All Home!

They all arrived home safe & sound & running on high energy last night. Talkative & full of stories. They have LOTS of letters for prayer partners. Last night was still a night of "who has what suitcase" with various items scattered between them all.

Was told that leaving for the airport 4hrs prior to the flight was "just right" - any later would have been risky (and you thought your traffic was bad!)

Today is probably a day of sleeping, relaxing & just getting ready to home surroundings again & then they will be busy with many activities over the next two weeks.

MEET & GREET: Everyone is invited to either of the two "Meet & Greets" at Immanuel Lutheran-Harlan. Saturday 30th after the 5:00pm church with cheese & crackers -or- Sunday after the 9:00am service followed with fruit, rolls, coffee & juice. What a joy to meet both Beatric Kingiliwe last night: She is a primary school teacher for upper level/age students. Very knowledgable, well spoken & very strict on the way Swahili is to be pronounced (Rick is still getting lessons from her & she won't let him slack!!) She is a very classy lady. After so much correspondence with Past Wallace Lupenza, it was wonderful to meet him finally also! He is also a wealth of knowledge & has been integral in the agriculture program in Kidugala.  Both of them are staying at the Chipman Farm. If you want to find out what activities to participate in, or if you have anything you would like to share - contact Rick or Cheryl Chipman to find out available times or what is on the schedule.

Getting Ready to Leave-Tuesday

Heard from the team (reception on phone was terrible today & we got cut off once). They will are working their way to the airport now & will be on their way in the air to Amsterdam about 3pm our time. They spent 2 nites in Ruaha. They drove thru a pride of 21 lions! (females w/cubs & 3 males!). We were assured that April did NOT get eaten by any lions. One night elephants came down both sides of the guys' banda to the river-that must have been a sight to behold! They spent last night at the Morogoro Jr Secondary Seminary where Pr Isaac Chengula teaches & the met up w/ the Asst Bishop. Then came in to Dar this morning. They went on a ferry ride to an island today & then to the local fish market in Dar. Just before they left the girls spent some more time at the school & rick went to see Siphael's samaki (fish) ponds. They all went on the hike and also to the irrigation project a few days before they left. Of course it was difficult for everyone on both sides at the going away party.........it is hard to leave.

Pray for their safe travels in the air on the way home & for Beatrice (first time on an airplane!)

Pretty Silent on Communication

Communication has been pretty silent. Have not been able to get through to either Rick's phone or Pastor Wallace's phone. They are working, but the Tanzania lines have been tied up. There was a quick message today at 9:00am our time on my phone from the team that said "we are in route from Iringa to Morogoro" (this would be 5:00pm their time). Assuming that they are really in route FROM Iringa to Morogoro tells me they may already have been to see Pastor Konga & Edina and that they may already have left Ruaha. I would think they would be somewhere to spend the night (possibly in Dar es Salaam) prior to leaving Tuesday night.
I do know that Pastor Wallace's phone is functioning as it still plays Bing Crosby's "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" but it states then that you are unable to leave a message at this time. Could be their location is difficult for reception. Hearing that song made me cool down a little today as I listened to it several times today while trying to get through!!
It won't be long before they are here: Wednesday - July 27th they arrive in Omaha at 4:13pm on KLM flight 5246 from Minneapolis. Anyone who has some time or is able to swing by the gate to greet & welcome them, it would be really nice.
Pray for them all now, as this is the time that some apprehension sets in. Coming home is exciting but also somewhat disorienting also as one starts to think about living to a schedule & changing back to a fast-paced lifestyle & all the things that go with that.

Some "Firsts for Everyone"

Some "firsts" for April: Eating Ugali & sugar cane, driving through rivers, riding in a vehicle with chickens (sounds like that latter has become quite frequent)

Some "firsts" for Patty: This is by far the most amazing for those of you that know Patty, even though she has been there 3 times, she NEVER has done this before...........SHE IS DRINKING REGULAR COKE (warm of course-no ice).

For all 3 girls: Rick was busy with the irrigation. So the 3 girls helped harvest the test plot!

Sounds like they are going to be very very tired tonite. Went to preaching points this morning, going on the hike to "see the rock with the map of Africa on it" (that means they climb a mountain) & Rick was still being taken to see more corn, chickens, pigs & whatever else needs to be looked at. They have met with more of the Prayer Partners& received another chicken.

Miscommunications

The girls took some material to the tailor for dresses-hand signals & several calls from the tailor to Pr Wallace-we will see what they get. also, the girls were going to learn once & for all how to wrap their heads like the beautiful headdresses at the wedding-well......someone came with hair supplies, fake hair & started braiding like the fancy updos at the wedding (it will be interesting to see how they look & how much hair is pulled from their roots when they return!). They are going on a walk today this is about 40 minutes each way (now you know, in TZ you are always told "only 1 more hour" & then 3 hours later.....)
They were at a preaching point this morning & a car pulled up, they had been looking for them to track them down. They were told that "Debbie needs to be wired!!!" (this could not wait until they returned to the church obviously)......hmm, like I'm not "wired" enough already. As you remember, Debbie (Debi) is the autoclave.
Basically everyone speaks Swahili & some have leaned English. Prior to learning Swahili they usually speak a "mother-tongue". There are 2 main tribes in this area Hehe ("hay-hay") and Bena-mostly Bena (speaking kihehe or kibena) so it makes it confusing sometimes when they blend Swahili & Kibena. Now they have Bena names (not sure what they are yet)

April's Gifts & Njombe Wed July 13

April is pretty popular over there-she has received (four) 10ft stalks of sugar cane & a huge entire branch of banana bunches!! Both are so good & sweet but she has to share! The entire team has also received 2 roosters (So that is 2 TZ roosters vs 1 Sun AM/Shelby Cty Fair rooster) & some eggs. The team spent the day (Wed) in Njombe with the Bishop & Asst Bishop & enjoyed lunch together. The Bishop received the stitched wall hanging. He will offically be installed on 10/9 & the Prime Minister of TZ will be in attendance. Immanuel was invited to sent representatives to also celebrate if possible. Besides veternarian supplies-Pr Wallace & Rick also looked into more plumbing supplies in regards to the irrigation system. Thurs he will be in Masilu working on GPS work/plumbing & other supplies needs in regards to that system. Well drilling for Kidugala was discussed with the Bishops office & Seth from Step-By-Step, wells are only drilled from July-Dec it is possible Kidugala may get another well by Dec-more info later upon the team's return. The entire team visited the deaf school & was given an in-depth tour & they presented the school with the projector (they also visited Jacob & Martin). The "girls" purchased some more material to bring back. Communication the past 2 days has been difficult as TZ phone lines have been tied up so but contact was finally made today in a small window of time. It was 8pm when I spoke with them & they had just rolled in from Njombe-long day.

Education: Pigs, English Classes, Orphan Education

The pig seminar on Mon was attended by 35 people & many topics were discussed. While in Njombe today the team went to a veternarian store & the TZ Farmers Assoc (like a co-op) & obtained important items for the pigs being raised in Kidugala. Speaking of pig production-the team was having supper at a secondary teacher's home (he is also the director of the pig project that is run by the secondary students) during their visit the home & the roof started to shake & rumble. When they asked what it was, the teacher said "oh, it is the rats on the roof"-then they heard them run across the roof again making the house rumble (they look like a very oversized cross of a hamster & a rabbit). Patty reports that the Orphan Education Program is getting up & running well & the HEAD members in Kidugala along with representatives at the preaching points/schools are working on a budget along with a possible scholarship program for the upper levels. Rick attended the evangelist English class last night & it lasted until 11:30pm-this class is held year-round 2 nights/week for 3 hours! April attended classes at the secondary school (Swahili poetry & English Class in which they discussed the different meaning of some English words). Yarn & needles were purchased for the sewing center which will make uniform sweaters for the preschool & primary school orphans. Also 2 new soccer balls were purchased for 2 of the primary schools. They are still working on passing out photos & obtaining new photos of the Prayer Partners. All is well/they are all healthy & miss everyone.

Agriculture Update on Sunday-July 17

They met with Siphael Kilawa (Evangelist for Ugungule & Head of Maize Plot Project in Kidugala) he said that even though all the data is not completely in for the test plot but the maize has done a-MAIZE-ing!!! Also, even without all the final data so many people at each of the preaching points are individually using the new techniques and they are reporting very good success.  A comment also from Siphael is that now they have all learned that when they have a problem with maize, samaki, maharagwe, kuku or nguruwe (corn, fish, beans, chickens or pigs) that now they have a place they can ask questions & get answers. They were told "all you have to do is ask-we are there for you" but he said "we are humble & don't want to bother people - but now thanks to the love of Christ to bind as friends, there is now an understanding that there is a link between those that have a heart to help & it is their joy to share".  Monday at 4:00pm Kidugala time-there will be a "Pig Seminar", as usual there should be a good turn out as the word has already spread from preaching point to preaching point. They visited Henry's place again & the maize there is reported as "fabulous"

"We're Not Starving!"-Sunday July 17

The team called early this morning: Everyone is inviting them to meals-so they are not starving. On Sat they went to 4 preaching points & were only late getting to...4 preaching points (that is typical). Spent time in Sengele & April met her prayer partner,Tulinave Metewa who is the Evangelist for that PP. Discussions at the PP have been started re: the orphan education. Patty will have the official in-depth discussion later this week to get the program up & going with the HEAD committee/other educators/Evangelists. They are going to several more PP on Mon. Had dinner at Pr Nuru's along w/Phillipo & we are told she has such a warm personality the friendship is really growing (I believe they will hate leaving her!). Today Rick preached at the Secondary School at 8am to 600 students while April/Philippo & Pr Wallace sang "How Great Thou Art"-they all did the same at the main church at 10am. They all had chakula (food) at Beatrice's house & she is so excited to come to Harlan at the end of the month. April has another penpal-a teacher from the deaf school in Njombe. The confirmation students have received their Swahili bibles. At the time of the phone call they were testing the internet but were getting "timed-out" because they were in the middle of some downloads on window update but are still hopeful on the sucess of the modem. They were resting for a while & then heading to chakula cha jioni (dinner) at Issac Nyato's-government counselor for Kidugala Ward. He is also the music director/organist in Kidugala. There have been some talks in the past with him concerning a vocational school in Kidugala-this is still a possibility in the future (whatever God sees fit!) 

Rick: The Doctor/Farmer/Preacher (what next?)

Rick has been working on his sermons. He has to preach Sun early AM at the Secondary School & later at the main church (the teenagers can come to the service at the church, but they usually have their own service at the school). 
Some where along the way, someone mistakenly called referred to Rick as a doctor, but now he was asked by an Evangelist how he is able to complete all his work while working as both a Pastor & a Farmer. (Who knew Rick could deliver babies, do surgery, preach AND farm!!) He did tell them that he is Farmer (Peasant) & not a pastor by profession.
My guess is they will be asking April to either play flute or piano at the Secondary School service. The students are not allowed to leave the campus during the week, but on Sunday they have the freedom to go off the campus. On Sunday I am sure this is a day that the team will have lots of visitors at their place they are staying.
Also-a test was performed today from Kidugala to Harlan via the new modem & it WORKS!! This is GREAT news-much less expensive & upkeep/maintanence compared to a dish.

Wedding Party! Friday July 15

They just got back from a wedding celebration in which they were honored guests-Phillipo was best man & Atu was the Matron of Honor. Thurs-Rick was 25 miles out of Njombe at a farming operation headed by a catholic priest w/horses,cows,pigs-lots of good info for future pig seminars. Speaking of pigs-Thurs was "pork butchering day" & they were treated to a meal of pork at Phillipo/Atu's. Lunch w/Neema was mchuzi & rice. Neema looks good but is lifelong limited now from her burns-she can walk to/from church (which wears her out/pain) & do activities around the house but no longer is able to farm/carry much or lift much. Thurs they spent at the Bible College & Secondary School where Form 1-6 sang. The adults went w/the headmasters while the teenagers, Phillipo & Alissia took April w/them. Sounds like she is getting along good w/many of the girls. The Kindergarten class along w/the women have been doing Swahili/English "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (nouns in Swahili, the rest in English). Last nite was warm weather so it was bath nite for them (they are living like luxury w/only 4 of them to share a 5 gal bucket-they  each got 1-1/4 gal of hot water!) The autoclave & layettes were delivered to the clinic & they were SURPRISED & ELATED! Beatrice arrived from Dar today beaming with her granted Visa to come to Harlan

Bata Bata Bukini-Wed July 13

They saw Pr Konga & Edina yesterday & have a planned chai on their way back through. They made good time & arrived in Kidugala around 8:30pm last nighT. April gathered some 2-3 year old girls this AM for "bubbles" only to have a bubble land on 1 arm & there was a shriek of tears while 1 of Rehema's girls pointed at all the bubbles & ran! Once they realized they would not hurt them, the bubble blowing continued. Cheryl, Patty, April & Pastor Nuru got into a lively game with children today of Bata Bata Bukini (duck-duck-goose).  Phillipo has a scheduled time every morning with the group for Swahili lessons & I understand he is a stringent teacher-he actually DRILLS them! (they finally think they have something & then Pastor Nuru tells them a different way to say it-they said they are already so overwhelmed in words that they don't know what they are talking about! They spent some time with Patty's penpal, Alissia. She successfully graduated this year with Phillipo. They are still going on about the autoclave & as it sits in the middle of the room awaiting to be taken down the hill & across the river to the clinic they have nicknamed it "Debi" (thanks guys!) Everyone is healthy, feels good & has full schedules from here on out. It was a full day today & as I spoke to them on the phone, they had just finished their hairwashing & were settling down for the night. They say to tell everyone HELLO!

Tuesday-July 12: Still on the Road

After calls out to the team & them trying to call here-the lines were finally free: Just heard from the team. They are in Makambako & will be soon in Wangingombe to see Pastor Konga & Edina. They were a little detailed in their travels because they had some car issues while still in Dar so they got a late start arriving at Iringa at 9:45pm last night. They spent the night across the street from a very noisy CHRISTIAN church that started blaring music & singing at 5am (what a blessing!) They met with Gabriel & Don at Tumaini Univ & the innoculant process is proceeding for edible beans. Also they obtained a moden to hook up the church's laplap to the internet. This is a "bridge" with Treynor as they are trying to raise $$ for a dish. They have 2 wks to try out the moden-if it doesn't work they will drop off on their way back/if it works we will buy a bundle or recharge the card. Everyone is hopeful that both the dish funding & the modem will be successful for improved communication. The autoclave is reported as 44"Hx18"diam & the women are "crunched" they started with 5" leg space but when there are bumps/stops the autoclave creeps up on them & they are down to about 2-1/2" leg space (expecting to be negative 2" by the time they arrive). Usually Patty can sleep through anything but we are told that the autoclave continues to "jump" on her & wake her up. Everyone is in very high spirits!! They expect to be in Kidugala around 9:30pm tonight.

The Beverly Hillbillies

It sounds like it was a "short night" last night. Once they got in to Dar Es Salaam last night at 9:45pm, in typical Tanzania fashion, you then go to eat. Which was 10:30pm last night (again, in typical TZ fashion, that means that by the time your food was prepared it may have been close to midnight before actually eating it). By 8:30am this morning their time they were already loaded & ready to head for Iringa. Got short little messages from each person this morning to their family members. All the discussion prior to arrival of the size of NOAH & being able to fit people, luggage, autoclave & all else that needed to go - oh "ye of little faith".  "Faith is not a dam which prevents the flow of the river of reason & thought; it is a levee which prevents unreason from flooding the countryside" Mark 11:22-24 "Have faith in God, Jesus answered. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, Go throw yourself into the sea & does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it & it will be yours" The autoclave is in the vehicle & Cheryl said it is HUGE & very HEAVY. They are hoping that they don't overheat. Well as far as overheating, I do not believe there has been a trip to Tanzania without a vehicle overheat one way or the other so as long as the have the following items: water in a bottle, a container to fetch water from the river, Rick's duct tape, some rope & some loose chai from somewhere.....they will have no worries. Of course Cheryl said they look like the Beverly Hillbillies (as usual!) Can you just picture that van rocking back & forth loaded higher than it is wide. What a sight! They were met at the airport by Pastor Wallace, Jason Mtokoma, Fadhala & Beatrice. They are headed today for Iringa which will break the trip up well. Pray for their safety on their drive (that the potholes be smaller than the vehicle & all other vehicles stay on their side of the road!)

The Eagle Has Landed!!!

According to the Global Flight Tracker - KLM flight 571 has landed in Dar Es Salaam!!
Anyone who has been there knows-now it is getting off the plane, looking for your luggage, going through customs (suitcases, passports, Visas, Yellow Cards) then meeting up with the ride. Yes, the interesting night-time drive from the Dar Es Salaam airport to their destination for the night. I am sure they are tired but the drive to their destination will get them all charged up again. Hopefully after meeting all our friends at the airport they will be able to get some rest before they start their day tomorrow. Current time here in Iowa is now 1:59pm-current time in Dar Es Salaam 9:59pm (Sunday)
More to come when we hear from the team when they get their TZ land phone.

Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"

July 9, 2011-The First Day of Their Travels

This year's team (Patty Allen, Rick & Cheryl Chipman & April Taggs) are currently "in the air" in route to Detroit, MI. From there they will board a flight this evening headed for Amsterdam. Planned arrival in Amsteram is tomorrow morning (Sunday) at 8:00am. They will then board yet another flight for Tanzania. A stop in Kilimanjaro & then arriving in Dar Es Salaam, TZ around 9:45pm Sunday evening. (Just for your information, Tanzania at this time of year is 8 hours later than us).  As far as we know there have been no glitches getting them out of Omaha (no news is good news). They will have business to take care of in Dar Es Salaam such as visiting Jason Mtokoma at the International Medical Technological University & picking up the autoclave for the clinic (hopefully) but as we all know, the best laid plans of men & mice (and especially while in TZ) do not always work out accordingly. You have to "go with the flow". We were told that the vehicle this year is a NOAH (a luxury vehicle??) so they (Jason & Pr Wallace) that all the people, plus luggage would not fit with the autoclave. My thoughts were "Noah & His Ark" were able to get his family & 2 of each animal into it, so possible it would be a bigger vehicle than they think. Rick has been in a NOAH last year & it is reported that it is a "mini-van"....so, one only really knows what the situation is, once they arrive.