‘OUT OF AFRICA’ - Mid-August 2008
A summery of the journey…from American soil
[Picture above shows my home in Pemba...I was living behind that bamboo fence.]
If you’re reading this right now, then let me congratulate you as well as thank you for keeping up with me during this adventure.
I’m now about a week back and the lag of the jet is waning slowly. I’m still finding myself hitting ‘The Great Wall of Sleep’ at different hours of the day - and then waking up at farmer’s hours wondering what to do with myself.
[STOP]
[It’s now another four days later. It seems in Pemba, I had time to write and difficulty emailing – now that I’m back in the states, I have the convenience of unlimited wireless Internet…but not quite as much time. It’s a funny thing!]
[It’s now even several more days later…finishing this up is becoming a challenge of it’s own. Quite a difference in lifestyles!]
The ‘availabilities’ of First World living surround me as I carefully make my selections as to which ones I’m once again able to indulge upon.
First there’s the amazing convenience of wireless Internet, which fills the airways of my living quarters - along with unlimited bandwidth. Just being able to sit at my computer whenever I feel the desire to communicate is such a refreshing little activity. Isn’t it interesting how something so fascinating, so revolutionary…’The Internet’, can so quickly become such a standard in our life…
Knowing that I can get in my vehicle and drive wherever I want, whenever I want is another luxury that’s escaped me for so long. Once again, just another little expectancy that’s so easily taken for granted. Makes me think about how we can sometimes get with the people in our lives… I’m reminded of an episode from a TV show back in the 60’s, Lost In Space. It’s about a family unit of seven traveling through different supernatural and extraterrestrial space experiences. In this episode, the young boy, Will, becomes very discontented with his family and his wishes for them to all disappear comes true. At first he seems happy with the immediate peace he’s experiencing but quickly finds his loneliness becoming painful. As a result, he misses those people God has given him and begins to see them through refreshed eyes of appreciation.
Just having a reminiscent moment…for a moment.
OK, next there’s my own bed. Oh yeah, the comforts of our own sleeping palace, our space ship to the clouds. My own place with my own things – my self-developed freedom and conveniences…all around… more Nirvana!
I know this may be sounding a bit melodramatic but I can’t tell you how much appreciation I’m having for all the things, great and small, that have been filling my life, which, until now, have previously become a bit, well…invisible.
My first ‘out of the house’ experience was a trip to my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's. And anyone who’s ever been fortunate enough to have had a TJ’s experience knows what I’m talking about. Once there, I found myself just floating the isles with a faint grin and sense of wonder similar to that of a child visiting Disney Land for the very first time. No joke…it truly was a journey. How great would it be if this experience would become the norm…living life in a constant state of heightened amusement, fully submerged in ‘the now”. It’s sad though for I know that its time is slowly passing.
Sushi, ah yes, sushi…my first real outside indulgence. Over priced little pieces of raw fish. For some strange reason my first real American craving wasn’t a cheeseburger, as I though it might’ve been. Maybe that’s because there was some version of a cheeseburger available at a couple of places in Pemba. Occasionally I would indulge before the unknown adventures of an Iris outreach, knowing that it would carry me through for a few days. No, my first hunt for the food of my choice, (because that’s what we have available to us here in the US…a choice. A choice of just about any kind of food we feel like, in any portion we want, prepared just the way we like it. WHAT AN AMAZING BLESSING!) No, my first craving was…craw fish! Real Louisiana Cajun craw daddies! Why? I have no idea, but that’s what I was after. So, where does one go to find an authentic Cajun craw fish boil…New Orleans? You might think…but no…this is America, and no matter what it is, we can find it! It’ll most likely be prepared by some person of Mexican decent because after all, I do live in LA and no matter what type of food you’re eating in LA (and probably many other places in the country,) the kitchen will be staffed with Mexicans. No kidding, if you look in any kitchen in any restaurant especially in the surrounding area of LA…who’s cooking up the chow… Mexicans. Nothing prejudice here…merely an observation, but man can they cook…anything!
I digress. So, here I am craving craw fish and watching the early morning news (for the first time in over a month) and what local weekend event is being reported in the area…The 15th Annual Long Beach Craw fish Boil! Fresh, live craw fish flown in and prepared just the way we like it. I couldn’t believe it! So I go to their website, download the directions, along with a $2 off coupon, and patiently await with great anticipation, the weekend festivity. Ah, the conveniences of a First World lifestyle…how wonderful!
In the interim there’s my studio experience. As most of you already know, I’m also a film acting coach and teach a Friday evening class in Studio City. Well, I arrived back home on Wednesday, not exactly sure what happened to that day. Thursday was a wash as well…it just kind ‘a disappeared into sleepville. Friday was a bit of a daze…my Trader Joe’s day - and my teaching evening. I really enjoyed teaching once I got back in the saddle, I guess it's just in me. Saturday was a day off…a bit more conscious and without any guilt.
[STOP – gotta go do something]
[It’s been a few days since I’ve been able to pen anything and rather than go on about all of the many little experiences that have become so refreshingly childlike for me, I’ll take you through these following points of my summery.]
I thought that I might have had a bad attitude once I got back into the ‘Land of Plenty’. You know, revolted by all of the abundant waste, the abuse of our privileges here and the absence of real love being shared by one another as we cohabitate, but that hasn’t been the case. On the contrary, I’ve actually been enjoying my life of convenience. I’m finding myself indulging in experiences that prior to Africa I would not have given a second thought to. For instance, just stopping in the middle of a workday for a roadside slice of pizza and a light beer, then going on with my business…just because I felt like it and I could. That’s just not something that I would have done before…unless it was a day off or I was on holiday. Or catching a matinee in the middle of the week. It may sound silly but once you begin to experience yourself organically doing things that you otherwise wouldn’t do…it’s a bit mind blowing and rather refreshing!
Now, I understand that this can all be a rebound effect at present, but I’m truly enjoying this ‘cool down’ period.
I think the thing that I’ll do my best to hold on to as the days go by will be the bellow of love, peace and contentment that I’ve been traveling around in. It’s almost like being in a situational state of shock. There’s a certain kind of calm that one can experience when in a state of shock. It’s like life just stops and you’re suspended in an animated condition. OK, maybe not to that degree, but the sort of melancholy state that I’m experiencing at the moment, directly in the midst of the rapid hustle of LA living, is very much accepted refreshment.
Again, I understand that I’m certainly still in the ‘after glow’ of my ‘south of the equator’ experiences, but nonetheless…it’s all still very real, and these observations are priceless to me right now.
[STOP - have to do more things]
In conclusion, and on a more serious note, I would like to once again thank all of you who have been following me on this journey, those of you who have so dearly held me up in prayer and of course those of you who have given of your resources to help finance this adventure…I really couldn’t have done it without your help. Really!
I could go on in my attempts to bring imagery to your minds and sensory experiences to your emotions and spirit, but then I would be writing that novel I spoke of earlier. I’d have to spend more time at the computer writing in the peace and quiet of my dwelling place and less time on the LA freeways fighting traffic to get to the next appointment. I would…wait a second…that’s not half bad! Maybe I should re-think this whole thing.
Photojournalism…why not?!
Much Love & Hugs & Many Blessings Your Way,
Clay
Partial List of Personal Accomplishments While in Africa:
- Taught missions teams dramatic evangelism.
- Wrote, directed and performed several evangelistic sketches used to illustrate different Biblical messages.
- Performed in church, village outreaches and a maximum security prison outside of Pemba…really!
- Taught class for a group of Mozambique’n Pastors…Clay style.
- Using my McGeiver skills, was able to get the (non-working) Jesus movie working in a far off village outreach.
- Helped to un-stick two stuck Land Rovers that were sucked into a water basin.
- Prayed for numerous people.
- Facilitated healing for many.
- Screened The Azusa Street Project, (our movie on revival.)
- Spoke to and inspired missions students from all over the world.
- Brought the gospel message to un-reached people groups.
- Participated in purchasing an acre of land and building materials for a new church building, school, housing and latrines in a bush mud-hut village.
- And a bunch more stuff I just can’t remember…
Thanks once more for your part in all of this…a difference has surely been made!
A Letter From Clay - June, 08 The Start Of The Trip
Hey Everyone!
As many of you already know, and for those of you who don’t know…I’ve been asked to do some missions work this summer in Africa!
Sure I won’t end up in a third world country…
The sensational folks over at Iris Ministries (IrisMin.org) have asked me to volunteer my help with them in Mozambique. They would like me to teach in their Missions School as well as help work with the local orphan children.
The mission school is in Pemba, Mozambique Africa, one of the poorest places in the world. The school is located there so that missions students can apply what they’re learning ‘hands-on’. This is the real deal!
They’ve asked me to teach the students Dramatic Evangelism (teaching the bible through drama), which they/we will then bring to the natives living in the African Bush. There after, certain teams will go into China to minister these scenes during the August, Beijing Olympics.
I’ll be leaving for Pemba, Africa June 29 and should be back somewhere around the beginning of August…if all goes as planned.
The reason for this letter is two-fold:
- First off to say HI…and to let those of you whom I haven’t seen in a while know what I’m up to.
- The second…to ask for your support.
The estimated cost of this trip is coming in at around $4,000 (flights to Pemba Africa don’t come cheep), and as this trip will have me out of the country for a little over a month…I’ll also have to close down my studio and cease all of my work, which means, well…you guessed it… six weeks or more without income.
This is a big commitment and something that I’ve given much thought and prayer to. And maybe you’re not able to join me personally…but any support you can lend (prayerful or financial) will not only make this journey possible but will have you right there along side me doing the work too.
So, to cut to the chase…I’m asking you to cut a check, say a prayer, hit the pay pal button…do what you can to help support this mission and the work of this ministry… and many thanks to those of you who have already shared with your support.
I really appreciate you all and whatever you can do to help will be greatly valued…by myself as well as many others.
I’ve never written one of these before. Is it sounding ok? Not too long. Not too forward…making the point??
Lots’a Love Your Way,
Clay
P.S. If you are interested in being on my support team financially, you can do it now by sending your tax-deductible contribution to:
‘Iris Ministries’
c/o Clay Banks Wuchner
137 N Larchmont Blvd. #242
LA, CA 90004.
Just make your check out to Iris Ministries and designate in the memo box that it’s for: Clay Banks Wuchner.
Yup, that’s my full name.
I’d really dig it if you could be a part of this mission trip. It would feel as if I had an army of friends along side of me. Any amount is a great help but a larger amount will make up for all that will still be needed.
Hey, I had to at least ask!
If it’s more covenant for you to use Pay Pal or your Credit Card, you can do so through my GodWorks Studio account by clicking on this link: GodWorks Studio
Just hit the Pay Pal button on the left side of the page, fill in your info and hit send…it’s that easy! We’ll receive your contribution (tax deductible) and you’ll be receipted with a confirmation number.
PLEASE NOTE: Iris Ministries is a faith ministry, entirely dependent upon the generosity and responsiveness of people like you. All of these funds go directly towards this mission trip.
For further contact information for this ministry, you can go to : Iris Ministries Inc
Thanks again!
As many of you already know, and for those of you who don’t know…I’ve been asked to do some missions work this summer in Africa!
Sure I won’t end up in a third world country…
The sensational folks over at Iris Ministries (IrisMin.org) have asked me to volunteer my help with them in Mozambique. They would like me to teach in their Missions School as well as help work with the local orphan children.
The mission school is in Pemba, Mozambique Africa, one of the poorest places in the world. The school is located there so that missions students can apply what they’re learning ‘hands-on’. This is the real deal!
They’ve asked me to teach the students Dramatic Evangelism (teaching the bible through drama), which they/we will then bring to the natives living in the African Bush. There after, certain teams will go into China to minister these scenes during the August, Beijing Olympics.
I’ll be leaving for Pemba, Africa June 29 and should be back somewhere around the beginning of August…if all goes as planned.
The reason for this letter is two-fold:
- First off to say HI…and to let those of you whom I haven’t seen in a while know what I’m up to.
- The second…to ask for your support.
The estimated cost of this trip is coming in at around $4,000 (flights to Pemba Africa don’t come cheep), and as this trip will have me out of the country for a little over a month…I’ll also have to close down my studio and cease all of my work, which means, well…you guessed it… six weeks or more without income.
This is a big commitment and something that I’ve given much thought and prayer to. And maybe you’re not able to join me personally…but any support you can lend (prayerful or financial) will not only make this journey possible but will have you right there along side me doing the work too.
So, to cut to the chase…I’m asking you to cut a check, say a prayer, hit the pay pal button…do what you can to help support this mission and the work of this ministry… and many thanks to those of you who have already shared with your support.
I really appreciate you all and whatever you can do to help will be greatly valued…by myself as well as many others.
I’ve never written one of these before. Is it sounding ok? Not too long. Not too forward…making the point??
Lots’a Love Your Way,
Clay
P.S. If you are interested in being on my support team financially, you can do it now by sending your tax-deductible contribution to:
‘Iris Ministries’
c/o Clay Banks Wuchner
137 N Larchmont Blvd. #242
LA, CA 90004.
Just make your check out to Iris Ministries and designate in the memo box that it’s for: Clay Banks Wuchner.
Yup, that’s my full name.
I’d really dig it if you could be a part of this mission trip. It would feel as if I had an army of friends along side of me. Any amount is a great help but a larger amount will make up for all that will still be needed.
Hey, I had to at least ask!
If it’s more covenant for you to use Pay Pal or your Credit Card, you can do so through my GodWorks Studio account by clicking on this link: GodWorks Studio
Just hit the Pay Pal button on the left side of the page, fill in your info and hit send…it’s that easy! We’ll receive your contribution (tax deductible) and you’ll be receipted with a confirmation number.
PLEASE NOTE: Iris Ministries is a faith ministry, entirely dependent upon the generosity and responsiveness of people like you. All of these funds go directly towards this mission trip.
For further contact information for this ministry, you can go to : Iris Ministries Inc
Thanks again!
God On The Move
GOD ON THE MOVE – SATURDAY 7/26/08
I just looked back on these blog inserts and realized that I haven’t been able to write in several days’… man this place is busy and Internet is just about impossible!
OK, here’s the latest. I’m looking down the pike at my final days here in Pemba and if I had to write about everything that took place in just one of these days I would be spending every other day typing away at my computer just to keep up.
Before I get into it I just want to update you on my present living conditions. My flooded shower pool is still flooded and presently all the water has turned a murky shade of black that’s beginning to give off a nasty toxic vapor odor. It’s becoming way beyond what I can live with… as well as a serious health issue – at least one might think.
Roosters (right outside my bedroom window) continue to crow at ridiculous hours of the evening. Witchdoctor chanting fills the hollows of the deep, dark night and the endless dirt just won’t go away.
The big issue here is how much time most things seem to take to get taken care of. “Right away” just doesn’t equate in these parts. My friend Kent told me that when he first arrived here in Pemba several years back, he and his wife would actually go to a restaurant, order their food, go back home for a few hours and then go back to the restaurant to eat…crazy stuff! And no…there are no drive-thru anything’s here ether.
Yesterday we came back from our forth outreach. We re-visited the village we just went to one week earlier. It’s a village that Iris Ministries hadn’t been to before and we wanted to do a follow up to see how things were going - and continue to support and build that community. When we pulled into that village a week earlier, we weren’t sure what was going to happen. Some villages are friendly and the people are very receptive while other villages can be just the opposite. They may even throw rocks at you and curse you. This village was friendly.
The SOP (standard operating procedure) of an outreach stays pretty much consistent –
o The team pulls into a village.
o We intermingle with the village people and locate the Chief
o Set up the PA system and stage (the back of a flatbed truck and generator)
o Play some pretty cool praise music in their local language - Makua
o Dance and sing a bit, creating a very festive,loving and supportive atmosphere
o Crank up the ‘Jesus Movie’ (two hours & pretty good production value)
o Do a sketch, which brings one of the Bible stories to life (they love this)
o Heidi and/or one of the guest speakers will preach or share their testimony
o There’s a call for anyone who is sick, and healing prayer begins
o This is when the miricals strongly take place
o An invitation to receive Jesus is given
o A bunch of people consistently respond
o More music and dancing to close out the evening
o Most everyone in the village is 'partying' - so to speak
o The locals will gradually fade off into the darkness of the night and go to sleep - they hit it pretty early
o The mission’s team then gathers around a fire and eat dinner (hot noodles mixed with a taste of tuna fish… if they have it.)
o Next morning we baptize the people that received Jesus the night before, teach and pray a bit more and leave them with a talking solar bible which has been translated into their native language…this is very cool!
Sometimes a team will stay for a day or longer, or they might move on to another village. That decision is, at times, made in the moment depending on what the state of affairs is in that particular village.
The supernatural will usually present itself, somewhere, during these meetings. These people are already very open to moves in the spirit…it’s just not usually the Spirit of God that they’ve been encountering...
I’ve been pretty fortunate because I’m usually up front filming and trying my best (in pretty difficult surroundings) to get some decent coverage. Apparently it’s not uncommon to have deft ears open or the mute speak. When I was filming about a week ago, I actually caught a guy on camera getting healed from not being able to hear or speak…his whole life. Heidi called for anyone who fit the bill and this guy came up. Apparently his friends grabbed him and brought him up. She began praying for him and after a few different prayers…the guy began to hear and speak. As he began uttering words, you could see the reactions on his friend’s faces. That’s what did it for me. His brother was next to him and he said that he hadn’t spoken a word his whole life. After saying his own name for the first time, his friends became so excited that they lifted him up on their shoulders and carried him around like an MVP ball player…that was radical…and I captured it all!
Most of the village responded to that miracle in an exceedingly positive way and a whole slew of people came to Jesus that night. Heidi wanted to plant a church in the village so the next day she went into negations with the village Chief and some land owners and wound up buying enough land to build a church, school, home as well as some additional huts on…about an acre. The negotiating went on for a while and we wound up purchasing the whole lot for $600.00. Can you believe that!
This is the village we just got back from and when we first pulled in just a week later, they already had the entire lot fenced in, the framing was up for the church and the latrine’s were finished being built…all in a week! Next, Heidi laid out the rest of the plans showing where the other hut buildings were to go then we paid for the construction and the materials…and additional $900. So, in a brand new village, (new to us anyway) we will have a new church, a school, a few mud hut living quarters, latrines and a fence… all for $1500! This was such an amazing feet to watch that I offered to pay for half the construction. So if you’re lending me any supporting for this adventure…you are also being credited with a new church plant in an un-reached African community…how cool is that?!
I just looked back on these blog inserts and realized that I haven’t been able to write in several days’… man this place is busy and Internet is just about impossible!OK, here’s the latest. I’m looking down the pike at my final days here in Pemba and if I had to write about everything that took place in just one of these days I would be spending every other day typing away at my computer just to keep up.
Before I get into it I just want to update you on my present living conditions. My flooded shower pool is still flooded and presently all the water has turned a murky shade of black that’s beginning to give off a nasty toxic vapor odor. It’s becoming way beyond what I can live with… as well as a serious health issue – at least one might think.
Roosters (right outside my bedroom window) continue to crow at ridiculous hours of the evening. Witchdoctor chanting fills the hollows of the deep, dark night and the endless dirt just won’t go away.
The big issue here is how much time most things seem to take to get taken care of. “Right away” just doesn’t equate in these parts. My friend Kent told me that when he first arrived here in Pemba several years back, he and his wife would actually go to a restaurant, order their food, go back home for a few hours and then go back to the restaurant to eat…crazy stuff! And no…there are no drive-thru anything’s here ether.
Yesterday we came back from our forth outreach. We re-visited the village we just went to one week earlier. It’s a village that Iris Ministries hadn’t been to before and we wanted to do a follow up to see how things were going - and continue to support and build that community. When we pulled into that village a week earlier, we weren’t sure what was going to happen. Some villages are friendly and the people are very receptive while other villages can be just the opposite. They may even throw rocks at you and curse you. This village was friendly.
The SOP (standard operating procedure) of an outreach stays pretty much consistent –
o The team pulls into a village.
o We intermingle with the village people and locate the Chief
o Set up the PA system and stage (the back of a flatbed truck and generator)
o Play some pretty cool praise music in their local language - Makua
o Dance and sing a bit, creating a very festive,loving and supportive atmosphere
o Crank up the ‘Jesus Movie’ (two hours & pretty good production value)
o Do a sketch, which brings one of the Bible stories to life (they love this)
o Heidi and/or one of the guest speakers will preach or share their testimony
o There’s a call for anyone who is sick, and healing prayer begins
o This is when the miricals strongly take place
o An invitation to receive Jesus is given
o A bunch of people consistently respond
o More music and dancing to close out the evening
o Most everyone in the village is 'partying' - so to speak
o The locals will gradually fade off into the darkness of the night and go to sleep - they hit it pretty early
o The mission’s team then gathers around a fire and eat dinner (hot noodles mixed with a taste of tuna fish… if they have it.)
o Next morning we baptize the people that received Jesus the night before, teach and pray a bit more and leave them with a talking solar bible which has been translated into their native language…this is very cool!
Sometimes a team will stay for a day or longer, or they might move on to another village. That decision is, at times, made in the moment depending on what the state of affairs is in that particular village.
The supernatural will usually present itself, somewhere, during these meetings. These people are already very open to moves in the spirit…it’s just not usually the Spirit of God that they’ve been encountering...
I’ve been pretty fortunate because I’m usually up front filming and trying my best (in pretty difficult surroundings) to get some decent coverage. Apparently it’s not uncommon to have deft ears open or the mute speak. When I was filming about a week ago, I actually caught a guy on camera getting healed from not being able to hear or speak…his whole life. Heidi called for anyone who fit the bill and this guy came up. Apparently his friends gra
bbed him and brought him up. She began praying for him and after a few different prayers…the guy began to hear and speak. As he began uttering words, you could see the reactions on his friend’s faces. That’s what did it for me. His brother was next to him and he said that he hadn’t spoken a word his whole life. After saying his own name for the first time, his friends became so excited that they lifted him up on their shoulders and carried him around like an MVP ball player…that was radical…and I captured it all!Most of the village responded to that miracle in an exceedingly positive way and a whole slew of people came to Jesus that night. Heidi wanted to plant a church in the village so the next day she went into negations with the village Chief and some land owners and wound up buying enough land to build a church, school, home as well as some additional huts on…about an acre. The negotiating went on for a while and we wound up purchasing the whole lot for $600.00. Can you believe that!
This is the village we just got back from and when we first pulled in just a week later, they already had the entire lot fenced in, the framing was up for the church and the latrine’s were finished being built…all in a week! Next, Heidi laid out the rest of the plans showing where the other hut buildings were to go then we paid for the construction and the materials…and additional $900. So, in a brand new village, (new to us anyway) we will have a new church, a school, a few mud hut living quarters, latrines and a fence… all for $1500! This was such an amazing feet to watch that I offered to pay for half the construction. So if you’re lending me any supporting for this adventure…you are also being credited with a new church plant in an un-reached African community…how cool is that?!
MORE ON PEMBA LIVING
MORE ON PEMBA – SUNDAY 7/20/08
I’m not really sure how many of you are actually reading any of this. I went back and took a look at this blog myself and I can see where it may come across a bit overwhelming. There’s quite a bit of plain text on this thing! Maybe not so much for people like my mom who love reading and devour words like Pemba kids on a plate of rice…but for the rest of us with our busy schedules and places to be, I can understand not being able to keep up…not too sure I would ether.
I’m trying to break up all the running text with some pictures but uploading pictures here is a feat in and of itself. It’s usually a good day if I can event get to a terminal that’s working. Ether way, there’s something quite therapeutic for me in just journaling all of these experiences…it kind of helps me to make it all make a bit more sense. In addition I do believe there actually are a couple of you that are keeping up with this adventure, so I’ll continue to keep on ‘blogging’…’blogging’, that’s so funny to me.
If I could ask those of you who are keeping up with this adventure to drop a comment every once in awhile…that would be encouraging to me… Just hit the word ‘comments’ and you can respond. Let me thank you up front.
OK, back to life in Pemba. I’ve seemed to pick up some kind of bug or something. I don’t believe it’s Malaria although several people here have gotten hit with that. The symptoms are more ‘flu like’ than anything. You know, throat and nose irritation, not being able to rest peacefully and sneezing here and there. I’m keeping an eye on it and dousing with herbs but I feel it’s one of those things that will pass with time…I’m hoping.
We woke up to no electricity again this morning and because the power runs the plumbing pump, that usually means no water. It just now came back on…for how long…no one really knows. I actually got to take my first hot shower in, I don’t know how long, the other day. I was helping to unload one of the Land Rovers over at the Baker’s house and I was invited to run through their house shower…I willingly accepted. How good can a shower be? When you’re living in the dust and dirt and everything else that’s around us here, for days and days, and all you have is a cold shower that intermittently functions, hot running water showering down over your head can seem quite close to Nirvana! I can only hope my next hot water experience isn’t too far off.
MORE ON PEMBA – TUESDAY 7/22/08
There are so many things that go on in a single day over here that by the end of the day I can barely recall everything. This truly IS the missions field and it’s quite reminiscent of a war zone. I was in a war zone back in 1994 when there was horrible civil un-rest in Bosnia occurring between the Bosnians, Croats and the Serbs. That was real war as one would think of a war… Pemba is a war of poverty, and along with the physical manifestations that are quite visible; there are also the spiritual goings on. There is such a spiritual battle happening here. Which craft and demonic activities are taking place all over. At times you can hear the beating of the witchdoctors drum during the night. Dreams can many times be laced with darkness. When you wake up, you just know that you went through something evil while you were sleeping, My dreams have taken a dark turn, many times leaving me feeling a bit off in the morning. It’s really quite an experience.
My mornings are filled with the consistent crowing of that obnoxious rooster that’s right outside my window… which has no glass, remember? There are babies crying, people murmuring, all sorts of animals making noise on the roof of my house and the sound of diesel engines from the many trucks revving up for another day of activity.
We had a monkey in our trash the other day and frogs in the bathroom are constant companions. The shower drain is now plugged up so we have a small man-made pond in there. I just cleaned up by hanging my head under the cold running water while the rest of me was leaning over the ledge. I was able to stick my arms and legs under the water, all the while balancing so as to not fall into the pool of shower water. Really makes you appreciate the many pleasantries we so often take for granted.
I’m off to teach this morning. I’m scheduled to teach the Mozambique’n Pastors about The Holy Spirit. This is done with an interpreter, sometimes two inrerpretitors depending on whether we need to translate into Makua as well as Portuguese. I’ve done this a few times now and I think I’m beginning to get the flow down a bit better…still not an easy feat. I’ll let you know how it goes.
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