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Memoir: Monday 23 Mar 2020
After getting stranded by closed borders, I was given some practical work to do on the base. We also made a trip to town to stock up on supplies before the real lockdown in Menongue started. And I visit an open-air African market for the first time, and just in time, because it would soon…
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Memoir: First weekend stranded in Angola
Saturday 21 Mar 2020 Neighborhood visit Saturday was the first full day after I missed my flight. After breakfast, we were sent out in groups to talk to the neighborhood around the base. I went with Ericleidy and Dorivaldo. We would have normally visited the men’s prison that day, but we were not allowed to…
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Memoir: Friday 20 Mar 2020
Instead of leaving on the 20th as scheduled, I stayed in Menongue to see how the COVID shutdown would play out. The world seemed hopeful that it might blow over with a short quarantine. Nobody could have known just how protracted the battle with the coronavirus would be. I chose to make the best of…
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Memoir: Birthday and anniversary in Angola
As previously mentioned, I had planned to be back home before my birthday and wedding anniversary, but the coronavirus made that impossible. It was the first anniversary that I would spend apart from my wife. My plan was just one of billions that coronavirus had left in ruins.
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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: 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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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…
Welcome to Angola 