First off, I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've blogged. Sorry about that!! The past few weeks have been a bit interesting. The trip to Mozambique was awesome, except for the creeper that was staying in our house at the first place we stayed. All was well though. We were able to visit one of the Iris Ministries orphanages there in Maputo. I was absolutely amazed at how well laid out it was as well as how well organized. They house a ton of children on the compound and have a school that educates many more from the surrounding area. We ate lunch there with some of the kids, rice and beans. It was good eats!
Our next stop in Mozambique was in the Xai Xai area. Our home for that period of time was great. At least I thought so... It reminded me of some place my family would choose for a family reunion. Quiet, out of the way, close to water, plenty of room for the kids to run wild. We were on a lagoon of the Indian Ocean. One afternoon some of us took the opportunity to ride the boat over to the mouth of the lagoon to see the ocean beach. Wow, it was amazing. There were crabs everywhere! And the waves.... they were huge! After we all piled back into the boat for the return trip, the steering went out and we were a bit stranded. Thankfully, there were some kind strangers who happened to still be there who had tools on their boat. (For some reason, the guys from Laguna Camp had no tools.) They were able to get it so that we could limp our way back home. It took quite a while longer than anticipated and it was after dark before we got back, but the sunset we were able to watch was breath-taking.
On our way home from Mozambique, we stopped in White River, S. Africa. There we stayed at a nice hotel, the meals we were served there were top notch! Then, we got to go to a Game Reserve. We saw four of the Big Five! The only one we weren't able to find was the leopard. I think the most amazing part was when we had the face-off with the elephants in the road. They are quite protective of their babies.
The week after we got home, Dr. Rhonda Pruitt was here to help us debrief from our field assignments and the trip to Mozambique. She had us all do a Myers-Briggs personality test. I discovered that I am ESFP - Extroverted, Sensing, Feeling, & Perceiving. What does that mean? I'm really not all that sure... The paper says "outgoing, friendly, and accepting." Yeah, I reckon that describes me pretty well.
Then, we had David Arthur spend a few days with us telling us about his work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. He's in the media department and allowed us to do a dubbing on a clip of the Jesus film. It was quite interesting considering that all the characters were male and they have rather feminine voices. :)
This week, our final week in Africa (pause for a big sigh), we are blessed with Dr. Doug Beacham's presence. Up until the past couple of days, I haven't truly been able to say that I've been ready to go home. I could say that I was ready to see family and friends, but not really ready to go home. I suppose now that reality is beginning to sink in, I'm ready to go home. My mind has been filled with thoughts of the future. My prayers have been filled with seeking God's direction. One thing in my future that is certain, I'll be returning to Holmes in the fall to complete my senior year. I'm ready to be done!
Lord, you have examined me
and know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up.
You know my thoughts before I think them.
You know where I go and where I lie down.
You know everything I do.
Lord, even before I say a word,
you already know it.
You are all around me—in front and in back—
and have put your hand on me.
Your knowledge is amazing to me;
it is more than I can understand.
Psalm 139:1-6 (NCV)
