There's A First Time For Everything

On Sunday our family went to a little village called Moreu out in the bush. I visited this village the first Sunday I was here. It was really cool to be able to go back and see all the changes.

This community did not have access to clean well water until recently. Tod Tanner's church in Texas raised money during VBS to send here. Lee, along with some of our national friends, built a well for Moreu. Sunday we dedicated the new well and Lee gave his first message to the body of believers.

I had the opportunity to experience a few things for the FIRST time....here we go!

Take a good look at this picture...what do you see?
That's right, my FIRST MONKEY!!!!! I was so excited to see
my FIRST African animal!

The church in Moreu.

Lee giving his FIRST message. A woman gave her life to
Christ after his message. Praise the Lord!

The new well!

The FIRST drink from the well. The water was really tasty
and safe for us to drink as well.

The whole village gathered around their new well.
Not only do they have drinking water but also the
Living Water.

My FIRST time pumping water out of a well.
It was so much fun!!

A snack which consisted of dried, pounded rice and
roasted cashews. A FIRST for me! The cashews were really
good but I didn't like the rice.

Goofy Emma waiting for lunch.

Still waiting...Africans don't know what plans are so you
make plans as you go along. Lots of waiting!

My three favorite girls! Love each of them so much!

My favorite thing to eat! They cook their rice over a fire
and serve it with chicken or goat, and a yellowish broth
sauce. I could live off of this stuff!

No utensils so you get messy! So good though!

********

After lunch, we got in our car and drove deeper into the bush to attend a wedding. This was my FIRST African wedding! When we got to the church, the people welcomed us and would not allow us to sit anywhere but at the front of the church.

In America, the front is reserved for the family of the bride and groom. In Africa, these seats are saved for the people with the highest honor. So that would be the pastors and the ones who travel the farthest, which happened to be us.

The church was packed for the wedding. This is the view
from the front of the church.

Here comes the bride...and groom!

White dress...some traditions never change

They never smiled but were happy to be married.

Feeding each other cake...same tradition.

They signed the marriage certificate in front of the
whole congregation. 

Presenting the bride and groom with their certificate.

Everyone in the church gave money to the family
as the gifts. 

Presenting Mr. and Mrs...

At the reception, I had my FIRST coconut! I didn't like
it that much but at least I tried it. 

I was a very long Sunday but a very exciting one! I love new things! So thankful for this opportunity to experience another culture. I have fallen so in love with Mozambique and am not looking forward to coming home to America.

Please continue to pray for the hearts of the people in Moreu and those we come in contact with. May all we say and do be glorifying and pleasing to the Lord!

His Servant,

Sheldon