Elaine with the ladies from the Machamba project Shocks/Challenges/Worst Moments:

The end of July saw the arrival of our wonderful friends, Chris and Elaine. Their visit was awaited with some fear and trepidation on both sides.  Over the last 6 or 7 years, we have spent many holidays together (they are very long-suffering!) with our many children and a few add-ons, so it was not the thought of being in very close proximity for the next 3 weeks that was the anxiety factor – well, no more than usual.  The reason was that they have never been to Africa before – indeed any two-thirds world context – let alone one as remote and poor as Angoche.  When we were arranging the trip, our little town appeared to us to be the hottest place on the planet (of course it wasn’t) and we were aware that Elaine was not fond of much sun and heat!  The journey to get there is somewhat lengthy and “bitty”.  All in all, probably not the most endearing of places to someone who once said – and I quote

“I did not want to go anywhere close to the equator, to Africa at all, and nowhere where it’s hot, there’s poor sanitation and dusty roads, or ridden with insects – I hated the idea of that.” (More of that quote from Chris later on….)

A quick stop on the road to Angoche

In fact by the time of their visit, the weather was much more pleasant – even a little chilly for us as we have adapted to the climate, but poor sanitation, dusty roads, insects – we can tick those boxes all the year round.   Chris and Elaine finally arrived at the airport just as the sun was setting: they had to wait a further 48 hours for their luggage to join them. We bundled them into the Land Rover and drove off into the dimness of the poorly-lit, busy streets of Nampula.  Security is an issue in the city (not so much out in Angoche) so as we approached a multitude of locals milling around the edges of the road – and into it as well – Julian instructed us to lock our doors.  This is relatively familiar territory to us, but for Chris and Elaine, who in the darkness had no idea that this was just people buying their veg on the way home from work from the many stalls at the side of the road, it was a challenging induction into life here as they thought we were driving into the centre of a riot.

Their 3 week trip consisted of 1 night on an aeroplane, 4 nights at the Wycliffe base in Nampula, 5 nights in Angoche, 1 night in Maputo, 2 nights at Mercy Air in White River, 8 nights in Hazyview and 1 final night in Johannesburg – the second half of the time being our holiday and also fulfilling our visa requirements of exiting Mozambique every 90 days.

Towards the end of the time we talked about how they had found the trip – highlights, lowlights, amusing anecdotes etc.    So below is some of the feedback:

C and E:  Coming out of the airport in the dark on the first night.

C:  The snapshot pictures captured in my brain of beggars and poor people in the street – the questions of how to deal with them and then live with whatever response I made or didn’t make

E:  Hearing of the alleged moral corruption in the schools, no roof on the primary school, 150 kids per class in a small tin roofed shack currently part of a secondary school.

C: Realising not just how poor people are but how “rich” we are in comparison, and yet how much we waste – I didn’t realise how much stuff I had that I didn’t really need  until I had to live without our luggage for 2 days – all I really needed was a pair of sandals, shirts and shorts. (Editor’s comment – what about underwear?) Losing the luggage was not really a problem, more just a part of the adventure.

E:  The kids on Tamole (island-type community) in the middle of their winter wearing just thin, ragged clothes – if they had any on at all.

C:  Rubbish at the end of the street. (In Nampula particularly there are piles of rubbish at the end of many streets.)

E:  The constant stream of people arriving at our (J&A’s) door – appreciating the difficulties for us of having people coming to the door asking for money, food etc  – my thoughts/western cynicism that they’re on the take etc.  The challenge to us as to whether we really give without wanting anything back.  How can we develop a generous spirit?

E:  The apparently random chaos of crossing the border between Moz and SA on the road from Maputo to Nelspruit

Funniest Moment:

E:  Annie’s question at one meal time in South Africa:  “Julian, why don’t you have a “Ladies Rump?”

Julian trying to get some coconuts

Highlights:

C: I enjoyed being with really poor people, why?  I don’t know, but I did.

E: Helping Julian with preparing some of the scripture work sheets for Luke, being able to contribute a little bit and maybe being able to pick that up at home.  (Chris said: – I hated that!  I was terrible at that!)

C:  Fixing Ali’s crutches and giving Silva his tee shirt (thanks Alex, Rob and Sharon), meeting the ladies from the Machamba, going to Tamole, praying with the people of Tamole, laughing with the leaders at the training meeting whilst taking their photos.

E: Felt at home and comfortable in Angoche, (but less secure in Nampula and Joburg).

C: In South Africa I loved the animals, the elephants, meeting the elephants, the golf – gutted that I didn’t improve massively.  I found Creation connecting me to God in a new and different way.

E:  Being with you guys (we’re paying her later)

C:  Swanning about in posh hotels in Maputo, being together and having a laugh – eating and drinking and sharing the life.  Good, regular poos!  (I’m reticent to add that comment, but it’s what the man said and such things are what all good missionaries seem to spend most of their time talking about….)

Silva with his new shirt (shame about the team!)

The final words are from Chris:

(This is the full quote that I began earlier):

I used to say “I do not want to go anywhere close to the equator, to Africa at all, and nowhere where it’s hot, there’s poor sanitation and dusty roads, or ridden with insects – I hated the idea of that. And unfortunately, I was only 100% wrong!  I enjoyed being in Moz with nothing.

I would say to anybody, whatever you think, it’s possible you could have your view changed 180 degrees; you could be totally missing out……

To Chris and Elaine:
Thank you for taking this step of faith to come and be a part of our Koti Journey.  As we are back in Nampula today, we seem to rattle a little more around our house at SIL (the first one), the numerous car part shops have gone back to being boring, and there is no one here at 5pm to remind us to take the malaria prophylactics.  We miss you.  Thanks again…..

On the way to the meeting on Tamole island (Sun 6.30am)

Vitor's boat on Tamole island