Lucky! This HIV patient had a mattress instead of a mat.

HIV positive previous school teacher

We had a very interesting day today.  We were invited to learn more about an NGO started by a Baptist preacher (man standing to the left).  This picture and the following ones were taken in the community of Moamba, about 65 kilometers from Maputo.  There happens to be a high concentration of persons with HIV in this district.  According to the social worker I asked the population of the district is 17% HIV positive.  This NGO (called COASA) is trying to offer them better nutritious foods grown locally.  This keeps them feeling better and more likely staying on the medication they need which is supplied by the government.  They have about 2 1/2 hectares (7 acres) in cultivation with only 3 people to work it. 

Machamba (Garden)

Irrigation is available, but it does not give them enough.  Sweet potatoes, squash, chard, are grown to give to the patients.  Tomatoes are grown as a cash crop to help pay expenses.  When the crops are ready to be harvested they take what they need from the fields and deliver them to the sick in the community.  There is an American Baptist missionary that has been in Mozambique for 11 years that is giving them some help with "kits" of personal care items.  The local hospital provides the medication and some nursing care at the homes, but is extremely understaffed and does not have the transportation to do much. This organization makes regular visits to pray with them, deliver fresh food, and let them know they are not forgotten.  (Sounds like HT and VT to me).

Teril feeding cake to HIV patient

We made 5 visits.  We were invited to pray.  There was a wonderful spirit there.  We also met with hospital personnel and learned more about their needs.  I am not sure at this point just what we can do for them that will fit within the guidelines we have; but we will consider possibilities.  One of the challenges is that we are encouraged to work with organizations that have a successful track record.  This one is too new and is having trouble coming up with a solid plan to be sustainable.  We want to use the welfare services in a way that will make the most impact and is sustainable.  We will see.  But I was touched by the efforts of these people to look after their own.  Here are some more pictures of the day.

baptised ministers, social workers and us

All these people were hauled in two trucks to the visits

 

 

 

HIV house made of tin. "HOT"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(Teril) I have never been inside a Mozambiquan home before today.  The first home had more than one room and was very modern in comparison.  The others homes were just one room.  The only one that could stand up was the School Teacher.  The others were confined to their beds which were just mats on the floor of their one room.  I was glad to see some had nurses assigned to fix the food we brought for them to eat.  They definitely needed help to just get a drink of water.

The picture of all the people standing in a row all squeezed into the two American's trucks to go visiting these 5 people.  Not even the government official used his car to transport people. We had produce in the beds of our trucks with people sitting all around going from place to place.

The blind gal was so engaging.  She was jolly and so happy we came to visit her.  She loved the cake.  Two of the ladies were afraid of the cake.  They don't do much sugared sweets here.  If you do get a cookie or a cake, it is never sweet enough for me.  The lady I fed a piece to nearly choked on the spot with all that sugar.  She needed a glass of water immediately.  We talked afterwards at the hospital and that was mentioned as a difficulty.
 I hope we can partner with the hospital.  In that way we may be able to indirectly help COASA and a lot of other people as well.  We will see.  We have a phone number for the doctor we met today.

Community of Moamba

Community of Moamba

 

 

Impaputo Project nearly finished

Before wash

Washed walls

Painted but needing name replaced

Here is the sequence of events and what the same wall looked like and looks like as of Friday.  They are still finishing all three buildings.  What a difference.  Can you see why the colors were chosen as they were?  We hope this will help them maintain the clean look of their buildings easier.  They have really claimed this project as their own.  We hope it is finished by Christmas this week.

The instructions on how to paint were an important part of the project.  Because we were not willing to pay for a painter and they did not have the cash, they decided to learn to paint themselves.  JMTrading, who provided the paint ,was willing to train the people at Impaputo School to paint their own buildings.  There were 5 steps to be taken.  1.  wash the walls.  2.  Sand the walls  3.  Wipe the sanded material off the walls 4.  fill the holes with massa. 5.  Roll the paint after 4 hours of dry time for the massa.

We had more than 50 people out to help in all these stages.  I was very glad to see the school children there as well washing, sanding, patching, and painting.  This is one of the Welfare Principles.  The Project needs to be "owned" by them, our partners.  We are not in charge.  They are.

The day we were there to help wash, the 5th grade class was there to wash the walls.  There were a few 7th graders too.  One little girl brought her baby sister on her back to help.  Cute and amazing.  How much washing of walls do you think she got done?

 The Impaputo School Committee had to be there to be trained when the guy bringing the materials showed up because it is an hour from Maputo where the materials came from.  The materials guy would not come back out here just to train at a later date.  These Impaputo School Committee who had promised to learn how to paint waited two days at the school for the delivery.  They were still there when it finally was delivered.  We were there too.

Being trained how to paint

These are dedicated parents who want to work with the school for their children.

We are impressed with the School Administrator.  He has been there every time and has taken charge along with the School Committee Chefi.  One of the things the School administrator plans to do is put in electricity for lights.  He plans to have reading classes in the evenings for parents who have never been educated.  This will serve several purposes.  Besides helping the community in education, it will light the school at night which will keep down vandalism at the school.

We have 5 open projects right now.  We feel we have work to do.  The suggested maximum projects open is 5.

hard workers

Cute

Excited about the project

Two are in Beira, a plane ride away.  The others are all with schools, paint, desks, electrical, refurbishing, textbooks.  The two in Beira are Major initiatives with representatives from Salt Lake that we work with.  Both are at hospitals, one with vision and the other Helping Babies Breath.  I am excited to work on them too.

We are off to our Mateque Refurbish project.  They are receiving their first shipment of materials after working with them for 5 months.

Washing walls at Impaputo

Here we are washing walls at the Impaputo Primary School.  Paint should be delivered this week.  We will show you pictures when the painting is done.  This project is our first to get started.  We are grateful to see it progressing.  These kids were fun!  We had to show them how to wash the walls.  Once they got the hang of it, they did OK.  Most of these students were 5th graders with a few 7th graders.

Community Chefe in the center

After washing walls, Titos, the school director (on the far right) took us for a walk in the small community next to the school.  He wanted to introduce us to the community Chefe (Kind of like the mayor of the town but not exactly).
I don't know how old she is but her great grandbaby is strapped to her back.  She was so warm and friendly.  She spoke very little Portuguese.  The language of the community is Changana.  Titos explained that after the painting, one of their goals is to install lights in the classrooms so they can be used in the evenings for adult literacy classes. Most of the parents of the children work in the banana fields and cannot read and write.  We liked his idea of using the school for that.  We may be able to partner with the school again in the near future.

Three varieties of Mangoes

Went shopping in the market with Vanessa, one of our interpreters.  She helped us pick out some fruit.  I (Stan) didn't care for the green ones.  They were hard and not juicy.  But the other ones when they softened up, were really good.  By the way, the green one always stays green hard or soft.  The yellow one is very much like the variety in the Philippines. They call the other one pink mangoes.  
The other fruit we had never tasted before is called Lichi. Amazing!!! This fruit has a skin on it that you can easily peel off.  Sometimes it cracks off and sometimes it comes off all in one wind.  It doesn't taste like anything I have ever tasted before but it is delicious.  Inside the pulp is a large brown smooth seed.  I (Teril)strung them on a thread interspursed with popcorn instead of crancberries for the Christmas Tree.

Peeled lichi fruit showing the seed.

The picture shows the size.  They are about the size of very large acorns and the seed is big but they have quite a mouthful of wonderful, juicy, sweet pulp.  I can't say it taste like ...to give you a comparison, Because I don't know what it tastes like.  It is unique.  It is really good.  They don't sell them in the store that we shop in but they are everywhere on the streets now.  This is why we had Vanessa go shopping with us.  She would know what is good and what is not.  We bought a kilo yesterday.  I believe they need to be eaten today.  The pulp inside is very much like a peeled grape except that a very large smooth brown seed is inside.  The pulp separates from the seed very easily.  You can buy lichi juice in the stores.

Our Christmas Tree

This is a picture of our Christmas Tree with a Capalana Tree Skirt.  We went shopping yesterday for a capalana material that was with Christmas Colors.  We found this one.  It is perfect.  Our little tree is loaded with homemade ornaments with all our kids, their spouses, and their children's names on an ornament.  That makes 51 ornaments on our little tree.

We were without water for about 2 1/2 days.  If you know and plan for it you can manage, but things start getting rough when you run out of clean clothes.  Anyway, we are doing fine.  We are loving our mission. Learning so many good things about ourselves, people, and welfare principles.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is definitely the answer for the salvation of the world in any way you want to define it.  Love to all of you.

Missionary Cantata practice

This is about a third of the total missionaries in Maputo area practicing our Christmas Cantata.  President Koch wanted a special something for Christmas day for these missionaries.  He asked that it not be a "free for all".  He wanted missionaries that could really perform.  That was quite a feat to find someone who could play the piano and who could sing solos since I don't know the missionaries and their talents.  The Zone leaders gave me a list of possible participants.  Wow!  What a great group of missionaries.  The pianist plays much better than me and the singers all took solos and can harmonize from playing their part one time.  What a joy it has been to work with them.  Pres. Koch wanted to make sure the participants were a good cross section of the missionaries from the Zone.  An hours worth of music is quite a feat but I think we have a very spiritual Cantata that will be wonderful for the missionaries on Christmas day.

A few of the participants in the Nativity musical of the Maputo Stake

With only one week of practices, we put on a performance that was fabulous.  Pres. Koch said the missionaries could only attend if they had an investigator and then only for 2 hours.

Let me tell you about this event.  The President of the stake is Pres. Castanhiera.  His wife is the Public Affairs representative for the Stake.  Sis. Castanhiera asked one of our missionary couples, the Kimballs to be in charge of a Stake activity to promote the church, a Christmas Nativity.  Sis. Kimball worked very hard on this activity and was talking to me about it for weeks before I heard anything at the Stake Choir practices.  Stake Conference music took precedence up until one week ago.

Our Stake Music practices last a very long time.  I blogged already about them.  Well, last Sunday, our practice started at 2:00.  I had been called to be the pianist.  Bro. Maia was called to run the music for the Nativity.  (He helped me with the song I sang for my father's funeral in September.)  I did not have the music he planned to use but sat at the piano and played with his music in front of me.  The Stake Choir was asked to sing O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night and Angels we Have Heard, Far Far Away.  Bro. Maia had an difficult arrangement for O Little Town of Bethlehem and some fun things for the others too.  We worked from 2-6:30 Sunday with the announcement that we would practice Tuesday from 6-8 and Thursday 6-8 pm before we performed Saturday, once at 3 and once at 5.  I couldn't believe the improvement we made.  You would have been impressed.  The spirit was so strong.  The music was so angelic.  It was amazing.  One set of  missionaries did bring a investigator.  After the first performance that investigator committed to baptism.  Another Convert was baptised that day and was confirmed today.  We have been sooo blessed.

Sommerschield Primary Sacrament Presentation

Last week, I was asked to play the piano for the Sommerschield Primary.  That was something, never having practiced with them.  Those children sang their little hearts out.  Cute!! Cute!! Cute!!
[Stan]
Teril has told you about the Christmas programs.  There was a wonderful spirit that attended the performance.  You can't help but feel the spirit when you speak, sing, and think on Christ and the marvelous events surrounding his birth and life.  This performance was put on by the stake.

Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus and sister missionaries

Teril has mentioned the program she is working on for/with the missionaries.  Here in Maputo it will be performed Christmas Day along with other activities and food.  The same thing is being planned for Beira (which we will not attend) and in Swaziland.  Pres. Koch invited us to go with them to Swaziland next week so we will be there for their program.  I am looking forward to visiting there.  I hear it is a completely different experience.  English is spoken, the climate is cooler and higher in elevation.  We will be there for 3 days. 

We are so excited about getting approval for the Mateque School project.  As soon as it is officially open we can contact the vendors and get the materials ordered and delivered.  When we met yesterday with the school council a couple of them still seemed to be rather reserved or maybe "cold" would be a better description.  As we talked about the project and what is going to happen and when, the president of the council said, "Please do not be offended if we do not seem as animated as you.  We have had other missionaries/organizations come and take pictures and make promises for help, but we never did hear more from them."  I assured them it was really going to happen.  Then we reviewed the principles of welfare and told them that even if no one showed up to give them anything, they could still accomplish anything they wanted as long as they were willing to work together and sacrifice for the good of the school.  I reminded them of what they already have accomplished with little or no help from outside sources, including the government.  In fact, the reason the Church (Sister Petersen and I) were there and willing to partner was because of this commitment we saw in the community.  I think they are starting to get the idea now that they really can accomplish something better for themselves and their children.  We are talking about 1500 students now and will grow to over 1700 next year and they have so little to work with.  We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this effort.  It is important for them to see themselves as capable of achievement; being self reliant.  We do not want them to become dependent on outside help.  One of the requirements for our help was to put together a plan to take care of the school property, which includes much of what the church will be helping to provide.  I am pleased with what I see them putting together in maintaining the school. 
My language is improving.  I can understand most of the conversation and am able to get my ideas across all right.  We still use an interpreter on a regular basis, however, because when it comes to dealing with money, products, vendors, time frames, expectations, contracts, etc. I do not want there to be any gaps in the communication.  It feels good to be able to participate in a class at church and know what is going on.  We love all of you and are grateful for your support.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the true answer to every problem.  Overcoming our own pride is usually the biggest obstacle.  When we do that we can move forward in love and harmony. 
Love, Elder Petersen, DAD, and Grandpa

[Stan]
We have had our bout with internet going out.  It is difficult to get our work done without it, not to mention no contact with family and friends.  But then they get it up again and it is OK for a day or two.  Power and water are also intermittent.  Be grateful while you have have it; it may be gone tomorrow!
Thanksgiving was really nice.  Teril wrote about that in the previous blog.  Along with our projects (which I will mention later) we are working on the Christmas Cantata that Pres. Koch assigned us to put together and see that it happens.  It will be performed in 3 areas; Maputo, Beira, and Swaziland.  This is for the missionaries only and they will be performing.  There is good talent here and it should be a nice program.  We will probably only attend here in Maputo, although it may work out for us to go to Swaziland.  We will see.  It seems so strange to be planning Christmas in the hottest part of the year. 
Our projects are moving; albeit, slowly.  That is just the way things happen here.  But we are excited about getting approval on a second project that we have talked about for some time.  It is the Mateque Elementary School (Escola Primaria de Mateque).  I believe we posted some pics of this early on.  The issue we are dealing with now is the drastic drop on the metical; about 20%.  Not only does that make it challenging to budget for projects, but it makes the vendors anxious thinking they will not now get a fair price for the bid turned in earlier.  We have assured them we will be fair and account for that, but it is still difficult. 

Dinner for 10

Recently we were invited by the stake public affairs specialist to attend a dinner for 10.  We did not know what that was, but we were told to come prepared to share some about what we do and about some of the projects that the church has and is doing in Mozambique.  So I prepared some info.  When we arrived at the Radisson there was a very nice set up and a great meal provided.  People from the community leadership had been invited to come and learn about the church.  Apparently this is a common and frequent event (Dinner for 10) for public affairs.  I did not know.  Now that I understand it we will come prepared next time with photos and a better explanation. 

pictures everywhere

eating thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Mozambique of course.  However, there is one missionary that was very insistent that we have a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving this year.  Thanks to him, our President, Pres. Koch, gave the go ahead for this Thanksgiving dinner.  The person in the front of this picture is Naldo, our first interpreter.  He has too many hours with us so passed off the Interpreting to his brother, Benildo.  Benildo is two people down from Naldo at the table.

The decoration on the table is the famous, Acacia blossom.  I have been told that Maputo is the city of Acacia trees.  I have sent pictures of this tree before in the blog.  Aren't they beautiful?

Acacia blossom

This yellow pedal is striking within each set of pedals in a cluster of blossoms.  The trees are covered with these blossoms right now in this beautiful spring weather.

This picture below shows Elder Christiansen.  He is the reason for Thanksgiving.  His part of the dinner was the potatoes.  He had an interesting recipe that he followed.  You know, that is what makes Thanksgiving special.  The traditions people bring to the dinner.

His recipe is as follows.
10 lbs potatoes boiled till soft
1 cube butter
1 pint of sour cream
3 eggs
1/2 lb cheddar cheese
Mash the potatoes, butter, sour cream together.  Beat the eggs and mix into the hot mixture.   Top mix with grated cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.
They were delicious.  This picture is of his second

Elder Christiansen

plate of food with the drum stick in hand.  Elders can surely put away the food.  All these elders ate and ate and ate.  We are very thankful that Elder Christiansen wanted Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Dinner was served at the Mission Office.  It used to be the mission home until they moved the President and his wife to another home.  There are still the office worker missionaries that live here upstairs.  It has a thatched roof and is two stories.  It is a nice place that we will have the Christmas Day celebration for the missionaries as well.  They are moving a piano in for the Cantata that I have been asked to conduct.  I am glad for that.  These little Casio keyboards have a lot to be desired when it comes to accompanying or for real quality sound.

Sis. Koch's turkeys and my dressing

Sis. Kimball is one of the other Senior missionaries in Maputo.  She and Elder Kimball serve as the office missionaries.  Sis. Kimball dropped off two turkeys to Sis. Koch's house.  Sis. Koch does not like turkey and hadn't ever cooked turkey before.  She had quite a tell to tell about her first experience with turkey.  They don't do Thanksgiving in Brazil either.  However, the turkey was most delicious; a sign of a great cook.  She said the wings and thigh and drumsticks just fell off the carcass so she put them in another dish and just served the breasts with fruit around it.  Doesn't it look pretty?

Pile of food

 Sis. Kimball did the fruit salad.  She put every kind of fruit she could find.  The only odd thing in there was the mangoes and they added a wonderful taste.  I suggested we put whip cream in it.  That is how I like it.  Ummmm!

My part of the Thanksgiving dinner was stuffing.  I was asked if I wanted to do something else.  I said I wanted to make a berry pie.  I went searching for the ingredients for my part.  There is no stuffing mix.  I looked for bread that I could use for stuffing.  I found some and tried a recipe that was similar to the one I knew my mother used.  The first trial for stuffing came out dry and unflavorful.  I was glad to have a week to try a recipe.  On THanksgiving, the dressing was perfect.
The pie, however, was a different story.  We looked and looked for berries, fresh, canned, frozen, anything.  Nada!  No berries except Strawberries.  Strawberries are too hard to make sure they are clean so we stay away from them.  I changed my mind about berry pie.  There is no shortening anyway.  We made apple crisp instead.  It was delicious.
 

art work at the train station

Mondioca leaves crushed.

 

I have wondered what this wooden piece of furniture is.  Now we were able to visit a minute with this little girl making ground Mandioca leaves in it.  This contraption is used to grind and mash food.  I would like to eat the Mandioca leaves all ground up. I don't know how they do that.  Hopefully I will get a chance to do that.  I have had Mandioca root.  Our lady that cleans our house most Tuesdays made some Mandioca for lunch one day.  It was good.  Very much like a potato.  She stewed it in a tomato and garlic soup.  Yummy.  She left me some Mandioca in the fridge.  Stan said he had fried Mandioca in Brazill so we cut it into strips and fried it crisp.  UMMMM!  THat was better than McDonald fries.  It didn't even need catsup.

What is this

 This was hanging on a tree in this park, Jardin de Municipal Nangadi.  It was the only one on this tree.  Following down a ways, we found more of them.  They are huge.  It is some kind of fruit.  We found one tree with 3 of them on the same tree.

What is it?

These were found together with another just lower on the trunk.  I have got to find out what these are.  Stan says he thinks they are called Jacara. This is what the google search says about it.   Americans call it the Jack fruit tree.  It is a tropical fruit.  Musky smell and juicy fruit gum flavor.  Can reach 100 pounds.  Very nutritious.  Cousin is breadfruit.  Could feed the world.  It is a perenial.  Picked in summer and fall.  Belongs to the mulberry family. India is the place of origin. Can be dried,roasted, added to chips, ground into flour.  $2 a pound in New York.  Can be bottled, canned and other wise sugared.  Some say it smells like smelly feet, stinky cheese, but tastes better than it smells.  Like mango, chunky banana,  Sweet in a good tropical kind of way. 

We have been without internet for two days. It is now on.   I am so grateful for internet.  I am so grateful for water.  I am so grateful for electricity.  I will never take for granted these things again.

[Stan] Along with being without power and water at times we had our mission computer crash.  We have been working on getting it back.  We are so dependent on our personal computers and having internet access; and not just access, but high speed!  We are very close to getting our second project in for approval.  Hopefully, by the end of the year we will have a third submitted. 
Teril was assigned by Pres. Koch (mission president) to put together and direct a Christmas program for the missionaries.  We will have it on Christmas Day here in Maputo area.  The Beira and Swaziland areas will have their programs on different days.  We will not be attending there, but Teril is still working with them to help with the practices of the Cantata she put together.  They practice each Tuesday morning for 2 hours until Christmas.  We are learning many things about ourselves, about the wonderful people here, about welfare principles that I thought I knew.  This is such a great opportunity to be on the front lines of implementing welfare services and seeing it in action. 
Teril mentioned she is grateful for electricity, water, internet, etc.  I am, too, and want to add a 4x4 truck to drive!!  Can't imagine going the places we do without it! 

Maputo Beach

Wow!  We have not walked on the beach yet in Maputo.  I took this picture as we were driving past.  Tomorrow we will go for the first time to the beach.  It won't be this one but I will keep you posted.  What you see in the sky is the sails of the wind surfers.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  We actually went on a double date with our interpreter.  He returned from his mission just 2 months ago.  We went bowling.  Along the way, we saw this sight.  I want to go wind surfing!!!  But alas.  Another day.

Benildo Ujembe and Rebecca with us bowling

Good folks.  Benildo is essential to our success.  He is not only our interpreter but our confidant on Mozambique culture.  He also gives great advice knowing the Welfare Principles as he does.  His brother, Naldo, was our first interpreter and pass it off to his younger brother Benildo.  Both Ujembe boys have been wonderful for our mission success.

[Stan]
Let me tell you about a couple of school visits we made this week as we are progressing toward 2 more projects.  The first visit was on Wednesday at the EPC (Escola Primaria Completa) de Inhagoia B.  This is an elementary school that we were recommended to us by the district director after three meetings with him to explain who we are, what we do, and how we do it.  This visit on Wednesday was the third visit to Inhagoia school.  This time they had their school council present along with 5 students about 10 years of age.  We were in a small room around a coffee table; very tight quarters.  After some small talk we started the meeting.  I told the adults I wanted to speak to the students and they could listen.  I drew the image of a pail with water and asked them what would happen if they were carrying this water to their home and there were holes in the pail.  They responded that they would arrive with no water.  Then I turned to the adults and said, "This school's pail has holes.  You need to patch the holes if you expect to move forward.  The help we can give you is dependent on how well you patch those holes and what plan you have to use the resources."  I suggested they get volunteers from the community to help repair the damaged electrical wires and fixtures.  They said they didn't think anyone would help because it is a government school that is supposed to provide everything.  I asked if the government was providing now.  They said no.  I told them they need a plan to move forward on their own.  The community has all it needs to make the school whatever they want it to be.  We also discussed a savings plan.  I told them if they would do their part we could help them get the 220 desks they want.  I think I got the message across.

Inhagoia B School

     The next visit was Saturday morning at the EP de Mateque.  This school needs so much; it is tempting to just give it to them.  But they need to step forward and do their part.  They have received very little from the government since the school was formed 6 years ago.  The buildings they do have the community built.  There are no desks, no teachers' desks, no computers for anyone, including the teachers, only a few books (about 1 book for every 5 students).  Students sit on the concrete floor if they have a classroom, or on the ground under the shade of one of 3 trees in the school yard.  I felt as much compassion for the teachers as I did for the students.  There are 1500 students that come in 3 shifts of about 500 each.  Anyway, this meeting was set up for Saturday morning and I expected to have a few people there from the school council similar to our meeting in Inhagoia.  We met outside on the sandy ground in the shade of one of those trees.  The people kept coming and coming.  There had to be 3-400 people there.  We talked about the same principles of self-reliance, work, and sustainability.  Based on the work we had been doing with the school director for several weeks I proposed to the community we would provide materials for them to refurbish the classrooms so they could be closed and locked along with electricity if they would do the work.  With the buildings secured and a guard hired we would then provide desks and some additional books.  (We will not provide enough books for every student in every subject.  It is common for books to be shared.  Parents will need to provide the rest of the books.)  It was rather intimidating to be standing in the middle of 400 people telling them what they needed to do to get our help.  But I felt the spirit guiding the direction of things and it turned out well.  There is still much work to do and not all the final decisions have been made as to what we will do, but I feel we have the support of the community; that they will be willing to work and provide for their children the best they can.

A few of the 350+ people who showed up at Mateque school

     I came across an interesting statistic the other day that will help to underscore the challenges of educating the children of this country.  Based on the info I was given, 50% of the country's population is under the age of 15.  How do you deal with that if you are the government?
     Pres. Koch assigned Teril to organize a Christmas musical program for the mission to be presented in 3 locations.  We will not go to the other 2 places, but will send the plan to them to use.  This will be an interesting Christmas for us.  We are now attending the Polana Ward instead of T-3.  We can walk to church.  Pres. Koch wants us to attend here because he feels they could use the help; even though we are not proselyting in any way.  But there are things we can do on Sundays to help strengthen the ward.

Cute kids from the new Polana Ward

Teril has pictures on her computer, so she will have to post them from there.  I enjoy keeping in touch with family via video chat and hearing about all your doings.  The blessings of the Lord are so glaringly apparent in the lives of the Mozambican saints. It is a marvel to see.  This same miracle, I am sure, is evident the world over.  Don't forget to thank the Lord in all things; for He truly is blessing you.  Love to all,
Elder Petersen, DAD, Grandpa

Spring flowers

It has been amazing.  When we first got to our apartment, these trees were leafless.  The Ponds said they trimmed the trees with machette's just before we got here so they were bare.  Now just in the past few weeks, the leaves have come out and now there are blossoms coming out.  I was surprised.  They looked like Mimosa trees but these blossoms don't look like that.  The shape of the tree is unique as well.

feminine shaped tree

These trees are planted in the island dividing the traffic in front of our apartment.  I just didn't expect these beautiful trees to blossom.  Spring is wonderful.

We have been "transfered" to attend another ward.  There is a branch that will become a ward November 1.  We have been asked to attend that new ward and support the leadership there.  Pres. Koch visited the ward we were attending and gave it a "clean bill of health'.  Their leadership is doing a great job.  Polana branch (soon to be ward) meets at the Chamanculo Ward building just behind our apartment.  We will be able to walk there.  That will save us driving 20 minutes one way to church each Sunday.  Maybe I can help members who want to play piano now that we are right here.  There were at least 6 people who came up to me from the T-3 ward wanting me to teach them piano.  We were making arrangements but hadn't quite gotten there yet.  (THeir church organ isn't good.  The electrical keeps shorting out and other things. The Bishop is ordering a new organ/piano.)  I have noticed there is a lot of talent but not many musical instruments.  If we were to teach piano, the only piano they could practice on would be the church organ.  I have promised I could dedicate my Sunday only to do church support kinds of things.  We will see how I can help here.  I am sure Stan can be a great support for their leadership as well.
[Stan] There is a former missionary who is a Mozambican that works for the church now handling all the visas and legal work for the mission.  He wants to take some pictures of our projects and prepare a presentation to some of the officials here to try and ease their minds about what missionaries are doing here in the country.  Our job, as welfare services missionaries is not proselyting in nature.  We don't even work very much with public affairs although we can do a few things together.  He is hoping to be able to positively influence these officials to make it easier to get visas.  We will see.
We are having a wonderful time and appreciate all the prayers in our behalf.  We are learning so much and are grateful for this opportunity.  

my dad, grandpa, mom, 2 sisters and me standing on the farm

Memories of my dad, his dad, my mom on the ranch.  My grandpa is holding a fighting chicken.  We are standing in front of the chicken pen at the old yellow house we bought from the Cluffs in Chandler, Az.  My dad was born just 4 miles from where this old yellow house was that we lived until I was 12.

Grassa Machel, first lady of Mozambique. 70th birthday

This amazing lady married Machel who was the pride and joy of Mozambique, leading them to a victory in their civil war over the Portuguese.  He became the first President back in the 70's.  I guess everyone did not like him because he was martyred.  She then went on to grow in her abilities and eventually married Mandel of South AFrica.  Then she outlived him.  She has a special place in her heart for Mozambique, her homeland.  She attended a benefit held at our church in Matola yesterday.  We were looking forward to meeting her.  She is a real champion.  They had a cake and helped celebrate her 70th birthday.

Stop Hunger Now in progress

 Here is a picture of some of the volunteers (Helping Hands being one of them)being instructed on how to assemble the packets of soup.  They have rice, soup mix, vitamin packet and flavoring.  It is a soup mix for 6.  THe first 40 minutes, they had 1500 packets assembled.

We talked to the leader of the "Stop Hunger Now".  His philosophy was good.  He has supporters and those that donate to his cause.  He hopes wherever he does his projects that people will follow the example and give of their time, and their means to "Stop Hunger Now".

It almost sounds like he hopes to inspire people to give 10 percent of what they make to stopping hunger.  Tithing? Fast Offerings?  It is nice to know there are other groups out there who are working for the welfare of Africa.  We have run into several in just the very few contacts we have made.  We look for Non Government Organizations with similar welfare goals to partner with to create projects.  "Stop Hunger Now" was a great example of one.

Getting home in the rain

Our first real rainstorm that we were out in happened tonight.  This truck was taking people home from Maputo.  This was taken in Matola, the bedroom community of Maputo.  Amazing.  We hoped they got home quickly.

We were wondering if there were ever thunder storms in Maputo.  Benildo, our interpreter, told us just yesterday that they do have thunderstorms.  Now we have experienced one.  This was amazing!  Almost like Missouri.  We are enjoying the sky lit up and the rumble of the thunder as the rain comes down.  The world is getting a good bath.

On the way back to our apartment, the vendors in the street were still out selling in the rain.  These are boys from 14-16 usually.  This one was probably 15.  He had a variety of small packages of  potato  chip assortments.  The cardboard box was cut off so all the chips were exposed to the view of the vehicles that passed on both sides of him.  It is dark and the rain is reflecting on our windshield and this young man is selling 1 package of chips as the traffic begins to move.  The vehicle that wants a package pulls off to the side of the road but we could not pass for fear we would hit the vendor.  We waited and watched.  The vendor took the money with one hand (the other one holding the big box of chips), put the money in one pocket and took change out of the other all the time balancing the box of chips.  He did that while traffic was passing him on one side and he was holding up traffic on the other.

We went out to dinner.  We found some interesting hot sauce. We have been missing Mexican food.  So when we found this hotsauce, we laughed.  I wonder if there is Mexican Food in Johanessburg, South Africa.  We haven't found it here.

hotsauce

Mexican?

 

Can you see?  "Seriously hot chille sauce made south of Mexico in Africa"

Isn't that cute?  The top did not have a lid on it.  They covered each of the four flavors of hot sauce with a piece of tin foil. 

The flavor was good, not hot but a good flavor.  There was a red sauce and a Habenero sauce that we did not eat.  The pizza and salad were good but different.  The pizza reminds me of the pizza I ate in Italy.  There is not much yeast dough in the pizza crust.

Avacado pizza

The avocados were cooked on top of the pizza.  There was chicken meat on the tomato sauce with cheese.  It was kind of sweet.  We ate it all.