Mozambique Trip - 2010

Thank you for your prayers. They were definately answered. Our trip was a huge success! Hopefully this blog will give you a taste of what we experienced on our 11 day journey into Maputo, Marracuene and Possulane, Mozambique.

DAY 1

After months of preparation, we gathered together the morning of March 25th, and with friends and family present, we prayed for God's protection over us and for a successful journey to Mozambique. We loaded the car with 6 large suitcases, most of which contained the generous gifts that others had donated for us to take to the children and families of Marracuene and Possulane.

Three of us, Greg Richards, Michaela Richards and Pat Pattillo, were finally on our way.

Our journey began with a drive to San Antonio, where we checked all our overweight luggage in. We expected to pay a little extra for the additional weight. That "little extra" turned out to be $600.00!! They REALLY don't want you to take overweight baggage. We had a 2 hour flight to Atlanta and a 15 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.

DAY 2

We arrived in Jo'burg about 4:00 p.m. waited for our luggage and it never showed. We inquired with the baggage department and learned that our bags were being held in storage and would be loaded onto the plane the next day for our ride to Maputo. That was a real blessing to not have to haul the bags around Jo'burg. Friday night we stayed the night at the African Moon corporate house (a bed and breakfast). Michaela and Greg had their first experience with jet lag and woke up at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, when Michaela proceeded to make coffee for herself and her dad.

DAY 3

The next morning we left for Maputo. We arrived to 90 degrees of temperature and 90% (or more) humidity. The term "Africa hot" is meaningful. We spotten Ernesto on the other side of the immigration area and were welcomed by him as though we were family. We gathered all of our suitcases and headed for the customs area, and our first miracle.

The customs agent, seeing all of our baggage, immediately ordered us to open everything up for inspection. When we did so he noted all of the vacuum packed bags full of clothes and supplies and said we could not take it all into the country. We were overwhelmed. Was all the collecting, organizing, expense and effort going to be lost just because this guy says so? Ernesto argued with him and told him that we were Christians coming to Mozambique to help the children. The agent said he would have to talk to his supervisor. He walked away to do so and we could see him telling the story to what appeared to be a dis-interested boss. Then, the boss began to wag his finger and chastise his agent. The boss then proceeded to walk over to us, and in clear english he said, "My friends, I too am a Christian. I appreciate that you have come from America to help the children on my country. Thank you. Please take your things and go. We hope you will come back again." So we took our things out of the airport and loaded up to head to Marracuene.

Ernesto is waiving. Seba, his assistant, is in the white shirt.