Saturday, March 14, 2009: We arrived at the Oklahoma City airport at 4:30 am (yawn), got all checked in (hurry up and wait!) and our plane took off at 5:50. It was my first time to be on a plane, and I thought I better like it because it was going to be a l-o-n-g trip! It was fine. We landed in Detroit, switched planes and headed for Dulles (Washington DC). We had a 7 hour lay over there which was very tedious, but we got through it. We became quite familiar with that airport, played some cards and some studied their lessons. We left for Amsterdam about 8 pm. ... read more

Wednesday, March 25-Thursday, March 26, 2009: Safari!!! Debra, Pam, Brad, Lauren, Mom and I went on a 2 day Safari. First we went to Manyara on Wednesday and then to Ngoragora Crater on Thursday. Rod stayed and studied with more people at Maji Ya Chai (35 on Wednesday!). The safari (it means journey in Swahili) was incredible! We saw such a different variety of animals. It's a lot different than seeing them in a zoo, too! Thursday we went to a Masai village. It was a little freaky...but very interesting! I have to steal Lauren's sentence when she told me, " I think God spent more time on Africa." When you see all the animals....the giraffe (my favorite), wildebeest, rhinoceros, and all the others, you can't help but think that God must have had a sense ... read more

Tuesday, March 24, 2009: Just a quick line: Today we went to the grocery market and handed out tracts in Moshi ( for every one tract you hand out an estimated 10 people will read it!) and Brad taught at the Moshi Bible School. We went back to Arusha that night.... 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

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 mines. And a large ... read more