Learnings
Two years ago, I wrote a list of some of the Things I’ve learned during our first two years in Mozambique. Considering that two years has passed since then and we have two more years of our contract, here is my list at the year four mark:
- Living simply is complicated and not easily understood.
- Sometimes dressing nicely matters.
- Having a child opens doors and closes others.
- A child creates space for many conversations that I ordinarily would not have.
- A child changes one’s perspective.
- If I am generous with myself, I am more apt to be generous with others.
- God is faithful.
- The African sun is a powerful bleach for diapers.
- I’ve wanted to be involved with MCC for a long time and now after four years in it, I still don’t know what I want to do in it! But I enjoy what I do.
- Beauty matters to my personal happiness.
- God is good. Even when life isn’t.
- Prayer is necessary for my sanity.
- Clean feet feel good.
- It is a lot easier to be self-sacrificing when it is for my child.
- Laughter helps keep perspective.
- My favorite things about Mozambique are still the same—Mozambicans’ smiles, lily pads and bananas.
- Tea tastes better if it is made in a tea pot
- Nothing else matters to me when my child is sick.

Many of my learnings from year two still apply…