Walking
Maputo. In general we like the city. It is a very safe, walkable by African standards with a mediterranean feel to it. I was thinking about returning to the US and one of the things I will miss most is the slow pace of life and the ability to walk almost anywhere. I enjoy being able to walk, though most people here, especially expats wonder about my choice and why I often do not take the car. I guess it makes me feel normal. I have always liked the excercise and exploring the world. That is why I was a hiker. And it costs nothing, uses no gas and usually I do not have to take myself in for repairs. The more I use the car the more I have to fix it and that is definitely not simple in Mozambique.

I understand it takes more time but life seems simpler. Why do we have to rush so fast through our lives anyway. I have determined that I get a much fuller sense of life the way God created it and of the lives of people when I walk. I get to feel the air on my face, the sounds of, well, cars of course, but the sound of people, markets as well. I get to see their lives, to experience what it is like, to understand a bit though the divide is still great. It gives me a stronger basis to minister Christ to people. To share in their lives. I get to see that life is not just about getting from point A to point B but actually enjoying the journey, the intricacies along the way. To enjoy the sight of vegetbles, books and fish being sold next to the street, the flowers in people's yards and the new construction and reabilitation that often gets missed in the broken buildings. Sure, I have to avoid the dogpoop, not mentioning what else ends up on the ground, and broken glass bottles. But this seems more of a challenge. I personnally enjoy cement that is broken and heaved hither and to by the tree roots or simple neglect. It breaks the monotony of cement and gives me a challenge, somewhat like hopping along boulders in the mountains.

Plus, it just makes me feel good! So I will walk.