In late February and early March, I went with Dave to retrieve the 206 from Inhambane after it had been stuck there about four months. Around that time, Cyclone Freddy hit Madagascar, hit Mozambique then circled back and hit Mozambique again. Freddy was the longest-lasting and highest ACE-producing (accumulated cyclone energy) cyclone ever recorded worldwide. What that meant for us is that the bad weather lingered either where we were or between us and where we needed to fly.
 |
| Dave and Nelson working on the 206 |
In the meantime, Dave was sorting issues with the battery and the battery charger to get the 206 going after sitting for so long. Between the weather and the battery, we had a little free time and decided to go exploring and take the ferry between Inhambane to Maxixe just across the bay.
On our ferry ride over, we were on the larger catamaran.
We walked around town and explored a few shops. We saw a fluorescent orange fruit for sale, something I’ve never seen in Nampula and Nelson told us it was called marfura. I’m wishing I had bought some so I could have tried it. While walking around, it would periodically start to rain and we would duck under a tree or awning and visit with other folks waiting out the rain.
When it was time to return to Inhambane, this time we were on a smaller ferry boat. When we got on, we noticed that everyone was squeezing into the tightly packed benches and Nelson did the same. We were trying to decide it if was polite to leave the front open or if there was a reason folks didn’t want to sit in the front. With the weather, we knew we might be getting wet in the front as it was less sheltered, but we took a seat in the front where we could sit together and get a good view. After a few more people got on, off we went on the 30 minute ride. Sure enough, when the rain started we were the first to get wet, other than the men operating the boat. A man behind me offered an umbrella to block the rain and we were quickly instructed how they wanted us to hold it to keep us and those behind us from getting wet.
 | |||
| Ferry back to Inhambane |
 |
| View from Nelson's place in the middle (you can see Dave's hat in the middle and our umbrella) |
There was spirited discussion during the ride about the recent price increase of the ferry. We paid 20mts each (~$0.32) but the price had recently been just 15mts (~$0.24).
Our time in Inhambane was the first time I was able to see flamingos in the wild. Unfortunately I only had my phone camera so my pics aren’t great.
Later in April, we attended the Africa Region conference in Cape Town, South Africa, where leadership from all of MAF’s Africa programs meet together. We heard updates from each program as well as from leadership from HQ on various topics affecting our work. I was able to give a presentation on security to the group as well. We were there on the day South Africa celebrates “Freedom Day”, commemorating the first post-apartheid elections, and heard from a very interesting speaker with a lot of experience from the apartheid time.
Where were staying, it was an easy walk down to the beach and we enjoyed some beautiful scenery and bird watching. One afternoon, we made about a five mile roundtrip hike to the Kakapo shipwreck, where the remnants of the ship that wrecked in 1900 remain partially buried in sand.
We had one free afternoon for some sight-seeing and were able to visit, Cape Point/ New Cape Point lighthouse, the Cape of Good Hope, and even make a quick stop to see the African penguins on our way back.
 |
| Path up to the lighthouse |
Since we've been living in Mozambique, our church has been working on a building project. Over the years, the concrete brick walls slowly came up around the existing mud brick building. Finally the roof was completed and the old church building was knocked down and we are now in the new building. They are still working on windows and doors, but the change is significant! As time went on the piecemeal roof trusses were looking more and more precarious and we are thankful to have the sturdy metal frame.
 |
| In the new church structure |
 |
| Before the old building was demolished |
On Children's Day, kids of our hangar and guard staff were able to get a short ride in the Caravan. Some were all smiles and some were a bit frightened by the experience, but it was fun for Dave to show them Nampula from the air.
And of course, some extra pics from Mozambique, South Africa, and the US.
 |
| Saw this guy crossing the road while running in Nampula |
 |
| Gray Go-Away Bird (Johannesburg) |
 |
| Hoopoe (Johannesburg) |
 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk (San Antonio) |
 |
| Western Tanager (Idaho) |
 |
| Gray Heron (Inhambane) |
 |
| California Quail (Idaho) |
 |
| Shop on the way home with very descriptive pictures |
 |
| Nampula sunset |
