Blogs from Maji Ya Chai, North, Tanzania, Africa

Friday, March 20, 2009: Friday, March 20, 2009: Another day at Maji Ya Chai! This work is so awesome, it does tire you out though. We went back to the Muslim's house, with Rod and Emmanuel. When we get there he has a friend with him. And he tells us he is going to take us to another friend's house. My first reaction was great!, until I thought that he might be taking us to someone who is very radical....but he didn't. He took us to this young lady's house (his girlfriend maybe). She was very beautiful. She was Muslim, too. So we had another Bible study about the steps of salvation. You know, you study with some very interesting people! For example: Rod studied with Masai warriors. Brad studied with some men who worked in ... read more

Saturday, March 21, 2009: It is hard to believe we have been gone a whole week! The time has absolutely flown by! (I want to get these published, so I'm going to cut my writing a little bit short) We studied with the Muslim lady again this morning, then Paulina, Mom, Lauren and I went to the very edge of Maji Ya Chai and studied with an older lady. She didn't want to get baptized right then, but we were planting the seed! And it makes you feel great! That study lasted for a very long time and by the time we were finished, it was about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. We went back for lunch (I DID eat it today :-P) and the men started their classes and the women started their classes and ... read more

Sunday, March 22, 2009: Our first whole Sunday (to include a Church service) in Tanzania! Rod preached at Maji Ya Chai, and most of the group went with him, except Brad who preached at another little church closer to Arusha. We left at 8 am, like usual. Before church Maddie, Lauren, Rod and I made lion puppets for the kids, and Pam went to visit a lady she had studied with. Church started at 10:15 am. It was held outdoors, like everything else, except we began the kids class indoors. We did Daniel and the Lion's again--this time with a translator!--Lauren read the story. We handed out pictures for all the kids to color and puppets for all of them. Then we took them outside and sang and played games. Lauren had brought fruit loops and ... read more

Sunday, March 22, 2009 Our first whole Sunday (to include a Church service) in Tanzania! Rod preached at Maji Ya Chai, and most of the group went with him, except Brad who preached at another little church closer to Arusha. We left at 8 am, like usual. Before church Maddie, Lauren, Rod and I made lion puppets for the kids, and Pam went to visit a lady she had studied with. Church started at 10:15 am. It was held outdoors, like everything else, except we began the kids class indoors. We did Daniel and the Lion's again--this time with a translator!--Lauren read the story. We handed out pictures for all the kids to color and a puppet for all of them. Then we took them outside and sang and played games. Lauren had brought fruit loops ... read more

Wednesday, March 18, 2009: Finally, we actually had a good nights sleep and woke up feeling good! Wednesday started out like any other day. We started the day off folding tracts, and making play-dough for the kids. Then we started off for our Bible Studies. Today it was Mom, Paulina, Maddie, Lauren, Sarah, and I. Sarah is a native and goes to church at Usa River. She and Lauren became "Rafiki" (friends). We went to a house--"Hodi, Hodi" "Karibu" "Asante Sana". Those are the first things that you say, and that's as far as I get in their conversation! :-) Translated: Knock-knock, Come in, Thank You Very Much. I am learning a little bit. Paulina did have to pull me aside and admonish me, because I would go around saying "Mombo" to adults. That's basically saying, ... read more