Hatua Kwa Hatua 2010

Bonus Blog--Changes 2004-2010

2010-08-12T11:20:00.002-07:00

Bonus Blog – Changes from 2004 to 2010

We’ve seen many more pants on women in cities and towns, but not villages.

We were not served as much ugali as in 2004 and in 2010 we’ve been served pasta.

Lots of people now carry two phones! – We still stop for phone cards regularly!

There is more internet service.

Bonus Blog--Children Playing

2010-08-12T11:20:00.001-07:00

Bonus Blog – Children Playing

During our trip we saw children playing with soccer balls made of plastic bags and hackey sacks from stuffed socks.

….Rolling metal disks, or hoops with a stick

….Spinning a cylinder on a stick

…..Using sling shots

…..pushing a “car” with a stick

2010-08-12T11:19:00.001-07:00

Bonus Blog--Overheard

2010-08-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Blog Bonus - Overheard

I ’m losing my skirt!

Hey! Where’s my malaria?

What?

I’m not washing my underwear because I don’t want it on the line! (later rescinded!)

Take a load off!

The “wack-a-doo” level in this room is too high!

Hey listen the guard is snoring.

To a vendor in Dar….No thank you! He, playing a drum, “Oh my God, I want your money today!”

This from Pr. Seth:
Time is an event; when the event is over, time is up!
And from Pr. Armani watching solitaire:
I’m wondering how you can score and lose at the same time!

August 4, 2010

2010-08-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

Blog 8-4-2010 Wednesday

We were up, and had breakfast and were ready for our safari! We climbed into 3 vehicles with a raise-able tops so we could easily see out and take pictures. We saw a myriad of an animals and 3 of the Aftrican Big 5! To get a good description, talk to us and ask to see our pictures. We enjoyed a “take away” lunch mid-day.

Collected comments:

It was dusty and hot but worth every single minute!
Real life giraffes are great!
Seeing the lions up close including a male with a mane, licking his chops and roaring was incredible!
It was enlightening to see everyone’s reactions!
The drivers were amazing as they took us over, around, through, stumps, rocks, boulders, and sand!
Seeing a bull elephant stand guard as the others drank and later another bull elephant trumpeting!
Seeing a two-day old giraffe kill identifiable by leg hair and skeletal structure!
Vultures circling and cleaning up an impala!
Hippos and crocs in the Ruaha River!
Walking over and back on a swinging rope bridge and having our spirited door keeper Josh break into song “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King”!
It was remarkable how close we were to the animals!

And yes I overused exclamation points but today was one huge !

Back at “home” and showers felt good.

August 3, 2010

2010-08-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Blog 8 -3-2010 Tuesday

Tuesday was our travel day and goodbyes at the Southern Diocese. After breakfast Pr. Arnmani led closing. Michelle read our Haua Kwa Katua passage from John. We joined hands and closed with benediction. We stopped at the HatuKwaHatua office and each received a basket with a woven word in each one. We finally arrive in Iringa with lunch at Lulu’s and shopping there. Lulu’s had to have made money from us! Next we had to get a part on the bus welded and finally left for Tundamelenga for the beginning of our safari in Ruaha National Park.

August 2, 2010

2010-08-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Blog 8-2-2010 Monday

We joined together for breakfast at the Lutheran Centre. Our 9:30 meeting morphed to 11:30. This was our concluding and farewell meeting with the Southern Diocese. Bp Lukilo, General Secretary Timias Mhamasoli, Dr. Kmilike, and Elisha Mkomole represented the Diocese. Pr. Seth, HatuaKwaHatua coordinator led the meeting. Pr. Seth provided a report of our activities in the last week as we’ve participated in our individual or small group activities.

We were presented with gifts from the diocese. Each of the men received a Tz shirt and girls and women, woven handbags.

After lunch we had from 2:00 to 7:30 to explore under the guidance of Gadi or use the internet café. We managed to walk from the S.D. almost the entire strip and back with some side treks…..stopping for electronics, grocery, fabrics, hardware and carvings, fabrics, fabrics, bags, and more fabrics! Dr. Kmilike joined us….and I fear for Gadi and Dr. K….it was like herding the cats!! On our walk – we also met Dr. K’s oldest daughter Wende.

For dinner Pr. Seth’s wife, Anita provided a bountiful meal in their home…We met their children and grandchild and other relatives in his family. After our walk home to the Lutheran Centre it was time to crawl into our warm beds. Sweaters and wraps are a part of life here in July.

AUg. 8, 2010

2010-08-10T17:39:00.001-07:00

Blog 8-8-10 Sunday

Shortly after takeoff we arrived into Sunday. About 8 hours later we were Amsterdam and a layover there. (Apologies to MikeV and Michelle – I was a noisy sleeper!!C) Kathy had a rough night with some altitude sickness…needing fluids and some oxygen. Security was thorough in Amsterdam as we boarded our flight for Mpls. Where have you been? Do you know everyone in the group? What have you been doing? Besides the usual questions about luggage and who packed it and has it ever been out of your sight?

Off to Mpls where we re-entered the USA and went through customs. Half of our group had finished the trip and headed home. The other half boarded late for Omaha and the pilot really flew and I think almost made up the time!! We landed in Omaha after 25 ½ hours in transit.

The rest of my story is I got lost in Omaha – sort of, went to McDonalds in Missouri Valley and had a delicious hamburger and diet Coke with ice. After Denison – storms hit and the wind blew…eventually I sat for 15 minutes in Kiron. Then a detour north of Odebolt, then Hiway 71 closed going north into Storm Lake- so around through Nemaha, and connecting with 7 and 71 to get into Storm Lake. Finally at 10:00 I got home. (Cayla beat me to Storm Lake by many hours driving from Mpls.)

And so ends Safari 2010 to Tanzania – Life is an Adventure!!

Aug. 7, 2010

2010-08-10T17:36:00.001-07:00

Blog 8-7-10 Saturday

We started our day at TEC with breakfast of porridge and hard-cooked eggs. We brought our luggage to Seth’s room to store for the day. Off in a bus to shop and get well parts.

About 1:30 we head for Bagamoya, the site where slaves were loaded aboard ship and told to “lay down your heart…you’ll never see this place again” = Bwaga moya.

We returned TEC at 6:30 and loaded the trailer and bus for the airport. We circled outside for closing and prayer….for me I’m not ready to leave although I have thoughts of home.

We fly out of Dar at about 11:35ish for Amerstemdam.

Aug. 5, 2010

2010-08-10T17:35:00.001-07:00

Blog 8-5-2010 Thursday

We are back on early morning departures, leaving Tungamalenga for Iringa at 7:08. We shop for 30 minutes waiting for our appointment at Tumaine. There we had a brief campus tour with the dean of students. The students were not in session but the University was preparing for Farmer’s Day.

We checked into the Ruaha Lodge and lunched at Lulu’s right across the street.

The partnership Iringa Diocese has with Saint Paul Area Synod is called BegaKwaBega (shoulder to shoulder). Our next stop was at the Diocese office to hear about the program from the General Secretary, the in-country coordinator, and the St Paul synod coordinator.

Then a lot of us did our part to help the Iringa economy – shopping for a couple of hours!

Dinner at 7:00ish and then preparing for our 6:00 AM departure.

Aug. 6, 2010

2010-08-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

Blog 8-6-2010 Friday!

We were up early with luggage out by 5:30 and breakfast. We left 6:30 – and didn’t arrive at our first stop Sokoine Agricultural University until 12:30….It taxed our stamina!!

At the University we met with two professors who described ICE…Institute of Continuing Education. Carl had brought soil samples from Lupembe and Carl’s hope is to get results soon. It seems to provide CAD with possible information and cooperation for our project.

Next it was off to Morogoro Lutheran Junior Seminary. Pr. Isaac Chengula teaches there and met us. We had our lunch there at the Swahili Language College. Many non-natives come there to learn Swahili.

We next rode into Dar….about rush hour…although it seemed pretty “usual” but there were multiple times we were stopped dead-still. Antwon did an amazing job…then as we got closer to TEC and our lodgings, the road was closed so he managed the bus and got us here!

Pr. Seth has identified our group as youth, couples, and seniors! This time the seniors have the 4th floor sans elevator so there was lots of huffing and puffing in the Dar heat and humidity.

We met in Jan and Dawn’s room which has a chapel-like area for a group meeting and devotions. We’re ready for bed!

Step by Step....Partners in Christ

2010-08-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

"That they may all be one" John 17

This is the Bible verse found on the companion congregation covenants for Hatua kwa Hatua. During the past 3 weeks, I think that we have come to realize what this means for ourselves.
Hatua kwa Hatua, Step by Step. The time we have spent visiting our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Southern Diocese of Tanzania has been nothing short of a Blessing from God. We all are excited to share our stories and pictures with you all when we get back to Iowa. We are in Dar es Salaam now and our flight leaves in 24 hours. Just want for you all to know that we are safe and anxiously awaiting our arrival back home.

Peace and Blessings!
michelle

Bonus Blog--Sleeping Under a Mosquito Net!

2010-08-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

Bonus Blog Sleeping Under a Mosquito Net!

Nets are typically hung from the ceiling from a hoop over a frame that is over the bed (think canopy). Next get ready for bed and decided what you will take with you under the net such as book, flashlight… and what you want outside the net…ie..eyeglasses. Start by tucking in the net all around the bed….leaving a big enough opening to crawl into….oops don’t forget to shut-off the lights. Now crawl in…and usually some will come untucked….get the flashlight and finish tucking your net between the frame and the mattress. Fluff your pillow and read a bit by flashlight. Turn off the flashlight. Now comes the great guessing game. Is the buzzing you hear coming from inside the net (meaning your sleeping with mosquitoes) or outside the net. The sound stops – does that mean the mosquito is outside the net or getting its next meal from me! Fall asleep after burying your head….Now should you need to use the bathroom….guess what? Reverse the process and start it all over!!

August 1, 2010

2010-08-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Blog 8-1-10 Sunday

Unbelievable - and I just got used to typing 7 for July and now it is August.

Sunday morning at the Girls’ School and mixed feelings are floating about. I don’t want to leave….I wonder if Andy got moved. School starts August 23rd. I have a road run to prepare the week I get home. We all are having many thoughts and wonderings.

Church is again outside our nyumba and under the trees…The altar is set up and draped in green, including a kneeler and lectern. Worship included readings from Psalm 50, Matt 13:44-52, and I Tim 6:10. (An aside the debate topic for one group on Thursday was: Money is good. The Timothy passage is the love of money……

Mama Lwendo was invited to speak and on behalf of the girls she asked that we extend to our congregations and synod the Girls’ School’s appreciation for our passion for them.

After Chai and Chukula we waited for the bus and accepted more penpal letters. GailB and Cayla had their hair braided by several girls.

We had a good bye ceremony in front of the administration building with speeches by Mama, the head academic officer, a student and responses from us. We were presented with shirts with Africa on them….so we could keep Africa in our hearts. The academic officer said something like….once you have given, keep on giving. These textbooks and lab supplies will help not only these girls but future girls at the school.

We arrived in Njombe about 5:00 having picked up the Follows at Ilembula. Upon arrival there was sharing of stories and catching up with each other.

Our day together concluded with dinner here at the Lutheran Centre and Seth leading a small group meeting.

July 31, 2010

2010-08-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

Blog 7-31-2010 Igumbilo Crew

Saturday, at the Girls’ School means sleeping in – sort of- near as we can tell 7:00 instead of 5:30. As we walked around before 9:00 already girls were sweeping, studying and some planting slips near the classroom paths in preparation for form IV graduation this fall.

We gathered at 9:00 for the textbook dedication. Cayla and GailB did a nice job with the presentation speech. We closed with prayer.

We filled the Land Cruiser and sat economically for a ride to Chimala and the market. Our first stop was at a fabric shop. We walked and walked at the market seeing lots of fabric for kitengas and kangas, fruits, vegetables, grains, samoosas, maandazi, smoked fish and smoked eel, beef hanging from hooks, casserole dishes, all manner of electronics and pile after pile of used clothing and shoes.

We returned to a wonderful lunch cooked by Jenny – of course. She gets the award for cooking. A short time later we were surprised by a visit from Pr. Seth checking on us and sharing the plan for Sunday. He “thinks” the drilling rig is in transit and doubts that we will see it. We were happy to hear his son; (a student at Kidugala) is recovering from typhoid.

To complete the secretary’s office we purchased fabric for curtains and a mat…which we installed.

We attended a student-led talent show….

The pen pal letters have started to arrive! By the handful….including one set announced with the guard calling “hallo…hallo” after we were in bed. Colleen finally pulled herself together to get to door (you can ask later who hid under their blankets and who slept through it!) and found the guard and a sea of faces with pen pal letters!

July 30, 2010

2010-08-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Blog 7-30-2010 (Igumbilo with BruceH, Cayla, Colleen, GailB, GailH,

We’ve been here a week now and in that time we’ve had a student with a golf-ball size lump on her jaw (lanced at the clinic and she is on antibiotics), a 2 year old girl with malaria, 3 students with malaria, a teacher (mentioned earlier) with malaria and the Head mistress with a deep chest cold. From what we’ve heard everyone is on the mend. Bwana Asifiwe!

For our last class we had the students write letters to us with the promise we would respond.

Cayla and GailB then stamped all the books purchases with the $10 Textbooks for Tanzania. Mama had a stamp made that said “Donated by WIS”.

Then about noon all Form I, II, and III students gathered for political speeches in anticipation of student leader elections. They moved from outside our house to in front of the dormitories where they elected dorm leaders. There was a break for Chukulu and then the assistant headmaster announced the winners.

July 29, 2010

2010-08-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

Blog 7-29-2010 Thursday (Igumbilo GailB, Cayla, GailH, Bruce H, Colleen)

Today’s project was the secretary’s office and the computer lab…the walls are painted and the floors cleaned – sort of .

Mama Lwendo is home sick and one of the teachers is suffering from malaria.

We hiked around the property of the Girls’ School and saw multiple farm fields that have been tilled since our last trip. We made it all the way…via well, mechaics’ garage, landing strip and entering by the lab….the lab looks good! We did this without a guide! The well was home to 7 dogs and they barked and barked but were not threatening. We also met a man pulling a large hand cart loaded with charcoal (we think) and two smiling children.

The lab has water and they have started to moisten the soil of the garden we tilled (hacked at). The electricity comes to within 50 feet of the lab…and it looks like there are plans and enough wire to bring it to the lab.

With our security guard has come the humor of listening to him snore. Last night we took tea to him. What a boring life for him.

July 28, 2010

2010-08-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

Blog Wednesday, 7-28-10 (Igumbilo BruceH, GailH, GailB, Cayla, Colleen)

Wednesday, started with Bruce going to math classes….he’s been teaching 2 or 3 classes a day. Cayla and GailB painted the secretary’s office….with rollers. We’re waiting for brushes to do the trim work. GailH and Colleen inventoried the microscopes with a “technician” and a couple of science teachers…the one with a broken eye piece in transit works fine with the duct tape fix. We wrote down serial numbers in case we need to replace bulbs or fuses. We are now discussing with Mama the need for blank slides and prepared slides and if they can be purchased in country or the US. We will have more information before we leave the Girls’ School.

Some of us are experiencing “vivid” dreams that are remembered in the morning…probably from malaria medicine! i.e. a rabbit living with us that participated with us and ate with us! Uff da!!

Everyone excluding Colleen(who’s staying close to facilities) went into Chimala. Bruce bought a newspaper, and the others got fabric and had clothing made…to pick up Saturday.

In the evening Bruce attended a debate “Money is the source of the problem”. The debates are very formal with chairman, secretary, scorekeeper each at a desk and then a timer with clock and rock to hit. They are all students.

Gail, Gail, Cayla and Colleen worked on scoring papers for the Form III English class.

July 27, 2010

2010-08-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

Blog 7-27-2010 Tuesday (Igumbilo Cayla, GailB. GailH, BruceH, Colleen)

Hendersons arrived back last night about 8:30. They had been on a three day safari to their companion congregation at Ikongosi. They took public transportation with their host Pr. Chandaffa. They participated in worship, watched the town team win at soccer and toured the school. They were gifted with baskets and fabric.

The girls all ran this morning at 5:30 in the dark. GailB, Cayla, GailH and Colleen met with Form III classes for English. BruceH taught several math classes. Tuesday was game day. Hendersons brought soccer balls and frisbies. So they had a good time with net ball, dodgeball, throwing frisbies, and also a mandala-like game.

July 26, 2010

2010-08-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

Blog Monday, July 26, 2010 Igumbilo (Gail, Cayla, Colleen)

It is almost 7:00 in the evening and evening sounds are beginning….girls coming from their evening meal talking quietly or calling out to each other. They are headed to classrooms to study often buying a maandazi (fried bread dough) from a teacher’s wife for 100 tsh.

We are waiting for Bruce and Gail to arrive from Ikongosi. They were there for the weekend with their companion congregation.

Cayla and Gail had a quiet day. They read a lot, attended class with Colleen, hoed in the garden….(we could really use a heavy duty power tiller!) Colleen taught 2 - 80 minute classes and also hoed and moved some bricks to delineate the path.

We are happy to announce we are feeling better!!

July 25, 2010

2010-08-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

Blog Sunday, July 25, 2010 (Igumbilo with Gail B, Cayla, Colleen)

Some of us are staying pretty close to the facilities! Worship was outdoors under the trees just outside our house. The service had beautiful choirs, wonderful singing, chickens clucking, roosters crowing, children playing, and much enthusiasm. The text was John 10:7-9.

We have stayed pretty close to home – and we even napped today. Mama Lwendo is going to let me use her modem to connect to the internet. She’s had this capability about a year.

July 24, 2010

2010-08-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Blog Saturday, 7-24-2010 (Igumbilo group)

An exciting day! This is the day to go to Mbeya to buy textbooks for the Girls School with money from “$10 Textbooks for Tanzania” a project of the LYO WIS.

And exciting day! Bruce and Gail H are traveling to their companion congregation at Ikongosi. They rode in the school car with us to Chimala where Pr Chandaffi met them and together they boarded the public transportation to Ikongosi.

Mama Lwendo, Teacher Benne and Teacher Lusako and Tegamea, the office secretary and Cayla, Gail B, and Colleen began our journey to Mbeya about 78 Km away. It took a long time to get money from the bank, go to 3 stationery stores, do some shopping along the way and have lunch – at the Sombrero Restaurant. Besides the books they were able to get lab supplies for the lab. We also bought 3 hoes in Mbyea. (I was reminded of John Donne’s quote….They also serve who only sit and wait! CAL)

As we waited outside a shop we were entertained by 6 kids ages maybe 3-6. When they saw the cameras they were posing and dancing, yelling “wazungu pic a pichar”. (White people take a picture!)

We arrived back at the girls’s school about 7:45 with supper waiting for us. We also found out we have a guard around our house!

July 23, 2010

2010-08-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Blog Friday, 7-23-10 Igumbilo (from Gail H, Bruce H, Gail B, Cayla & Colleen)

(As an aside….on our trip yesterday Pr. Seth let us know the line-up of shops in Iringa including the Rafiki shop are gone to make room for internet cafes! Cayla and Gail B are in disbelief and won’t believe it until they see it themselves! = doubting Thomas’s)

It appears that Bruce H will be doing some math classes, Gail H and Colleen teaching Form III English. Cayla and Gail B are cleaning space for a garden by the laboratory and also painting. They are going to join Gail H and Colleen in the classroom for interaction time. Gail B and Cayla attended chemistry lab in the new lab. Gail said she had done the same lab assignment in chemistry class in LeMars.

All of us got into the garden plot…removing rocks, glass, weeds, roots that go forever, we also used the djembe – a three pound hoe. The soil is so hard. (We wazungus would lift the hoe and with all our might bring it down…and go into the soil about 2-3 inches. Then teacher Benne would do it and he went down 6-12 inches! Oh my) We have worked the soil once…we’ve been bringing our fruit and vegetable scraps to the garden but we compete with the chickens and pigs!

We hiked around the campus and then at supper time it must have been open house…we had 5 join us….it was great talking and laughing!!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

2010-08-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

7-22-10, Thursday

J We were serenaded by a lengthy dog fight so for some of us the night was short.

This was a travel day…we checked out of the Chani and headed to a short stop in Illembula. Cayla visited with her companion congregation and the rest of us wandered behind the building to view a church coop for pressing sunflowers for their oil. They use the oil for their families and also to sell for some income.

We then traveled to Brandt to visit the Upendo Sisters and the well at their site in Brandt. We saw school children at the primary school. The Sisters run a pre-primary school.

Then we were back on the bus for our trip to Igumbilo. It was so exciting to see the sign to the girls’ school. We were greeted and ushered in to sign the guest book. We then went to our luggage and began unpacking the microscopes. The girls had gathered together in front of administration building and we stood on the steps for the presentation of microscopes, laptops, and recorders. The girls then sang for us and responded. Mama Lwendo introduced the faculty and we adjourned for lunch.

Bruce H, Gail H., Cayla, Gail B, and Colleen were shown the nyumba where we will stay for the next 10 days. I daresay we had some group members that were wishing they were staying here!

We bid goodbye to the other travelers and moved into our home away from home.
Colleen Last

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

2010-08-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

Blog 7-21-10 Wednesday
Tuesday we bid goodbye to Pr. Nduye. He began his trip to South Africa - three days in a bus!

The day starts with 8:00 breakfast and shortly we receive the news that Bruce Towne’s mother died in Elk Horn. It was a powerful moment in our journey – understanding in our heads the expected, but wrenching of our hearts.

We then went to the Southern Diocese offices where we were officially welcomed by Bp Lukilo, Dean Mengele, and General Secretary Mhomasoli. Each of the department chairs shared their responsibilities and visions for their area. We had Chai = tea, coffee, juices, bread, samoosa, chapatti…all very good. After completing chai we continued with the presentations.

Next we traveled a short distance to Viziwi, the ELCT’s school for the deaf. Finland has funded the building of a new secondary campus – quite remarkable. They are also scheduled for solar heating and a water collection system.

After lunch at 4:00 at the Agreement Hotel we returned to the Diocese headquarters and a presentation by Dr. Kmilike about the Njombe University.

Our day ended with dinner at the Chani and devotions and group concerns.
Colleen Last

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

2010-08-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

Blog 7-20-2010 Contributed from the back of the bus and compiled by CAL.

We are up early to start our journey to Njombe. We have coffee and tea at 5:30 and Mike shares granola bars. Our stay at TEC was comfortable. Dar at sea level was very warm and humid. It is a constant beehive of activity.

Dar es Salaam seems to be under construction and destruction…building buildings and roads, tearing down to make room for new or adding on to what is there. Vendors are everywhere and line both sides of streets. Product is carried on heads, in carts, on bicycles, and motorized carts. Vendors are selling fruit, soda, tropical plantings, furniture, wood, charcoal, sugar cane, art, and crafts.

Young women in Dar wear jeans, dresses and colorful business clothes. Mature women wear dresses and traditional clothes. The young men are wearing jeans and slacks while the mature men are wearing business clothes and traditional shirts. All the clothing has lots of color and pattern. School students are in uniform – always a white shirt or blouse and sometimes a necktie and dark skirt or trousers. …They may also have a sweater.

The traffic and people are endless (a city of 4,000,000). There are vehicles of every make and model and condition. The dala dalas (think – the VW bus) carry 18 – 20! (5 seats across the back and 3 rows of 4… plus those sharing seats or standing!) The driving seems chaotic with endless streams of people going to work or school…and yet it all works!

There is the constant contrast of large homes in gated compounds to makeshift shelters.

MV adds: Millions of people all busy selling and going somewhere unknown to us but to them life, day by day survival and most believing God will provide.

We enjoyed some karanga (peanuts) and ndizi (bananas) from roadside vendors.

We started the day with cats at TEC and dogs and chickens leaving Dar. Then came goats and sheep and some Masaii with cattle tethered by their hind leg. Sisal was being harvested. As we traveled through Mikumi National Park we saw giraffes, water buffalo, impala, baboons, and zebras,
.
Lulu, 7 years, traveled with us. Her dad is our driver and she visited her sister in Dar. She has been a great traveler and never once asked “Are we there yet?!” Her dad is a great driver navigating roads under construction, traffice stoppage and speed bumps!

It is now about 5:05 p.m. and we’ve just finished eating in Iringa…unfortunately Lulu’s was closed.

We arrived at the Chani about 8:00 and were greeted by Diocese staff with dinner. We had a choice of ugali, rice, chips, beef, chicken, greens, tomatoes, and avocadoes. Delicious!

Colleen Last

Monday, July 19, 2010

2010-08-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 19, 2010
9:30 PM

A full day and delightful! Decided I would keep blogging in hopes that the server will be back up tomorrow and it can be posted.

We breakfasted at TEC – millet porridge, hard cooked eggs, toast, watermelon, tea and coffee. We then boarded “our” bus and headed to Asania Front Cathedral. It is a part of the South East Coastal Diocese and currently the seat of the presiding bishop. We had an orientation with the Dean (assistant to the bishop) and heard about the challenges facing a very urban church including so many young people leaving the rural areas to find work in Dar. The church struggles to meet many social services of many unskilled workers now separated from family and community…..and many coming from the Southern Diocese. They have established a program called Shamba Langu….or My Farm (about 150 km from Dar)…trying to encourage some to work the land and grow cash crops.

We toured the Cathedral and Bruce H demonstrated (this was reported by his spouse) that he can’t walk and talk at the same time. He has an ugly scraped shin.

At the same stop Michelle and Pr. Gabriel became our money changers at the bank. (We did not throw them out!!)

We lunched at the SeaCliff sitting in an outdoor restaurant overlooking the very blue Indian Ocean and enjoyed samoosas, wraps, sandwiches and Tangawizi!

After some down time we had dinner at TEC in the Kibanda…an outdoor food service on the campus.

Martin is a great driver negotiating very small, tight spaces with deftness. Pr Seth and Pr Gabriel continue to be great companions on our journey.
Colleen Last

2010-07-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

It is 6:30 pm Tuesday, July 27. I am catching a few minutes in the internet cafe on the campus of ELCT headquarters before it closes for the evening. We have had an exciting, eventful and blessed visit to the Southern Diocese so far. Today, the group is just getting back to Njombe from our visit to Lupembe and the area where the Center for Agricultural Development is located. The people in the area are as anxious as we are for it to be going in full force, but much planning and development is yet to do. Carl Bergstrom, Mike Vaughn and Bruce Towne stayed on at Lupembe to talk with the men who are working on the plans. On our way back to Njombe we dropped Dawn Peterson off at Metwembe for her visit with her congregation's (Grace Lutheran in Fort Dodge) companion congregation. They have set her up in a guest house and the entire village is anxiously awaiting visiting with her. The rest of the group, Collen Last, Cayla, Gail and Bruce and Gail Henderson are at the girl's secondary school in Igumbilo. I will be leaving to Songea Parish in the morning with Pastor Neamiah and will be there until Sunday. Pastor Seth asked if I would preach, so I hope they are ready!!! Alice and Jan will be staying in Njombe and working at the school for the deaf that is sponsored by the ELCT.

Not much time to say much about it now, but certainly the highlight of the trip has been the wedding that we "crashed" at the church located in Ilembula near the hospital. It was an amazing ceremony which also included a baptism of the little girl that the newlyweds adopted from the orphanage in the hospital complex. Also, we will be forever a part of their wedding video as of course we had to go to the front of the church and introduce ourselves in the middle of the ceremony! Like I told Mama Atua, that is likely the last Tanzanian wedding that I will be crashing. I say that, but we were made to feel so welcome. Like we have been everywhere we turn. There is always a handshake, a smile, and at the least chai (tea).

That is all for now, hopefully we will get to write more soon.

Asante sana!
Michelle

Arrived in Dar es Salaam

2010-07-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

We are safe in Dar....and everyone's luggage, too! Those of us that left from Omaha were in transit 25 hours. Flights from Mpls and Amsterdam were each an hour late. Pr Seth and Pr. Gabriel and others were there to greet us and make us feel welcome. They had a bus from the church in Makombako and the cruiser with trailer! The bus had a boot jack applied for not parking in the right space....so some heated negotiations took place and it came off. We arrived at TEC to a full meal at midnight....so again we were well-treated. Rooms are assigned and we were up for breakfast between 7:00 and 7:30. Today we're off for the bank and then the Coastal (?) Lutheran Church - although the presiding bishop is in Germany. Then to the seacliff for lunch. I think some of us would like another date with the bed sometime today.

On behalf of the travelers!
Colleen

2010-07-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

2010-07-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Some thoughts from Colleen Last as we get ready to begin our journey:

Tuesday, July 6, 2010: 11 days until our flight to Tanzania. On our first trip to Tz (2004) I wrote in my journal “It is midnight, we’re under a mosquito net and we can’t sleep. Our body clocks are in the western hemisphere. Dar es Salaam has continuous sounds of birds, sprinklers, bells, traffic and people.”

July 7, 2010: I also commented in my journal at the end of the trip, “are we help or hindrance?” And again I lamented that when we were with other Americans we talked louder, laughed louder and took up more space!

And so as I prepare for this trip I want to keep the aforementioned in mind and remember that the sounds became quite routine. I want to gracefully travel with our hosts and remember I am a guest in the Tanzanian culture.

I hope to find the smiling caring friends and meet new friends. I can’t wait to see ILGSS (Igumbilo Lutheran Girls Secondary School) and see the additions they’ve made to the campus. AND I imagine shopping in Iringa will be just as fun!

2010-06-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

This blog has been created for travelers, families and congregations interested in following the group visiting the Southern Diocese of Tanzania from the Western Iowa Synod of the ELCA. It will be updated as the technology allows. We look forward to sharing our adventures with you through this blog.

You can learn more about the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania by visiting their website at www.elct.org

Also visit http://wisynod.org/companion%20synod.htm to learn more about the companion synod projects of the Western Iowa Synod in Tanzania.

Thank you all for your support, blessings and prayers!

MUNGU AWUBARIKI (God bless you all) !!