Jambo!I’m sitting in a computer lab at the Universtity of Dar Es Salaam. This isthe first time we’ve had access to the internet. The internet is down atthe Msibasi centre, where we are staying. We had a good flight from Vancouver last week- I watched Johnny Cash andJune Carter movie – Walk the line – on the airplane. I sat with Maria onboth flights. We tried to sleep, but it was hard to get comfortable. Wedidn’t have enough time to leave Hethrow airport, so the 8 of us fromVancouver hung out and ate a bit. The Ontario group joined us for theflight to Dar. It took a while to remember everyone’s name in the group- Istill don’t know everyone, but now that we’re a smaller group, I’ve beengetting to know some of them a bit better. The food is good here. No one’s been sick or had diharea (we call it ridingthe D train). Some were riding the Ctrain, but are regular now. We get aboiled egg, white bread and a yeast doughnut for breakfast and coffee ortea. Some mornings there are crepestoo. Forlunch and supper there ischicken (fried), beef or fish with a choice of rice, chips or noodles. Ittastes good. They sell coke and fanta pop in the glass bottles for 250shillings(which is like 25 cents).We went sharing on the campus yesterday- met some guys who are involed withthe PAOC church in the Casfeta ministry. One was an albino. We gototheirdormatories- knock on their doors and they welcome us into their tinyrooms andget to know them abit. (the space bar doesn’t work verywell). Weshared with a muslim girl who accepted Christ into her life- we’re meetingwith her tomorrow to do follow up. We’ve met many Christians on thecampus- some are really excited about God and about learning more andgrowing more spiritually. Praise god. I’ve found that deep down they’rejust likeus. They have the same issues that we deal with as young adults:school, wisdom, purity and wanting to be accepted. We had a good purity talkwith 4 girls- they all had boyfriends (that means you’re having sex). Theyreally listened to what we had to say and I hope they come to the sex, loveand relationships talk/event we’re putting on next Friday. This Friday night, we’re putting on a meet the Canadians party at the Chapelon campus. We hope to get students to commit to serving in the new lifeministry- we’re praying that each one of our team gets 3 students to commitand get involved and trained, so they can then reach out to other studentsand to their families. It’s so exciting to see they overtly express theirlove for God- to see them smile when they understand that Jesus came to paythe price for their sins.
The Malawi team left Monday morning. We had some training and orientationon the weekend to prepare us for the weeks ahead. Our team is very united.Maria’s foot swelled up the second day- she tore some tendons last year andthat problem flared up again with the heat. She could barely walk. Shestarted keeping it elevated ( she would rest her foot on my lap during oursessions, and I massaged some of the fluid away). She should be fine aslong as she takes care of herself. I haven’t heard how the Malawi team aredoing, so I assume that all is well. And the singing is so good. Everyone sings so well and together it’s anawesome things to hear. Night before last, 4 people from Alabama stayed atthe Msbasi centre. They were here to presents diplomas and what nots toTanzanian pastors in Dadoma (sp?). Some of us stayed up to sing with themin the entrance of the main hall where our voices echoed in a wonderfulsound. It’s kind of weird to see other magungus (white people). We’re easilynoticeable as the people here are very black. I’m getting used to the smellshere. The weather was very hotand humid when we first arrived. Yesterday itpoured almost all day, so it’s a lot cooler now. I woke up cold the othermorning, so I’m now sleeping with my long PJs on and the sheet and bedspreadcovering me, and the mosquito netting. We each have our own room with atoilet, sink and shower. The shower head is right beside the toilet- thecold water falls right on the ground and is refreshing. Jaqueline’sroom istwo doors down from mine and Stephanie from UBC is right beside me. Stephanie has been bitten over 40 times- and they’ve all turnedvery red andbig. We popped two the other night when they formed painful blisters.Everything isvery green here. Many palm trees and other tropical trees. Itsmells like a tropical rainforest exhibit early in the morning. I’ve seenmany cool insects, snails, geko and slug just hanging around. I wish I hadsome ethyl alcohol with me so I could kill them and pin them to make acollection. They’re all way bigger than at home. Many flies and mosquitosto bug us. There’s a gazebo where many small birds have made nests in- youhave to be wary of not getting crapped on. (Brian got crapped on 3 times –very funny). The internet is so slow- it’s been 24 minutes already to wait for hotmailwebsite to open).As for me, I’m doing well. I’m enjoying being here- it’s great being aroundother fully devoted Christians all the time. And I’m laidback enough to fitinto the African groove of life. (they do everything at a slow pace). Ittook me awhile to realize that I’m actually here.
As for me, I’m doing well. I’m enjoying being here- it’s great being aroundother fully devoted Christians all the time. And I’m laidback enough to fitinto the African groove of life. (they do everything at a slow pace). Ittook me awhile to realize that I’m actually here. It’s sill a bit surrealto be here.
It’s sill a bit surrealto be here.Love Louise
I'm sitting in an airconditioned room with computers at the University ofDar Es Salaam. We had some internet access yesterday, but it was very slow-it took almost an hour to log into my email account- and I typed in your old@home email address my mistake. Today the internet is much faster, so Itell you abit more about how I'm doing and what it's like here.We've been quite busy every day since we got here. It was very hot- andhumid- around 26 degrees. We sweat it out- and took many cold showers. Nowit's much cooler with the rain- but the cold shower this morning wasn't toobad. We had training the first few days with everyone, and Monday morningthe Malawi people left and we went to the university campus for a tour andprayer walk. Maria felt a bit like she didn't want to go to Malawi, I thinkbecause she didn't know any of the other girls, and then her foot swelledup. There are 4 girls from MacMasters university going to Malawi. I stillhaven't heard anything about how they're doing.I’m getting to know the people on my Tanzania team a bit better too- theysplit us up onto teams of 6-7 people. Jeremy, Mark W, Joanna, Suzanne andCasey are on my team and we’re really getting along well. I’ve gone outsharing with all three girls and feeling quite comfortable doing so. We hada team meeting today and talked about what questions to ask to have a goodspiritual conversation, and then I lead us in a small prayer meeting. Weeach have jobs- mine is prayer, Suzanne is organizing the outreach- we’reour team is hosting the Passion for the Christ film showing next week,Jeremy looks after our finance- we each get 20,000 shillings (like 20dollars) to spend on food and what not each week, and Joanna looks aftermaterials- makes sure we each have enough bibles and 4 laws etc. I’m glad Ibrought all the bibles I did- about 80 gidian new testaments. We stilldon’t have that much materials to give out, so we’re carfull not to givesomeone a bible or follow up book unless they’re committed. Casey and MarkW are the leaders of our team. And I get to ask everyone how their bowelmovements are doing. We had a great conversation about poo last night overdinner. One muslim girl came to Christ on Tuesday and today we met with her for afollow up appointment. When we got to her room, a neighbour unlocked thedoor and let us in to Selma’s room, and then Selma’s roommate Jaqueline camein. We chatted with Jaqueline, who is also a political science student, andthen shared the four laws book with her. She was a Christian already, butwasn’t really active in her faith. I’m not sure if she really has a desireto grow in her relationship with God or not, but I think she understands abit better what it means to know God personally and have an assurance ofsalvation. It’s hard to tell if they understand what we’re saying or ifthey’re just being polite. Then Selma came back, and I shared the firstfollow up lesson with her. She seemed very happy to understand that Jesusis in her and will never leave her. Oh, I don’t think she was a practicingmuslim because she didn’t wear the head scarf. Oh, and while we weresharing this with her, two of her friends were in the room studying. Theirrooms are super small- just enough room for 2 beds and two small desks andnothing else. Some have bunk beds and sometimes 4 girls share a bed andbunk bed. The washrooms in the dorms are kind of stinky and so far I’verefrained from using them, but I might have to today, as we’re here until6pm.Yesterday we had an amazing experience sharing with a girl, who was bornagain, who then shared the 4 laws in Swahili with 3 of her friends who cameinto the room to visit. It was amazing to hear her share and explain theanalogies that we had just shared with her half an hour before. I reallyhope she commits and gets involved with life ministried- she shared with usher testimony, just like that, it was great and I hope she can share it atone of our outreaches.This Friday one of the teams is organizing a “Meet the Canadians” party. It’s held at the chapel- we hope (well, I hope) that we get to connect withthe Africans and make appointments with those who are wanting to know moreabout God; that we clearly share the gospel message (through songs andsharing testimonies) and have fun sharing our talents in music. I’m singingwith Erika and Brian’s playing the guitar. We want to sing O Canada too. Ihope this team does a good job- I think they need lots of prayer.We didn’t go to church last Sunday, but I hope we can do so this Sunday- Ican’t wait to hear the African’s sing! I was suprized to see and hear somuch American style music here- even small tv’s playing hiphop type musicvideos in the dorm rooms. We heard Shania Twain song in the cafeteriayesterday. This morning, when we were in the room sharing, we heard hymnsin Swahili playing (I surrender all and Angel band) on a really nice stereo(I don’t even have a stereo like that!). I find their choice of music onthe radio stations to be really good. Really good singing and a good beat. Happy music must be why they’re so happy and friendly here…. ? I woke up this morning at 4:30 to a cricket choir. I couldn’t figure outwhat that noise was. I opened my door to find about 20 crickets in thehallway. I quickly closed the door, got back into bed and covered my earsand tried to get back to sleep. I was mostly asleep and had a dream aboutmy dad screeming and hyperventilating in his sleep- In the morning I foundout that Brian started killing the cricket to get them to shut up, and hestarted screeming ‘cause he’s totally scared of insects. So funny. Well, I update you more about how it’s going here in a few days or wheneverthe internet is actually working.
I don’t really miss home- I don’t reallythink about it that much. I can’t tell you how normal it makes me feel tosit here and type an email on a computer. I hope things are well at home!Say hi to Bear for me,Love Louise
