WE LEFT FOR MOZAMBIQUE ON THE 29TH OF JUNE, ACCOMPANIED BY CALLA AND HETTA BOTHA AS WELL AS WILLEM DE VILLIERS OF OUR CONGREGATION IN GOUDINI. GOD HAS BEEN WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AS WE HAD SOME EXTENSIVE TRAVELLING TO DO!
WE FIRSTLY ARRIVED IN CAOXE, 8KM BEFORE LUABO, TO FETCH OUR TRACTOR AND TRAILER. ON ARRIVAL, WILLEM AND I (JANNIE) REPAIRED THEIR 5640`S 4×4 WITH THE CORRECT PARTS, SUPPLIED BY BOLAND AGRI OF WORCESTER (COURTESY OF INFO SUPPLIED BY JAN OF RCL TREKKERDIENSTE OF PATENSIE – THANKS JAN FOR THE MANUAL THAT YOU SENT ME!)
WITH 500KM LEFT TO TRAVEL, WE LEFT IN HIGH SPIRITS, THE ROUTE BEING MOPEIA ZERO FIRST, THEN MORRUMBALA, MUTARARA AND DOA ON TO THE 103 LEADING EAST TO MALAWI, AFTER WHICH TURNING OFF 10KM BEFORE ZOBUE ON THE 223 FOR 62KM TO OUR DESTINATION, CHANDAME [S15,8952 DEGREES, E34,3118753 DEGREES].
WE HAD TO SLEEP OVER WHEREVER WE CAME, ASKING THE LORD FOR GUIDANCE. HE SUPPLIED SAFE POSITIONS EVERY NIGHT.
SLEEPING OVER FOR THREE NIGHTS AND DOING 130 – 150 KM PER DAY, WE COMPLETED THE JOURNEY WITH NOT EVEN A FLAT TYRE, EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD WAS VERY BAD, ESPECIALLY FROM DOA TO THE 103. A SPECIAL THANKS TO HETTA AND SUSAN, THE ONLY 2 WOMEN ON THE TRIP, FOR THEIR ENDURANCE – BEING IN THE BUSH FOR 4 DAYS ON DUSTY ROADS, RAIN DURING THE END OF THE TRIP AND ABLUTION IN THE BUSH TAKES SOME DOING!
BACK AT CHANDAME, WE HAVE FINISHED DIGGING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE STOREROOM, WORKSHOP AND BUTCHERY. MAINTAINANCE ON THE WATER PROJECT IS IN PROGRESS. I AM STRUGGLING TO SOURCE 40MM STRAIGHT CONNECTORS FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE LINE, AND ASK FOR YOUR PRAYERS IN THIS REGARD.
IN A LATER MEETING WITH THE LOCAL CHEFE DE POST, THE POLITICAL HEAD IN CHANDAME, DICUSSIONS REGARDING THE LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL USE AND TRAINING (FARMING GODS WAY), WE MANAGED TO SECURE A POSSIBLE TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE USE OF THE LAND. THE LOCAL GOVERNOR WILL BE VISITING ON TUESDAY 26 JULY AND I WILL BE MEETING HIM ON INVITATION WITH REGARD TO THIS MATTER AND OUR INVOLVEMENT REGARDING COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE THE WATER PROJECT WHICH IS IN USE.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE PRESBITARY, OF WHICH CHANDAM CONGRE-GATION IS A PART, MET IN CHANDAME. WILLEM INSTALLED PERMANENT LIGHTING IN THE CHURCH AND FROM OUR BASE CAMP, I SUPPLIED POWER ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF LOGISTICS WILL BE ONE OF OUR FUNCTIONS IN CHANDAME.
CHANDAME HAS 13 PRAYERHOUSES AND WE HAVE ALREADY VISITED SIMBEDZI [S15,103940 DEGREES; E34,2090000 DEGREES] ON THE 18TH OF JULY. THIS PRAYERHOUSE IS APPROXIMATELY 18KM FROM US, AND IS A VERY BLESSED SERMON!
CALLA AND HETTA LEFT ON THE 12TH OF JULY AND WILLEM LEFT ON THE 22 JULY. THANKS FOR HELPING US SETTLE!
SUSAN IS BUSY EVERYDAY WITH FIRST AID AS THE CLINIC IS NOT YET FINISHED. WORK ON THE CLINIC WILL PROGRESS IN THE WEEKS TO FOLLOW. WE TRUST THE LORD WILL BLESS US WITH THE FUNDS BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL PUT OUR 2 FISHES AND 5 LOAVES ON THE TABLE SO THAT THE LORD CAN FINISH THIS PROJECT . SUSAN AND I ARE ALONE TONIGHT AND LONGING FOR OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND FRIENDS
THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL
AMEN
JANNIE & SUSAN SMIT
PS: OUR 3G-DATACARD IS WORKING AND WE HOPE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH EVERYBODY SUPPORTING US HERE IN CHANDAME.