are now up to 12!  It’s fun to work together to gather information on this 3^rd great grand aunt & uncle.

It is springtime here and I like to gather blossoms which have fallen from the trees and bushes and then press them.  We went to a store named “Game” later in the week and they had a little nursery outside with lots of indoor and outdoor flowers and bushes.  It is the only place I have seen plants for sale.  I picked out this pink verbena plant and these deep purple and yellow mini petunias to put in one of our balcony windows.  I sure miss my garden!!! 

INSECT UPDATE:  ants, 2 yellow bumble bees flying in tandem, 1 black bumble bee, a cabbage butterfly, and dragon flies both large and small.

Sunday was the first fast and testimony meeting that we attended in the Maputo branches.  Elder Cyrier, one of the AP’s, was among the many testimonies borne today; it was his last testimony meeting as he is leaving to go home in about 3 weeks.  He loves this country, especially the people.  He has taught many families the gospel, and he is like a son to many parents in this and other branches. We have been riding with him and his companion Elder Tanner to the Mission Office and we have heard Elder Cyrier say many times, “Every day I fall in love with this country!” as he looks at a magnificent sunset or waves breaking on the seashore. 

In Primary today, I only understood a little of what was said, but I am learning the children’s songs in Portuguese and I love singing them with the children.  One of the parts of their meeting I did understand was their testimonies.  Most of them speak slower and the words they are using are familiar to me.  We attended both branches again today.  In the first sacrament meeting I felt the spirit and wanted to bear my testimony, but multiple people came up at a time and the meeting ended before I made my way to join them.  I was determined to go up during the next meeting.  I noticed that when people wanted to go up to the microphone they went and sat on the first row of the congregation, so when one sister went up I made my move and then I was committed!  My heart was pounding so much!  “Boa tarde!  Eu não entendo todas as palavras em Portuguese, mas eu sento o Espirito Santo.  Eu tenho o testemunho A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Ultimos Dias.  Sei que o Livro de Mormon é a palavra de Deus.  Sei que o plano do salvation é muita especialmente.  Eu sei que Jesus Cristo é meu Salvador.  Sei que as familias ser eterna.  Eu assisto Primaria.  Eu amo as criancas.  Eu tenho netas e netos em Estados Unidos.  Eu amo minha netas e netos.  Eu sou grata esta aqui em Mozambique.  Eu quero de entender mais Portuguese. Este é minha testemunho em nome de Jesus Cristo.  Amem.”  I did it!  I have a strong testimony.  No language barrier is going to stop me from sharing it!