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.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Just figured out your supposed title....so this is my title
Hey everyone! I am the third member of this awesome mission team to be taught/figure out how to post on this blog. Soon this wonderful knowledge that I have gained will be shared to everyone so that all our interesting missionary stories will be share to you all! Today we went to the beach to recover from our wonderful journey. it was very enjoyable and Jamie and I chased a sand crab and almost caught. for some odd reason Tanzanian Crows love Roxanne, she did not return there affection and they left a gift on her towel for her. We have been inside this computer room for less than 20 min and it went from bright afternoon sunshine to sunset darkness, so I leave you all to wondering what are they doing in Africa. :)
Amsterdam Airport
We're across the Atlantic. Happy Canada Day! There are wooden shoes and tulips aplenty. The excitement is slowing turning into jetlag. We met some people on the plane who are also flying on our next flight. They are youth volunteering as math teachers in Tanzania. Pray for us. The most painful flight is coming up. Eleven hours! We're on our way Vanessa.
Dar es Saalam
Hello, sorry for the delay, since my last post. Would you believe you have to pay for wifi in the Amsterdam airport. Anyhoo our trans-atlantic flight went well, and the flight from Amsterdam to Dar was long, but I slept most of the way. Danica says I was crossing on to her seat in my sleep but she doesn't have any photographic evidence so who knows for sure! The airport into Dar es Saalam was what I expected, there was that yellow tinge from years of cigarette smoke on the ceiling. and when we got into the main customs room the first thing I noticed was the smell. It was a dirty smell; dried urine, tobacco and body odour. Another thing I noticed was in France the airport was patrolled by soldiers with automatic weapons, the soldiers here carried long black batons. after we went through customs, we met Brother Anthony who led us to an army truck (i'll try to load pictures in the next couple days) and Paulo (our driver) and I loaded the luggage. Let me say this now, everyone (but yours truly of course) overpacked! I'm surprised the planes made it of the ground. oh yeah, i'll also mention this, no one lost any luggage. In fact the service on KLM was great. I particularly enjoyed a complimentary glass (in actual glasses) of red wine... for nerves of course.
Any way travelling in the truck to the compound was an adventure. Many of you have no doubt heard me complain of saskatchewan drivers, well... I now have a new low standard. the motorcyclists outnumber the cars three to one and zip through traffic like nobody's business. There are trenches on either side of the highway to collect rainwater. and past the trenches are people gathered around little fires though the temperature is in the 20's, they are actually using it for cooking. Driving down the highway the smells hit you again sewage, pork, eggs, fish and people are out and talking and jaywalking like its going out of style. the compound we are temporarily staying at has a gate and the first time we go through it four or five german shepard mutts are barking at us and the girls are saying "Oooo Puppies!" we had a little bread and then went to sleep. I crashed under my mosquito net, which brings to mind the the curtains that draped a royal bed. I slept for eight hours, the jetlag not too bad. but in the girls cabin nobody went to sleep until Katelyne had killed every jumping spider in the room. This morning we had breakfast, toast and a juice made from hyacinth flowers, the tea is fresh and really great! Today is a lazy day as we recover from our jetlag. We went to the Indian ocean and some of us swam a bit. I sampled a local beer and it was very tasty. For those who are curious the legal drinking age here is 18.
Tomorrow we drive to Dodoma, I am excited and filled with a eagerness to get to work. We are Christ's workers and we are ready to work for his glory here. Pray for us.
Wifi is sketchy here so bear with me if my next post isn't for a couple of days.
Mathew
Any way travelling in the truck to the compound was an adventure. Many of you have no doubt heard me complain of saskatchewan drivers, well... I now have a new low standard. the motorcyclists outnumber the cars three to one and zip through traffic like nobody's business. There are trenches on either side of the highway to collect rainwater. and past the trenches are people gathered around little fires though the temperature is in the 20's, they are actually using it for cooking. Driving down the highway the smells hit you again sewage, pork, eggs, fish and people are out and talking and jaywalking like its going out of style. the compound we are temporarily staying at has a gate and the first time we go through it four or five german shepard mutts are barking at us and the girls are saying "Oooo Puppies!" we had a little bread and then went to sleep. I crashed under my mosquito net, which brings to mind the the curtains that draped a royal bed. I slept for eight hours, the jetlag not too bad. but in the girls cabin nobody went to sleep until Katelyne had killed every jumping spider in the room. This morning we had breakfast, toast and a juice made from hyacinth flowers, the tea is fresh and really great! Today is a lazy day as we recover from our jetlag. We went to the Indian ocean and some of us swam a bit. I sampled a local beer and it was very tasty. For those who are curious the legal drinking age here is 18.
Tomorrow we drive to Dodoma, I am excited and filled with a eagerness to get to work. We are Christ's workers and we are ready to work for his glory here. Pray for us.
Wifi is sketchy here so bear with me if my next post isn't for a couple of days.
Mathew