We are home from Mozambique

[JimT]

We made it home yesterday after over 48 hours of continuous traveling. We are tired and a little out of it but we are all well. The trip was AWESOME! We will be sharing photos and stories as soon as we rest up and get caught up on things.

THANK YOU! to everyone who helped make this trip possible. THANK YOU! to everyone who prayed for us. We were able to get all the supplies into Mozambique and to Iris Ministries. And we were able to get a lot of things done on the Mission Base .. including but not limitied to: buidling a fence, constructing a water trough, fixing vehicles, repairing the water system, repairing a well, painting, teaching English, working in the sewing shop and helping with village feeding.

I was able to go to town once and met the owner of the local grocery store and hardware, a Mr. Osman. I had a very nice conversation with him and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I would love to return and spend some time with him. He is extremely knowlegable about Africa and was very helpful to us.

We spent two very nice days in Cape Town before coming home, and got some needed rest there. The trip home was long and tiring and interestingly enough, it was in the USA that we lost our first baggage! Three of the bags belonging to Team members did not make it through.

We will post more in the next few days along with some photos and stories.

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!!

[gamekeeper]

Glad to hear you had a good trip, can't wait to see your photo's!

[Griff]

Welcome home!

[86er]

Welcome back Jim - We're glad everyone is safe!

[kimwcook]

Good to see your home and all went well.

[C. Cash]

Glad you made it back safe and sound Jim! Sounds like an awesome trip.

[lever-4-life]

Very glad it went good! sorry about the bags though...

[TedH]

Welcome home Jim.

[rjohns94]

welcome back Jim. I look forward to hearing about the trip. Glad all are all back and safe. blessings.

[Steve Collins]

Good to have you back, Jim. On with the stories!!!

[Ysabel Kid]

Excellent news! Glad you are home, safe and the trip a success!!!

[tomtex]

whats the tsetse fly like?

[RSY]

Sending up thanks for y'all's safe return. Great work.

Scott

[JimT]

whats the tsetse fly like?

I cannot say as there were none in Pemba. In fact the mosquitos were not very active. We noticed them mostly later at night and early in the mornings. Everyone took a Malaria prophylaxis - in fact, we are just finishing it up.

The things that were common were skin rashes, scabies, and things like that related to living in the dirt.

We did not drink the water or brush our teeth with it either. All dishes washed in the local water received a clorox treatment and left to dry. Water-borne diseases are quite common. While the locals could drink the well water with little or no problems, it could get serious for Westerners coming in. But bottled water was readily available and we each kept several cases on hand.

There are a few genuine 5-Star Hotels in Pemba .. and they are pricey. One was about $400 per night. They provide all the amenities - if you can afford it. There were a number of Europeans vacationing there. A relief from summer in Europe. The days were in the 80's and the nights got down to 60 - 65 degrees. The water is warm all the time ( the Indian Ocean ) and very clear. I am told the fishing is good. It cost about $40 an hour to rent a large boat. 10 people from the orphanage took a morning and rented a boat ($4 each) and spent an hour snorkeling. They said it was georgous.

As in other places, the rich are very wealthy and the poor and very poor and there is not much in between.

At the local grocery store many of the prices for food were comparable to here in the US. For a man making $2 a day it would be nearly impossible. The average income in Mozambique is somewhere around $800 a year. But unemployment is quite high and there are many who do not make that much.

There is a lot of potential there. We had a wonderful time. I believe I will be returning.

[Bill in Oregon]

Jim: Good to hear of your safe return. I noticed that contrast between rich and poor when I was in Namibia a year ago. The rural towns were packed with capable men and women whiling away the hours of each day, hoping for a job that would never come. Discouraging.

[RIHMFIRE]

WELCOME HOME!

[OD*]

Welcome home!