Mecuburi: A normal church visit
Went to visit the church of two of my students about 30 miles from Nampula. We traveled this interstate (really) and it was in great condition due to no rain for months, only 15 miles 'washboard'. It was really a beautiful ride through the granite hills and i enjoyed the company of one of the pastors who caught a ride with me. We talk about rites of passage, cultural issues and of course, marital issues.

We arrived at this little church outside of the village of Mecuburi and the ladies were already starting to prepare our lunch at 8:30am. This is becuase they were cooking for 'the honored missionary' and 25 people---all over a wood fire in the ground.



I was able to peruse my sermon for an hour as we waited for others to show up and i got to chat with the men about money and marital issues (hey, they bring this stuff to get my opinion). I have to say the service was nice. It is a small group and they are a independant Church of Christ, so they have autonomy. Which means they function as a group...but is also means they can function as a mob. Anyway, this group was nice and during the service indivuduals expressed their opinions and were very interested to hear mine. Funny what comes back to you when put on the spot about church governace and restoration of fallen believers.

After a very short 2 1/2 hour service we ate communially (well, men in the little shade house and women and children under the cashew tree). Lunch consisted of 'shima', which is the daily starch staple which you use as a spoon to scoop out your 'matapa' (anything made with peanuts, greens and oil) and 'caril' (anything made with some form of meat, lots of oil, tomatoes and onions). To my delight i was informed that they pulled out all the punches and bought dried shrimp....unshelled, salted, petrified, gritty baby shrimp. Ok, the flavor wasn't terrible but the chrunch and grit was a tad much. So i enjoyed the matapa and shima (really, i like the stuff). When i informed them i was gettting ready to leave i was asked to give a ride to some of the folks and said sure. So, with a car full of 10 peolpe, one chicken (their gift to me along with a bunch of sugercane and peanuts) and pots and large cooking pans on the roof i said farewell.


Who says this isn't fun?