snapshot of life

This fine looking group is the missionary force of Quelimane, which contains, for the first time, three missionaries who are native Portuguese speakers (a fact that makes Debbie less than elated).  On the far right (positionally rather than politically) we have Elder Santos and Elder Santos (which is not without its confusing moments) Elder K Santos inside is from Cabo Verde and Other Santos is from Brazil.  Our two Cabo Verdianos are companions which makes for a pretty strong African teaching team.  Also arrived last week (second from the left) is Elder Gray.  So far we don't hate any of them.  In truth, this looks to be a good group we have.  The apparent segregation in the picture is not reflective of reality here.

The season of heat and humidity has begun here in the north country.  Debbie and I have developed a taste for a certain soft drink here which is Schwepps Maracuja--or passion fruit drink.  It is heavenly and oh-so refreshing when icy cold.  We discovered that it (like strong drink of any kind) can be bought by the case for less than half the price of a bottle at a time.  Unhealthy but delightful.

We had our first significant rain in the last three months this week.  Kids gathered the streets and fields, wherever there was a puddle, to frolic and splash.  These, unlike many, were clothed--unlike the boys shown below.  Debbie however asked this boys who were playing on the beach (where we took a walk this morning) to sit in the water to make their photo acceptable fare for a missionary blog.

 

The senior missionary couples of Mozambique all gathered for a little meeting this week with the mission president.  I admit that it wasn't quite as much fun as when we gathered a year ago at a beautiful beach resort.  But meeting online (as shown above) was at least cheaper.  Right to left and top to bottom they are the Halls, Wollenziens, Osborns, President Kretly, Banks, and Boninis.  We are impressed by all these folks and really enjoy them without exception.

We love these flame trees and found this one, bracketed by palms to be a sight worth sharing.

Colorful kids along the road.

Other recent events:
  We finally closed the sale of our home in Fairbanks this week.  It was pending for far too long with always something new causing additional costs and delay.  Following closing however the title company announced that they won't give us the proceeds until they receive an original Power of Attorney which does not apparently exist and which cannot be readily created when one is in Mozambique without notary service.  oh well.

I had an unusual assignment recently.  I was asked by a member of the church to speak with his wife and daughter concerning the onset of menarche in this 9 year old girl.  His concern arose in that his wife thought it necessary to retreat to the jungle with her daughter to perform the same traditional rituals that she had experienced as a young woman--not recognizing that they conflicted with both the spiritual and physiological truths which they now possess.  I admit to having been a little bit out of my comfort zone in my subsequent discussion and presentation to them--but I think that I did OK.  I am adding gynecological counseling expertise to my resume.

We voted via the Internet this week.  I am impressed with the technology that makes such things possible.  As an official representative of the LDS church, I can't and won't tell you how to vote (but my children know how they better vote).  But I can suggest that you do so this week, particularly if you live in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Nevada or Iowa.