Wow, it has really been a long time since I’ve been able to write. Just a brief update on my last weeks in Mozambique and what I’ll be doing until my return there early February:
Building permit: we finally got it! I think it was around the 21st of November that we heard that it was renewed. So that is one thing that will not be delaying or complicating the construction any longer – the Lord is so good!
Flat: I got a new place, but haven’t completely moved in, that will have to wait until I am back. I am very excited – it’s big, has lots of light and is very secure. I am however still praying about exactly who will be sharing it with me, and trying to relax and just leave all the financial stuff to the Lord, but sometimes it’s hard not to worry a bit…
Fiel: My books for the reading programme arrived about 2 weeks before I needed to leave for SA, so I just had time to mail the books for September until December. I am busy designing a brochure that I want to get printed while I am in Pretoria in January, and have many other ideas that will hopefully come to fruition in the new year.
There was unfortunately some unpleasantness right before I left as well – at the bookshop I was missing quite a bit of stock and a number of factors point towards a member of our staff possibly stealing from us. We have increased security measures and aren’t rushing in with a lot of accusations, but this was quite upsetting for me.
I left Nampula on the 29th of November, got to Maputo around 16h00, was picked up by colleague Karl Peterson and finally got to Barberton that night at 22h00. The next morning I did a short presentation at their church and mostly enjoyed visiting with the congregation and spending time with their family. We also had some good talks about the past year and the year ahead – Karl and his wife are always full of excellent advice and are good listeners. On the 1st of December I took the bus to Pretoria, but arrived 2 1/2 hours late because of a delay at Johannesburg station. I was very tired that whole week, attending 2 Bible studies and having some friends over one evening, so even though it was nice to see friends from church and also catch up with my missions elder, I was very grateful when my sister and I could drive to Vryheid, Kwazulu Natal, on Saturday the 6th. At the moment I have a pile of books and a pile of DVDs to get through and am trying to get some perspective on the past year, and especially the last few weeks that were particularly stressful. I am happy, I am looking forward to the year ahead, but I am also exhausted and emotionally drained (somehow the two states co-exist) – frankly I think I was raving a bit when talking to anyone up to now and am glad that any more “serious” conversations about my life and work are on hold until January. I am so blessed to be able to be with my mom and sister and that is all that I need right now!
Thank you for your prayers and thank you for keeping up with the blog when I did get the chance to write!
