Mozambique - Beira

Then is was time to fly to Beira for some more training.  Chuck had

served as a counselor in the Mozambique Mission Presidency when we

were serving in Angola, but we had never set foot in the country.  We

finally had a chance to see what Mozambique was like.

We instantly loved Beira and the people.  We felt right at home.  Maybe

because it reminded us so much of Angola.

The Beira Stake Center is big and modern.

We had time to accompany Sister Koch on a tour of

missionary flats.  There were 8 companionships living in this area.

They'd had to move them because of safety issues, and these 16

Elders all lived very close to each other.  Boy did it remind us

of the fun times we had in Portugal and Angola.

Along the road they were selling mosquito nets.

One woman was sweeping the dirt to keep the area looking nice.

We passed by the Grand Hotel.  Back in 1975 when the Portuguese left Mozambique, they left quickly but also destroyed a few things before they left.  One of these was the Grand Hotel.  

Squatters came in at once to the hotel to take up quarters, even though there was

no water or electricity.

With so many people living in and around the Grand Hotel, the water line is

a place to meet and talk and get the much needed water for their lives.

Water lines are a fact of life in the villages.

Another church building about a half hour drive from Beira is so beautiful

and serene.

The young Elder in the middle was a new convert when we were

serving in Angola.  It was nice to see him out on a mission.

That afternoon we had a training.  We were delighted to see 3 of our former

Angolan missionaries in attendance.  Elder Sande and Elder Manuel live near

Beira, but Elder Bene had come all the way from Morremeu. It was a mini

Angola reunion.

The next day was the Beira Stake Conference.  The main room was full and

the other rooms were filled to capacity as well.

How grateful we are to the Kochs for their kindness and their

good work in the Mozambique Maputo Mission.

Picture time with our missionaries - Elder Sande, Elder Bene with his wife

and son, Elder Manuel, and Elder Guente, who showed up on Sunday.

What a joy to be with these wonderful Angolan missionaries again.

Thanks to the Wilkins, the couple serving in Beira, for their driving skills

and their wonderful Sunday dinner.  

Elder and Sister Wilkins drove us to the airport which seemed a bit

empty.  We were the only passengers in the whole place that would be

flying that afternoon.

We had the place all to ourselves.

The plane finally arrived for a gas stop, coming from Madagascar.  We got on

to find the plane full of tan, casual tourists that had been on holiday

in Madagascar and were returning home to South Africa.  We felt

a bit out of place.  We are glad that we got to go to Mozambique!