People

In the end, it is only people who matter of course.  The fact that the mango season has officially, completely. and regretably ended is really not particularly important in the eternal scheme of things. 

We have come to know wonderful and fascinating people here in Qulimane--complete with their full complement of human strengths and struggles that make them our siblings.  Herewith are just a few today.


We don't know this woman, but she, like scores of others has been hired by the city of Quelimane to go around with the little broom in her hand and sweep up trash.  It is truly akin to the straightening of deck chairs on the Titanic.  You will note a couple of muslim hats on passers-by.  THe muslim community is large here but not a majority.  We are quite cautious when we teach them--those actively engaged in that culture we generally decline to teach for their own safety

This is Debbie with Edna and Aisa who have graced these pages before.  Edna is the more sober of the two and is struggling through some cancer fears right now.  Both are very attached to Debbie.  They really are wonderful young women who help us feel a little bit like parents still. Edna is an orphan, living with a sister and Aissa is the daughter of periodic investigator so burdened with pride that he will never progress.  We really like these girls and likely spoil them a bit,  (perhaps the matching Mazaratis were too much).

These are two young girls who were among about ten other neighbor children who always join in the lessons when we teach Amizade and his family in their yard (using the term "yard" generously--as it is just the dirt surrounding his mud house--but under a banana tree--there is no room in the ouse so we meet outside).  These neighbor kids are always respectful and have varying degrees of understanding.  Amizade has begun to bring many to church with him and the young missionaries have begun to schedule lessons with them.  It is sort of a fascinating thing to see.  The girl in pink here is Isabela--We do not see many kids with earrings.



This is Lourdes, who is to me a fascinating woman.  She has light in her eyes--a very bright woman who the young missionaries were not paying much attention to for a time--perhaps because she is the tag-along sister of an married invetigator with many children.  After a time we began to note that Lourdes is much more impressive than her sister.  She NEVER misses church and always actively participates in everything.  I met with her one day and invited her to be baptized and she is now being taught actively.  She has invited her boyfriend to marry her and made lifestyle changes that may provide him incentive to do so.  I really like and admire Lourdes--she has a great smile and strikes me as a veryattractive traditional-looking African woman.  Lourdes needs to find a job and wants to go back to school so that she can acquire some skills.  Lacking, resources to do so, we will likely help her through Osborn Literacy Foundation.  I am negotiating with her to get her to speak in chruch a week from Sunday.