We have decided that our wall in the kitchen is our art gallery. The first entry in our gallery, next to some purchased screen prints, is an amazing picture of a tiger drawn by Draeton.
We were pleasantly surprised this week to see that mail can
actually get from the USA to Mozambique. However, it does take a couple of weeks. Schneblys
tested it and now we have some more original art work on our wall from Sarah and Sedona! Postage does cost $1.10 for a one-ounce letter.
You can also send pictures by email, and we can print them out. We would like
to run out of space for art on the wall.
With over 200 families being baptized in 2013, the interest
is in moving them forward to temple endowments and marriage and family sealings. The
church’s Temple Patron Fund financially helps members and their families to
attend the temple for the first time after they have made a significant
sacrifice. This is a great fund to which you may wish to contribute as it is
administered very carefully and offers great blessings to worthy members. Just
indicate on the church donation form that it is for the “Temple Patron Fund.” Let your money cause someone to say, “I never
thought I could ever take my family to the temple in my life-time, and now I
can go through the temple and be sealed to them forever.”
President Kretly noted that missionaries in Mozambique are
baptizing the first generation in the Church here in this country. These
members here are true pioneers for Mozambique. He reminded us that we are
helping to build the foundation for the future as we train leaders here.
We were surprised when we received an email from “Afri-Bat”
an organization that tracks bat colonies.
They had noted the bat pictures we had on our blog! They told us that
“our” bats were Straw-colored Fruit Bats. We registered on the site and may be
returning to the bat park again to document the bats are still there and to get
more pictures. I thought after two
visits we were done with bats, but maybe not!
See http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/afribats.
For those of you who are interested here are the latest insects.
Yesterday I went to pay our electricity bill. While I was walking I heard the peeping of little chickens in the middle of a very busy city! Then I saw them in cardboard boxes. There were lots and lots of fuzzy yellow shapes. People were coming to buy them to raise them.
Just about every day on the way to
the office we see this store that says on the partially hidden sign “Surprise”.
Maybe we will have to go find out what they sell at such a store.
Due to very active excitement in the politics of an
election, the Mission President has asked all missionaries to stay in their
apartments all day and night of Wednesday, November 20. Here is an invite from
Mom to sister missionaries to come and do Christmas crafts on Wednesday when we
need to stay in. Some of P-Day was delayed until Wednesday when we need to stay
in. The sister missionaries all live in the same apartment building as we do. The pictures show
the voters in line and the Christmas craft activity with (standing) Sister Naehu, Sister Olander, Sister Smith, Sister Harrison, Sister Baldwin, and, (seated in front), Sister Thornton, and Sister Merkley.
Here are a few pretty pictures from the week. The red petals on the sidewalk are from the acacia trees.
We had seen geese in the yard below our apartment. Now we
see lots of goslings. Did you know that
a group of goslings is called a gaggle?
The weather doesn’t suggest to us that it’s nearing the
holidays, but next week it is December! Mom
and I put up the Christmas tree in the Mission Office. The bright blue lights really stand out!
Remember the zinnia seeds I (Grandma) planted in a pot? It isn’t much, but one of the gangling stems
produced the first tiny pink blossom. I
really should have transplanted them outside, but I didn’t know where a safe
place would be that they wouldn’t be pelted by the heavy rain storms we have
here.
We got to go bird-watching on Saturday “down by the
bay.” The larger birds are
white-breasted cormorants.
As we came up from the beach children were sliding down the
edge of the steps on crushed plastic water bottles for “sleds.”
Sunday we went to the Magoanine
Branch. Mom got to speak about the plan
of salvation and Family History and Temple Work.
Can you say “InhamÃzua”? It might
take some practice; it did more us! In-ham-E(long
e)-zoo-a
How about Magoanine? Mag-o(long o)-a-KNEE-knee
Here are some comments from the
LDS Church News, November 2013 that echo many of our feelings about Africa and
our mission here in Mozambique.
“The Church is vibrant and growing in Africa,” said Elder David A. Bednar of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during his recent visit to the Africa Southeast
Area.
There is an eagerness and light in the eyes of the African
Latter-day Saints, he said. “This is a place where many people live
challenging, difficult lives. They don’t have many of the temporal comforts and
blessings that people in the Western world have. Many of these Saints are
grateful to have one substantial meal a day. Yet because of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, they have great light and hope. I learn a great deal from the people
every time I visit the African continent.”
“Africa is an enchanting and inspiring place,” said Elder
Bednar. “Africa is diverse and complex. There are highly industrialized and
sophisticated communities and rural and simple villages. The gospel of Jesus
Christ gathers all kinds of people into the gospel net. Even though there is a
common strong faith among the Latter-day Saints, there is also a remarkable
diversity.”
Elder Christensen, on his first visit to Africa, stated the area
was “quite different, quite diverse, quite broad from any other place we have
been in the world. As we mingled with the Saints, we observed strong faith and
spiritual depth.”
Elder Christensen said members have a desire to bless and watch
out for one another, which “is a natural extension of the Savior’s gospel.”
Elder Bednar said, “Finding people to teach is not a fundamental
problem in Africa. The challenge is making sure there are sufficient priesthood
and auxiliary leaders to support the growth so the Church can be unified and
strong.”
“The maturity of the Church is to be found in the hearts of
people. In Africa I find a very mature Church,” he said. “The family is the
center of the gospel, evidenced by the way these people live the gospel in
their homes.”
“This is a land, a people, and a place of great faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “You can feel it as well as hear it when these
Saints pray and when they sing.
“These members have a simple faith that is uncluttered. It is
focused on Christ. And it brings many blessings and spiritual gifts into their
lives.”
In closing, Elder Bednar affirmed, “Every time I have an
opportunity to come and witness what the Lord is accomplishing among the people
here, it is thrilling for me. Africa changes me.”
CN 18 November 2013
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