This is what the middle of nowhere looks like..

We had a short, 24 hour road trip this week into the jungle to take one new missionary into Marromeu and to bring another one out to be transferred to Maputo.  The road was in such bad shape that we had aches and pains upon our arrival.  But we love being with the Elders and always find something interesting to share along the way.  Here goes:

These thriving young men escort these partially blind women around the truck
stop begging for money.  They are always there and often quite annoying.  We hesitate to
give out money, but they let me take their picture and I do feel like rewarding anyone
who figures out a way to earn money.

This is Elder Francisco, who is a Mozambiquan Elder in the mission.  Interestingly enough, his grandparents live in a tiny village on the way to Marromeu, so we stopped in for a visit.  They spoke in Sena, the
local dialect, so we don't know what was said, but the smiles told us it was a good visit.

The Elders all wear these rings made of hippo teeth.  Elder Francisco's grandpa makes them to sell
in the tourist market in Beira.  I found some small ones and know some grandsons are going to be pretty excited by them.
This Elder is 26 years old and joined the church about 5 years ago and is a very positive missionary.

Toby has longed for a piece of ebony or,  pau preto, as it is called here.  Grandpa had some beautiful wood
that we cut for Toby to take home to create something wonderful. My sisters will note that this is what
their nativities looked like before they were carved, by his grandson, Vasqo, from who we bought them.  Such a small world!

At the truck stop I came out of the restroom and saw this man cutting up meat.  I "asked
him if it was a goat and he said "no, it was an animal from the mato:.  This means it was
caught in the jungle and is probably a gazelle.  He hacked away at that hind quarter with his
catana for quite a while.  I don't know where the good meat had gone.

We often have the pungent smell of fish drying come through the open car windows.  The fisherman
drag their nets in the shallows, get these small, herring like fish, then toss them onto the
sand to dry them.  They are sold in the markets by the cupful to add to the pounded leaf
mixture that people eat everyday.  It is the most common source of protein for people.  The
fish are so small, I guess a little oil and protein are available, but not much.