Written 6/18/08
I don’t like to share. Maybe I missed out on that lesson in preschool. Or maybe it’s something inherent to the individualism of American culture.

Here in Mozambique it’s something that confronts me time and again. Like I’ll buy a hand of bananas, and since I really like bananas, I keep them hidden in my bedroom. But then they get yucky before I can eat them all. Oops. Should have shared.

In Mozambique, you can’t not share. If you have food and other people are around, you should at least offer it to them. I in my greed prefer to keep my food hidden and go hungry rather than share. Poor lifestyle choice, Holly.

The thing is, though it might cost me more money today to bring along food for all, probably tomorrow someone else will provide. Or they might not. But if I have the means, it’s an unwritten requirement. Countless times I've received a free meal or snack by the grace of others.

So here I am, after 10 months of immersion in Mozambique, still struggling with this concept of sharing. I hope I’ve made some progress, because I think it’s probably something Jesus would do. The gifts of hospitality and sharing are a lesson that I hope I will be able to take home from Mozambique.