Blogs from Iringa, Centre, Tanzania, Africa - page 4

I put in the so many bana trees quote because that is what Nesta always says when the two two of us walk into Masele's farm. There really is...so many banan trees. bUt i just love how she says it with her African accent. I spent the last week at Pawaga camp (sadly it was my last...but more on that later). On our way up to Pawaga camp from Iringa, we passed through Ilolo Mpya village, where apparently they were having their monthly 'free market' . Which means anyone can sell anything there. It was huge!! We stopped and took a look around. You could find ANYTHING there, but what stood out most in my mind were the Obama shirts. We saw a couple of kids wearing them. I have been meaning to write about the ... read more

Earlier today, i walked through the market (soko). Now I have done this many times before, however, I walked around the entire market this time, instead of just a small part of it. I originally went to find sunglasses (the one item of mine that managed to not survive East Africa) and I quickly found those, and just decided to keep walking. I may have described the market before, but in case I have not, I will again. You can find ANYTHING you need there, and its all open air. Food (vegetables and fruit mainly) are laid out on blankets on the sidewalk, stacked in buckets or in the case of rice and bean products, found in HUGE mounds in the main food market. All the food is local and fresh, and I catch whifs of ... read more

I have spent many facebook and blog posts describing the beauty that I am seeing all around me. However, I don't want to ignore the fact that TZ has its poverty problems as well. And I want to try to paint an accurate portrait of the area I am in. The media in America makes Africa out to be this wasteland of starving children and unsafe environments. It's really not. Once you get the hang of swahili, and accepting that kids will stare at you for being a mzungu sometimes (haha) its really not that different from home. I do not know enough about this region to know who is 'poor' and who is not. I see many kids without shoes on, but at the same time, I see many kids with shoes on. All the ... read more

Our Savior said: "there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth..."(Luke 15:7). Therefore, here in Iringa, Tanzania we are rejoicing on earth while there is also joy in heaven. Shadrack was immersed into Christ last night! Allow me to share with you this wonderful unfolding of God's providential working. There is a Shepherd in one of the congregations in Dar Es Salaam who has been writing articles for the newspaper. His articles challenge the readers to look into the Scriptures and contrast its teachings with the teaching of men. A young man living here in Iringa read at least one article which peaked his interest. Meanwhile, the Samfords, Jensens, and Charles Mwakalonge were making plans to relocate to the same town, nearly 1,000 kilometers away. From contact information provided in the paper, this ... read more

I forgot! Here is the setlist Brian and Kerry played Overture Dangerland + stabs I”m Not That Girl I Can’t Be Your Friend Diamonds Are Forever Somebody To Love Last Horizon Love Of My Life Some Things That Glitter Save Me No-One But You You Have To Be There I Love It When You Call Defying Gravity We Will Rock You We Are The Champions ENCORE Anthems Tie Your Mother Down Also...the african kids in the villages, are so freakishly adorable. I cant wait to play soccer with Devin and the school kids at Chogela! Kylie is only here for 4 more days, and then 2 other male volunteers will be here the first week of june, but for 5 days, it will just be me and Devin. I'll have lots to do!!... read more