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Monday, February 10, 2020
Update 26
The Iris Ministry influence runs deep & far here. Even into the massive Maputo dump known as Helene where last year after a hard rain storm, one side collapsed & slide down covering the shacks where many lived. They can only estimate the deaths to be around 40. We went there today to take bread, prayers & encouragement to the people who dig through the garbage. A young Iris graduate has started a business there to give them a paying job. Using scrap metal & parts, he's designed & built a machine that bales the cardboard they find. My Dad could have been such a help to them!! He then can sell the bales...sometimes. Unfortunately his machine is broken & he has no $$ to buy parts and the recent rains have made it hard to sell the wet baled cardboard. His workers have made enormous piles of sorted colored glass but there is no Mozambican plant to recycle them. He is working on getting a license to export them but no luck yet. His workers were still shifting through the newest garbage stacking card board & he was still determined. This is faith I can't imagine.
As we walked among the piles of burning rubbish smoldering & smoking, a tiny girl...maybe 3...walked by me holding a couple green oranges. I turned to see who was watching her but only saw several older ladies sifting through garbage bags & pulling out thrown out food. One lady caught my eye & so I walked over & hugged her. If I'd had a $100...a $1000 dollar bill in my pocket, I would have given it to her.
We did get in a circle & pray together and then gave each two loaves of bread.
We got back in the van & drove just a little ways to where most of the "dump dwellers" live. Many people...especially kids ran out to meet us & again we passed out bread, breaking them in half for the youngest kids.
Two little boys about 4-5 ran off hysterically laughing & kicking up their heels. That's an imagine that will stay with me!
As we drove home, our driver, John (also an Iris grad) said he knew where he could buy lots of rice for a good price & after he dropped us off, that's what he was going to do. Imagine John who probably earned so little was so willing to give some away.
We'd again found a place to leave a donation. How could we not???
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As we walked among the piles of burning rubbish smoldering & smoking, a tiny girl...maybe 3...walked by me holding a couple green oranges. I turned to see who was watching her but only saw several older ladies sifting through garbage bags & pulling out thrown out food. One lady caught my eye & so I walked over & hugged her. If I'd had a $100...a $1000 dollar bill in my pocket, I would have given it to her.
We did get in a circle & pray together and then gave each two loaves of bread.
We got back in the van & drove just a little ways to where most of the "dump dwellers" live. Many people...especially kids ran out to meet us & again we passed out bread, breaking them in half for the youngest kids.
Two little boys about 4-5 ran off hysterically laughing & kicking up their heels. That's an imagine that will stay with me!
As we drove home, our driver, John (also an Iris grad) said he knew where he could buy lots of rice for a good price & after he dropped us off, that's what he was going to do. Imagine John who probably earned so little was so willing to give some away.
We'd again found a place to leave a donation. How could we not???
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Sunday, February 9, 2020
Update 25
The hair!! I did not know those darling little braids & artistically arranged ladies' braid we have seen so many Mozambicans wearing are mostly fake!! They buy extensions which are black as coal & perfectly matches their hair. Their own hair is usually very short & they braid the extension right onto their hair. It can take hours to do a whole head of those tiny, tiny braids. There are so many styles and so many tiny beads added in many ways.
It's a real time consumer for them. Every day I see girls with their head in someone's lap who is braiding or unbraiding their hair. I even worked on unbraiding today. I could hang pretty darn hard while holding the part closet to the head & the girl didn't flinch...I was pulling the fake part. After about 30 minutes, I'd taken out may 7 or 8 of the 100 or more she had.
Imagine about 60 girls needing this done about once a week!! Lots of girls pitch in...you'll see a 6 -7 year old doing a 4 -5 year old or a 12-13 yr old doing one of the caregivers. You even see the girls braiding extensions into their Barbie dolls' hair. Yup...white Barbies with blonde & black braids. They tried to do mine but the extensions slipped right out of my fine hair.
The things I never knew or thought about while admiring the Mozambicans' hair styles!
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It's a real time consumer for them. Every day I see girls with their head in someone's lap who is braiding or unbraiding their hair. I even worked on unbraiding today. I could hang pretty darn hard while holding the part closet to the head & the girl didn't flinch...I was pulling the fake part. After about 30 minutes, I'd taken out may 7 or 8 of the 100 or more she had.
Imagine about 60 girls needing this done about once a week!! Lots of girls pitch in...you'll see a 6 -7 year old doing a 4 -5 year old or a 12-13 yr old doing one of the caregivers. You even see the girls braiding extensions into their Barbie dolls' hair. Yup...white Barbies with blonde & black braids. They tried to do mine but the extensions slipped right out of my fine hair.
The things I never knew or thought about while admiring the Mozambicans' hair styles!
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Update 24
Iris has provided us with a variety of opportunities. One afternoon we again headed to Maputo along with another young minister to pray over patients who requested it. As we went from bed to bed, I tried hard to focus only on the patients & their visitor...but my eyes wandered to the torn mattresses, peeling paint, broken tables, holes in screens and general dismal & disrepair of the room.
Visitors are there as patients must have someone come to bring them food, feed them, bathe them & wash their clothes & bedding.
Almost everyone asked for prayers and few spoke any English so I could pretty much just say my thoughts. I could hear Roger telling them to remember to lean on God cause He is with them. The minister spoke with a voice full of compassion...much louder & longer.
One patient did speak English and her name was Jane! We chatted for quite a while & I was delighted to see her smile as she took my hand & squeezed it. I'd like to say I made each patient feel cared for...but I know Jane did!
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Visitors are there as patients must have someone come to bring them food, feed them, bathe them & wash their clothes & bedding.
Almost everyone asked for prayers and few spoke any English so I could pretty much just say my thoughts. I could hear Roger telling them to remember to lean on God cause He is with them. The minister spoke with a voice full of compassion...much louder & longer.
One patient did speak English and her name was Jane! We chatted for quite a while & I was delighted to see her smile as she took my hand & squeezed it. I'd like to say I made each patient feel cared for...but I know Jane did!
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Update 23
I've got an issue with Mozambican dress code for women! In almost 100 degree weather with high humidity...when turning on a fan feels like a furnace blast...women are expected to keep their knees & shoulders completely cover at all times. And for church, long skirts are required...and men must wear pants. Most local woman wear a long gorgeous cloth wrapped around their waist (called a capulanas) and under that they wear pants that cover their knees. It looks good but really??
Sweat dripping down my front & back is not a feeling I enjoy! On the plus side, I seldom have to use the bathroom where the mosquitoes hang out!
No wonder people often sit and just seem to be melting. Rog has been taking a shower in the middle of the day with all his clothes on so he stays cooler as the clothes dry on him.
Fortunately, we heard in South America the opposite is common. Lots of skin showing and it will be cooler. Kinda seems backwards but lots of things here do!!
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Sweat dripping down my front & back is not a feeling I enjoy! On the plus side, I seldom have to use the bathroom where the mosquitoes hang out!
No wonder people often sit and just seem to be melting. Rog has been taking a shower in the middle of the day with all his clothes on so he stays cooler as the clothes dry on him.
Fortunately, we heard in South America the opposite is common. Lots of skin showing and it will be cooler. Kinda seems backwards but lots of things here do!!
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Update 22
By Roger
To our surprise, Johnathon, told us that he thought the earth was flat. He is on the staff at Zimpeto and was driving us to a ministry outreach program.
We talked about the earth traveling around the sun and he disagreed, saying that the sun goes around the earth.
He also asked me, "What is truth?"
I said that you must be able to prove something for it to be true.
Then we got into a discussion about whether or not truth is the same for each person.
If you believe something to be true, correct or not, that belief will impact your perception of the world.
This seems to get to the issue of why people come to very different conclusions when given the same information.
The split in the US is coming from the different beliefs that individuals hold.
We need to find common truths that will bring us together.
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To our surprise, Johnathon, told us that he thought the earth was flat. He is on the staff at Zimpeto and was driving us to a ministry outreach program.
We talked about the earth traveling around the sun and he disagreed, saying that the sun goes around the earth.
He also asked me, "What is truth?"
I said that you must be able to prove something for it to be true.
Then we got into a discussion about whether or not truth is the same for each person.
If you believe something to be true, correct or not, that belief will impact your perception of the world.
This seems to get to the issue of why people come to very different conclusions when given the same information.
The split in the US is coming from the different beliefs that individuals hold.
We need to find common truths that will bring us together.
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Update 21
On one of our outings to Maputo (the capital), we drove a good 4 lane road with a sidewalk that skirted the Indian Ocean. We passed by fishing boats, flamingoes, several kite surfers, a beach volleyball game & people enjoying the huge beach. Vendor stalls & a few nice food trailers lined much of the road. Chicken was cooking over charcoal fires and tables & chairs were set up under trees. The buildings overlooking the ocean were much bigger & nicer than any we'd seen. Several were embassies based on the flag flying in front. The largest & most elegant was a Chinese hotel. As I've mentioned, the Chinese do most the construction here.
After we left the tall buildings behind, we cam to flat fields many with large & small sections walled off but nothing inside. We were told that if you buy land in Mozambique, the first thing you must do is wall it or the gov't will claim it back. The owner than may take years to build on it. Many building we saw were only partially built. Loans here are very expensive and hard to get.
Vehicles are an equal mix of newer & jalopies. No window, no door, no trunk panel...no problem. In less than an hour, I saw three cars being pushed. Buses are an equal mix of bigger & cleaner or crappy & crowded. Vans is the most common way to get around & they can squished over 20 in them. Over 20 also can ride in the back of a truck and at least there they have air flow...and if the tailgate doesn't open...they seem better off!.
The rule of the road seems to be: get there however you can. Sidewalks, wrong side of road, between parked or stopped cars...wherever. I haven't spotted a parking meter or a line down the center yet.
In spite of this, our drivers always seem calm & seldom use their horn! I have learned to avoid looking out the front window and enjoy looking out the side window.
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After we left the tall buildings behind, we cam to flat fields many with large & small sections walled off but nothing inside. We were told that if you buy land in Mozambique, the first thing you must do is wall it or the gov't will claim it back. The owner than may take years to build on it. Many building we saw were only partially built. Loans here are very expensive and hard to get.
Vehicles are an equal mix of newer & jalopies. No window, no door, no trunk panel...no problem. In less than an hour, I saw three cars being pushed. Buses are an equal mix of bigger & cleaner or crappy & crowded. Vans is the most common way to get around & they can squished over 20 in them. Over 20 also can ride in the back of a truck and at least there they have air flow...and if the tailgate doesn't open...they seem better off!.
The rule of the road seems to be: get there however you can. Sidewalks, wrong side of road, between parked or stopped cars...wherever. I haven't spotted a parking meter or a line down the center yet.
In spite of this, our drivers always seem calm & seldom use their horn! I have learned to avoid looking out the front window and enjoy looking out the side window.
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Update 19
This morning we took off to Maraquene...about 30 minutes away...where the Iris Ministry has helped set up a small community for the Iris kids who've grown up & need to learn to live independently. Rev Pedro met us there & showed us the simple homes they built & tried to explain how difficult it is to find a job. You actually have to pay to get most jobs. (Don Larson had told us this too.). Faced with the challenges of supporting yourself, Iris kids...really most kids here...end up on the street selling odds & ends...possibly stealing...living a poor life. Here stealing is not considered as bad as we think of it because it's part of the "you do what you gotta do to eat" mindset.
Pedro took us to a small cement block factory he has built where he has 4 or 5 guys working now but is praying for more funding so he could double his production & profits. He needs $375. Now he produces 1000 blocks at 2 Met profit per block = 2000 Met ($33) a week. Pedro also has a dream of starting a job-training school for mechanics, plumbers, electricians, computers skills, etc.
Several people have told us that besides gov't corruption...lack of jobs is the biggest problem in Mozambique. We often wonder why we end up being taken to so many different places. This time we knew. We see helping train & support jobs as a solid long term investment and a good place to donate some of the $$ that DUMC & friends have sent with us. It's humbling to be the hands that actually hand over the gift!
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Pedro took us to a small cement block factory he has built where he has 4 or 5 guys working now but is praying for more funding so he could double his production & profits. He needs $375. Now he produces 1000 blocks at 2 Met profit per block = 2000 Met ($33) a week. Pedro also has a dream of starting a job-training school for mechanics, plumbers, electricians, computers skills, etc.
Several people have told us that besides gov't corruption...lack of jobs is the biggest problem in Mozambique. We often wonder why we end up being taken to so many different places. This time we knew. We see helping train & support jobs as a solid long term investment and a good place to donate some of the $$ that DUMC & friends have sent with us. It's humbling to be the hands that actually hand over the gift!
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Update 20 cont...
Oops...sent that too soon.
As I was saying, there is another saying around here that if a Mozambican throws something away, it is truly useless. They know how to make something from scraps...and sell it!! Metal is welded to together to make grills, bed, chairs, etc. Plastic containers are in demand to store water. Pop cans are used to make wheels for toys. Broken cement blocks & old tires hold down tarps covering vendor stalls. Old car parts are dislocated also on top of auto part stores. Cloth strips are used to tie together larger branches to form the vendor's stalls and cloth pieces are also used to sit on while waiting for the transport vans to arrive. The uses of scraps is endless. Don't need recycle bins here!
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As I was saying, there is another saying around here that if a Mozambican throws something away, it is truly useless. They know how to make something from scraps...and sell it!! Metal is welded to together to make grills, bed, chairs, etc. Plastic containers are in demand to store water. Pop cans are used to make wheels for toys. Broken cement blocks & old tires hold down tarps covering vendor stalls. Old car parts are dislocated also on top of auto part stores. Cloth strips are used to tie together larger branches to form the vendor's stalls and cloth pieces are also used to sit on while waiting for the transport vans to arrive. The uses of scraps is endless. Don't need recycle bins here!
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Update 20
There's a saying here that Mozambique roads never end. We now know why they say that. Their definition of a road is very different than USA. We were on our way to visit Rev. Pedro & due to arrive at 9. We left about 9 & it should have been a 20 minute drive. After our driver, John turned off the main road, he kept running into impassable mud holes in the road...picture red clay with several inches of water all the way across both lanes. Repeat, repeat, repeat! The 20 minutes was now almost an hour which pleased John who spoke English and was happily yakking & avoiding yet another bad spot in the road. Besides mud holes, sand pits & rutted hills was like a challenge to him. When it looked like we could go no further...he'd just turn down what looked like a walking path & say "no worries, Mozambique roads never end...and the path eventually turned into a one lane road. Thank goodness for 4 wheel drive! This is definitely a off roading experience. We did arrived around 10:30 but no problem, no explanation needed. Pedro was waiting patiently.
Another saying here is if a Mozambican throws something away, it is truly useless.
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Another saying here is if a Mozambican throws something away, it is truly useless.
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Friday, February 7, 2020
Update 18
We'd never been to a street ministry...until today. Three young Iris men, Glenda (a Brazilian volunteer visiting here from another ministry) & us drove to downtown Maputo, & pulled off into an alley. Over a cement wall we could see the correlated roofs, smoke rising and hear a pig snort occasionally. Six young kids, 4 young men & one older gentleman joined us on steps that seemed to go no where. After the Iris men sang & preached a little while, Glenda, Rog & I were asked to speak. What do you say??? I prayed & then talked about how God cared for them and so did I. Rog encouraged them to remember that God is with them so look to Him for strength. After a bit more singing, we gave each kid a balloon, Glenda had suckers for them and each got two loaves of bread.
I'd noticed the youngest girl...probably 2 or 3...had an oozing scrap on her knee and flies kept landing on it. So since Glenda speaks Portuguese, I gave her a clean cloth & bandaid so she could clean & protect the scrap. Of course, many of the kids then showed their wounds. Unfortunately I only had one more band aid.
It struck me that his street ministry was like a band aid. A tiny fix for the day. Perhaps it'll help heal a wound. Guess that's what I left there hoping!
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I'd noticed the youngest girl...probably 2 or 3...had an oozing scrap on her knee and flies kept landing on it. So since Glenda speaks Portuguese, I gave her a clean cloth & bandaid so she could clean & protect the scrap. Of course, many of the kids then showed their wounds. Unfortunately I only had one more band aid.
It struck me that his street ministry was like a band aid. A tiny fix for the day. Perhaps it'll help heal a wound. Guess that's what I left there hoping!
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Update 17
Sunday church starts at 9 so says the schedule. The praise band starting getting warmed up a bit after 9 and at 9:45, the real deal started. Mozambique time. Many people came later...some in the back of packed trucks...or in Iris vans...also packed. About 10:15, the preacher shouted, "Let's sing and dance to the Lord!" And with much enthusiasm & rhythm ...they did!! We had been given a translator so we could understand...imagine that here?? About an hour later, a young preacher who had grown up here in Iris & had become quite wealthy building homes started preaching...in English! He was super charismatic and he was being translated by another guy who used as much expression and body language as the preacher! It was a two man show. The preacher said some people have given him a hard time about having such a big home but he told them he was blessed by God and refused to feel anything but blessed. Not guilty or ashamed. He'd prayed hard, worked hard and believed he could improve his life. He challenged the congregation...especially the local leaders...to do the same. He said, "Don't be ashamed to be a Mozambique ...be proud of what you can and will become!" A strong message to all the young Iris boys & girls sitting in the pews. He actually said a lot more...spoke for 2 hours...but that was the gist of it.
I kinda wished I'd recorded it all and given it to Jack Harnish (our former pastor) to minimize & deliver in one of his dynamic 30 minute sermons!
The rest of Sunday & Monday (a Nat'l holiday) was slow time which gave us time to play games, color and of course, hold babies.
It's was so hot that just thinking about moving is strenuous. It's almost 100 degrees at 3 and starts to cool down around 5 to about 85 degrees. That's when we feel energized & actually toss around the frisbee or football.
Tomorrow will be the first day back to school...like our fall...so uniforms were being passed out, girls were braiding hair & the boys got their heads shaved. Kids told us they were excited to go back to school and like school. The school day is 8 to noon for the younger ones and 1 to 5 for the older ones. The class size at the Iris school (which is open to all) is about 50...average in public schools is 75-80.
So Tuesday, the kids were up at 5:30 (lots of kids to share few bathrooms) and gone by 7:30 and we had the whole morning to spend time with the disabled & babies. Kids came back excited about their day and ready to play with us. Sure wish we could communicate better so we could really hear more about their day!
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I kinda wished I'd recorded it all and given it to Jack Harnish (our former pastor) to minimize & deliver in one of his dynamic 30 minute sermons!
The rest of Sunday & Monday (a Nat'l holiday) was slow time which gave us time to play games, color and of course, hold babies.
It's was so hot that just thinking about moving is strenuous. It's almost 100 degrees at 3 and starts to cool down around 5 to about 85 degrees. That's when we feel energized & actually toss around the frisbee or football.
Tomorrow will be the first day back to school...like our fall...so uniforms were being passed out, girls were braiding hair & the boys got their heads shaved. Kids told us they were excited to go back to school and like school. The school day is 8 to noon for the younger ones and 1 to 5 for the older ones. The class size at the Iris school (which is open to all) is about 50...average in public schools is 75-80.
So Tuesday, the kids were up at 5:30 (lots of kids to share few bathrooms) and gone by 7:30 and we had the whole morning to spend time with the disabled & babies. Kids came back excited about their day and ready to play with us. Sure wish we could communicate better so we could really hear more about their day!
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Monday, February 3, 2020
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Update 15
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.
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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
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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