Distributing Bikes

In Senna there is a phrase “time goes by bike” in other words, the time is going fast. The opposite is “time is walking by” or going slowly. And here it is the end of a week and time is going by bike in more ways than one!

The past week was really gratifying for us because we got to present bikes, most of them to individuals here in the Dondo Center or other ministries we are acquainted with. (The majority of bikes have been given out in our absence to people we don’t know, mostly pastors in outlining areas). Instead of just giving away a bike, we “presented” them with a degree of ceremony. First, an explanation of the limitations of American bikes: the rear racks can’t haul three 100 pound bags of charcoal or a spouse for that matter. Then an explanation of the unusual things about the bike: quick release wheels, Schrader valves, derailleurs and gears, and how to open a combination lock. Then we give them a inventory slip with a description and serial number of the bike…….love that documentation! And finally, we bless each individual and pray for them and the bikes.

Monday morning two opportunities presented themselves: Chico is a friend of the Mozambiquian director of this base and cares for a number of orphans in an outlying area. We had two bikes set aside for Chico but had never met him and didn’t know how to reach him. But by what we’ll refer to as Divine Appointment, Chico happened to come into Dondo Monday morning. Here is a picture of him and his son Daniel in front of the church receiving two bikes. Another special thing about giving these bikes out ourselves is that we recognize so many of the bikes, know the people who donated them and remember selling many of them brand new. Chico’s blue Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo belonged to Ruth and Royce Satterllee.

We had set aside three bikes for the Arco Iris Base in Chimo a village several hours chappa ride from here. The older children at that base walk 1 ½ hours one way to the higher grade level school. They aren’t walking through two feet of snow in freezing temperatures……but in downpours and intense heat. A person from the Chimoio base arrived unexpectedly with a truck and was able to load up three bikes so those children will have bikes to ride to school.

Three bikes went to the Ministerio da Cadea, the team of Lino, Lovemore and Miguel. These three guys go to the Dondo jai every Wednesday afternoon and preach and pray for the inmates. We have the privilege of being part of the Ministerio da Cadea team. Now the trip to the jail is a 5 minute bike ride instead of a 30-45 minute walk in the heat.

Next week, we plan to give 23 bikes to a missionary couple who oversee the Iris Ministries churches in the Tete Province. The Tete area is the poorest and most difficult area to work in. The temperature is hot here, 95 F. a couple of days ago with 94% humidity, but Tete was well over 100 F. so the bikes will be a real blessing there for the pastors that walk village to village.

This last photo is of Miguel, one of the jail ministry team members riding off on his Specialized Globe. This bike was the last one out of the containeer and the last one we assembled, but was one of the first donations. Miguel says thanks to Dave and LouAnn Gay for your donation. Thanks to everyone else who donated a bike or contributed to the shipping cost. Your gift is most appreciated.

Lovemore

I’d like to introduce you to the young man who is our translator. He has an unusual name and an amazing story. Lovemore was born amongst about 4,000 people attending a Christian conference on the Love of God. When I say he was born in the conference, I mean, right there, during and in the midst of the conference. Because the conference was about the Love of God, he was named The Love of God.

Lovemore didn’t talk until he was five years old. And then he began talking and hasn’t stopped since. He speaks eleven languages: Portuguese, English, French, Ndau, Senna, Barhive, Tchewa, Shona, Chiute and Nhundwe. Sometimes we think he is mixing all of these at once! Lovemore is now 24 years old. Yesterday he translated for Ron as Ron preached in the jail. Last week I went with him to the market to be with him while he preached. First he went to the chief and asked permission. When we came back there were a dozen or so older men sitting and waiting for him. I don’t know how they knew he was coming or where he would preach, but he preached for an hour the good news of Jesus straightforward and challenging.

Over the weekend Lovemore spent two long full day translating. He was so tired Sunday night that he couldn’t find words of any language to translate the message Ron had been asked to give on the final night of a youth camp. But later that night on his way home long after dark he came to a young boy who had been beaten and was bleeding from the head. He stopped for this boy and took him to the police station. But he didn’t leave the boy or the responsibility to the police; he then took the youngster to the hospital and paid to have his wound dressed.

Several days later Lovemore found a young girl with no clothes. She had been sleeping in the rain all night. Lovemore found clothes for her and found out her parents had kicked her out of the house. She wanted Lovemore to take her to the police. Why, he asked, had her parents kicked her out, because she went off with a man? Well then, the problem is not for the police, the problem is you. Did your parents tell you not to run off with him? Yes, she said. Then you were disobedient and now you are living with the consequence. I am going to find you food and tell you about Jesus. He will show you the right way to live.

Yesterday, in the market, a 19 year old man showed Ron papers with a diagnosis of AID’s . He wanted money to buy cream for the sores on his arm. In these situations we lean on Lovemore’s wisdom. He said we must find out his situation. Who does he live with? If you give him money he might go around to other girls. He needs good food more than cream. Someone needs to show him how to prepare the food and take care of himself and go with him to buy the food so the money goes to food. Today Lovemore arrived with two things for Mateus: a book on AIDS and the Bible. He needs to know about AIDS and that Jesus Christ heals AIDS.

I could go on and on with Lovemore stories, but I’ll stop there. Here he is on his Raleigh M-80 that one of you generously donated. We mentioned that he spoke eleven languages, but only listed ten. Follow this link to hear the last one!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z4O6zN1WHI

Fala Portuguese?

I am getting Portuguese lessons in numerous ways: I am taking devotions with the younger boys who are memorizing Bible verses that I already know. I am reading billboards. There is constant chatter out our kitchen living room windows to listen to and pick out certain familiar words and statements. Anyone who comes to our house for water or rest is pressed into teaching me. And the pocket dictionary and phrase book are only secondary to reading my Bible.

Still I am experiencing limited success. Not often enough do Scriptures come up in the course of daily conversion. The bulk of billboards have to do with these five topics: it is best that you feed your baby breast milk for the first six months; keep connected with mcel service (the primary cell phone provider); think straight, use condoms; think straight(er), abstain, prevent AIDS; COKE welcomes you. One example of the limit of my success was early on recognizing the chatter from the porch wasn’t Portuguese at all, but Senna, the native language. And as for pressing visitors into service as teachers, I’ve found that if there are two people present, there are two ways to say it and two opinions on the right way to say it! After all, Portuguese is their second language, too.

As for the pocket dictionary, the problem is with me. First I have to find my glasses to read the word and that has to do with aging. The other problem is retention, and that has to do with aging. The next problem are the subtly different sounds that I don’t hear, and maybe that has to do with aging…but I think more likely occupational hearing damage from over inflated, or unseated exploding inner tubes in the Glacier Cyclery repair department.

And so I am a long ways from conversational Portuguese. Ron vocabulary consists of tools and bike parts, and lacks words for normal daily conversation. So we rely on our translator, Lovemore. A little about Lovemore later. Meanwhile, if I can find my glasses, I’ll sign off in Portuguese.

Ate Logo!