My Mozambican Family

After nearly 3 months of a new country, new culture, new language, new way of life, and no internet to share the experience with everyone back home, this is the first thing I want you all to know:

In less than two months in a completely different continent, culture, and language, never could I have imagined that I would be so blessed to come to know, cherish, and whole heartedly love the people who opened their home to me. 

Our House! Located in Bairro Fronterra, an old Portuguese neighborhood on the Swaziland border

As you can probably see from the post before that I was completely wrong in my doubts and worries about my family. The day we met our host families, I couldn’t have been more surprised when I saw a cute old man who had just one arm holding up a sign with my name. I was overwhelmed with such shame for having thought such horrendous things without hope only the day before. My sweet dad welcomed me warmly and couldn’t have been more excited to get home and introduce me to the rest of the family; my two beautiful sisters and two handsome brothers. I didn’t know a lick of Portuguese and had no idea how I was going to get through the weekend not knowing how to communicate but everyone was incredibly kind, helpful, and patient. I have no idea how we got through the first few weeks of not understanding a single word of each others, to being able to connect so intimately and to truly feel like family, completely at peace and at home. Only God is capable of this majestic, beautiful, wondrous thing I cannot begin to explain in words. I do know this: that genuine love transcends continents, countries, culture, language, heritage, race, lineage, and worldly understanding. It comes from the Spirit of God that exists in each and everyone of His children.

I would like you to…. Meet my wonderful family!

Pai Ricardo

Pai is the jolliest man you’ll ever meet. He has the sweetest smile, loves chatting with anyone, and gets overly excited about everything. Pai loves working in the machamba (the farm in our yard), loves eating absolutely everything with vinegar, and loves playing checkers.

I was moved by his kindness and hospitality. Pai cooked me breakfast every morning! He always bought me whatever food that I liked, which also happen to be luxuries in Mozambique; peanut butter, jam, tea, coffee, malt, yogurt, and the Mozambican version of Twinkies. He picked lichees off the tree everyday just for me because I love them. I was getting fat while my friends were starving for food.

He only has his left arm and is also missing his index finger, but is completely capable of doing everything…cooking, working in the garden, playing cards, ironing, fixing things, and writing. I don’t know his life story and the hardships he must have faced losing an arm and raising a family alone. I just know that he is amazing - a real life superman.

Me, Meriam holding the certificate, and Pai on the very right at the despedida party

Sheila

Sheila is my sister of 18. She is an incredibly strong woman - both physically and of heart. She taught me how to wash my clothes the Mozambican way, how to grate coconut, grind and sift peanuts by hand, and light the carvao (charcoal stove). We had a great time laughing at me in the process and getting to know one another better. She loves listening to music and singing, especially to Beyonce’s music. She is unbelievably intelligent, absolutely loves learning, and is one of the most courageous people I’ve ever met. She is going to Maputo to go to university this spring and hopefully study to be a doctor. For a woman in Mozambique to finish secondary school, to leave home, go to university, and become a doctor is almost unheard of. I couldn’t be more proud to have a family that values education so much and couldn’t be more proud of her for pursuing her dreams.

Para bems Mana Sheila! I’m so proud, moved, and inspired by what an incredible woman you are and will be. Looking forward to hearing about all the wonderful things you will do!

Me and Sheila - photography by Clidio

 Lerato and Leoneta

Mon Lerato is my brother of 21 years old and is an English teacher in the primary school in the next biggest town. Thank the Lord he was home that first weekend to translate for me! I probably would have cried if he hadn’t been there. He is super smart, and has perfect command of the English language, more than any other Mozambican I’ve met yet. I’m for real. He is a great teacher and taught me how to dance the Marrabenta (a traditional dance known throughout Mozambique). It only has two steps, but took me 2 hours to learn. Now that is patience. He loves intellectual talk about history, politics, science, and is so curious to learn as much as possible about everything. I love his aspirations to learn many languages, to study medicine, to travel abroad, and I pray that God makes it possible for him to do all the things he desires. He has had a very positive influence on his younger siblings to motivate them to learn, go to school, and value education.

Not only is he a positive influence on his younger siblings, but he is a great role model for them as well in his relationship with his girlfriend Leoneta. It’s such a beautiful thing to see so far away from home where the culture is so different. The culture here for young men is much of casual dating and having more than one girlfriend or wife at a time (called casa dois). But Lerato and Leoneta are absolutely and perfectly made for one another, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Right before I left, they had announced and started planning for their wedding in April! So excited for them. I hope I get an invitation to attend! ; )

Me and Leoneta - sadly I don't have a pic with Lerato : (

Clidio

Mon Clidio is my younger brother of 16 years old. He’s a genius and extremely talented at whatever he puts his mind into doing. He is extremely handy and practically wired every appliance in the house. Nothing would work if it weren’t for him. He loves joking around, goofing off with his friends, and has the best laugh in the world. He is an amazing runner, and loves to dance. Actually, all of my siblings love to dance and they are all so good at it! He likes drawing and it turns out he’s a pretty talented photographer as well. He’s already making his portfolio to be a civil engineer or architect one day. He is great at cooking, and helps out with the chores. Watch out meninas, he’s a keeper.

Clidio standing on the roof of an old Portuguese ballroom with a backdrop of Namaacha. Absolutely love this photo!

Meriam (Mabongi)

Meriam or Mabongi (her Swazi name) is my sister of 13 years old and has become my best friend and constant companion here. Because she’s the youngest, she knows nearly no English and in the first couple of days we could only smile at one another, but I knew instantly that we were kindred spirits, and of like minds. There is a kind of bond which needs no words, and this is the kind of connection we have. To be able to understand one another without saying anything, just by looking at one another, and sometimes just knowing what the other is feeling without any explanation. I can’t describe it; it’s just the way it is but I am so thankful to have this kind of relationship with her.

Meriam is not just another sibling. She has a mom who lives down the street, doesn’t know who her dad is or just doesn’t have one, and isn’t actually siblings with the others, but is part of the family regardless. She is extremely intuitive, bright, and has method to her step. She loves Nicki Manage and Lady Gaga, loves eating french fries, loves shoes and high heels, and is extremely stylish and chique. We love talking together about things serious and silly, love dancing, running together, doing exercises, eating raw mangos with salt, making up stories together and drawing pictures to go with them, walking around town together, playing with the kids, and just sitting and being together. You wouldn’t know she was 13 by the gravity of her temperament, but if she ever opens up to you, she’s extremely impressionable. I pray that she grows up to be a strong, successful, intelligent woman.

Meriam - her expression in the photo on the right pretty much sums up what she's all about. 

Me and Meriam on the roof of a building - photography by Clidio

Me and Meriam in the garden of  the Escola Agrario - photography by Clidio

Me and Meriam on top of some rocks on our adventures - photography by Clidio

There have been some pretty unforgettable moments, things I will never forget and moments I will always cherish. To some up a few:

• Praying together before eating dinner
• Sunday brunch together with the whole family
• One Saturday spent at Mon Rodrigo’s (oldest brother I didn’t know I had who has his own family in Maputo) house for his surprise birthday party. Cooking a ton of food together with all the women (never grilled so much meat in my life!), eating till we were stuffed (chicken, pork, french fries, salad, noodles, rice, pudding, cake, etc), and spending good qt with the whole extended family. Riding with my family back home in the back of a covered truck and singing the Mozambican National Anthem acapella. Seriously one of the best days of my life. 
• Adventures around Namaacha with my siblings - (another post to follow)
• One weekend night spent playing so many games with my siblings till my stomach hurt from laughing.
• One afternoon/night spent dancing with my siblings.
• Cake making competition: Me, meriam, and Pai against Sheila and Clidio. Both of the cakes were equally delicious!

Me, Meriam, and Clidio on one of our adventures

Me, Meriam, and Clidio in front of the pool at the Escola Agrario

Leaving my family for my permanent site was incredibly heartbreaking. I felt like I was just getting to know them better and really connect with them. It was a very tearful goodbye and very touching. Excited that I’m not so far away and can visit them often. Looking forward to seeing them again for Christmas…only a few days away!

This is my family. I love them with all my heart, mind, and soul.