October 2000

Dear Friends in Christ,

Greetings in the name of the Lord! The weather is surprisingly cool again today, with clouded skies and a light rain. I was awakened one night by violent flashes of lightning and thunder, but that apparently is only a foretaste of the summer months ahead. When it is cool in the evening I instinctively think, "Autumn is here. Winter is coming." But of course we are in the southern hemisphere now and African summer is coming! Got a glimpse of it just last week when I stood in our living room before the big picture window and felt
the 5:45 a.m. sun burning through the window pane. When it shines, it’s hot already.

We are making progress with our Portuguese lessons. Our professora seems pleased, and though we are often mentally fatigued and feel like eem-bee-seels, we know we are learning. In fact, the taxi driver returned to pick me up today when I asked him to! That was a real victory. The other night when Charles and I were out I ordered a hamburger with sauce on the side, because otherwise they come soggy dripping with all kinds of stuff. I was served a fried egg with a little patty under it! We continue to try and take in as
much of the culture as possible. We attended a play at the Centre Cultural Franco-Mocambique, a drama with song and dance centering on the last great chieftain to resist the colonizers, and the ensuing history of Mozambique’s struggle for independence, peace, and prosperity up to the present. It was entirely in Portuguese, and we were able to make sense out of it more because of the dramatization. It was jarring to see the actors in native costume speaking a European language, but that is part of the irony of
Mozambique’s quest for self-identity.

This past Sunday we attended the Portuguese language service at 7:00 a.m., then the children were in the Sunday school at 8:00. We have been invited to participate while we are here and look forward to teaching and preaching some soon. At 9:00 Charles and I sent the children home while we attended the Ronga worship, which recognized the "Senhoras" (women’s group), several hundred strong and I mean strong. When they march in singing, the whole place shakes.

At the same service a handsome young couple were ushered to the front of the church. She wore a cream colored suit, and the flowers and pearls in her hair identified her as a bride. They seemed uncomfortable up front, and were accompanied by one of their mothers, who carried their five-month-old baby and sat him on her lap throughout the service. Near the end they were led to stand before the congregation and their marriage the previous day was announced (better late than never). They both were members of the young adult group and were greeted with special song, dance, and much affection. The service continued with some recognition of the Reverend Nyamuxwe, Pastora Sive, and the president of the "Senhoras." This seems to happen on a pretty regular basis, but so far no one has explained to us the meaning (I don’t think our hosts recognize the necessity for translation—it is very sporadic and sometimes entirely overlooked). This time, some of the Senhoras came up and wrapped the traditional cloth skirts and kerchiefs on
the women (over their uniforms and hats!) and this action was greeted with much applause and expressions of approval. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but I couldn’t help but wonder if it signified the cry for the Africanization of the church.

This weekend the big gathering of Presbyterian and Reformed workers is being held in Gaza province at a little village, Mausse near Manjaze. After discussion and prayer, we have decided that it is alright for Anna Lena and I to go tomorrow morning and return Saturday. It is perhaps 290 kilometers away. We would all go but there is not transportation. We are catching a ride with two local pastors in a small car. I had some concern about the accommodations, since no one seems to think it necessary to address our
particular health concerns in advance. I would have preferred to rent a car and drive up as a family, but without prior approval I did not think that was wise. We are going to bring bottled water and try to rig up mosquito nets and go in the confidence of the Lord. (We are impressed to be mindful of the strangers in our midst and hope not to forget the lessons we’ve learned—there is a reason why the practice of hospitality is listed as a Christian virtue in the Bible.)

After several promptings, staff at Kovu has begun the process of applying for our DIREs—residency visas. We hope they will arrive before our 90-day visa expires—the penalty beyond that is $100 a day! Rev. Tseco’s secretary asked for the receipt when we needed three additional passport-sized photos taken for these applications and immediately reimbursed us. We thought that was a
gracious gesture on their part, and we very much appreciated it.

You may not have been aware of it, but two years ago Isaiah was diagnosed with a kidney syndrome which is expected to reappear periodically until he reaches 20 years of age. We regularly test his urine for traces of protein and unfortunately we have had to reinstate his prednisone regimen. We are able to e-mail his doctor in the States and he is doing fine. He just dislikes the fat cheeks he gets from the steroids. So please remember him in prayer and join us in asking the Lord to reduce the side effects and thank Him that
this is an easily treatable syndrome with no lasting side effects. Also, I ask for prayers for both my parents. My dad was just released from the hospital last week because of diabetes-induced infection in his feet, and last night I received word that my mother is in the hospital with heart problems. Please keep them in prayer, and especially my sister Anna, who has to take responsibility for all care and arrangements. It seems my Dad is going to have to go into a nursing home. I know the Lord is watching over them all, and I know He has called us here for a purpose, so we are handling this news well although some tears of course are being shed.

Diane and Charles Wonnenberg