The Safest Zoo in the World!

We have come to refer to the zoo here in Mozambique as "the safest zoo in the world".  Bahahahahaha!  It is the most unsafe place I have EVER been to.  I firmly believe that going on safari and even walking in the bush with wild animals (which I did when my mom came to visit) is MUCH safer than this crazy zoo.  That being said, last week we took some of my favorite kiddos for a visit to "the safest zoo in the world".
Sam, one of the other missionaries and a good friend of mine, started sibling bonding times every Wednesday afternoon.  This time we took 2 families, Shelton and Hilda and Antonino and Olga.  They are both adorable pairs!  Below are Valentino (a fantastic older youth who lives on the center and one of Antonio's best friends), Antonio, Shelton, Hilda, and Olga!

Our first stop upon arrival at the zoo was the hipo.  He has a walled in area but the wall is so short that he can put his head over it.  Literally you can pet him...I am not exaggerating in the slightest.  If you were brave enough you could stick your head into his mouth while he holds it open for you to see his TERRIBLE teeth.  It is out of control!  I found it all hilarious while the kids stood back sure the hipo was going to attack them.  Even Valentino looked a bit nervous.

After the hipo came a visit to the fattest crocodile I've ever seen.  It is disgusting and yet again you can pet it.  The "safest zoo in the world"...yeah right!

After the crocodile we took a look at the one snake.  It is pretty big and the kids were petrified of it.  Next came the monkeys and baboons.  The baboons will do tricks for treats.  If you throw them peanuts they will do back flips.  It's quite funny to watch everyone telling them to do back flips...of course they only do them if they want to but its fun to try!  So we watched them for awhile.  Then we decided to blaze our on trails and go see the baboons that were over in a cage on their own.  I'm not so convinced this was a great plan.  I found some cookies in my purse and we started breaking them up and feeding the baboon who was nicely doing back flips for us.  All was fine until I decided to walk away and this guy...

 

...stuck his arm out of the fence, grabbed my purse, and tried to pull me in!  Seriously my purse now has teeth marks on it and I have a bruise on my arm!  "Safest zoo in the world"...RIGHT?!

After that little traumatizing adventure we walked back to see the hipo again.  This time the kids actually got closer and looked in to watch him eat!

I told you that wall was REALLY short and that hipo gets VERY close!  No wonder they were nervous!

 

Altogether the afternoon was great!  Everyone had fun, I almost gotten eaten by a baboon, but we all left with smiles on our faces!

 

Oh...and I wouldn't want to forget to mention that "the safest zoo in the world" also boasts "the safest slide in the world"...if you think children climbing up 85 steps and sliding down again with a rickety railing that only comes halfway down is safe that is!?

Some days I can't help but love Mozambique!

We're Going to Bilene!

The Wakely's are a missionary family that work and live here at the center.  They have two small girls who I dearly love.  I spend my Thursday mornings having craft time with their older daughter, Gracie!  We make all sorts of things, play lots of games, and always end up laughing about what Honor, their younger daughter, decides to do or say!
The Wakely's have been an amazing blessing to me during the last year.  They have accepted me into their family and shared their lives with me.  Each week I am refreshed by being able to speak English with their children.  It makes a HUGE difference.  I LOVE our Mozambican babies but some days am just too exhausted to work at speaking Portuguese and ensuring they understand me.  But every Thursday morning I know I can walk into the Wakely's house to cuddles, adorable blond-headed girls, and lots of craft fun!
A few weeks ago the Wakely's decided to blessed me with a day trip to Bilene to say thank you for helping with their girlies.  Bilene is a lagoon that is about 2 hours from the center.  It has gorgeous white sand beaches, blue waters, and is a favorite vacation spot for many South Africans who are looking for a rest!  I have heard about it many times in my almost 2 years here in Moz, but I have never found the free time to go and see it for myself.  It was a day filled with laughter, long chats, adorable children, sunshine, and peace!  Take a look!

It was a GORGEOUS day!

With a GORGEOUS family!

 

Here is Honor...the funniest little girl I know!

 And Gracie...so intelligent and ALWAYS in the know!

 These two girls have blessed me, refreshed me, and stolen my heart!

  

Thank you Wakely's for your love, support, and acceptance!  I will be praying for you and can't wait to see what God has in store for your family!  I am going to miss you more than you know!

19 Days...

In the midst of all of the happenings of the last month, I have also found the time to share my leaving date with all the Mozambicans I work with.  I did my best to sit down face to face with them and explain why I’m leaving.  I didn’t want there to be any confusion.  It is not because the clinic is closed; it is not because I don’t love the people and children here; it is because I feel God calling me on to what is next.  In most cases, I did this explaining through tears and wishing my Portuguese skills were a bit better.  However, I have been touched by many precious conversations filled with blessings and thanksgivings for my work and my time spent here.  I have also been able to share my heart and thank each one for their hard work and dedication to these children, who would otherwise have no one to care for them.

That being said, I only have one more month with my Mozambican family.  Literally only 19 days.  I am not ready.  I have tons of packing to do.  I have lots of work left to complete.  I have many hugs that need to be given, babies that need to be squeezed, smiles that need to be cherished, play times, and meal times.  Their faces will be carved in my heart forever…I may never see them again or know what comes of their lives, but I will love them forever.

Please join me in prayer that God will prepare my heart to say goodbye.  I pray He shows me how to entrust each one into his loving arms.  And, please trust with me that in His time I will know what is next on this journey we like to call life. 

Children's Day!