Un-American History

Here's my high school US history class of juniors and seniors. You can see all their bright and beautiful faces (except for one that was ducking to hide from the camera). But they are often the joy of my day and keep me on my toes. It adds an interesting twist teaching American history to a classroom of kids who (all except two) aren't American and haven't ever really lived in America. It is a challenge for sure!

There are eight nationalities just among these kids: Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, India, Brazil, United States and South Africa. One thing I'm grateful for is the difference in perspective. How do things like WWI relate to us living in Mozambique? How did the slave trade impact people living in Africa instead of only how it impacted people living in North America? What can we learn from the Reconstruction Era as we are living in a country that is in the process of recovering and rebuilding from a Civil War that just ended a short 14 years ago? How about capitalism and how America has been built on that, amidst living in a Socialist country recovering from communism?

Often it is hard to find relative connections to what we are studying and the world that we live in here. But we still find ways to bring things back to our everyday lives, even if we do tend to stretch it a little bit. I'm thankful for the opportunity I've had to not only teach these kids, but also build relationships with them, that most days include a lot of laughing.

In August, when I first walked into CAM, the week before school started, I was caught off-guard when I was eagerly asked to teach high school US history. I am not certified to teach history or high school. And I haven't even taken a history class since my first semester of college. But God's grace is sufficient and I actually ended up being the most qualified person for the job, simply by the fact that I am American and most recently studied history. Who would've thought. So I trusted the Lord for His wisdom and strength in an area I didn't feel so competent in and it has turned out to be a huge blessing. I'm so grateful to not only have relationships with each of these students, but also the ability to be able to teach them, laugh with them and see them learn new things. Teaching isn't always about the curriculum or the concepts being presented, but more often than not about the overall impact that can be passed down and values that can be shared.

Yesu wa Kanaka!

A couple weeks ago I was able to go with a new friend, Sarah, to see where her family works and lives. They are Brazilian and lived here for 12 years. Her parents run an orphanage that is a branch of Iris Ministries, in an area called Machava. This is the same Iris Ministries, but a different branch, that I was able to visit back in September. But instead this one is located on the opposite side of Maputo from where I live.

The compound consists of a couple missionary houses, guest housing, four dorm buildings (which all together house about 70 children), a church, several school buildings, a cafeteria and a playground. It was much larger than one would expect and was very nice. They even have a pet monkey that lives in their back yard. While I was there a team of Indian people were visiting from South Africa. On Friday night we walked for about thirty minutes deep into the bush to a gathering that her family was helping lead. It was an outreach to the people that live in the area. We sang, danced and watched a film on a projector and screen. I must say it was very strange to be in the middle of nowhere and have access to modern technology!

On Saturday we woke up early to go to the city and wait in line to get on a ferry to an island across the bay called Catembe. On the ferry we brought the guitars out and started singing songs together. We even got other people involved and dancing. It was fun! When we made it to the island we drove back into what seemed like the middle of nowhere once again. Once we got to the community building, where local meetings are held, we started rallying the kids together saying, “Yesu wa kanaka! Yesu wa kanaka!” Which is shangaan for “Jesus is good! Jesus is good!” The kids started running toward us with huge smiles on their faces!

Once we had all the kids together we started by singing songs. This was probably one of my favorite things. We sang some in Portuguese, but mostly in Shangaan. Then the team from South Africa went to the front and started teaching them some songs in English and their Indian language. The kids even started teaching me a couple of their dances, which was fun. Later someone shared a story with the kids. And it ended with a couple more songs, then giving each of the kids a little snack cake as they left the building.

It was a huge encouragement to see other ministries that exist and are thriving in and around Maputo. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in what we do day to day that we forget there are other things going on. I’m glad these kids are being taken care of and have the opportunity to hear truth and live in a place where they know they are loved.

Another thing I was reminded of, and am constantly being reminded of, is the hugeness of the this Earth and how many countries, languages and people there are. It is normal for me to hear a variety of languages being spoken, and it has become normal to not understand most of them. People have been created by an all-knowing and creative God. And with people come cultures. They all have their outstanding qualities as well as their flaws. They are each beautiful for different reasons, once you get past the initial shock value of everything changing. I'm so grateful for cultures, for differences, and the ability to unite with people who I am so different than. 

eu vivo em bagamoyo

The area that I live in is called Bagamoyo. If someone asked where I live I would say, "Eu vivo em bagamoyo." I wanted to take an opportunity to share a couple pictures of my neighbors in Bagamoyo. The people that I live around day in and day out. The people I am able to visit with in the evenings or weekends and just talk. I am so grateful for each of them for different reasons.

This is Castelo and his family. We have become good friends over the past several months since he wants to learn more English, and is going to school to become a teacher. He is already very good at speaking English and sometimes talks a little too much. He often has questions about sayings and pronunciation differences between American English and South African or British English. One day he schooled me in Scrabble and we were playing in English. I must say that was a little embarrassing! I've also been grateful to be able to practice Portuguese with him and his mom, Laura. They have even spent some time teaching me shangaan! He attends church with us and the comes to the prayer meeting that usually meets at my house as well. I'm grateful for the ability to learn more language with all of them, to visit and laugh with them.

This family lives on the other side of me. Mary, Felix, Angel and Angelo. They moved to Mozambique from Swaziland and are fluent in at least four or five languages, maybe even more. Mary is a librarian at CAM, so we work together, and Felix works for MozOvos. So our lives are very intertwined. Though they are African, they are not Mozambican. They learn new things about culture here every day as well. I'm so grateful for them as I've been able to spend many evenings visiting and just talking about life here. I've even been able to practice Portuguese with them and could still ask several questions, since they speak English as well.

Living somewhere away from family, friends, and everything familiar can be a little difficult after a while. Those days or nights where I can become so homesick I am reminded of God's provision in relationships. He knows what His kids need. He has provided these people in my life during my time here and I have been so greatly blessed by them.

eggs have feelings too....

 

I got my eggs this weekend from MozOvos, along with a few insightful thoughts of what these eggs might be feeling, thanks to the creativeness of one of the American interns.....

you will know them by their fruits

Something that is very different and cool to me about Mozambique is that there is always a fruit that is in season. There is no such thing as harvest season because something is always ready to be harvested. There are still distinct seasons, now we are currently on the tail end of the rainy/hot season, but they aren't necessarily as drastic as in North America.

I have a couple fruit trees in my yard. A mango tree and a lemon tree. Mango season ended a couple weeks ago and the lemons will soon be ripe. There is always a new fruit and taste to look forward to. With that said there are also several fruits here that I have never heard of and still can't pronounce the names of correctly. Most of them I have never tried before, some I don't necessarily care to try any time in the future.

One day as I was walking down my street I came across my neighbor, Castelo. He was energetic as usual. He had something in his hand, so I curiously asked what it was. He said it was "uma laranja" (an orange). This didn't seem right to me as the fruit he was holding was obviously very green. So I told him, "Isso fruta esta verde, nao laranja." (This fruit is green, not orange.) He assured me that it was an orange even though it is green. I trusted him and later tried one for myself. Sure enough he was right and this "green" orange was actually pretty tasty, but more like a hybrid between a lemon and an orange.

One other thing different here is that trees are identified by the fruit they bear. I know that may seem like common sense at first, but almost all of the trees here produce fruit and that is how they are identified. There are mango trees, orange trees, lemon trees, mafura trees, guava trees, pomegranate trees, and coconut trees.

This reminds me of an illustration I often used when spending friday nights evangelizing in downtown oklahoma city. We would talk about the signs of a true believer, what a Christian's life will look like. In matthew 7 Jesus talks about true believers being recognized by their fruits. An apple tree is going to grow apples, end of story. Same thing with an orange tree, it is growing to grow oranges. Now there are different varieties of apples, as well as oranges (whether green or orange), but the same truth remains. No matter how badly an apple tree wants to produce oranges it is still going to grow apples. That's its identity, what it is capable of. When our hearts are changed as Christians, we are given that new identity and have no other destiny but to produce the fruits of a Christian.

As I've been living here and seen trees be recognized by their fruits, this part of scripture has added a new dimension to my life. These trees around me are given a name, that name is given based on what is produced and growing from them. The same is true of me. Have I really been producing fruit that I want to be known by and for my life to be identified by?

strength and diligence

Mozambican women are people of massive strength. In several ways, but I will share with you one scenario. This week I ran out of propane in my house. It just so happened that it was the same night I was without electricity, which was a little ironic. When I ran out of propane, I asked my neighbor's empregada (house helper), Lucia, to help me get a new one. She is one of these extremely strong woman I am referring to. She came to my house picked up the propane tank and put it on her head without much effort. We then walked down to get a new one together. Then she not only lifted the new and very FULL and heavy tank up, but put it on her head and it remained there our entire walk back.  It didn't even phase her, we kept talking and laughing, and she never budged like anything was different. This amazes me.


Typically if I need something I just walk down the street to the vendors and buy it for myself. But I don't have the strength to carry a propane tank 1/3 of a mile and back by myself. Empty I could probably handle it, but not when I have to bring back a full one. It usually takes two men to carry one together, so it's not just due to a lack of physical strength. 


I can barely carry a book on my head without dropping it, let alone a full propane tank (and not a small one like you use on your grill on the fourth of july). These woman I just watch the work they do and can do nothing but watch in awe. I guess it would be a little easier if you've been doing it since a young age, but still takes strength. This makes me also realize the work ethic of the people I am surrounded by. 


I have a favorite banana guy that I see most days. He has this little banana push cart with a "Bananalandia" sign welded to the front right in between two welded on headlights. I see him every morning, across the street from my house, as I leave for school waiting to pick up his bananas to sell for the day. Then on the way home from school I will often see him about a mile or two up the road pushing his cart around selling them. He is faithful to selling those bananas. I see him almost everyday and from morning until evening most of the time. I'm encouraged every time I see him working hard and diligent.


Mozambique has a 98% unemployment rate, but it is not a place of lazy people who are unwilling to work. In my experience it has actually proven to be a place where the people work harder than anywhere else I've ever been. The unemployment rate refers to people working professionally and being paid by a "boss" or working for an "organization" or "business." Most of the people here work day to day selling what they can for the sake of survival. They don't have the luxury of benefits or health coverage or a special retirement package. They live day by day, making enough for today to have dinner tonight. 


I've learned some valuable lessons about having a strong work ethic from these people. I greatly admire this work ethic and the commitment to work hard day after day. 


This reminds me of a parable Jesus told about the dishonest manager and being faithful with what we've been given regardless of its worth. We are still told to be faithful. I truly believe this carries over into our lives in so many contexts. But also to be faithful in the work set before us, regardless of what it looks like or how "insignificant" it may seem. 

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."   Luke 16.10

A woman not carrying a propane tank, but a huge barrel of pineapples, without even flinching.

trip to kruger

Wednesday was Mozambican Heroes Day so once again we were able to enjoy a holiday and a break from school. We went to kruger and were able to marvel at God's beautiful creation and creativity in his animals. I hope you're able to enjoy the pictures, even though they don't do much justice in comparison to the majesty of these animals.

bat momma and baby

chameleon

giraffe

momma elephant and her baby

herd of impala running from us

(if you look closely see if you can tell how they got the nickname of being fast food, think of the golden arches)

crocodile trying to talk to us

monkey

rhinos going into the sunset

water monitor

turtle, turtle

zebra

walking elephant

pumba