H20

I am being reminded usually on a daily basis on the privilege it is to have clean, safe running water when in the UK.  For the majority of the school so far we have not had running water from our taps so when the water is on it makes you very grateful!  And not being able to drink the tap water as it would likely make me very sick also helps me to pause and be thankful for the purification system we have in the UK.

I am now ‘Mommy Liz’ (that’s what they call me!) to 12 girls in my house who are a brilliant bunch and even love to drink tea so I know that God had it planned for them to live with me!  As I’m on staff of the school they think that I know more then I really do…like yesterday one of them asked me for the Hebrew and Greek word for something yesterday and seemed quite disappointed when I said I had no clue!

During the second week of school I spent most of it helping to organise the 320 students into their ‘practical missions’.  Each student got to choose 4 areas where they would be happy to serve eg doing arts and crafts with some of the children who live in the centre next to us, pray for the sick in hospital or give out bread to school children..the list is pretty long! 

 

The team then had to pray and sift through the students requests and match up skills and requirements…it was an intense job and involved some late nighters but we did it and now every student has the opportunity to put their love into practical action at least once a week.  We are often reminded by Heidi Baker, Iris Ministries founder that ‘love looks like something’.  The Bible also makes it pretty clear too!

Last week I got to start to oversee the application process for the next school which will start in October.  As staff of the current school we get to review the applications for the next school – this is a real privilege and so you want to make sure that you get it right.  Having done assessments as a social worker and interviews in various roles, I have found these reviews both fascinating and right up my street!

This weekend I get to go and stay with a local ‘Mama’ in her house and immerse myself in the local culture with my ‘peach’ activity group…..I am looking forward to being humbled and challenged all over again!  Thanks for reading x

Acunya

Greetings from Mozambique!  I was so appreciative of the miracle of my luggage arriving with me as I had 3 flights to get here and it has already been such a special time.  It has been great to meet up with some of my Latin America team who are staffing the same school as me and to get stuck into a new challenge.

My first week here was a re-welcome to all things Mozambique (the water out for days at a time, absolutely no paper down the toilet, red sand and very welcoming friendly people to name but a few!) and I was reminded of being an ‘acunya’ (white person) when I visited the local market a few days ago to buy some fresh fruit.  Work wise I was able to help get the houses ready for the students arrival and spend time getting to know the rest of my team.  Upon the students’ arrival, I had the task of ensuring that all the keys for the students were sorted and they received a good welcome.

So in the last few days about 320 students have now arrived from over 30 nations to learn how to work cross culturally in a Christ like way.  This number includes nine families with one family who has a significantly disabled child – hugely inspiring.  I am living with a group of 11 girls who are aged 19-27 from 5 different countries including the UK and I get to be their ‘house mum’ which is a great privilege.  I am very thankful though that I have my own bedroom..a perk of being a staff member in a big house!

School unofficially began on Saturday with Childrens Day.  When about half of Mozambique’s population is under the age of 16, this is a significant day.  On the base where I am living, close to 5000 children were played with, fed chicken and rice and given sweets as they left….a hugely logistical challenge which involved some of the local young adults working all the way through the night cooking…going to sleep with the sound of their singing as they worked was such a beautiful sound!  My team’s role was to be on kitchen duty which was a busy job!

Today the missions school began and we got to go with one of the local ‘mamas’ to visit their homes and many of the students were clearly impacted by the homes or lack of that people are living in.  It is so sobering to compare lives here with many of us from the West and it humbled me all over again……