Bilene Beach

On Sunday we played hooky from church and drove to Bilene Beach for a relaxing day. We went with another family who are good friends of the Larsons. We played soccer and swam in the cold lagoon. This boy came up to us and made Cassie, Mrs. Larson, and Will sugar cane bracelets and rings. It was a really cool to watch him make them and you wonder how he could have learned that skill. He stuck around so we played soccer with him and he was really good for his age.

We then talked about renting a boat to go across to see the Indian Ocean. We were all very indecisive or at least I was. I wanted to go on the boat, but then realized that I had been on a boat many times and the Olympics were on inside the restaurant. I wanted to go inside and watch the games, but I soon realized that was out of the question. So I decided I wanted to go on the boat ride and we all went except Katie, Cassie, Mrs. Larson, and my lame-o mother. I was very glad I went on the boat, because the Indian Ocean was amazing. It had good-sized waves and was deep. I loved it, but we only stayed there for 5-10 minutes, because Mr. Larson told our boat driver we wouldn't be long. I was very upset, because it was my favorite ocean yet, and I only got to be in there for 5 minutes.

When we came back to the beach we realized we had not given the ladies money for drinks while they were waiting for us to come back. I had a feeling that they would not be to happy that they had to wait in the sun without a beverage. We packed up and that was the end of our trip to Bilene Beach. I think we had worshipped God that day even more than going to church by enjoying and seeing his creation on the Earth.

Berta's Project

While staying at the Larsons my mom and I met a woman named Berta. She is their housekeeper and she has turned her house into a center where children go after school to learn craft skills instead of playing at the trash dump. We came to visit her and about 25 kids performed songs and dances for us. Most of the songs I could not understand, because they were in Portuguese, but I could still feel their joy in their singing and dancing. They gave Brent and I home-made slingshots and toy cars made from wire and recycled soda cans. They also made pictures for us. They had a little shop with their crafts on display. They had  bracelets, necklaces, handbags, woven baskets and cars made from recycled plastic. We gave them soda pop and jiggies (Portuguese cheetos). The Larsons gave Berta a TV, because someone stole hers. She uses the TV to teach the kids.

Bocaria

Today we all went to the Bocaria which is a garbage dump where we ministered to the people living there. They are all very poor and my mom and I went up the garbage piles while our friends went to minister to the people on the streets. We prayed over people working at the garbage dumps. One of them had an infected foot that she asked for us to pray over. To be honest it was really nasty and I did not want to touch it. Thank God no one else was touching it, so I didn't feel obligated to do so. I met this little boy when we went up the garbage piles and he followed us and helped us get up. He was very interested in my shark tooth necklace and he kept touching it. I realized that it would mean a lot to him if I gave it to him, so I did. (I got it when we were in Hawaii).  My mom told him that the shark tooth symbolized strength of his character. He was very happy to have it and I feel like I did God's work today by doing just a simple little thing as giving your necklace to someone. After we prayed over everyone we went to church and this man named Mattias asked me how to bring his brother to faith. I was very taken back seeing as he was much older than I am and I am not nearly as wise as other people in my group. I had told him to not force his faith upon his brother, but to show him God's love and pray that he'll come to know God. I think I made an impact on that man and I was happy to do so. I feel like I came closer to God that day because of what I told him.

Past 3 days

On Tuesday we all got a tour of Maputo in a big van from a very sweet elderly couple. The first place we visited was the fort. It dated back to the 15th century. We got to see all the cannons and there was an art exhibition with paintings, sculpture, and photography. Next we got to see the train station. That was a little boring because I didn't really pay attention to that part of the tour so I had no idea why we were there. Although my mom told me that the architect was the same guy that built the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The rest of the day my mom just went to art galleries to look at contemporary art in Mozambique. Some were actually interesting and I could figure out the meaning of them which I was very proud of myself. We had a lovely lunch which was an Avocado and Mozzarella Sandwich which was very delicious partly, because I was near starving to death. 

On Wednesday everyone went to the orphanage in Matola to see the little kids. They were overjoyed to see us and we gave them soda pop, jiggies (African cheetos), and flip flops. They performed dances and Mr. Larson and I joined them. They were all very tired by the time we left and so were we. 

Today we went back and played soccer with them. They are all so happy and excited to have visitors.

Mozambique Orphanage

Today the 6th we went to Project Purpose's children's center. (a safe haven for kids whose moms have been prostituted) The kids were very cute and wanted to be all over you. We played soccer and they were very good especially when they were never taught in a club how to play. At night the children were all very clingy wanting to be given piggyback rides and holding your hand. My mom was wrapped around with all of them and when she sat down on a tire her weight and 5 other kids' weight combined busted the tire. At the end I was very tired and we rode back home for what seemed like an eternity.

South Africa

The morning of my first day we all went out to eat at Harrie's Pancake house. We all ordered stuffed pancakes.  I got a dark chocolate mousse filled pancake...as you can probably guess it was very delicious. It was about $10 which is about 120 rands. After that we all went around looking at the stores in the strip district. One of the stores was a silk store and we learned how you make silk from silk worms. Will and I saw these amazing silk slippers that felt so soft and light on our feet. Our parents were cruel and did not allow us to purchase them,  despite the fact they were only 300 rands. 

Next we did our sightseeing and we went to see the potholes, which is an area composed of rock formations and waterfalls formed by glaciers. Will and I hopped off rocks and on one of them I absolutely failed and fell into the water.  Everyone laughed and I felt extraordinarily embarrassed. Our last adventure was the Big Swing. I did it with Will and the scary part wasn't when you were 'bout to fall off, it was when you're already falling and cursing thinking your back is going to break. When you're in panic mode you think it's going straight down when really you're going in an arc. When that huge drop was over we were lightly swinging and for a guy it really really hurts. Since it was such a long drop down we of course had to walk back up to the top on these suspiciously unstructured looking stairs. It was very tiring and as I was so cold, because I was still wet from the potholes epic failure of mine. 

The next day we woke up early and went on a safari drive through the Kruger National Park. We saw rhinos, hippos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, elephants, baboons, Vervette monkeys (that had blue balls), crocodiles, impalas, fish eagles, water buffalo, and kudo. We sadly didn't see the lions which I was really hoping to see. It was seven hours and then dinner was awful African chicken nuggets. We then hopped the border into Mozambique and got into our wonderful Mozambican house greeted by our sassy, sarcastic, 6'3" Larson.

11 hours before Mozambique flight

My mom has recently asked me to look up web pages on the history and culture of Mozambique. I on the other hand only wanted to learn the proper manners in Mozambique. I found absolutely nothing on manners, but  I'm very happy I tried looking it up, because I saw an ad for learning a new language. I stumbled on it by chance and what the video said was that to learn a language successfully you have to learn it like a baby...by listening. They guarentee that you will be able to speak the language in 10 days and it was only 10 dollars. If you're interested look up Pimsleur. My mom has already placed in our order, but they change the course every 60 days and it costs $64 so that part is very expensive. I am very excited, because what my mom and I are planning on doing is to start speaking Spanish at the dinner table and my father will not know what to do. Back to my Mozambique trip I still have not finished packing and I will finish it right after this blog post. When I go to Africa our plane flight has to stop at South Africa so the Larsons are driving down to South Africa and Will and I will be going on the rope swing. I have heard it is a really high height so I'm hoping it will be very fun.

Four days before the trip to Mozambique, Africa:)

I have just come back from seeing my grandparents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I have not unpacked my clothes and toiletries, so I do not have to repack for Mozambique. This is what America has become for the next generation, doing the bare minimum to get by. It will be a good thing for me to get out of America and see how other countries live their normal life styles. I am quite excited to go to Mozambique (thank you so much Meme...I know I'm a suck up.) I have big plans for what I will be doing. My first big plan will be to avoid getting typhoid. My next plan will be to avoid getting malaria. My third plan will be to see my best friend Will and play soccer with the orphans. My last and final plan will be to get in touch with my inner soul.