The time has come. I fly out in a few hours. Six weeks of life (rapidly changing life) has flown by and I’m staring 26 hours of travel in the face once again. We dropped the rest of my team off at the airport this morning and are running some low key last minute errands before my flight this afternoon. I am sad saying goodbye to Africa. But I’m excited as well. I know this is not my last time here. God has begun a work in my life and I don’t know where it will lead but I know that this trip was the beginning of something. God is doing amazing work in this country where there is so much need for Him. This land is the forefront of a spiritual battlefield and there are those who are living in it and fighting it for the cause of Christ in their everyday lives (the missionaries). They need our prayers as they fight this battle. It has been an honor and privilege to have had these past 6 weeks sharing in the burden of their calling, living a while in their lives. They are amazing people.
Prayers as I travel and as I transition back into life in the states; there will be a little reverse culture shock and I have some catching up to do (I missed 6 weeks of your lives!). I have about 2,500 photos so if you are bored come look me up and I will be more than happy to show you all 2,500 with complete and full explanations : ). Thank you for your prayers and support thus far, the physical journey is almost ended.
See you on the other side.
Love from Tanzania, Hannah
Friday, July 9, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Break out the khaki.....
Today is day two of our journey back to Dar. We stayed in Mbeya last night and had the chance to explore their local market. It was such a peaceful market compared to the Sumbawanga market. We stayed in the same missionary home that we stayed in on our way to Mumba. A haven amidst the city with warm beds and showers.
As I was riding the bus yesterday and today I was realizing just how much more comfortable I was here. On the way to Mumba it was all I could do to not be overwhelmed in all five senses. The scenery was new, the smells were new, etc. But this time, it was familiar, recognizable. I find it slightly hilarious that one can become completely comfortable squatting in the bush with 20 other women…..ha! When riding the bus here they only stop for three minutes so you have to run. My strategy is run really fast into the bush, not looking right or left because there are people all along the path (or lack of path), find your spot hoping nobody followed the mzungu to watch, and then run back because the bus is literally pulling away. You get used to it quite quickly actually. One final bus ride tomorrow and we’ll be finished with the bush for this trip.
We arrived in Mikumi around 1500 this afternoon and jumped in a car that took us straight to the national park and not half an hour into the trip did we find a lion and lioness! They were just lounging in the grass enjoying the setting sun. We also saw elephants (!!!!!!), Wildebeasts (wildebeest-ies as our guide called them), Giraffes, Zebras, and Jackels (today was only the first day). Tomorrow we head out bright and early to safari for a few hours before we catch our final bus to Dar.
Showers and sleep are on the menu for tonight.
Peace
As I was riding the bus yesterday and today I was realizing just how much more comfortable I was here. On the way to Mumba it was all I could do to not be overwhelmed in all five senses. The scenery was new, the smells were new, etc. But this time, it was familiar, recognizable. I find it slightly hilarious that one can become completely comfortable squatting in the bush with 20 other women…..ha! When riding the bus here they only stop for three minutes so you have to run. My strategy is run really fast into the bush, not looking right or left because there are people all along the path (or lack of path), find your spot hoping nobody followed the mzungu to watch, and then run back because the bus is literally pulling away. You get used to it quite quickly actually. One final bus ride tomorrow and we’ll be finished with the bush for this trip.
We arrived in Mikumi around 1500 this afternoon and jumped in a car that took us straight to the national park and not half an hour into the trip did we find a lion and lioness! They were just lounging in the grass enjoying the setting sun. We also saw elephants (!!!!!!), Wildebeasts (wildebeest-ies as our guide called them), Giraffes, Zebras, and Jackels (today was only the first day). Tomorrow we head out bright and early to safari for a few hours before we catch our final bus to Dar.
Showers and sleep are on the menu for tonight.
Peace
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The end is here
It is finished: after 3 weeks, 27 meals of ugali, 24 teaching sessions, lots of games, lots of singing, and lots of dancing, camp Tanzania 2010 has finished. It is almost impossible for me to express the level of exhaustion I have learned to function with! Seriously, I get more sleep during finals week at school. But it has all been worth it. Our final week in camp was held in the village of Savoge in the Rukwa Valley which is the most beautiful place I have been here in Tanzania. We had to take a totally sketch road, the only road, down through the mountains. The road was a foot deep in dust and the dust just isn’t any ole’ dust, it’s like flour. So if you aren’t careful you will go sliding right off the side of the cliff. The valley was the first time I have fully felt like I was in Africa. It’s hot and dirty and the landscape is right out of a book. The people are very different in the valley as well. The people “up top” as they call it (living in the mountains) call the valley people hicks. This is because they bathe completely in the nude right on the side of the road and the people up here would never dream of that. It was so funny to be driving and you hear the person in the front call out, “don’t look left naked man don’t look left!” So apparently the definition of a Tanzanian hick is if you bathe in the nude in the river or not. The church that was our center for camp was nestled at the base of the most beautiful mountain that had a big waterfall streaming down the front side. So yes of course I climbed it. Ha ha we had an hour and a half break during the first day (longest break we’ve ever had during camp) and so I convinced two of my translators, Gabe and Aidan, to go with me and we basically ran up the mountain to make it to the top of the waterfall and back down before dinner. It was so beautiful! While we were climbing (may I remind you that I’m only allowed to wear skirts while in the village so this whole adventure was skirted) we happened upon a pack of monkeys (I’ve never been hiking and come upon a pack of monkeys, it’s a first for me). My translators heard them and started calling them (I couldn’t repeat the noise if I tried, must be a Tanzanian skill ha ha) and we came upon this clearing on the side of the mountain and there they were. So cool. We made it to the top in time but had to run the entire way down (again, I’m skirted). The campers this week were the best we’ve had. They were full of life and so excited to be at camp. They were excited and eager to learn and participate in the classes.
During one of my classes that was all girls and happened to be one of the youngest groups of girls, they started playing with my hair and pulling around at the roots. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were looking for where it was attached. When I told them that it was all my own you would have thought I just told them that the moon had fallen out of the sky. They were amazed. They then proceeded to tug, pull, and braid. Africans braiding our hair is so funny because they don’t understand why it is so slippery and doesn’t stay where it is braided.
We had to say our goodbyes to our counselors last evening and it was a very solemn time. It was super late (1 am) and as we sat in the stillness of the night with little light, they started singing hymns in KiShwaheli and it was so touching to hear them sing for the last time. Their voices echoed throughout the church and their soft melody and harmonies are something that I will never forget. The looks on their faces as they hugged us I will also never forget. Even though we couldn’t really communicate our sadness at saying goodbye, a look says a thousand words. And the looks on their faces were so special. I know that we will meet again one day.
By far this was my favorite week of camp.
We are celebrating the 4th of July African style this year. We secured some cokes, found some beef for burgers, and cut up some potatoes to make fries! Perhaps after dark we’ll light something on fire and sing God Bless America. I hope you all are having a wonderful fourth! Peace
During one of my classes that was all girls and happened to be one of the youngest groups of girls, they started playing with my hair and pulling around at the roots. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were looking for where it was attached. When I told them that it was all my own you would have thought I just told them that the moon had fallen out of the sky. They were amazed. They then proceeded to tug, pull, and braid. Africans braiding our hair is so funny because they don’t understand why it is so slippery and doesn’t stay where it is braided.
We had to say our goodbyes to our counselors last evening and it was a very solemn time. It was super late (1 am) and as we sat in the stillness of the night with little light, they started singing hymns in KiShwaheli and it was so touching to hear them sing for the last time. Their voices echoed throughout the church and their soft melody and harmonies are something that I will never forget. The looks on their faces as they hugged us I will also never forget. Even though we couldn’t really communicate our sadness at saying goodbye, a look says a thousand words. And the looks on their faces were so special. I know that we will meet again one day.
By far this was my favorite week of camp.
We are celebrating the 4th of July African style this year. We secured some cokes, found some beef for burgers, and cut up some potatoes to make fries! Perhaps after dark we’ll light something on fire and sing God Bless America. I hope you all are having a wonderful fourth! Peace
Monday, June 28, 2010
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