The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

It was 2am and I was sound asleep, my left hand nestled under my pillow. Then, as if in a dream, hundreds of little feet were wrapping around my left middle finger.

The wriggling and writhing became so real that I awoke with a shriek. From under my pillow, a dark object shot out and moved down the left side of my bed.   

Under bright lights, I frantically lifted the mattress, moved the bed, and searched the room, but all in vain. I almost wondered if I had imagined it... 

Back to bed, with the mosquito net tucked tightly under my mattress. Then, just as sleep was returning, a rapid tickling sensation moved up the left side of my arm in the direction of the pillow. Another yelp and the lights were back on. 

This time the gruesome creature stayed under my pillow where I glimpsed the sleek body and a multitude of legs. My frantic panting was so loud that it woke my housemate, Monica, who sleeps in another room.   


Sidenote

Here in Mozambique, the word for breakfast is matabicho, which literally means "kill the beast", due to the fact that one is hungry in the morning, which is likened to a beast in the stomach that needs to killed, and this can be done by eating. Makes perfect sense and it has even become a verb that can be conjugated! 

Eu matabichei as 9hrs. - I (ate) breakfast at 9hrs.

Ja matabichou? - Have you already (eaten) breakfast?

Vamos matabichar! - Let's (eat) breakfast!

 

 So there I was panting and pointing to the pillow when Monica came in the room. After assessing the situation, she said to me, "get the matabicho."

I looked at her in disbelief, wondering why, at a time like this, she would ask me to get breakfast. Different breakfast foods went though my mind. 

I must have stared at her in silence for about 5 seconds as I puzzled, and I briefly thought about saying, "Let's focus on the task at hand, I'll get you breakfast afterwards." 

Then it finally dawned on me that matabicho literally means "kill the beast," and that she was asking me to get the insect spray! 

After I finally understood and retrieved the insect killer, we used a plastic container to sweep the aggressive creature into a bucket where we used the spray to keep it from crawling out. Once it was subdued, I did some research to find out what it was.

"Mediterranean Banded Centipede Scolopendra cingulata, better known as the Megarian Banded Centipede. It is one of the smallest members of the family with approximately 10-15 cm length. The venom of S. cingulata is less toxic than the other scolopendrid centipedes, but they are still regarded as fast and aggressive.The scolopendrids are distributed throughout the world in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates."

The picture above is what I found on the internet. The pictures below are the ones I took.

Rearing itself up.

Subdued, with a pen.

Thinking it was dead, I left the creature in the bucket with the hopes of taking some close up pictures once I got my nerve back. After 2 days, I looked in the bucket and saw it was moving around!  

Realizing that I would need to do something a little more definitive, I took the bucket outside and dumped it on the ground. I then proceeded to pick up a giant rock to crush it.  

As I picked up the rock, I felt something and noticed a shape protruding from the rock. So I dropped it, screaming out at the top of my lungs. 

On closer inspection, it turned out to be a little mass of my dog's fur. 

As the saying goes, 

"I discovered I scream the same way whether I’m about to be devoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot."

 

 

  After this final scare, I picked the rock back up and crushed the centipede cutting it into 2 halves, and the next morning I saw teams of ants neatly carrying away the 2 halves. 

Here ends the bad and ugly part of this post.  

Now the Good!

Monica, from Brazil, has been a learning, loving, and giving here these last 3 months!

At the women's meeting in Picoco.

A new blanket given with love for a new baby.

Monica with the community children.

Would you keep Monica in prayer as she follows God's guidance for her next steps as she returns to Brazil.  

Mourning and Rejoicing

 Two frequent parts of my life here are mourning with those who mourn, and rejoicing with those who rejoice.
(Romans 12:15)

Whether in the grief of death or the celebration of birth, God calls us to show the love of Christ in being present, in listening, in partaking, in giving, and in praying.


Would you pray:

 for God's peace and protection for the four children who lost their mother and their father to sudden illnesses. 

for God's faith for a young Mozambican man who lost his father in the South African mines. 

 for God's loving presence for the baby and the young new mother who lost her husband while she was pregnant.

for me in all the times I seek to be, do, and speak the love of Christ with those who mourn and rejoice here in Mozambique. 

Impressions

Friends

Old and New

Pews

Beauty

Gates

Swept

Music

Cars and Dreams

Maximum Capacity

Road Bike

Obstruction in the Road

Rubbish on the Road

Snacks on the Go

Clothes on the Go

Food on the Go

Store on the Go

Market Row

Daily Water

One hand still free

Beast of Burden

The Local Barber

"Work is hard...

Hunger is harder." 

 (African Proverb)

The rhythm of pounding and sifting peanuts.

Strength

Monica, Artur, and Church Leaders

From March to May a young lady named Mônica, from Conim church in Brazil, will be here.

At the entrance gate to the ministry house property in Quissico, Inhambane.

Mônica trying her hand at the pilao with sister Tina.

Teaching a game and Bible story to the kids in Cala, Inhambane.

We've been making visits to help and encourage Artur, who lives in Xai Xai.

Carlos, from the Helping Hands Ministry in the church came to adjust the wheelchair we gave to Artur. 

*the next 2 pictures are a bit graphic*

Artur cannot feel from his knees to his feet, and struggles each night with rats that gnaw on his legs and feet.

I've been bringing him basic things to clean and dress his wounds.  

We gave him an audio Bible so he can listen to God's Word during his long days sitting in a chair or lying on a mat. 

We are seeking to share the love of Christ with Artur, both physically and spiritually. 

There is a new Transitional Government for our national church, Igreja Evangelica Palavra Viva. 

Amongst other things, this governing body will be working on the vision, structure, discipleship plan, and church statutes and manual. 

Would you please pray for the leaders of the Church Transitional Government:

Pr. Juka, with his wife Elina 

(and daughter Milca).

Pr. Daniel, with his wife Luisa.

Pr. Nelio, with his wife Zinha.

Pr. Abel, with his wife Victoria.

 Deacon Belarmino, with his wife Albertina 

(and son Junior).

Missionary Paulo, with his wife Fernanda.

Missionary Aimee

I appreciate prayer for all these things. 

Thank you!

Maputo Women's Ministries and Inhambane Building Progress

Igreja Evangelica Palavra Viva 
Women's Meetings

Pondering Mom

Because I must focus on the work involved in my move to Inhambane, I informed the women that I would not be as involved in the ministries in Maputo.

Would you pray that these women would continue to meet together to grow in Christ's love.

Beautiful and Bright

Nkateko Discipleship and Craft Group

I translated for my Mom as she used seeds, flowers, and fruits to illustrate spiritual truths to share with the ladies in the Nkateko craft discipleship group.

Nkateko means Blessing

 

 Jewelry the group makes

It was Albertina's birthday, so we enjoyed a chocolate cake (thanks to my Mom's baking skills)

Inhambane Building Progress

The new property wall and entrance into the site where my ministry house will be built.

The storehouse is almost finished.

The construction leader, Titos.

The cook, Pionalda, who has been preparing 3 meals a day for the 4 workers for the past 45 days.

Sunday Best

Everybody wanted to come to church on Sunday, so we headed to Cala in a rented pick-up truck (my mom sat in front). 

Pr. Abel's daughter, Raquel, shared a message of encouragement with the church.

On the way back, we gave a ride to a student and his new edible pet.

Letting the pig out of the bag.

Bible Study with Women in Inhambane

What a privilege, challenge, and joy it continues to be to teach the Word of God here.

Ermelinda

Cristina

Katarina

Palmira

We shared a special meal of grilled chicken, cabbage salad, rice, and fried potatoes. 

Seeking to be His hands and feet.