LARRY VISITS MAPUTO 15 February 2015

A wonderful picture of all the missionaries from Mozambique-Swaziland (except Sister Castro Deus and I)  Taken at the church building in Matola.

An exciting time to be gathered together.  A visit from Elder Ellis and the creation of the FIRST STAKE  in Mozambique!  This was especially great for Larry because he was present in Argentina as a joven missionary when the first stake was created there.

The bus left Beira at 4 am and arrived at 10 pm in Maputo.  

This was the usual site at any stop for gas.  The local people surround the bus with their wares to sell.  These men have made pilhas (to crush corn and other seeds)

There were 44 elders, Larry and Elder Enos Castro Deus, the district presidency (Gil Huo [red], President Camalezine [yellow] and Freeman Dickie), and Joao Bueno who works in Beira and is the 2nd counselor in the mission presidency.  A bus full of priesthood.  

The return trip started out the same way, but was delayed several hours with a flat tire.  

The breakdown was near a school that was letting out and so the Elders has a fun time with all the children.  This is Elder Castro Deus.

Elder Finau is showing the children magic tricks.

Sonia and I decided that we would be extremely miserable traveling so far on the bus, motion sickness especially.  I knew that I had made the correct decision when Larry sent me a message saying that even he was feeling sick!  Because of the sun, the driver had the shades down so he couldn't see anything,  and was swerving around potholes and truck (Melissa can attest to this)s, besides texting and talking on his phone.  I would have been so sick and  I probably would have had to take the phone away and maybe even his driving privileges!  As you can see by the picture, he was going as fast as the bus would go.

It would have been even more uncomfortable with all these young men because there ARE NO rest stops along the way.   The bus stops alongside the road and everyone finds a bush or tree.  And IF the  service station has a toilet....the bush or tree is infinitely better.  So better for everyone involved that Sonia and I missed this trip.  We were sorry not to be included in the mission picture, but had a nice weekend being companions in Biera.