still here!

Hi all, no time tonight sorry, but just top let you know I've had another amazing day. Finally got to the boys at lunchtime after trips round DIY stores to get paint. Had lots of fun playing again, and boys sending numerous messges from my phone so sorry to anybody who may have got a random txt from me - I dread to see the bill!
We had tea at pastors house tonight which was a good experience. And tomorrow it's off to namatanda to visit the field that the boys farm. Early start so better go!

Sunday services and afternoon strolls

Wow - what a day! today we went to Pastor Bongas church (did I do it right Jez??) and had a great time in the service. I did puppets with Julia - a new recruit for the team - yippee! And we taught them Allelui allelui Praise ye the Lord with them all jumping up and down in their seats. It was very amusing! One amusing part of the serice was when a chicken was brought forward for the offering - and duly despatched to the chicken graveyard ready for lunch. A true representation of where we were and of what the people have to offer. Some folk just offered empty hands to God when they had nothing else to give.
Then we went to Bonifaces church for lunch which was right in the centre of a village. The villagers cooked for us and we were served a banquet - it was very humbling to have them serve us with bottles of coke and Fanta and provide so much food from their limited resources. It was a relief to then see all the villagers come to the church after we had eaten to eat the vast amount that was left. We talked with the villagers and then travelled back to the Base, all very quiet and reflective. Everyone is very tired today . We went for an amazing walk around Beira too. Right down to the beach through a shanty town, around the port, past shops, houses - you name it, we saw it tonight. all the sights and smells of the town. an amazing experience and one I will treasure.
The tiredness is taking its toll on us girls - we are gettting very giggly at the most simple of things. At last nights prayer meeting on the beach I was in stitches when Vicky pointed out Pastor Bonga was wearing a blockbuster video shirt, obviously ex.staff uniform. Although it was very funny, it also reminded me of how incredibly grateful they all are for anything they are given. No striving for labels, or embarassment about the cheap labels they are wearing, but just an imense gratitude for anything and everything that they have. What a lesson we all have to learn there.
The people of Mozambique are so lovely, and so welcoming. I have many new friends here, and am so lucky to be here with these people. I am amazed at what I am doing, and coping with, and I know that it is because of the strngth that God is giving me. As I sat infront of my plate of food at lunchtime, fearful of what I may be about to eat and the consequenses of that, I was reminded of the verses that say "I can do anyhting through christ who strengthens me". And how true that is - I cannot comprhend how I could be doing this in my own strength, but with God at my side, and with all the prayers of you at home, this is turning into an amazing and peacefilled experience. Thank you so much fr your continuing prayers for me and all the team. and thank you , Lord, for bringing me to mozambique. Ate Logo (see you later! ) and cioa for today xx
Oh, Dez - yes, the songs went down a storm, though not sure they entirly understood!

Coming to you today live from an internet cafe, another first for me! 25mtc for 30mins which is bout 12p!! So much seems to be happening, and I struggle to remember it all! Yesterday, Friday, I opted to go back and visit the boys at Inhamazua and they were really pleased to see the team again. We spent the morning playing with frisbees and rugby balls, and the boys taking lots more photos. We had taken our own lunch that us girls had bought in the morning from a street market , bread, tomatoes, mangoes, bananas and water. We were very pleased with ourselves for getting it!! We also had a bit of the maize mash and beans that the boys were eating, but it didnt feel right taking food from them.I had watched it being cooked on the open fire earlier and was amazed at the strength of the lady bashing away at the huge pans.
Before I go any further can I apologies for the state of this typing things just arent in the same place and lots of punctuation marks are not even on the keyboard!!
After lunch Dave and I took photos of all the boys next to their names and ages so that we can make a book of each of them. There were some real characters who played to the camera! I gave the book from the children at Net Connect to Simao and he shared it with the boys.
Now, dont tell Rich but I actually did a spot of painting too. It was great fun to get the boys helping as we painted the boundary wall white. I also spoke with a lady who lives in the corner of the site via Samiguel and she asked me to take her photo which I very gladly did. I offered to paint her house too, but she dedclined!
They all loved the parachute that Net Connect had sent and made up some wonderful games.
The time is going very quickly and today were are having a bit of time off. Tonight we head to the beach for a meeting which is supposed to be very exciting and an amazing experience. I can-t wait to see the sea.
Things are going very well, though night is lonely in my room alone, although the spiders are quite good entertainment. I cannot wait for a clean shower and fresh loo!!
Keep sending the comments I love reading them all. And dont forget to check the other blog casa reom.blogspot too.
Love to all. C xx

what we came for....

Yesterday saw one of my dreams come true - we went in the back of the open truck to see the boys. It was great fun driving along with the sun beating down and the wind blowing you everyway possible. We saw some fantastic sights along the way - the true Africa. All methods of transport, women and babies, things carried on heads, things built up and falling down. It was great. The boys were very happy to see us and we spent an hour or so just chatting and playing. They loved the cameras and the balloons - they took many photos themselves and loved to see their work! Back at the base we had a lovely tea and then later the team went to the cafe for fanta and pastries.

I had a room mate last night too - Emma - who is meant to be staying at the Base with her sister for a few days. However, the rats are too much to cope with and as I have a spare bed she came and kept me company which was really good. She's having a sleepover tonight too.

Today we went out to Dondo to meet the babies and it was a very moving experience, but the true reason for me being here. They just wanted to be cuddled and talked to. They all climbed into the truck when we arrived and had great fun jumping around and climbing over the sides. I took my scruffy dog puppet and some finger puppets along too, which they loved, although some were a bit unsure about scruffy when he got a bit friendlier with them! I'll take more puppets along next time we go.

We've just come back from a trip to Shoprite - shopping at last! We went to buy new plates, cutlery etc for Dondo, and ended up with quite a few extras in the trolley for the children. It was good fun, though a spot of too many chiefs and not enough indians took over occasionally as we made decisions on what to get.

We loaded the trolley, put it in the truck and then realised why you see so many trucks with people hanging on the side - we couldn't all fit in!! We managed it, and have now left it at the base ready for a trip to Dondo tomorrow.

It has been a great experience so far, and I am learning by the minute. Being able to blog and email is so good, and I am very grateful of having such a lovely team here. I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds.....

Live from Beira

I'm here!!! And what a journey it was. God looked after us well inspite of bumpy flights and thunderstorms. My faith has grown ten fold already. The first flight to Dubai was great and I was amazed by the onboard facilites. We watched the take off on the seatback screens, taken from 2 cameras mounted on the nose and underneath of the plane. It was absolutely amazing, and really made that actual leaving quite exciting. The gin helped to settle the nerves, and the flight was really quite fun. However, the second two I prefer not to dwell on!! The highlight of the flight to joburg was the sunrise about 90mins after take off which was amazing - to see the sun above the clouds in such glorious red colours. I was reminded of what I had said to the children about us looking at the same sun and moon wherever we were, and I thought of them safely asleep at home.

We arrived at Beira at about 5.30 Beira time - we're 2 hours ahead of you. We were picked up by Pastor Bongo and Boniface. One slight panic was when they discovered the needles and syringes in my case and wanted to confiscate them. Boniface talked them around and convinced them I wasn't a druggie! We eventually got the passports back complete with visas, though it did take about an hour. I now have 3 stamps in my passport - very exciting!

We went to the base - the main centre, and met the staff and had a meal of rice and chicken then Simao and Boniface took us up to our hotel, now aptly renamed by us as "Fawlty Towers". Camping at New Wine seems like luxury now!! We also went to the shop to buy water. Once at the hotel it all seemed just a bit too much, so I decided bed was the best plan for me, so left Vic and Ju to it in their room and went to bed. I knew lots of folk were praying for me as I slept really well and was woken at 7.15am by the girls who were fully dressed and heading for breakfast!! Ooops!

This morning has been spent sorting out money, phone cards, skype etc, and I'm hoping that later we will get to see the boys. Just had lunch of spaghetti, rice and stew (think it was goat) which was actually very nice. Vicky and I braved a trip to the shop to buy drinks too which we are very proud of!

So - so far so good. Thank you for all the prayers and love drifting out to me. I'll try and blog again later to let you know what the rest of the day has held. xx

And we're off

So this it it - today I go. It has been a very emotional weekend but the kids are now all safely at school and I am about to get in the car. The case is still too heavy, but lets just pray!
Thank you all for all your love, cards, support, prayers and general help - I am overwhelmed by it all.
I shall miss you all, but look forward t othe next stage of the adventure. hope to blog later from Dubai!
Lots of love.
Coz x

Weight-ing and updating.

Firstly, welcome to the new blog - hopefully this will be easier for you to read and to post onto. Please do post messages - I need your support and cheery messages every day. I've transferred all my previous posts so those of you who are new to this can start at the very beginning (it's a very good place to begin.....)

The team met this morning for breakfast and to weigh our suitcases. I scraped through just, but was somewhat embarrassed when everybody elses cases seemed to weigh about 10kg less than mine! Even more so when I worked out most of my excess weight seemed to be my toiletry bag! Anyway, we were able to get virtually all of the extra stuff into peoples cases and bags so there is a whole load of very exciting things going off to Beira. Thank you to everybody who has donated goods or money to
cover the things we are taking with us - it will be a great blessing to everybody there, and to us as we share gifts and supplies with our friends in Beira.

I also found out this morning that Dave has set up a casa reom blog so I've put the link to that on here too so you can read both and check the stories tie up!

More later I expect - off to the cinema now.