After two years of study, writing, memorizing, and reading a group of men are about to go forth to preach the saving message of Christ! Seven men have proved their determination by diligence in their studies. I must say that the hours invested in these men at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching has been challenging for them as well as their instructors. Even though instruction has been giving in the English language, English is not the native language for any of these men. Also, there is a wide range of abilities within this group. But it is thrilling indeed to [View Full Entry]

---

---

We schrijven deze blog vanuit een internetcafe in Arusha, het toerisitisch centrum van Tanzania. Het veldwerk in Lushoto zit erop. De laatste week dat we er zaten was vrij mager op het gebied van water en elektriciteit. Door het aanhoudende droge seizoen was er weinig water in de rivieren waardoor ook de nationale watercentrales moeilijkheden hadden. Hierdoor zat het hele land zonder elektriciteit. Maar wonder boven wonder begon het op onze voorlaatse onderzoeksdag plots te regenen en konden we net voor ons vertrek naar arusha het licht terug aansteken en weer genieten van een warme douche. Al [View Full Entry]

---

---

Okay so as a follow up on my boastful "I'm gonna climb Kili" shit I would like to let everyone know that I admit defeat. I started off well, got to 4000 and, whilst looking at the amazing view, hurt my ankle. It's my own fault really, we were walking on basically just rocks and I should know by now that luck doesn't really cling to me.. so anyway, our guide Richard told me I should go down as my ankle would need rest and a top of a mountain really wasnt the best place for that. Totally bummed me out. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Have you noticed that life is never boring in Tanzania? But sometimes we really wouldn't mind a small portion of boring. Last week we decided to go to the “Massai cafe” and enjoy a bite of lunch out, and give Joy a break. We enjoyed the time out, but it came at a price. Jacob got food poisoning. Two days later his fever was hitting temperatures up to 104 degree Fahrenheit and his vomiting was also weakening him. So when the first day of the week came, Joy stayed home with him to monitor his condition. Since Julia was still away [View Full Entry]

---

---

So Alice and I go to Zanzibar on Wednesday!! and we start climbing Kili in a week and 3 days. Shit. Can't wait. In the next three days I'll be living by the ATMs as we both have to pay for Kili (1000 USD) and get money out to last us in Zanzibar as apparently VISA sucks there and you cant get any money out. Which is really weird since it's a tourist haven. The ATM of course has a daily limit and often they dont work so I'm gonna take as much out as poss today, tmr and tuesday. I [View Full Entry]

---

---

Oh and a quick one just to inform everyone of the coolest thing in the world! In Tanzania you can get a licence to kill!!!! If someone steals your money, car or goat/cow whatever, you can go to the police who are really lazy so they will issue you a licence saying if you ever see the person again, you have permission to kill him! That is seriously great (and totally awful I know) but you can actually have chance at being 007.. But people around here are not shy to kill people tho. Alice who lives out in nowhere saw [View Full Entry]

---

---

I've done the most amazing buy - a camera with film! I thought I was buying a disposable camera for 20000 tsh but it turned out to be a film camera, even better! so I've bought a load of film rolls so i can start retaking a lot of my lost pics. Only problem is that you cant zoom, you have just lean in closer .. Have also been (almost) convinced into climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.. I'm hesitating because it costs A LOT (see approx 1000 USD!) and i'm not sure if my fitness levels are quite up to it after some [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi guys, yesterday we flew from Zanzibar to Arusha, in northern Tanzania. We are staying with friends of ours just outside Arusha itself. They live in a cool round house, 2 stories with a thatched roof. Dave gets the tent outside. Although, the tent has its own ensuite (flush toilet and shower) so its not exactly a dome tent on the front lawn. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Okay so it's been like 3 weeks since my last entry.. that's because I'm sorta reluctant to spend my money and I have to buy 2 hrs internet to write here as the webpage is insanely slow. Anyway a lot has happened in the last 3 weeks.. mainly crap but also good stuff. Main crapness is that my camera was stolen. I have been seriously unlucky with all this picture/electronics stuff. I bought a new USB before coming here so i could copy the pictures i took from my camera to my usb and from that upload it online so that [View Full Entry]

---

---

So we're into September now - apparently the rainy season is supposed to start around the end of september/beginning of obtober - great. Just what I came here for, rain. The upside of it will be that it wont be so dusty here - I've gotten used to being dirty all the time .. the minute you step outside you're covered with dust and especially after spending 5 hours at Shalom with the kids. I'm used to the kids now and they're used to me (I think), they're really sweet and funny. Brielle left for Canada wednesday but luckily two more [View Full Entry]

---

---