…thoughts on the arrival of Spring as those of you from the United States are entering in to Autumn … It is getting warmer. In our house yesterday afternoon it was 96 degrees Fahrenheit. That was with door wide open, windows that are just screens, a decent breeze blowing and our fans on … oh yes, high humidity too! As draining as the factor of this is to daily life I still would say that I prefer this to being cold!
After a very long day, after two previous days of feeling sick, exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed I was waiting to figure out who I could get a ride home with as it had gotten late due to me re-painting Viaze’s game. Maria came and sat next to me and snuggled in. I asked her about the new little girl who arrived today and if she knew her name, which house she is in and etc. Then I said to her “now you are no longer the newest child here” and she bashfully smiled and snuggled in a little tighter. Without words it spoke to me about her comfort and sense of security with us. She has only been here around 3 months. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a part of the team here that is able to lovingly “adopt” these children who are in desperate need!
After waiting an hour I was able to get the ride home. I climbed in the back of a truck and took in the scenery. The baobab trees and our African gazebos were almost silhouetted against the dusk sky. I was thoroughly “spent” but with gratitude marveled at the life I am living.
Sun. August 24th 2008
On my walk to church a young girl named Manzinia who has been my companion at church the last couple of weeks saw me coming from far away, maybe 30 yards. She cried out “Mama Laura!” and ran full speed to me. I bent over to embrace her and she leaped into my arms with such force we collided and I got my nose smashed! It was painful but heartwarming and comical as well.
This morning had the thought of how amazing it is to be able to hear approx 80 Mozambican men in the Bible School singing their praises to the Lord. (Their dorms and worship area are very close to our house and here there is no glass in the windows.) It would be so foreign to hear anything like that back in the US but here it is one of my M-F daily experiences at beginning at 6:30 am.
Mon. August 11th 2008
…Another memorable moment was at the very end of staff church when we were pray out the visitors who would be leaving this week. One of the Mozambican “mamas” was up there and she had a little boy of about 6 or 7 who I assume was her son. As she was leaning over praying she had him directly in front and underneath her with his hands in hers showing him how to “lay hands on” and pray for the people. It was a beautiful sight!
Communication is especially difficult these days. My computer just up and died on me on the 30th of June. We even had a computer expert here at the time and he could not revive it. It is very difficult to be here without access to the outside world. At the time I was making arrangements to have some artwork printed and delivered here for the Solemn Assembly. A visitor coming from the States would be able to bring it. In addition I was 2 weeks away from having to leave Mozambique to renew my Visa and still had all the arrangements to make. The embassies have become much “tighter” with the Visa’s they issue. The last time I was in the U.S. I applied for the same Visa as I had on my previous trip, a 6 month Visa which was the longest available. It was after I arrived here I discovered it was different. It was a 6 month Visa, but I had to leave the country to have it renewed every 90 days. This adds a huge expense. It cost me pennies under $1,050.00 for the trip without any food expense or extras. The flight alone was almost $800.00 and then there were busses across the border, Visa Fee, border taxes and accommodations. At the time there is only one airline that flies to the Capital city, Maputo, which is right on the border. I had to overnight there and in the morning take a bus across the border into South Africa. In Nelspruit there is a home that is a “ministry” to missionaries. They have beds available for only $5.00 a night and help with trips to the Mozambican Consulate and etc. The married couple, Kent and Shay, who run it are from Florida and they are fantastic. It is such a respite. For the first time in 3 months I had a warm shower and glass on the windows … both good things because it was cold! We are much closer to the equator here in Pemba. I’d like to say that my trip was successful as well as enjoyable. Since I had to go to all the trouble to leave the country and etc I was applying for a different Visa … a Residence Visa. With this I would be able to get a Dierre, allowing me to be in the country for up to a year. After some challenges and needing to return to the consulate a second day I was told yes they issued me a Residence Visa. When I came back with this Visa I was informed what they gave me was not what they said and so I would not be able to apply for the Dierre and needed Immigration to revert to my original Visa to avoid having to leave the country again after 30 days instead of 90!!! Thankfully, that did happen. My lessons learned are now benefiting those currently needing to renew their Visas. They are trying other options rather than to incur the expense of travel to SA for a visa needing to be renewed every 30 days. This morning a family of 5 left to drive to Malawi and next week 2 female missionaries will be traveling part of the way by truck with the Mozambican Bible school students who will be returning to their villages after graduation and then taking the train the final way. Life here is certainly an adventure. J
Children in rags with big holes in their britches
Buttons are missing and there’s no thread for new stitches
If they were right there in front of your eyes
Would you be shocked or maybe even despise -
That they are dirty, often smelly, maybe covered with sand
But as they run to you with outstretched arms
Would you embrace them and take their hand
They may tell you lies and may steal your belongings
And do all manner of things which you find appalling.
So many are devoid of a mom or a dad
Darkness and poverty breeds what is bad
By the Spirit, can you see through, to their destiny
In love release vision of who they can be
And walk with them until they’re free
Some have eyes full of love and true joy in their spirits
The song in their heart brings delight when I hear it
Ecstasy abounds as they flip in the sand
A bag from the trash makes them “Superman”
In small hands an empty spray can drove like a car
True joy does not come from the price of your toy
It is a fruit that takes root, in your heart
Laura Eubanks
August 10, 2008
This poem loosely follows the tempo of the lyrics of the classic song from The Sound of Music, “Favorite Things”. Why … I am not sure … maybe because the poem is about some of my favorite “things”. J The tune sprung up in me as I began to write immediately followed by the idea to do it this way. It was inspired by moments throughout my days. The initial verse is based on my recent thoughts of how desperately poor many of the people here are. It is absolutely common to see children wearing old, filthy clothing with huge tears and holes. I guess I was pondering it afresh from the perspective of how an outsider would see. What would it be like to find a child looking this way on the streets in the United States? I am not “ok” with it but I am used to it, and it really does not capture my focus. I am captured by the beauty of their faces and the tenderness of their hearts. I just accept that I cannot stay clean throughout a day! Sometimes the first thing I do is encounter children who need hugs and affirmation. They sit, play and do amazing gymnastic feats in the dirt and sand. When I hug them and especially if I pick them up, I get dirty as their legs and little bare feet dangle down or wrap around me!
There is a huge problem with theft here. Some is on a small individual basis and there are some big things! Recently there has been an increase in muggings. In the last couple of weeks two happened out in the city, another happened just outside our center (in full daylight!) and one occurred on Center 2 in the prayer garden just after dark by people who had climbed over the walls. There was also a mugging just outside my center but it was after dark. So far all of the victims except one have been short term visitors or students who are now being told to never walk alone and not to carry things that make you an inviting target. So … I am keeping alert and getting rides as I can between my home on Center 1 and working with the kids at Center 2, but it is really not feasible all the time. (It is a 15 min walk at a brisk pace) I do not have a sense of fear but am trying to be wise. In some ways I think there is less danger and more of a respect for those of us who live here because we are known by and know so many of the people. Yes, there are “giants in the land” but there are people in need of the love of Jesus and the freedom which that brings … so we press on.
On Saturday, August 8th I was walking to Center 2 because a group of visitors were doing a game day or “Iris Olympics” for our children. I was their contact person for the equipment so I thought I would go over to make sure they hadn’t run into any last minute problems or needs. I had just begun walking and I heard this loud joyful singing. A large truck approached full of children. It was one of ours! At the other base I found out that there was also a special beach event planned for the village children at our base in Maranganha. (Still am unsure on that spelling) That was the truckload of children which passed me. Much later in the day I decided to go take a walk at the beach. I again heard the sound of loud joyful singing. It was the truckload of children returning from their special day. Moments like these are my treasures here!
It saddens my heart to see children having to resort to playing with trash, sometimes just pulling random things along on the end of a string. I am also amazed at their joy, innovation and contentment. This week I saw some of our little boys with different size pieces of the trunk of a banana tree which they stacked to look like a boat. They held these layers together with thin pieces of bamboo put through them like a toothpick. They attached a string and were happily pulling them around through the dirt and sand. From this came the thought - “True joy does not come from the price of your toy”.
You too will be a torchbearer
And a carrier of my sword
The nations will be your inheritance
And I am your reward
I’ve created you to shine
I’ve created you to soar
I’ve created you to be a vessel
Through which my River of Life will pour
You are no longer bound
By the forces of hell
Open your eyes
And you will see the heavenly realms
Laura Eubanks
July 22, 2008
One day he comes running
His amigo matching his stride
One by one I scoop them into my arms
And wrap them deep inside
I pray prayers of blessing
That they would know the Father’s love
And whatever else poured through my heart
And set them down to a few last hugs
I remember being impacted
By the similarity of their names
I remember being impacted
By the sweetness of the embrace
A couple of days later
The same spot, different scene
There was a crowd of people
All gathered on the street
At first I couldn’t see much
Through the many people who were there
Then in a surreal moment
In horror I became aware
On this hot black street
Under the Mozambican sun
Under a colorful kapulana
Lay the lifeless body of a young one
So many were gathered
So many prayed
Yet when all was said and done
They took him away
As the crowd began to disperse
One final act I saw
Was someone spreading sand and dirt
To absorb where his life had been poured out
Now three days have passed
Since that child so alive, was struck dead
The final image, a dirty stain
Remnant of the blood and matter from his head
I recall the memory of the purity of his face
As he nestled into my legs on that last embrace
Now all evidence of him is seemingly erased
Abba, please tell me, is he in a better place?
Laura Eubanks July 7th 2008
On Friday the 4th of July a child named Abudo was fatally struck by a passenger truck just past the front corner of our center. I was returning after going to my home for lunch. If I walk home mid-day I often encounter the children from the villages who are coming for lunch at Iris and see them again as I return and they are leaving. They excitedly call out “Mama Laura … Mama Laura” and run up for hugs. It certainly increases my “commute time” but I cherish it! I really try to give all the love I can in those brief encounters.
When this 8 yr old but very tiny boy was killed I reminisced with gratitude for those times. Just a couple of days prior to the accident there were 2 small boys who ran up to me. I picked them up, hugged them, prayed for them and asked their names. One was Abudo, the other Abdul.
One thought that gripped me in this tragedy is that his family most likely does not have a single photograph of him. I have lost family to premature death and even estrangement but at least I can look at photos.
A comfort I have found in this situation is that attended our primary school and he was one of the children who came to Iris for lunch. It warms my heart to see streams of children flowing into our center for a good meal. Of more importance is that in addition to physical food they are being loved on and fed “Words of Life”.
This poem began in my head as I was walking to Center 2 a few days after Abudo’s death. I was thinking of him and praying for his family and friends. He was not alone when he was struck. His friend Abdul was there along with another child.
