We returned on Monday evening from our visit to Mbeya. We travelled down early on Saturday by bus, a rather rickety and very pink bus! Louisa was delighted! It took us a full 6.5 hours, although there was a call for a very quick stop at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere! At one point we were momentarily halted by a lorry which had just turned over, scattered its goods and completely blocked the road. After waiting a few minutes, our bus driver then found a way down off the road and along a side track and back onto the road! Bumpity-bump! We were thankful when we finally made up every hill and into Mbeya! We really enjoyed our time with Pastor Sunday and his church. Tim met Pastor Sunday about three years ago when they were both in Dar-es-Salaam and it was great to finally be able to accept his invitation! It was great fun to be with them as they celebrated their 4th Anniversary as a church on Sunday.
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| Church lunch for everyone! |
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| Eating outside! |
We met many new people, and visited the Bible College there. We stayed at a centre which is used by SIL Bible Translators and it was interesting also to see the work they do translating into the nine local languages around Mbeya. It was wonderful to see something of the Southern Highlands; so many beautiful places which we are looking forward to exploring! Volcanic craters, meteorites, hot springs, bat caves (maybe not!) mountains, lakes …
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| With Pastor Sunday in Mbeya |
Last night we had a lovely time with the retired Archbishop of Tanzania, Donald and his wife, Gladys. He was the Bishop of our local Diocese here shortly before we arrived. He is going to the UK next week; he is the guest speaker at the Emmanuel International Annual Conference on Feb. 11-13 and will be meeting some of you who are hreading this! We sent him with our love and greetings to you!
So all is well here! The kiln is finished, we now wait another two weeks until we can fire the six stoves. Homeschooling and language school continue to go well (most of the time!) And as I write I feel very healthy for all this bike riding to and from school and market with kilos and kilos of vegetables and fruit on my back!
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| Tim and the almost-completed kiln |
I enjoy reading your blog so very much, Rachel. The way you embrace the challenges and adventures of your life in Tanzania is so uplifting. I pray for you and your family often, especially for your beautiful daughters, who seem to have adapted amazingly well to their new surroundings and friends. May God continue to bless you as you seek to bring blessing to those you are with.
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