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Memoir: Thursday 19 Mar 2020
Something goes wrong: I learned the morning of the 19th that Angola would close its borders that night at midnight (20 Mar 2020). After some presentations by the mission students, I made a series of phone calls to figure out how I might be able to get out of the country.
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Memoir: Wednesday 18 Mar 2020
Attended another discipleship meeting, this time headed by one of Joan’s old disciples, Jose. Joined in the practical work with the mission students. Attended agriculture class. Watched Luca work on the walls of my future home. Visited the Menongue women’s prison. Had a discussion with Wessel about mission challenges
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Memoir: Tuesday 17 Mar 2020
A night of fitful slumber Sleep eluded me some nights more than others. This was one of two nights in Angola when I awoke with irrational fears clutching at my heart. My home is far distant; I might get sick; I don’t know what I’m doing; death is just a breath or heartbeat away; I…
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Memoir: Monday 16 Mar 2020
Awakened early by the OM version of “reveille” – a hammer banging on a piece of metal – I joined Joan and Herivaldo for a walk. The damp and chill of the night before had not yet burned off. We were heading for a discipleship meeting in the village…
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Memoir: First Sunday 15 Mar 2020
I woke up early and refreshed on my first Sunday in Menongue. The sun would soon heat everything up, but the morning was wonderfully cool. There was a grassy hill to the east, so the sun’s rays lit up the sky long before they hit the mission base. Low and distant party sounds had emanated…
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Moving to Angola
My wife and I and our four children left the United States for Angola on November 9, 2022. After two and a half years of slow and careful planning, we spent three panicked days of packing before the departure date. We were trying to take as few checked bags as possible, but over those three…
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Memoir: Welcome to Menongue
Airport My flight from Luanda stopped briefly at the town of Kuito to pick up more passengers and then continued to Menongue. I had been traveling over 40 hours on little sleep, but I was on the home stretch. I was the next-to-last person to disembark the plane and enter the terminal. At the immigration…
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Ericleidy and Delfina’s wedding (Nov 2021)
[I started writing this post on 17 Nov 2022, while we were moving to Angola.] My family left the United States over a week ago on 9 Nov 2022, and we have yet to arrive at our new home at the Operation Mobilization base in Menongue, Angola. I am writing this at a beautiful lodge…
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Memoir: Welcome to Luanda
I arrive in Luanda, Angola for the first time. Getting through immigration and meeting Bill from Texas. Visit with Pastor Pedro and short local tour. Getting through the domestic terminal with the help of a guide, Nicolo.
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Malarial motivation
I awoke early this morning with three needs foremost in my mind: drops for my dry eyes, water for my dry throat, and something to write on-and-with. I was inspired to do some writing. I have my third case of malaria in four months. I’m getting good at recognizing the early warning signs. I called…
Welcome to Angola 