Tanzania Mission Trips

Photo album

tanzania — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:45:04 +0000

If you’d like to see a few more pictures from our trip, you can view a short photo album at the following KodakGallery link:

Tanzania 2010 album

Home again

tanzania — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:18:17 +0000

Jim, Caryn, Maddie and Erin arrived safely home. We were met at the airport by Maddie’s and Erin’s families, and by Lee and Sandi. The good news is that it looks like Sandi won’t need surgery after all!

We are looking forward to sharing stories and photos of our wonderful trip to Tanzania in the coming weeks and months.

Last day in Dar

tanzania — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:22:40 +0000

This morning we started out with a visit to the Village Museum, which features houses from different tribes and regions in Tanzania. We were joined by our driver’s 4 year old daughter. We were entertained by some traditional dancing from one of the tribes near Dodoma. It was then time to grab a quick lunch before dropping off Lorna and Judy for their flight up to Arusha. After freshening up and relaxing at FPCT we headed to the airport. After dinner we met Phil’s relatives and said goodbye. Jim, Caryn, Maddie and Erin are now on their way home, saying a fond farewell to Tanzania.

In Memory

tanzania — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:49:00 +0000

This morning we received the sad news that Pastor Andrew Rogness passed away yesterday. He traveled with us 2 years ago after his cancer diagnosis. We had many memories of him as we traveled. The Sunday service in Bomalang’ombe reminded us of his preaching and the baptism he performed for the evangelist’s child. Each preaching point reminded us of how he was able to weave a custom mini-devotion into his introductions. Looking at the amazing stars in Bomalang’ombe reminded us of his spontaneous early morning sermon on the the constellations including the magi following the star to Bethlehem, the Southern Cross, the north star guiding slaves to freedom and the connection we share across the globe when we see the same stars. In Ruaha we were reminded of his skill and fascination with tracking the animals. And in Dar we remember his hiring a taxi to take photos and video of the places important to his son Joel when Joel was a student in Dar es Salaam. Above all, we remember his strong and humble faith, and determination to live life to the fullest.

Exploring Dar es Salaam

tanzania — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:07:25 +0000

We left Bagamoyo late morning. Phil had a chance to go visit his family while the rest of us relaxed and enjoyed the beach. We drove back to Dar es Salaam and first stopped at Mwenge Wood carver’s Village. There are many shops here selling wood carvings and other souvenirs. You can also watch the carvers at work. Some of us got good deals, others not so much, but we left with heavier bags and lighter wallets! We then had a relaxing lunch at Slipway shopping center, which is on a bay on the Indian Ocean. We also treated ourselves to ice cream. After stopping back at FPCT to drop off our bags and get cleaned up, we had a nice dinner at the Sea Cliff hotel north of town. It was raining so we weren’t able to sit totally in the open, but we could still see crashing waves and the lights of distant ships. Tomorrow we visit a museum and our group will part ways – Lorna and Judy will fly to Arusha, Phil will stay with relatives for another month, and Jim, Caryn, Erin and Maddie fly home to Minnesota.

Relaxing in Bagamoyo

tanzania — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:10:03 +0000

Bagamoyo is an old port town on the Indian Ocean with a lot of history. It was a busy trade port and one of the larger ports for the slave trade. Today it’s a resort town where people from the surrounding areas come for holiday. We hired a guide to take us to some of the key areas, including ruins of a Shiraz mosque and graves, a German fort, and 2 museums telling about the area and the sad story of the slave trade. At one stop we were surprised by Phil’s uncle, who teaches at the Bagamoyo art school. His uncle and aunt later joined us for dinner. This afternoon we had a chance for some rest and relaxation. We napped, read, swam, waded in the Indian Ocean, and Phil put his new ‘football’ to good use with a quick pickup game on the beach.

Onward to Bagamoyo

tanzania — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:13:10 +0000

We left early this morning for Bagamoyo, stopping at Ilula Hospital on the way. Ilula Hospital is a Lutheran hospital that has received a lot of support from the St. Paul area. We got a tour of the buildings and saw buildings under construction for an emergency center and a nursing school. We ate at Tan Swiss again, and in passing through Mikumi game park, we saw baboons and a few elephants crossing the road. We made good time to Bagamoyo and found our resort on the Indian Ocean. We had dinner with the sound of the ocean in the background. Tomorrow we plan to do some touring and then relax by the pool.

Shopping in Iringa

tanzania — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:39:07 +0000

This morning we got up early to go to church at Mlandege. Another church group from Minnesota was there and their pastor got conscripted to help out with part of the service. There was a lot of wonderful singing and we were asked to introduce ourselves. Afterward we were treated to breakfast. This afternoon we had a chance to visit the market to shop for gifts. Each trip we buy kangas (brightly printed fabric with sayings) for the next group of travelers. The photo shows Phil translating sayings for Caryn and helping negotiate a good price. Before dinner, the chef invited Phil to come play a game of ‘football’ with some friends, which he greatly enjoyed. After dinner a local woodcarver brought some of his work to the Lutheran Center (where we and two other groups are staying) and left with a considerably lighter load! Tomorrow we head to Bagamoyo, stopping at Ilula Hospital for a quick tour.

Back in Iringa again

tanzania — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:48:11 +0000

After a morning bird walk for the ‘old folks’ (the kids slept in) and a great breakfast we sadly left Ruaha. We dropped off our bags at the Lutheran Center where we will be staying and went to Neema’s Crafts for lunch. Neema’s is an Anglican mission that provides employment for the disabled. They have a beautiful new facility with a cafe and Internet, and they sell their handmade crafts such as jewelry, woven materials, paper made from corn husks and elephant dung, and solar chargers for cell phones and radios. We were hoping for a tour, but the workers were gone for the day. Tomorrow we will relax in Iringa before heading out to Bagamoyo.

Ruaha Day 2

tanzania — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:27:12 +0000

We went for 2 game drives today. New animals included warthog, grant’s gazelle, crocodile, vervet monkey, water buck, cape buffalo, a chameleon and a pregnant spotted hyena. We also saw three prides of lions that were not quite so lazy. They were walking across the road, sitting on the road and playing. We also saw a standing hippo out of the water, and three hippos standing in the water. Unfortunately it was too cloudy to get good sunset pictures. Dinner tonight was on the river bed. The river bank was lit by kerosene lanterns and a bonfire. Coals from the fire are used to keep the food on the buffet line hot. Tomorrow there is a bird walk and we head back to Iringa. The photos are of Lorna and Erin having breakfast in ‘the bush’, and our guide Isaac holding the chameleon.