Saturday February 23rd
(once again, trouble uploading pictures...will add some as soon as I can!)
I got up and went to breakfast at 7am, and then it was time to say good-bye to Sister Annette who was going back to her convent in Arusha (north Tanzania), and to the Stubb Family (Randy & Carol- Megan, Nathan, Marissa) as they were also going back to Arusha to Makumira University where they teach music!! PH says LJS (the school) is just like any ol station- with people arriving and/or leaving at all different times… it’s hard to believe the time to start saying good-byes has come already… just under 3 weeks before my parents get here now! I worked on trying to upload pictures, however certain times are better than others… then about 9am I went out to the “parking lot” to meet Jan and Roger so we could wait for the bus that goes to town every Saturday about 9:30am. The bus dropped us off in the market actually so Jan (it was her very first time to town) and myself walked around the market (we only had about 35 minutes before we had to meet a contact) and I showed her where some things were and we looked at many different kitenge (African cloth) shops and we found one shop that had some beautiful ones in it. A single kitenge is so large that two people can share it, so we had the woman cut it in half and I can still easily use it as a wrapped skirt- it is a beautiful darker blue design! Then I bought another one as it has many snail shell designs all over it and I LOVE the snails here- they are so cool!! (I forgot to mention in my last post, when one was sliding its way across my classroom gazebo that the Swahili word for snail is konokono)!
Then we left the market and walked a couple blocks through the main shops to the supermarket so I could pick up some dry cereal, and we both split a package of toilet paper (as we are only rationed one roll a week at the school…and one is not enough when you need to use toilet paper as tissues also)!! Then we walked to a small corner gas station where we waited for a woman to pick us up! Jan was given this couple’s name and number as a contact as they live in Morogoro and work with University students, doing leadership training and holding a “Fun, Food, and Fellowship” night every Friday night at their own house! While we were waiting a young boy about 7-8 maybe walked by with a large plate of bananas on his head (he had an even younger boy with him)…I was really craving a banana, so I bought one for 15 cents today…
Vivian picked us up and we drove a couple blocks further down to a gas station that also has a small café attached to it: Ricky’s Café. This café is excellent as the people that own it are of Middle Eastern descent and they are cake makers/decorators! They make shakes/floats and cappuccinos and lasagna and they have a few different kinds of ice cream (not in a freezer like the grocery store-but like a real ice cream shop)!! It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon to sit outside where there were many tables and chairs- just chatting with this couple (her husband, Ralph, joined us) with the mountains in clear view behind us!! I had a burger (it was alright- but any burger you get here is made of different meat) - and a coke float (so a coke with vanilla/chocolate ice cream) and ALSO chocolate keki!!! (chocolate cake)! I have been craving cake since Sister Annette started joking about it as dessert my first week here!! It was a splurge day, but well worth it!! :)
Ralph could only stay maybe 10 minutes but he bought everyone’s meal even!! Ralph is from Texas originally, and Vivian is from Georgia so Vivian has this great southern drawl still. They are Southern Baptists and have lived in Tanzania for about 25 years total, but in Morogoro here for about 7 years! We ended up chatting for about an hour (mostly listening to what Vivian and Ralph do, have done- and how they ended up here (being called of course). Jan also shared about when she lived in Kenya for about 4 years (that was 10-14 years ago though) and the organization she works with now (who gave her Vivian and Ralph’s contact info)! It was about 12-12:30pm and Vivian was going to give us a ride back to the seminary so we didn’t have to take a taxi, but she first had to go home, which was just fine as they live on the base of the mountain, so it was wonderful to drive just uphill slightly (on terribly bumpy dirt road)… and they have a beautiful home!!! We pull into her driveway after the native Tanzanian man (a “housekeeper”) opens the gate and she mentions that she has coconut trees, bananas, mangoes, lemons, avocados, oranges…I think that is all…right in her yard! Oh-also a tree out back that has tons of clumps of small purple “berries.” I tried one- and the first bite is like that of a grape, but then it was just a bad aftertaste and left my mouth really dry. I don’t remember the name of it…it was oval shaped- a bit bigger than a grape!
In Tanzania, the outside of the houses basically look the same (the ones not made of sticks/mud, and/or dung), but the inside is what counts… as the inside looked plenty “modern”- or like a typical house and style like one would see in the U.S.! It was small, but there were many rooms- and a nice, long screen porch out back…and they even have a guest house in their backyard!!
Then we drove down a couple different roads to a nearby friend’s house…a different couple (both from Texas) and they work with “True Love Waits.” Another beautiful, gated home with a male “housekeeper.” They had an absolutely excellent view of the mountains (the rest of them as they are already up in the base of it)! They also had a few nice white comfy sofas, and more modern furniture and such inside! A 12 inch TV but with a DVD player and their ipod with speakers! Jan and I sat on one couch while Vivian talked to the couple about some book-keeping business…I petted 2 of their 3 grey schnauzer dogs!!!
It was wonderful to see a different part of Morogoro and see some homes/ find out more about the lives of these people working as “missionaries” in a more “modern” setting than PH! I say “missionaries” because really, we are all called to be missionaries (wherever we are at)!!
We arrived back at the seminary about 2:15pm but then Jan and I brought Vivian in to the computer room so Roger and Julie could meet her as they are also Baptists (well, Independent Baptist)…but it ended up being another 20-25 minutes before I went back to my room as Vivian sure can talk!! I sat outside for about an hour- figuring out more details for when my parents get here, and I was able to work out and sweep my room again, as it collects so much red dust/gravel! After dinner I ended up talking to Julie for a bit outside of her room, and we talked about music- how she plays the piano and is a solo singer- she also has arranged some of her own music…then we got into Christian artists…as she likes Michael W. Smith and the Newsboys/Casting Crowns…she shared some other artists with me- but I don’t know as many solo artists- and she didn’t know many I mentioned because she said she grew up listening to nothing but Southern Gospel music!! Then she gave me her ipod and pointed out a few artists for me to listen to!! I finally made it back to my room by about 7:15pm to finish some cleaning, and then chatted online with some people the rest of the evening. Still haven’t gotten any more clothes washed… :(
I went to bed at a decent time- about 10:45pm or so because I desperately needed to get up at 6:35am to shower!!
God’s grace and peace be with you today and always!
In joyful love,
Alana :)
I got up and went to breakfast at 7am, and then it was time to say good-bye to Sister Annette who was going back to her convent in Arusha (north Tanzania), and to the Stubb Family (Randy & Carol- Megan, Nathan, Marissa) as they were also going back to Arusha to Makumira University where they teach music!! PH says LJS (the school) is just like any ol station- with people arriving and/or leaving at all different times… it’s hard to believe the time to start saying good-byes has come already… just under 3 weeks before my parents get here now! I worked on trying to upload pictures, however certain times are better than others… then about 9am I went out to the “parking lot” to meet Jan and Roger so we could wait for the bus that goes to town every Saturday about 9:30am. The bus dropped us off in the market actually so Jan (it was her very first time to town) and myself walked around the market (we only had about 35 minutes before we had to meet a contact) and I showed her where some things were and we looked at many different kitenge (African cloth) shops and we found one shop that had some beautiful ones in it. A single kitenge is so large that two people can share it, so we had the woman cut it in half and I can still easily use it as a wrapped skirt- it is a beautiful darker blue design! Then I bought another one as it has many snail shell designs all over it and I LOVE the snails here- they are so cool!! (I forgot to mention in my last post, when one was sliding its way across my classroom gazebo that the Swahili word for snail is konokono)!
Then we left the market and walked a couple blocks through the main shops to the supermarket so I could pick up some dry cereal, and we both split a package of toilet paper (as we are only rationed one roll a week at the school…and one is not enough when you need to use toilet paper as tissues also)!! Then we walked to a small corner gas station where we waited for a woman to pick us up! Jan was given this couple’s name and number as a contact as they live in Morogoro and work with University students, doing leadership training and holding a “Fun, Food, and Fellowship” night every Friday night at their own house! While we were waiting a young boy about 7-8 maybe walked by with a large plate of bananas on his head (he had an even younger boy with him)…I was really craving a banana, so I bought one for 15 cents today…
Vivian picked us up and we drove a couple blocks further down to a gas station that also has a small café attached to it: Ricky’s Café. This café is excellent as the people that own it are of Middle Eastern descent and they are cake makers/decorators! They make shakes/floats and cappuccinos and lasagna and they have a few different kinds of ice cream (not in a freezer like the grocery store-but like a real ice cream shop)!! It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon to sit outside where there were many tables and chairs- just chatting with this couple (her husband, Ralph, joined us) with the mountains in clear view behind us!! I had a burger (it was alright- but any burger you get here is made of different meat) - and a coke float (so a coke with vanilla/chocolate ice cream) and ALSO chocolate keki!!! (chocolate cake)! I have been craving cake since Sister Annette started joking about it as dessert my first week here!! It was a splurge day, but well worth it!! :)
Ralph could only stay maybe 10 minutes but he bought everyone’s meal even!! Ralph is from Texas originally, and Vivian is from Georgia so Vivian has this great southern drawl still. They are Southern Baptists and have lived in Tanzania for about 25 years total, but in Morogoro here for about 7 years! We ended up chatting for about an hour (mostly listening to what Vivian and Ralph do, have done- and how they ended up here (being called of course). Jan also shared about when she lived in Kenya for about 4 years (that was 10-14 years ago though) and the organization she works with now (who gave her Vivian and Ralph’s contact info)! It was about 12-12:30pm and Vivian was going to give us a ride back to the seminary so we didn’t have to take a taxi, but she first had to go home, which was just fine as they live on the base of the mountain, so it was wonderful to drive just uphill slightly (on terribly bumpy dirt road)… and they have a beautiful home!!! We pull into her driveway after the native Tanzanian man (a “housekeeper”) opens the gate and she mentions that she has coconut trees, bananas, mangoes, lemons, avocados, oranges…I think that is all…right in her yard! Oh-also a tree out back that has tons of clumps of small purple “berries.” I tried one- and the first bite is like that of a grape, but then it was just a bad aftertaste and left my mouth really dry. I don’t remember the name of it…it was oval shaped- a bit bigger than a grape!
In Tanzania, the outside of the houses basically look the same (the ones not made of sticks/mud, and/or dung), but the inside is what counts… as the inside looked plenty “modern”- or like a typical house and style like one would see in the U.S.! It was small, but there were many rooms- and a nice, long screen porch out back…and they even have a guest house in their backyard!!
Then we drove down a couple different roads to a nearby friend’s house…a different couple (both from Texas) and they work with “True Love Waits.” Another beautiful, gated home with a male “housekeeper.” They had an absolutely excellent view of the mountains (the rest of them as they are already up in the base of it)! They also had a few nice white comfy sofas, and more modern furniture and such inside! A 12 inch TV but with a DVD player and their ipod with speakers! Jan and I sat on one couch while Vivian talked to the couple about some book-keeping business…I petted 2 of their 3 grey schnauzer dogs!!!
It was wonderful to see a different part of Morogoro and see some homes/ find out more about the lives of these people working as “missionaries” in a more “modern” setting than PH! I say “missionaries” because really, we are all called to be missionaries (wherever we are at)!!
We arrived back at the seminary about 2:15pm but then Jan and I brought Vivian in to the computer room so Roger and Julie could meet her as they are also Baptists (well, Independent Baptist)…but it ended up being another 20-25 minutes before I went back to my room as Vivian sure can talk!! I sat outside for about an hour- figuring out more details for when my parents get here, and I was able to work out and sweep my room again, as it collects so much red dust/gravel! After dinner I ended up talking to Julie for a bit outside of her room, and we talked about music- how she plays the piano and is a solo singer- she also has arranged some of her own music…then we got into Christian artists…as she likes Michael W. Smith and the Newsboys/Casting Crowns…she shared some other artists with me- but I don’t know as many solo artists- and she didn’t know many I mentioned because she said she grew up listening to nothing but Southern Gospel music!! Then she gave me her ipod and pointed out a few artists for me to listen to!! I finally made it back to my room by about 7:15pm to finish some cleaning, and then chatted online with some people the rest of the evening. Still haven’t gotten any more clothes washed… :(
I went to bed at a decent time- about 10:45pm or so because I desperately needed to get up at 6:35am to shower!!
God’s grace and peace be with you today and always!
In joyful love,
Alana :)
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