Terri & Delciu picked us up & we headed to a spot where we could buy plants for SH#3. Got them but when we tried to dig, we hit cement. Plan B. Searched for old tires to use as planter successfully. Not that house looks even more like a home. We stopped at their local McD (NOT) for hamburgers & ate them at the factory. Luckily William was hungry for half of mine. Next we headed to visit Corrie, a Dutch lady who runs the Iris base for 100+ orphans...especially those with health needs... in Matola. Finally, in complete opposite end of the ring, we stopped to buy a few groceries at a new shopping mall that just opened. Very modern with aisles of stocked shelves. Terri is thrilled that the mall parking lot was half full and prays the middle class of Mozambique will be able to keep it open! By 5 we were in the pool again and 6:30 on our way out to dinner...we wanted to thank the Larsons. It was one of those "out of reality" times. We walked out of the world of poverty & into the world of wealth. Outside the hundreds of thrown together stalls selling dusty odds & ends and kids played in the dirt while moms with babies tied to their backs sweated. Inside a well decorated, large room with wine bottles artistically displayed & unique chandeliers lighted up tables covered with fresh linen & cloth napkins. Olive, tuna spread & breads were set before us as a bottle of wine/Coke Zero was served. We ordered steak & fish and gorged on the huge portions deliciously prepared and elegantly presented. Though we were all full, we couldn't turn down the delicious desserts staring at us from behind the sparkling refrigerated display case. Total bill for the five of us—$125.
And then we stepped out and back into how the majority of Mozambique is like...
Next a.m. we were packed & Terri dropped us off at the factory. After a warm goodbye, she left but I know we'll stay in touch. Don gave us a clearer & more detailed presentation of what he'd like to do with God's help: ten mini factories in the villages where cashews are grown and increase the size of the Matola factory ten fold. This would benefit thousands giving jobs to villagers & fair prices to the farmers. He has the vision, the knowledge, the energy...but is waiting for the funding. Got an extra million???
Our ride pulled up just as Don finished ending our visit. So off we went to our next adventure.
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Update 16
We're now living in a compound in Zimpeto which is home to about 200 orphans and quite a large staff. It's part of the Iris Ministry which has many homes like this in Africa. (Corrie's was one). Terri had recommended this as a good place to spend time.
We were given a thorough orientation which included a tour of the buildings: several girl or boy dorms, a baby room, disabled kids dorm, medical clinic, volunteers dorm & meeting hall, kitchen/dining room aka church on Sunday and also a school. The school, medical clinic & church are open to the community.
Brandi, the hospitality Director emphasized the steps Iris takes to try to keep kids with their family...even offering free food and/or medicines.
Of course, the baby room is my favorite and my first and last stop each day. Yesterday, the 2-5 year olds were playing in a pool barely big enough to hold all of them & the 3 littlest ones were splashing in a tiny pool. So fun to watch the how joyful & cool they were! I also visit the girls dorm daily playing games, putting together puzzles, playing London Bridges and reading books. I have to take a deep breathe & say a prayer before visiting the disable kids. Nine kids, most with extremes limitations rock & smile as I caress them, talk to them and encourage them to play with a toy. I'll never understand.
Rog carries balloons & a game and the young boys gladly join in. He also has a soft spot for one little 7-9 month old guy with huge eyes who always crawls to you when you walk in!
We are living in a small room that is a hot box but thankfully we have two fans since there are no other volunteers here. We are mostly fixing our own food as we'd made a run to the grocery store our first day here. Rog eats with the kids sometime but rice & beans gets old especially when we have fresh fruit, cz, eggs, pb & lots of bread...Rog bought 8 loaves...and Coke Zero in a cold frig!
Evenings are slow as the kids watch movies & the mosquitoes take over. It's hard to go to sleep in our hot room but a cold shower & both fans help a lot! Once you crawl under the mosquito net, you don't want to get out!
Sent from my iPhone
We were given a thorough orientation which included a tour of the buildings: several girl or boy dorms, a baby room, disabled kids dorm, medical clinic, volunteers dorm & meeting hall, kitchen/dining room aka church on Sunday and also a school. The school, medical clinic & church are open to the community.
Brandi, the hospitality Director emphasized the steps Iris takes to try to keep kids with their family...even offering free food and/or medicines.
Of course, the baby room is my favorite and my first and last stop each day. Yesterday, the 2-5 year olds were playing in a pool barely big enough to hold all of them & the 3 littlest ones were splashing in a tiny pool. So fun to watch the how joyful & cool they were! I also visit the girls dorm daily playing games, putting together puzzles, playing London Bridges and reading books. I have to take a deep breathe & say a prayer before visiting the disable kids. Nine kids, most with extremes limitations rock & smile as I caress them, talk to them and encourage them to play with a toy. I'll never understand.
Rog carries balloons & a game and the young boys gladly join in. He also has a soft spot for one little 7-9 month old guy with huge eyes who always crawls to you when you walk in!
We are living in a small room that is a hot box but thankfully we have two fans since there are no other volunteers here. We are mostly fixing our own food as we'd made a run to the grocery store our first day here. Rog eats with the kids sometime but rice & beans gets old especially when we have fresh fruit, cz, eggs, pb & lots of bread...Rog bought 8 loaves...and Coke Zero in a cold frig!
Evenings are slow as the kids watch movies & the mosquitoes take over. It's hard to go to sleep in our hot room but a cold shower & both fans help a lot! Once you crawl under the mosquito net, you don't want to get out!
Sent from my iPhone
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