One day down in Zimpeto

Although we got ripped off at the airport in Maputo for $50, we made it to Mozambique with every person and every piece of luggage! Praise the Lord!

The drive to the Center was an extremely sobering experience. None of the team had seen that much poverty before (most people from the US haven't). Mozambique is the third poorest country in the world, and you could see it on the streets. Within a mile of the airport, we saw children digging in the trash, starving animals, and infants walking around with no shoes and no parents.

We got to the Children’s Center and were immediately surrounded by 15-20 kids. We are definitely the only white people here, which is an odd feeling. Yesterday was overwhelming for many of us with non-stop activity all afternoon. We were all asleep by 9:00 pm, and most of us were up before 6 am. (Ava, Ashley, and Blair were the first to bed and the last to get up - no surprise there)

Today, we are spending time at the Center with the kids and painting a missionary's room. Jacob and Emily are going to the hospital to pray over the sick (only 2 could go today, but everyone will go sometime this week). We are adjusting to a life of freedom with no schedules here.

The team is a perfect example of selflessness. Everyone wants to do the lowest job and jumps at any opportunity to serve anyone. We spent hours at airports and waiting in lines, but no one ever complained. Although some of them were dozing off playing games with the kids yesterday, they kept themselves awake until we told them they could go to bed.

Thank you Lord for providing for our team. You brought us to Mozambique safely and easily and gave us a team of people after your heart. We are excited for what is in store over the next two weeks. Continue to give us things from you- we don't want anything of ourselves. Also, be with our families and the intercessors.

-Blake and Madison