Now that we have been here for just over a month we are beginning to feel a bit more at home. We have had several opportunities to walk around the neighborhood for various reasons such as going to catch a “chapa” ride into the city, going to church, going to market or just taking time to meet new people.
The very first people we met were Claudio and Femida who own a small store right across the street from us. It has been super convenient to
have a place so close that we can buy groceries in a pinch but more importantly Lisa has begun to develop a friendship with Femida. After a few days we were invited to see their house and it wasn’t long after she found out that we did not have an oven that she offered us to use hers when we needed to bake something. Since Claudio is working out of the country for a while, Femida has to work the store on her own so Lisa goes over and sits with her to keep her company.
Jose is a man I met one day I was out just taking some photos around the neighborhood. He was sitting under a tree, in the street, selling some little donut like things. I stopped to talk with him for a while and found out he works for the lady that makes them. He is married and has a couple small children. Since then I have had the opportunity to stop and talk with him and he always seems to enjoy my visit.
Juma is a welder who set up a small shop under a thatch roof on the street corner across from our house. His main project is making charcoal stoves that are used by most people here. Occasionally someone will stop with a quick project for him. We hear a lot metal banging which makes it hard to know if someone is knocking at our gate. Anyhow, I stopped to meet him and talk with him just the other day and I found out that he is quite friendly and enjoys talking. We ended up talking for about an hour about our families and about life here in Africa and the USA.
We know the Lord does not bring people into our lives by chance so we want to continue to pursue deeper relationships which will not only help us learn more about life here and feel more at home but also be an avenue of sharing the Lord Jesus.