Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have 7 of the HIV+ boys here at the center over to my house for snacks. They have become "my boys!"
A couple of weeks ago, after I bought my car, my boys started asking me when they could go somewhere with me . . . and before I knew it they had me roped into taking them all to Memo's, a restaurant in the city they had all heard of but none had ever eaten at. Ever since I agreed to take them, over a week ago, the excitement of today built! Over and over again they told me what they were going to order - CHICKEN! Here at the center, they rarely if ever use forks and knives so they started practicing using them a couple of Mondays ago while eating hard boiled eggs at my house! Soon word had spread all around the center that I was taking them out and I had tons of boys asking if they could go too! Even the educator (adult Mozambican who works in my dorm) asked if he could go with us! I wish I could take them all!!!!
Tonight was the long-awaited for dinner at Memo's. We had so much fun! All of the boys ordered half chicken with fries and rice. They all tried eating with their fork and knives but soon abandoned them for their fingers! After dinner we went to Jardin de Namorado, a park in the city, for ice cream.
As we left the park and started back to the center, I got pulled over by the police for turning around after missing my turn and realizing I was headed for a deadend. Police in Mozambique are notorious for bribing drivers. He claimed I wasn't allowed to turn around there because I was near the president's house. My fine was 2000 mets which is equal to $80!!! My friend Vovote was with us so he told the police that one of them could get in the car too and we would go to the police station and pay the fine. The police immediately said he'd cut it in half and we could just pay him. At this point I understood enough of his portuguese to know that he was trying to bribe me and told him I was not giving him any money and the he needed to give me a ticket if he wanted me to pay a fine. To which he responded "Go." My first of many run in's with the police I'm sure!!!
And hopefully the first of many adventures with my boys!!!!
Me and my boys - Felis, Anecete, Paulo, Iva Nelson, Inacio, Frantza, and Augustino
3 comments:
i loved reading this... it may sound silly but it's moments like those that i hope to someday experience with the kids... everyday excitements, you know? it's beautiful...(plus i love me some mimos!haha) i can't wait to be back in mozy again... i'm glad that you all had a good time and that you were able to take them. and so tell me... what's the ice cream like there? does it taste the same as here? yes, i am really asking about ice cream... i'm such a dork...
I loved reading about your pouring love into the lives of these boys! May God Bless your work in more abundant ways than you have seen before!
You are pretty incredible... I pray for you and thoroughly enjoy reading about your life there and about the lives of the children... Thank you for serving the Lord...
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