The CPPS compound we are staying at is quite large compared to the one in Dar es Saalam. Approximately 25 acres. This includes Bro's and Fr. Tim's house, the guesthouse, two windmill wells, a garage, an office building, a workers building, the windmill factory where most of the parts to the windmill are made; two schools, one elementary, one a high school; a soccer field, a barn and a field for cows, a kennel, and a large garden. There is a chapel inside the guesthouse where mass is said at 6:30.
Yesterday we went to the Ursaline Sister Orphanage, The Village of Joy. We brought eight sacks of rice from the compound. Celine brought ball caps, Nina brought some Beenie Babies, Deanna and Jamie brought their One World Futbols, and I brought Saltwater Taffy. The Beenie Babies were handed out to the young ones who dragged them around for the rest of the day. The older kids immeadeatly began playing with the Futbols and we had a football match going in moments. A language barrier exists but soccer is the true universal language. After the game, and my goodness these kids had some moves, we had the opportunity to listen to the children make music. There was one boy, Francesco with a recorder, and the other childern played on drums. The drums looked as if they had been made out of old oil drums, but it didn't hurt the music. Then they sang songs the sisters had taught them in English including one of my personal favourites; If you're Happy and you Know It. Afterwards they busted a few moves to the rhythm of a drum and then we shared a snack. I had a chance to talk to some of the children who were learning English and I answered there questions about Canada and snow. Lots to see, lots to do.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Dodoma
We arrived yesterday at the compound in Dodoma. Let me first describe the trip. As we left Dar Ed Saalam, were the driving skill level has not improved, I was struck at just how many people there were. They are everywhere, cooking, cleaning, walking, visiting, waving at the truck of Canadians going through there part of town. And the different types of clothing was neat to see. There were people in casual western jeans and t-shirts, both men and women; traditional African wear; Islamic clothing; men in business suits and the odd person going around naked. The trip was amazing as well. We went from the husstle and bustle of a huge city to a country road in the blink of an eye. It is a tropical jungle near the Indian Ocean and the foliage was thick and dense with a wide variety of trees and shrubs. Then we climbed into the mountains and the terrain became like a savanna. Then as we climbed higher it became a desert. Dodoma is in the middle of the country but there is little surface water. The wadi's are very interesting too.