tick tick tick

We had our mission president and his wife with us this entire last weekend and we asked him if there was any specific counsel that he wanted to give us about our last week of service--anything in particular he wanted us to do or accomplish.  President and Sister Kretly both suggested that we relax a bit.  I suspected at the time that that might not be a realistic expectation--and so it is that this is appearing to be the fullest and busiest week of our mission.  There is so much to do.  We seem to have a full teaching schedule with investigator families and daily multiple training sessions with new and existing branch leaders--and sometime we will actually have to tackle the task of cleaning up and packing to leave. Speaking of the new leadership, it is impressive for me to see the mantle of leadership settle upon Abel, my replacement as Branch President. I can see him begin to perceive the branch differently, through the eyes of one responsible for everyone's welfare. I was worried, but believe that he will do well.

This is Sonia, pictured above with her five children and below just with her baby.  Husband Jojo is off camera, and frankly not quite as cute as all of the rest.  They have been our major teaching project for the last few weeks--they were well prepared to hear the gospel and are a wonderful family.  They live further away from the church than anyone else who attends, but they walk the five plus kilometers to and from without complaint.  It is with some hesitation that I share the following experience, but it was an important faith-building one for this family.  The baby has been very sick for a week--crying constantly and remaining awake screaming all night, which puts a crimp in everyone's style when you live in a small two-room mud hut.  We came to their home on Monday with the intention of giving the baby a blessing.  The baby was out, being walked by the oldest daughter for a bit, but we found seven year-old daughter number two on the floor in a semi conscious state where she had reportedly been for a few days with some unknown illness.  I placed my hands on her head and gave her a blessing to be healed and knew with certainty that she would be.  Debbie then diagnosed the baby as having an ear infection and we took him and the mother Sonia to the farmacia to get medicine (penicillin and a decongestant).  When we returned, the other sick daughter was up and about.  We returned the next day (yesterday) and both children were fine. 

After perhaps just a bit too much financial intervention on our part, Jojo and Sonia "opened the marriage process" in the government registry yesterday which initiates a seven day waiting period before a marriage can be performed.  Conceivably, this family might be able to be married and baptized in the hours prior to our departure from Quelimane, but that would require a little bit of governmental flexibility and otherwise good timing all around--so I doubt it will happen.  But they have been a great family to teach, anxious to make life changes and commitments.  They have also introduced the gospel to their close neighbors who we are also teaching.

Sonia is an attractive woman with high cheekbones that are indicative of an ethnic heritage from elsewhere.  She is wearing of course the ever-present Mozambican capulana to carry the baby.  It can be switched from back to front to enable the baby to nurse without interrupting any of mom's activities.

This is Jazila and daughters Alura and Joyce.  They are such fun.  She is our very dynamic primary president.  They love having Family home Evenings with us--and we spent time doing so on Monday night.  Alura, a beautiful 15 year old girl, made the cake.



Debbie and Sister Kretly.  Sister Kretly and her husband, though Brazilian, speak fairly good English which makes their visits a little more enjoyable for Debbie.