Hi Everyone!

Well, here we find ourselves again in Maputo city after our three weeks at Zimpeto and Machava orphanages. We're starting to identify Maputo with the internet, I think, as it's the only real time that we have access - and that's a bad association.

We have been grieving for the past two days over the fact that our time is up at orphanages. We had an absolutely wonderful time; the orphanages were definitely the highlight of our trip so far, and we predict that it won't be easily topped. We've really discovered that it's the relationships you form in a place that makes your stay meaningful. We met so many people - kids, visitors, missionaries - who are so amazing, and right now it's hard to imagine being seperated from them.

Our stay at Zimpeto differed quite a lot from our stay at Machava.

Zimpeto is BIG, loud, and busy. There is always something going on. Not only are there close to 500 kids to spend time with, but there are also outreaches almost every day that visitors can partake in.

Some include: - Hospital Ministry,
- Street Ministry
- Prison Ministry
- the Bocaria (this is the city garbage dump. A massive pile of stench and smoke
and flies. It's high and wide -- probably the breadth of four soccer
fields put together. People live there, and spend most of their days
collecting food, cans, clothes - anything We were shocked the
number of people wading through rubbish).
- Som do Ceo (Youth group in Maputo)
- Overnight outreaches in "the Bush" -- that is rural Mozambique.

There are so many chances to get out and experience the work Iris ministries is doing. We were lucky enough to partake in all of them at least once over the 2 1/2 weeks that we were there.

I think one of our favorite experiences was going on a two night outreach to Pastor Fernando's hut in the bush - the closest town was Manhica (which isn't even on a map). It was just the two of us with Pastor Fernando and a 16 year old boy from the orphanage, who was our friend and translator. We finally felt like we were really in Africa. We finally saw how most people live. We slept in a tent on the hard cold sand just outside Fernando's straw, tin and mud hut. Life was very simple and pleasant. Fernando told us his family's difficult first months here. They arrived three years ago to start a church and were not not welcomed in the least. Their doors were beaten in the night, with people yelling threats on their lives. They stayed anyway. The children made up most of their congregation in the beginning. When the got home from church, their parents would beat them; they still came. The church is a lot better received now, thank God. We were warmly welcomed by the whole village.

Lots more to say about Zimpeto, but we'll save that for in person. All the relationship stuff...



Machava:

Small, quiet, and peaceful. Out in the country. Unlike at Zimpeto, kids wouldn't swarm us, nor would they be offended if we didn't remember their names. We found the kids, on the whole, more simple (we mean that in the best way possible). Most atMachava don't speak english, and they're not used to scores of visitors coming and going all the time. As a result, they haven't learned how to take advantage of people like us: visitors.

We had a lot of free time, as there not as many outreaches as at Zimpeto. It was a nice break from the chaos of Zimpeto.

Again, lots more to say, but we will spare you. For now...

Our journey continues into South Africa on the morrow. First stop: Kruger National Park.

If you'd like to see photos from Zimpeto, take a look at these websites:

http://sfu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13641&l=4d61e&id=513045324

http://sfu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13644&l=c9b52&id=513045324

Hope all is well!

Love,

Mindy and Elise