Last week Here...

This is my last week, well really it's less than that, because I leave here on Thursday to go back to the US. The internet has been down at the place that we live so here is a recap of last week's activities sans fotos, sorry folks!

Last monday-We left EARLY to get on our greyhound bus going to Johannesburg, South Africa. I once again was saved during the trip by my wonderous iPod. We got through Mozambican customs okay and also through South African customs just fine. On the South African side there were lots of Mozambican refugees who were trying to flee South Africa. For those who dont know, the people of South Africa (not all, but some groups) have been killing, beating up, raping, and robbing immigrants in South Africa trying to get them to leave. So we saw VW vans full of beds, clothes, food, matresses, dressers etc. and the people trying to get back into Mozambique. It was so sad to see, and it made me so sad for the mozambicans who are just trying to find a better life in SA.

Well, that same day we stopped in Neslpruit, SA and got two rental vans, also known as the "space ships" due to their sweet aerodynamics. Then we drove to Swaziland, which is a kingdom still and their king gets a new wife every year he is on the throne, he has six so far. We got to our hotel and it was amazing! It was so nice to have a hot shower after 2 months of cold ones, ahh...

Tuesday- We checked out of that hotel, went to an old cultural vilage where we got a tour, tasted traditional food, watched traditional dances, and then hiked to a beautiful waterfall and lagoon where we all jumped in. It was freezing!!!! Really, it was, it took my breath away! Then we got out and went back to the cars, changed, and went to a candle factory called Swazi Candles, they made some sweet stuff there, I just had to buy some :) Then it was off to a 1/4 mile of artesan crafts, and I bought some souveneirs for people and for me, and then we checked into our second hotel in Swaziland and ate a big dinner. It was a good day.

Wednesday- We left Swaziland early in the morning, went back through customs out of swazi and back into South Africa so we could go to Kruger National Park in SA. We got there around noon, had lunch and then drove through the gates into the park. That was amazing, it is your car, and the animals, no cages nothing. We saw crocodiles, a giraffe crossed the road right in front of our car, we had to wait for a family of baboons to cross the road, it was so amazing. It took two hours to get to our camp, which is located in the middle of the park and surrounded by electric fences to keep you safe. They close the gates at 5:30 pm sharp and if your not in the camp area, you have to sleep out side the gates in your car. We made it in seriously at 5:25....cutting it close huh?!

Thursday- 4 am, get up put on like 3 layers of clothes, hop in a huge safari truck and go! That was my morning. It was cold, soooo cold, but sooo worth it. We had two lions literally like 10 feet away from us, it was amazing. And soon after I spotted a leopard in the bushes, it was so close to us too. These animals are so amazing when you see them in the wild, it was an experince of a lifetime! We also saw hippos, giraffes, monkies, and LOTS of birds. I loved it. Then we went out on safari again in the evening and saw a family of elephants eating. The mom didn't like us being there too much so she started to charge the safari truck where I was sitting. I freaked and the only thing that came out of my mouth was "vixe maria" haha...we drove off before she really did anything. Then we got home and went to dinner at an old train station and I had some Ostrich meat, and some of a native dish that has a name that is like 20 letters long and way beyond my ability to pronounce. Then we walked back to the tents we were camping in (tents with cement floors, fans, real beds, and a refrigerator....not really a tent in my opinion) and found a hyena behind ours. The only thing that separated us from him was the fence, not soon after the guys came to tell us there were also elephants near by too. It was so cool, I found it interesting that the roles were switched here, we were the ones fenced in, and they were the ones on the outside. Crazy huh!

Friday-We ate breakfast and then headed out of the park, once again we saw lots of animals, Antelope, Waterbucks, Vultures, Zeebras, Impalas, Hippos, etc. We drove back to the bus staion hopped on our bus, and then drove back to Mozambique. Customs was not a problem and I felt happy to be home again in Maputo, funny how I can call it home....it feels like it now even though it hasn't been a long time for me. We were all dead tired, but glad to have had the oppertunitity to see these other countries and see all those amazing animals and get out in nature for a bit!

Saturday- That was SO much fun. We held a district activity for the young adults here in Maputo. Lana, Paul, Brandon, and I sang "come thou fount" in a quartet, it was so nice to sing for them, they really liked it. Then we each read our favorite mozambican poem, and two of us spoke on setting goals. After that I taught line dancing to everyone, it was about 100 people, and they loved it! Then they taught us a traditional dance the "marbenta" which is a dance to atract your lover....hahahaha, great dance to be teaching at a church activity, right? It wasn't too bad and it was fun! Then we went to the mall down town to have dinner at a resurant there to end our program. It was a long day with a lot of yelling instrucitons and eight-counts, but it was so nice to get out there and serve the church members.

Sunday-I went with Jessica and Sam to T3, where I've been helping suzie, one of my friends from here who is the primary president, teach. Last week I taught Lehi's dream to the 8-10 year olds and "nephi's courage" the primary song, it was so fun. This one girl in particular latched onto me, her name is Isaura. She is 10, and she and her brother are orphans who live with relatives nearby. She is really poor and quiet, and Suize told me that she started coming one day a few years back and has come every week since then. The people she lives with are muslim or something similiar, and so she isn't allowed to go to church, but she tells them she is out walking around or playing and then walks with her little brother Jose to church. She can't read so I help her with the hymns and scriptures during class, and every week she takes my hand and sits with me at church the whole time. This was my last week and she asked me to take her home with me, she said she wanted to come live with me in the US at my house. It almost broke my heart, she said "please, just take me with you, take care of me there in the US". I had to say no, but I am so worried about the future that awaits her and her little brother.

Monday-I left with the other BYU kids early today to come out to One World University again, we are staying the night here and we taught english all day. The people here are motivated and want to learn it is so nice! I also had an AWESOME discussion with the director of the univeristy on the ride out here about the church and gave him a book of mormon. He had good insights, questions, and at the end of it he promised he would read it. He is a good man and I had talked to him previously about church, the bible, etc. and I know he would make a wonderful member of the church. I was so glad to have an hour and a half ride to talk to him about our beliefs, and to have been given such a wonderful missionary oppertunity. Tonight we are doing a fireside here and I will be teaching line dancing again and singing in the quartet...fun fun!

Tomorrow we teach again here at the university and then go back to Maputo, to take finals. Wednesday we are tying up loose ends in the city and buying last minute things, and then thursday Afternoon I start my long trip back to Provo. 4 pm I leave maputo, then I go to Johannesburg, SA then London, then Dallas/Ft. Worth then SLC finally.... phew, this is long. If you made it through congrats, I'll bake you a cookie when I get home :)