Malaria Week

To begin, I dont have malaria :) What a wonderful thing that is!

I did spend a big chunk of the week with the Area doctor, Dr. Johnson. He is such a fun person! He came to do a tour with our mission to help people with the questions and problems we have here (mainly: diarrhea, abscesses, malaria and so forth). He doesn't speak Portuguese which worked out perfect for us because that meant he needed someone to translate at conferences... and breakfast.... and dinners.... So, it worked out well for both of us. 

I however started the week with a cold... Which kind of just grew during the week due to not enough sleep to recover, but was fun and worth it. We started with 'health conference' here in Maputo where I just got to listen, but the following day we went to Beira. 

We got there on Wednesday and went straight to house inspections, which went surprisingly well! Then it was off to lunch (win), then to visit houses we are leaving with the landlords --always fun to see what all needs to be repaired after a decade of Elders living in a house..... Then it was off to a sketchy shack for dinner.... The kind of food I would never have eaten at, but Anthony Bourdain would have high-fived me for eating at. It looked like the kind of place you get a beer, or twelve then stagger home.... But the food.... Oh my word. Dinis (the missions first counselor), you are amazing to have found this place. The food was fresh from the day sea food and garlic bread.... Incredible. Clams, crab, prawns, fish all the best I have had one after another. Just the best. Mmmmmmm 

The following day was more house visits (sadly they didn't go well, but it had to happen), some hard discussions with landlords over things not done well---never fun. Thankfully that should get cleared up. We then went to visit the Clinic the missionaries use in Beira for a tour, interesting... *Photos next week* but surprisingly nice for Mozambique. Then the real fun of going to a wood market, then getting cane sugar juice and going to climb a lighthouse.... Good day!.... That wasn't over. I then went with Dr. Johnson to get fresh, 'side walk' pineapples (because street food isn't to be eaten ;) ) Later we did Chinese food.... Because we are in Africa, so why not eat Chinese food. 

I left the following day and the cold hit me hard.... I fell asleep on the floor for a few hours just dead after long days and about 6 hours of sleep a night. I am now pretty much 87% good, which is good enough. This week should be fun as we try and get all the work I should have been doing during last week.... Alls well that ends well though. Transfers should be interesting in two weeks!

Oh, Chuchu.... He got malaria... So his baptism is this week. Thanks Africa for that perfect excuse... 

Tchau!

Elder Howell