Duck Dynasty...African Style

Last week I was able to assist Pascoa, our housekeeper, in killing and plucking our pet duck. Let's just say it was quite nauseating but definitely something I had to do. I wouldn't have experienced Africa without doing it! 

WARNING: if you get queasy really easily, don't look at the pictures in detail...haha!

Meet our pet duck, Black Feathers!

Pascoa cutting the neck to kill the duck.
I couldn't have done that...

This shows you a little how my stomach was feeling. I was
a little bit disgusted. 

The duck head. She was still opening her mouth after the
head was cut off...kinda gross. 

Emma told me I had to hold the duck head. I was terrified it
would bite me even though it was dead.

I did it!!! (The feathers on the head were extremely soft
and would have made a nice blanket!)

You boil the duck in scalding water to loosen the
feathers to make plucking easier. 

My first feather....you can tell I was a little hesitant. 

How I really felt!

More feathers flying everywhere!!

I can't believe I picked it up by the feet..

Two of my favorite girls in the whole world...my friends
and my sisters. 

I left Pascoa to do the rest of the plucking and gutting...after
all, she is an African and knows how to do it better than I
will EVER be able to!

Poor Black Feathers had no meat. She dried up in the heat.
She tasted nice and sweet but never again will I eat....a duck.

I had a great time with this duck but I will probably never eat it again. Too chewy and not enough meat. Next time, I hope to kill a chicken....or maybe a cow....a girl can dream!

I put Duck Dynasty to shame!!

Love and miss you all!

His Servant,

Sheldon

One Handful...

...of dirt is all it takes to build a church. Last weekend we helped mud our church. This is how we roll:

Digging a hole. The women are usually the ones who tend to the field work. 

Let's speculate...

Carrying the dirt into the church 

We had a few good helpers 

Make a pile of dirt...it's ready for the water now

While waiting on the ladies to bring some water, Tracy contemplates whether or not she should take a quick ride around the church.

That's a long way from the ground 

Success!

Lee wanted a turn...Off he goes!

Just keep squishing, squishing, squishing the mud. 

Let the mudding begin!

All you do is take a handful of mud and throw it at the wall

"This is fun...and dirty!" 

It was a quite relaxing activity

Super squishy and cold but awesome!

Working hard with a sleeping baby on her back

His Servant,

Sheldon

Learning How To Read

Every Tuesday we go back to Colane and have reading group. We teach out of books and the kids read along. It has actually helped me with my language learning...go figure! We love on the little ones and help the older kids.

Meghan helping one of the boys learn how to read 

Tracy reading with her students

Doing a little bit of simple math 

Don't I stand out?!

They always sit on our cars and hang out

Stickers are so cool!

I love being able to see these precious children, who have captured my heart, learn something new. So encouraging to help others accomplish something so small!

His Servant, 

Sheldon

A Typical Sunday Morning In Colane

Most Sunday mornings we attend a church called Colane. Colane is a normal evangelical church in Africa and almost all of the churches look the same. 

This is the front of the church

This is the view from the back of the church

The view from the front of the church

A typical Sunday morning runs a little like this: a gathering in the church with all the kids and adults. Opening prayer and sometimes a song ten we break off for "Sunday School."The children go outside off the church and the adults sit inside. After about an hour (sometimes longer..its Africa!) we head back inside for announcements, singing, and a sermon. 

I help every Sunday with teaching the little ones. We sing songs, learn about Jesus, and color pretty pictures. When we go outside we sit on bamboo mats under the shade.

My favorite kids in the whole world...they have stolen my heart

Tracy and April dancing with the kids 

Look at those precious feet with those purple shoes

Marching in the name of Jesus

Teaching about Jesus calming the storm

Can you find the Americans?  

Precious one! 

So hard at work coloring their papers

Different colors and languages but ONE God

I feel like a true African!

Such a sweet baby boy strapped to my back

"You capture my heart in all of your beauty"

After church service is over, which lasts about 4 hours, we say our goodbyes and head home for lunch and a nap! Sunday afternoons are pretty chill for us; we study Portuguese, watch movies, play games, and get prepared for the week ahead.

This past Sunday night, September 16th, Meghan and I attend one of our languages teachers church. It was really different than Colane. They had a drummer, bassist, pianist, and singers. It is very Americanized with a sound system and an alter. My favorite part about it was the prayer time. So many voices joined together and prayed out loud to our God. Can you say goose bumps? They also sang 2 songs I knew, in Portuguese of course but I sang right along in English!

I am so thankful for the chance to experience a little bit of what heaven will be like. "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. ALL NATIONS will come and WORSHIP you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."-Revelation 15:4

Please pray for the lost people here in Quelimane. So many will die without knowing who created them and that they have a purpose. There is a lot of work still left to be done in this city. Thank you for supporting me and the McDaniel family as we build relationships, plant seeds, and lead others to Christ.