Mozambique Musings: Last Supper

Sunday at church the congregation was able to say goodbye to the Texas team~Daisy, Kelly, Valdimar, & Pascoal. They were each given a capalana (cloth) as a gift from IRIS as a way to say thank you for coming and visiting and pouring into the lives of these orphans. I have received 3 of these cloths since I have visited the center 3 times (this year!) This is a very special time because the children, pastors, long term missionaries, and other visitors who are not leaving yet come pray over you. Pascoal & Valdimar were among those leaving this time so they joined Daisy, Kelly, & the other visitors. It was kinda weird to be on the other side and to be praying for the visitors who were leaving...and knowing that I was not going with them but that I now live here in Mozambique! It was a bittersweet feeling...but I was glad that it was not my time to go yet. Leaving those kids is one of the hardest things to do. It's even hard to say goodbye now & I live here!

After church Linda made lunch for us Texas girls (plus Katie-she's almost Texan!) She made King-Ranch Chicken. It was SOOOOO good! This was my 3rd Sunday lunch with Jimmy & Linda since I've been here and I love that time we have together. They are such a neat couple. They genuinely love each other and I love their interactions. I hope to have a marriage like theirs someday!

Sunday night the directors of the center, Steve & Ros Lazar, invited all of us for a "Last Supper" with the guys. Jimmy, Linda, Brooke, Daisy, Kelly, Betinho & Liz & baby Lena (Lazar's daughter & son-in-law & their new baby!), Me, P, V, JJ, Mito...all piled into the IRIS bus and headed to town! We had a lovely dinner together & the guys were given a going away present from the Lazar's. We also prayed over them again for their trip to America. Afterwards Jimmy & Linda treated everyone to ice cream! The guys had a good time with their friends and were acting silly. Papa Jim & Steve were doing sideways pull ups on the playground and they lifted Pascoal up to do some on the bars. If you notice in that picture there are alot of spots in the picture. The children in the center believe these 'spots' are angels. Some of us have taken pictures at various times while at the center & these spots show up in certain pictures. I don't know if they are or not, but I like to think they are angels among us.

It was a great weekend being out at the orphanage with my friends. I was also a little sad that there were all leaving Monday. They dropped me off after ice cream & i gave the guys a big hug & told them I would see them at Christmas. Daisy gave me a big hug and we cried! I loved having her here in Mozambique this past week. I can't wait to see them all again soon!