Rachel's Reflections

I wove around all the potholes that filled that section of the road as I followed my team leader's car. The city of Nampula lay hours behind us and Pemba before us. Earlier in the trip our team leader blew a tire and we stopped to fix it on the side of the road while several people from the village nearby watched or offered to help. We all had mixed emotions as we returned. Some excited to be going "home." Others apprehensive as the future is so uncertain at this point. On Friday we received the go-ahead from our AIM leadership to return to Pemba. The insurgent situation in the north of Mozambique has not improved by much, but nothing majored happened near Pemba during our time away. We were all grateful that the rumors we had heard turned out to be just that - rumors. The government of Mozambique seems to be taking more proactive measures regarding the insurgents. We all hope and pray that the situation will improve, for the sake of the people who are suffering

This weekend was rough. Made worse because of my sin. Friday evening I had an argument with someone over something ridiculous. In my pride, I could not see clearly. The conversation did not end well. When the other person came back to apologize later that night my heart was still not in the right place so I asked if we could finish the conversation the next morning. The conversation Saturday morning started off well, we were both able to communicate and clarify the misunderstandings from the night before. Unfortunately it did not end well again and I walked way from her without verbally explaining why. This hurt her and caused even worse friction. After talking to my team leader I was ready to apologize to her for walking away without verbalizing why. But I saw much sooner than I expected and I froze. Instead of doing what I knew was right, apologize, I kept my mouth shut and told myself I would apologize later. This was sin. "So whoever knows the right thing to do and

As Lauren and I drove out of Pemba, following our team leader's car, we had to pass through the area close to the recent attack that brought about our temporary departure. We were both a bit tense, but soon it was behind us and we could breath easier.  It was surreal as we drove through the Mozambican landscape. We had packed up and left within two days, trying to say goodbye to those we could. It was strange packing for a month but knowing it could become more than a month depending on the situation. It felt like a joy ride, looking at the beauty Mozambique has to offer yet feeling the sense of sadness for those we left behind. We arrived safely at the YWAM property in Nampula, the nearest city south of Pemba. All a little tired from the journey and the stress of the rapid departure, but yet we could sense a lightness we had not felt in Pemba for a while. We are trying to get settled in for the time being. Trying to make ourselves at home while longing for the return to o