Determination in Mozambique

Similar to many other afternoons at our house in Mozambique, we were outside playing with the neighbor's children. As the sun set, we had to lock up the porch gate. Tony, who is five, thought it would be funny to throw his shoes onto our patio fully expecting us to simply give them back. As any future mothers would probably do, we used the opportunity to teach him a lesson about accepting the consequences of his actions. Therefore, we merely looked at the shoes and his laughing face and apologized in Portuguese saying, "Goodbye shoes!" As he realized we weren't going to just give him back his processions, he became somber. Even with our probing for him to ask nicely by saying please, he just sat there (or maybe he didn't understand, though we believe he did). To our utter amazement and joy, little Tony walked away and came back with a giant stick. We laughed and laughed as this boy stuck the stick through the gate to successfully retrieve both the shoes he had thrown. Well done, Tony, well done.

Tony successfully scaling our outer wall

I tell this story not only because I think it will bring readers some joy, but also to illustrate the determination of Mozambicans. They do not give up easily and they work hard to accomplish the tasks of their day.

Through determination, Mozambican women feed their children and provide them the things they need. These women may wake up in the early hours of the morning to work. They make the meals, bathe themselves and their family members, and make necessary errands on foot to town.

From what I have witnessed, the people here are innovative when they do not have what they need to accomplish a task. For example, I watched as a teacher writing with chalk could not find an eraser. Without hesitation, she tore out a piece of paper from her notebook and began scratching the notes off the board.

I admire the people's determination. I am reminded that it is important to persevere. Giving up leads to laziness and allows us to be easily defeated. The Mozambicans I have met are strong. Though they may be attacked by a multitude of things including poverty, sickness, and a fatigue that comes with living each day not knowing if food will be available, their spirits are not easily defeated. They choose to get up and keep going. This is an overall strong people and I believe many people could learn, as I myself have, a lesson about diligence from witnessing how they live.