Hello!

Hello!

Joe and I have been living happily in a small village several hours south of Dar es Salaam since last Friday (the 20th) and have been enjoying working with some friends here who are language learning in a small village tucked away in the hilly countryside.  We set up our tent in the living room area of their concrete floored and mud/plaster walled house, and have spent our days watching their watotos (little kiddos - 9 months and 3 years), and assisting with various projects around the house. Joe has been helping our friend build a fence in the back of their house (with a machete and bamboo :)), we've also been doing some laundry by hand, picking up supplies at various stands in the village, cooking, learning some new words, and just getting a glimpse of what life is like in a remote village in Tanzania! Our friends have been an amazing encouragement to us both, demonstrating a life of sacrifice that defies logic. 

Our bus ride down here was definitely an adventure.  We received an email from our friend with instructions on how to take the bus to their little village from Dar.  So, we got a taxi ride to the Ragi Tatu bus station in Dar es Salaam and arrived by about 4:45am to ensure seats to the village (the bus was scheduled to leave at 6am).  We got our tickets while it was still dark, and were able to get front row seats on the bus which we were so thankful for.  The bus had about maybe 15 rows with seats of 2 on either side of the bus (like a normal bus) and we were one of the first ones to load up.  People then began filing onto the bus, and when we looked back, we saw that all the seats were full, plus (unlike a normal bus!) there were seats that somehow popped up and filled up the center aisle which were also full, and then people crammed in beyond that as well! The bus was a sea of faces, stuff and some kids on laps.  About 8 or so people also crammed in and stood at the front by the driver as well.  We left the station at about 6:45am and then 8 hours or so later we made it to the tiny village where our friends were waiting for us.  On the way though, we made a couple stops and a few people in the back exited/entered the bus through the windows; much easer than trying to scramble to the front =)  At one point I counted 7 people + 1 live chicken seated across on our row alone!  Needless to say, the ride was a bit tight and we were very happy to see our friends upon arriving to our destination!

Joe and I are very remote and safe right now, but just caught wind of some shootings or bombings that have happened at a mall in Nairobi and are so saddened by this news.  We wanted to make sure that we updated our blog to let everyone know that we are safe and very far from Nairobi at this point in our travels.  We are praying for Nairobi and our friends that are there and know that God is more than able to redeem even the most awful situations and somehow bring good.  We are praying that His love would fill and comfort those affected.

We are sending this from a beautifully simple local beachside resort in Kilwa where we are taking an afternoon off from the daily responsibilities of village life with our friends. The sand is white, the palm trees are full of coconuts, the coke is cold, and it is wonderful to be sitting together looking out over blue waters with hardly any other souls in sight. The funny-looking touristy signpost in front of us tells me that it is 3500 km to Cape Town (our next major destination), and 12,800 km to the North Pole (not an anticipated destination, but good to know just in case).

 

Our plan is to head back to Dar es Salaam on Saturday, so please keep us in your prayers for a safe journey back to Dar and beyond.

With love!

Carol and Joe