Tanzania Day 9

Water on our worksite.

New tin roof on ministry center

Pastor's bedroom with new tile.

Trevor giving the balls to the boys.

Workers with their new LCS shirts.

Our goat

They used the same machetes to cut the meat as they had to do their work during the day.

Cooking the goats for the feast.

Our Feast

Our meal

Hello all,

Today was our last work day on the project.  The masonry is nearly complete.  I had a great time carrying 40lb blocks and buckets of dunga (mortar) up a homemade ladder.  Nothing like that for a work out.  The rest of the team completed about 2/3 of the tin roof.  We also had the pleasure of digging a trench for about 50 yards or so and 18 inches deep.  Thankfully, the ground was moist, but it still took its toll.  All in all, an amazing amount of work was completed. The senior pastor, Samuel, already had his bed set up in one of the rooms.  When we came the structure had no floor and looked really rough, so it is neat to see it to that point of completion in a few short days.  Our work here will continue since we have funds left over from what we have raised.  The roof and kitchen should be finished.  We are told they will be having classes in the new ministry center even later this week.  They are excited to have a roof over their heads.

Rain, rain, and more rain.  Last night it poured for hours and the work site greeted us with huge puddles.  Thankfully, the rain let up for about 6 hours while we worked.  After our feast with the workers and the church, the heavens opened up again.  It was the only time all week we were stopped by rain.  The pictures were amazing as the worksite was essentially one big lake.  There is no storm sewer here so all the water simply finds the lowest place and collects.

The Tanzanians fixed a huge lunch for us, including butchering two goats and grilling them. They wanted to show their thanks to us in this traditional way.  Let's just say, no part of the goat goes to waste, but they saved the best meat for us.  It was a little chewy, but the flavor was great.  They also cooked a huge pot of rice over an open flame and cooked bananas in oil.  They had a spinach of some sort as well.  I have to say that everyone did well to try everything.  It wasn't exactly a "western" dining experience.  I have to say we did our best to be graceful.  Four hours later and my stomach is still in tact.  This was a huge feast for our new friends and we were thankful for it.  It would be easy to curl our lips at the flies or refuse to eat, but that would not be what loving our neighbors requires.  

Goodbyes were hard.  We toiled with these people for many hours and accomplished much.  A great numbers of pictures were taken...some even from the Tanzanian's cell phones.  Yes, they pretty much all have cell phones.  I guess that is pretty high on the priority of needs these days, even here.  Cell phone before shoes.  We gave each worker a shirt from LCS (the school I work at) and the workers were very thankful.  We also gave little dresses to the little girls and Leonard and Sedge got their soccer balls.  They both were in tears at the site of them and it was a blessing on my part to even be a part of it.  The team also collected enough money for Leonard and Sedge's parents to send them to school for the next 8 years (a dollar goes a long ways here).  Their father was so overwhelmed he could not really speak.  I write this not to brag about the good we have done here, but to show you what an impact we can make on lives with so little.  We have no idea where this family will head in the future, but we have given them a start.  Most of us left our hats, work gloves, tools, candy, and a number of other things with the team.  We know it will go to great use as they continue to labor.

Well, tomorrow is off to the safari.  You can't come to Africa without a safari, can you?  No WiFi there, so this will be my last post until I get back stateside.  We have a 4 hour bus ride....ugh.  Then we are on Land Rovers for 2 hours to the game park.  Evidently we will have the resort to ourselves.  We take a safari each evening and morning and hopefully we will have a great encounter with nature.  

I will be back in Michigan on Sunday night.  I miss my family desperately.  The only downside of this trip is Keri wasn't here to witness it with me.  I know God will provide her an opportunity at some point.  Thankfully, we have Skyped nearly every day.  Isn't the world crazy?  We can connect virtually anywhere.

Blessings to you all,

Trevor