Little Miss Chatterboxes Sponsored Silence in aid of Casa Re'om

Well, You may be surprised to find out, but on June 28th 2008 Marcelle and I will be having a sponsored silence totalling 8 hours, in the hope of raising some money for Casa Re'om!

I wish I could be going back to Mozambique next week, but it isnt possible, so after a couple of non serious conversations, Marcelle and I decided to bite the bullet and go for it!

It will certainly be a challenge for both of us, but compared to not having a mum/dad, food, a proper home, running water, not talking for 8 hours seems nothing in comparison.

If you feel you would like to sponsor us please feel free and visit our online page or speak to either Marcelle or myself www.justgiving.com/littlemisschatterboxes

Envy!

Next Monday some more people including my dad are off to casa reom for 10 days, oh how I wish I was going with them, to see old friends, and, to feel some warmth!
I hope they all enjoy their time there as much as I did, and any negatives will be washed away by the abundant positives of the experience.

Meanwhile for me, I have a hospital appointment, so it will be interesting to see what a new doctor has to say, and in fact if he/she can give any useful hints!

Bank holiday weekend, and it is raining! that isn't in itself surprising, but what is is the relentless wind! it is more like a winters day that spring/summer! I am so pleased I have been given an extra week holiday so that hopefully i can get some sun in Spain!

3 days until Christmas

and I dont feel the least bit Christmassy! We have our carol service tomorrow evening which is a bit stressful, but i'm sure that on the night it will be ok, it cant be any worse than before - say no more!!!
I watched some of the video last night of my time in Mozambique, and all it did was make me miss the people and the place even more. To think of them with the little material things they have, but yet I am sure they will have a much better Christmas than we can even begin to imagine - how exciting it would be to go and see how they mark this special time of year

A week on

So, I have been back a week, and I still wish I was out there! everything about the African way of life appeals to me!
I would love to go back out there to make sure it is what I want but if it is, I would definitly think and talk about long term possibilities! Who would imagine I would ever talk like that!!

English reality!

How cold is it over here?!! it is about 30 degrees colder than it has been in Beira!
What have I learnt - I cant do things in my own strength! it was great to have a team to go with, who you could talk things over with daily, and it was great to see the faith the Mozambicans have - if I could have half the faith they have I would be a much better person.
It was also amazing how I coped in situations I wouldn't even dream of living through in England, which showed me that it was meant to be that I went.
If I ever doubted that there was a God, the last 10 days have shown me that there is!
Africans have so much fun, even if they are going through turmoil. The youth pastor at Pastor Bonga's church was telling us he and his wife lost their son in February this year (they have 2 daughters) but he was so full of life, and so keen to praise God and thank him for all that is he still has.
It was lovely to see Pastor Bonga, Boniface and Simao again, they (as well as everyone else) made me feel so welcome in their homes/churches or just if we met up, I really felt like I have family members in Beira.
I've learnt even more so that we have so much over here, some of the babies in Dondo are there because their mum's "have problems of the mind" if they were here they would most probably get treated for postnatal depression, and would be able to keep their babies, and recover. I felt bad on the day that we went shopping for things for Dondo, that we could buy much much more than was on the shopping list, and not worry that we were spending so much, when they couldnt imagine spending that much - Boniface found it amusing when I said we had over-spent the budget!
I discovered that Victor the baby goat will be eaten for christmas day next year!!! if I dont want it to happen Simao said I need to go over there for christmas to save him! or they could eat him with me on my birthday!!
Tolerance is a very important gift to have when you live with so many people that you would never think possible! I am pleased to say I only lost my patience once and that was on the second flight home - I did apologise and we were fine after!
African time is much much different to English time, you can arrange to meet at 8 but not get picked up until 10 or 11! I really struggled with it to start with, but after a few days just found it amusing and didnt get in a stress about, it just meant I could have a bit longer in bed! I told Simao and Boniface that in England I have to be in work for 7.30am but now I was in African time I wouldn't turn up until 11am, after laughing they said for work I had better get back into English time - (dont worry I will and I will be there at 7.30!!)
When I played my flute in Pastor Bonga's church it was so lovely to see everyone joining in the singing and the actions, and a man in the congregation had a guitar and started playing along too.
I could go on and on, but I am sure I have bored you all enough over the last few days.
Thank you so much for reading and comments - you never know as i reminisce over the next few days I may add a few more photos, I did take over 500 after all!!!!

Its still a sad day!

A very sad day

Well I am back in England, although nice to see people I cant say I am over the moon to be back.

We had 3 flights on the way home that seemed to take forever!

Last Tuesday it took all that I had in me to walk into the base in Beira because of the rats, and I cried a lot. Yesterday we went to say goodbye to the boys, they sang a song which said "dont forget us" and prayed for us, which made me cry, one of the boys cried too as we left, which was heart breaking.

All the staff members came to the base to say goodbye to us, and gave us a sarong each, and after lunch we all stood in a circle holding hands while they prayed for us - and I cried, in fact I cried all the way to the airport because I didnt want to leave, it didnt help at the airport that Simao looked just as sad that we were going as we felt to be leaving.

Last Tuesday the 10 days seemed a long time to saty but it has flown by - it wasnt long enough!!

Had a good time on Tuesday when we went to Nhamatanda, on the way there we saw straw houses and I kept saying to Sue " we really are in Africa!" even a week on it still didnt feel real! Simao joked when we got there that there was a house for me to live in when I move over there - the only thing is that it doesnt have a roof yet!!

Wednesday was fab, we went shopping with Simao in the morning, then in the afternoon went to the beach, and swam in the Indian ocean!!

I am going to put some pics up and may add some more tomorrow.

To summarise, I have had the most fantastic time, better than I could have ever imagined, even with the tensions at times. I have so much over here, they have nothing compared to them, but yet they have so much more than I could ever dream of having.

Will I go again? YES! can I book now?!