This is an interesting article I am linking to this post.  This study pointed out that Mozambique is rated ‘runner-up’ for the worst quality of life amongst expats (that term includes missionaries…though not this one!).  Those living in 191 countries rated 43 different aspects of life abroad on a scale of 1-7.  Mozambique was near the bottom of the chart, ranking 66 out of 67 in both the ‘travel and transport’ and ‘health and well-being’ subindexes, and 63 out of 67 for ‘safety and security.’ 

Don’t worry friends, David and I didn’t come here chasing the best quality of life. Empowered by God’s love, we came to do life alongside some of the most brave, amazing, and too often, neglected people. The heroes in this story are the Mozambicans, and the prize is found when they, and we, understand how deep and wide is the love of God.

All this reminds me of a conversation I had with a woman in the dump who confessed, “I didn’t think you would ever talk to me.” 

What?!?!  I looked her in the eyes, and incredulously and truthfully responded, “But you are the reason I am here!! Do you know that God loves you so much that He would have me travel from the other side of the world, days and days on long flights, just because you are so important! He wanted me to remind you that you are not forgotten and that He is in love with you. He knows that living in a dump, you may sometimes forget or doubt that, but that is why He sent me to you. It is true: He notices you and loves you.”

And with that revelation, the sides of her mouth spread across her face into the most beautiful semi-toothless smile I’ve been privileged to witness.  And quickly thereafter, the laughter and tears flowed. Followed by a holy hug.

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That, my friends, is why articles like the one linked to above might be worth reading, but they never tell the whole truth. As Paul Harvey liked to point out, it’s worth looking at “the rest of the story.”