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Injection Room
Does this look like your hospital? Life in East Africa is always an adventure! I thought it was challenging to get things done in California at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - with the waiting lines that formed early in the morning and snaked out into the parking lot. How simple that now seems.
It was necessary for me to get some official paperwork processed, and that would require going in person to the country’s capital in Dar Es Salaam. Thankfully, there is a wonderful brother who helps the missionaries get such tasks completed - Elly Martin.
Elly started his journey by bus on Monday heading for Moshi. Brother Christopher Mwakabanji drove me to meet him at the bus station. Elly and I left Moshi together bound for Dar Es Salaam, which under good conditions would be an eight hour journey. Things were going fine until the bus driver pulled off the road for no apparent reason. When he tried to start the engine, it would not start. We simply sat there in our seats, in the middle of nowhere, on the side of the road, listening to the cranking of the engine. Eventually passengers began to exit the bus and
Roadside Kitchen
The rice was nice! stand around (no, the bus has no air conditioning). Then some of the men began to push the bus backwards, back onto the road, so I joined in. Pushing a Greyhound size bus back onto the pavement is no small task. But to my surprise when the driver “popped the clutch” the engine started. Passengers scrambled back aboard and off we went.
When we arrived in Dar, well after dark, Elly needed to find a “dispensary.” He was suffering from tonsillitis and his doctor had sent medicine with him, but he needed it injected. We found two ladies who were just locking the iron gates to a medical clinic and he talked them into opening up again, just long enough for them to take his needle and give him the shot.
I will spare our readers the intricate details of getting various documents and signatures over the next two days. Allow me to give a brief synopsis. Getting the required legalities handled involved going back and forth around town. From the police station, to finding a shop to make copies, across town to another office, to the U.S. embassy (twice), having pictures taken and printed, waiting
Ferry ride
Passengers and vehicles catching a ride to the other side. in an office until a high official signed a letter, etc., etc. All the travel from place to place was a combination of walking, riding a bus, or hiring a taxi.
Since we would be in town on Wednesday evening, we would try to encourage a small congregation which Elly had visited in the past. We took a ferry across the bay and then traveled by taxi to the church building. It turned out they had no study at the building that night, but we met the preacher and his wife. We visited outside of their home for quite a while. I’m quite sure we were an encouragement to them; they rarely have anyone lend a hand. How humbling it was to see their circumstances and their willingness to do the best they can. The congregation is only about nine members so the preacher labors by obtaining stone, breaking it into gravel, and selling it when he prepares a good size load. Even though they are over eight hours away, I pray to have the opportunity to visit again some time and spend a few days trying to help teach some in the area and encourage these brethren.
Church building
Where the saints meet. First thing Thursday morning we boarded a bus and began our return to Moshi. The trip home was also interesting since it rained much of the way, and the window I was sitting by, leaked badly. Brent picked me up at the bus station and I was back home in time for a quick shower before the gathering of the missionaries for our weekly devotional, which was held at our home. Since our container has not yet arrived, we sat upon the few chair available, a paint bucket, and a water cooler. Following the devotional everyone enjoyed the fine meal Joy had prepared.
We thank God for our wonderful brethren who are lifting up our hands as we bring the saving message to this part of the world. We love you and thank you!
In Christ’s service,
George
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kup
non-member comment
Sounds like Africa
Glad you were successful and only had a stalled bus to contend with and delay you. Sometimes those busses wreck from the drivers getting to impatient and not paying attention. Good pictures of the ferry, building and the preacher and his wife. Thank you for writing. just ken