Open House

Open House/Good-bye to Nate and Kate was Saturday. We had a nice turn-out, and in the African tradition, guests continued to arrive throughout the program.

There we're lots of smiles and tears, punctuated by speeches, music, and dancing. Everyone had a good time.

What a wonderful out-pouring of gratitude and love!

It's really starting to hit me now that I will have a month in Tanzania without native-English speaking support. Please continue to keep me in your prayers, and add travel mercies for N and K as they travel first to Bangkok and then to Australia.

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Shock

I was walking home from town this afternoon, feeling pretty satisfied. I had just eaten a Girango's, the restaurant where we recently celebrated Christmas. It was only my third time there since I arrived in Tarime. I was celebrating the fact that I actually have an appetite again.

Traffic is always a crazy mixture of cattle, people, and all sorts of vehicles in Tarime. I try to be defensive in my walking, but sometimes ADD kicks in. Today, I was trying to greet people I met while still walking to the mission house as quickly as possible when a white car went flying past me. I heard a sickening thud. Turning around, I saw what I at first thought was a dog lying on the opposite side of the road from the white car which was still racing toward town. Looking closer, I realized the "dog" was actually a woman. Her crumpled body lay motionless on the shoulder.

I was sick. I hesitated, not wanting to believe what had happened, and then slowly and sadly walked away from the angry, shocked crowd that gathered around the accident scene. The spring in my step was gone, and sorrow filled my heart.

Nate and Kate arrived at the mission house shortly after I did, and I told them what had happened. Then there was a knock at the gate, and Nate went out to talk to a visitor looking for a church.

I heard him call out to Kate, who then called to me. There over the mission house was a perfect rainbow! I thought what a great God we serve! He always finds a way to give us hope in the midst of our despair.

Please say a prayer for everyone involved in this tragedy today. I pray that the God of Hope will touch each one of them.
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A Gamasara Thnksgiving

I woke up this morning and ate a whole can of ravioli. Kate looked a bit surprised, but I wasn't sure when/if I'd eat lunch, and I knew supper would be at Gamasara. It's my night to sleep here.

I prepared English lessons and lounged around a bit. Then I caught the truck to Gamasara about 11:00.

I thought, as we arrived, how much I have to be thankful for today. Even as recently as last Thanksgiving, I would have never guessed that I would be part of Angel House. God has blessed and enriched my life with so many new friends and workers here in Africa.

I am thankful for my health. On this Thanksgiving Day, I will have boiled green bananas and beans, and I will share them with 35 of my closest family members.

They all humored me by yelling, "Happy Thanksgiving!" to my daughter and her family when she called today. More people to love and be thankful for...

I am thankful for God's direction at Angel House. He is the guiding force at the heart of Grassroots Ministry. Thanks to all of you who make Angel House possible.

"Wangu" (mine) is a word often used at Angel House. It is often difficult to complete any project because curious (and hands) want to inspect everything.
I must have told Nosi "wangu" a dozen times today. Finally, she crawled into my lap right on top of the curtains I was lengthening. She gathered me in her arms, hugged me tight, and said, "Wangu!". I'm thankful that Nosi thinks of me as hers. And I'm
even more thankful that God claims me as His own as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!
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Another Good-bye

Chris and Maggie, our friends from Australia who work with Goodwill Hospital Foundation, invited us to a farewell dinner tonight. Everyone agreed to meet at 5:30, but we all were running late. When we finally arrived at CMG restaurant equally late, we all laughed that we had officially grown accustomed to "African time".

In Africa, it's more important to take time to welcome people than to be on time. So, being late is not offensive. So it was that Nate and Kate had stopped by to visit a local leader and been delayed with coffee and treats. Even though they told their host they needed to retrieve the kids from school, protocol dictated no shortening of the visit until all the coffee had been consumed.

Chris and Maggie rely on the Goodwill ambulance for transportation, which was no where to be found at our pre-arranged 5:30 meeting time. It was much later when Chris was finally able to located their driver who had forgotten our appointment and was happily working away on another project in the ambulance.

These explanations began the story telling. Chris talked about the crippled man who had been given a hand-propelled bicycle by Goodwill. Since he was able to transport himself, he borrowed money from a local man to support himself. When the business failed, the man confiscated the bike in lieu of payment. Chris and his driver have spent most of 3 months trying to arrange for the return of the bicycle. After countless hours of negotiation, a deal was struck that Chris would give the lender $50 cash for the return of the bike and $50 more would either be paid by the borrower or Goodwill in 6 months. Of course, the exchange had to be "official", so a legal document was drawn up. Everyone, including Chris, had to sign this paper and be fingerprinted!

Since everything was negotiated and written in Swahili, Chris had to rely completely on Abdella for guidance. When prsented with the ink pad, Chris got very nervous. Abdella assured him that he had NOT just put up his wife and daughters as collateral for the bike!

Life in Africa has called for many adjustments to the culture, but one thing has been universal. Time spent to cultivate friendship is always worthwhile.
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The days at Gamasara always start at 5:00 when the generator kicks in. Since I'd just decided to sleep here at the last minute, I really wasn't prepared. So, I was very unkempt when I jumped in our Nissan Sunny with William to take the kids to school.

Honestly, I didn't know a man could be as patient as William! Kids were jumping in and out of the truck while he was trying over and over to start it. Finally, he calmly wrestled the wired-together hood open and removed the fuel line. He siphoned a mouthful of gasoline and spit it on the air filter.
Wiring the hood shut again, he returned to the driver's seat which was occupied by 2 wanna-be drivers. He calmly pointed to the bed of the truck, got in, and started the truck. I clapped. The truck died.

William got the truck started again, and I began counting kids. It took at least 10 minutes to get everybody in the truck. Meanwhile, William kept his foot on the truck so it would keep running. And we were off!

After dropping kids off at 4 schools, we met Nate on the way to the mission house. We traded places because Nate and William needed to pick up the painters and take them to Gamasara.

I'd just walked in my door when I heard a quiet but insistent knocked on the gate. Who should be there but Bibi Leah! What a nice surprise!

But her face soon fell. She told me she came to say good-bye to Nate and Kate. There was a sick baby in her family who she needed to go take care of. That meant staying in another town until the baby was well. She wouldn't be able to come to N and K's party on Saturday.

Well, throughout the mixture of Swahili and English, there were lots of tears shed when she told Kate. We hugged and cried and hugged some more. I wasn't sure if I'd see Bibi again either, since I only have 5 weeks left in Tanzania. But if I get another chance to say good-bye, I wouldn't change a thing. "God bless you, my Sister," said it all.
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Net Ball

Ever heard of net ball? Several of the girls here at Angel House list it as their favorite sport.

I've asked questions, seen the basket, and surmised it must be something like basketball. But I wasn't sure. So my ears perked up yesterday when our secondary kids mentioned a net ball tournament that started today.

I had several errands to run this morning, but I was able to ride to Gamasara with Nate. We met an Angel group on the dirt road to Gamasara. The kids said they were headed for the net ball tournament, so I hopped out of the truck to go with them.

We walked and walked until we got to the paved road. Then we walked some more until we got to the turn-off to Tarime. We kept passing school signs, and any number of times I was sure we were there, but no such luck. I found myself wondering again how I got myself into these messes!

Was I ever glad when Nate came by in the truck, taking our last 2 school kids to class! He dropped us off at Tarime Teacher's College, and I was sure we'd arrived. Wrong again!

The kids turned around and starting walking back the way we'd come! I heard school kids ahead, so I figured Nate had just overshot the target. There was a soccer game going on at the school, but I was ready to sit down anywhere to watch anything (or nothing!) by then!

But the kids turned down a goat path next to the soccer games and kept walking! I was beside myself by the time we finally arrived at Tarime Secondary School and sat in the grass to watch the game. Turns out, net ball is tomorrow at a different school! We watched soccer! Do I dare do this 2 days in a row?

Oh, well, I'm at Gamasara tonight. I should sleep well, if my "dogs" aren't barkin' too loud!
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Nate and Kate Christmas

Since Nate and Kate are leaving Tanzania in about a week, they wanted to celebrate an early Christmas with Angel House. They planned a party at Girango's, a local restaurant, and the kids got all dressed up for the occasion. We feasted on chicken and chips (fries) and even did a little dancing. While we ate, Anna (our AH mama) and Kate were putting presents out on the kids' beds. Each Angel received a towel, bed sheets, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and some clothes. Nathan also distributed candy while we waited at the restaurant for the sneakiness to be completed. Then Nate took one load of Angels back while Kate and Anna ate.

When I arrived at Gamasara for church the next morning, I was struck by the fact that this was Nate and Kate's last worship service with us. Tears filled my eyes as I watched Kate juggle Nosi and Kevin on her lap during the service. When Kevin fell asleep, Nate held Nosi while Kate took him to bed. Nosi dozed, but she seemed to realize this was a time to be cherished. She didn't sleep.

The music was even better than usual during worship. The little kids sang 3 songs, and I couldn't help thinking how our older girls reminded me of Job's daughters (Nowhere in the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters). Worship at Angel House was especially joyful that day!

Soon Nate and Kate will be off on their next adventure, but a part of them will always remain at Gamasara. And I know Angel House has captured their hearts forever.
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Window Washing

As we've said many times, you never know what each new day will bring when you wake up in Africa. Living here has taught me to take life as it comes, letting each day set its own pace.

So it was that I began today with only one item on my agenda: visit Nkende Secondary School to check on attendance. I arrived by pikipiki shortly after 8 and was greeted and seated in the headmistress's office immediately. It was the last day of school and final test day. I was surprised she had set our appointment for such a hectic time, but the headmistress calmly distributed tests to her teachers while we talked. That also gave me a chance to meet teachers I hadn't seen during my first visit.

When the tests were distributed and the students were in their classrooms, I was handed the attendance roster for the whole school, and we reviewed Bhoke, Emmanual, and Joseph's record together. I found out the kids had perfect attendance since we moved to Gamasara! I also saw their mid-term exam grades and was able to discuss concerns we had about each student. It was different for me to be on the parent side of such a conference, but I left satisfied we'd communicated well and that my three grandchildren were enrolled in a school represented by caring professionals.

The morning was beautiful, like most in Tarime, so I decided to walk to the paved road before calling Kennedy, my favorite pikipiki driver. Just as I picked up my phone to call, Kennedy appeared to take me to Gamasara! How's that for Tanzanian luck?

My jobs for the day were to move everything out of the office so the floor could be painted and to start washing windows. I managed to slice my toe open on my first trip out of the office, but several strong grandsons continued the work while we stopped the bleeding and bandaged my toe. Luck with us again, as it didn't rain while the office supplies were outside.

Washing the windows was a daunting job, since Gamasara has A LOT of windows, so I decided to concentrate on the ones in the entrance area which are most visible to visitors. Rhobi (11) helped me for a while, but soon just Nosi (5) and Kevin (4) were the only ones washing" with me. I experimented with handmade ladders and finally decided standing on the dining tables worked best for me.

Kate arrived from town with a Coke for me, so I took a break to drink it. I'd moved the furniture out to get to the windows, so I didn't see Vero, our newest Angel, take a swallow of gasoline from a bottle behind the coach! I heard her gagging and saw her run outside, so I ran after her. When I reached the coach, I realized what she had done and called Kate for help.

She took Vero out to the new deck, where we forced my soda down her and managed to get her to vomit. Meanwhile, all of the Turwa Primary kids were patiently waiting in the truck for their ride to school. Kate got Vero stabilized and then calmly drove to school. I was not so calm and continued to check on Vero all afternoon. She said she thought the petro was juice, and she was thirsty. I couldn't believe the smell alone didn't keep her from drinking it!

All's well that ends well, I guess. Vero is fine and a little bit wiser. The front windows at Gamasara are washed, and the other dining hall windows are washed on the inside at least. Tomorrow, we plan to assign windows to pairs of Angels to get the job done faster.
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Just Another Morning

I slept at Gamasara last night, but caught a ride back to town at 6:00 am, when William drove the kids to school. We dropped the first group of at Nyandoto Secondary and the second group off at St. Jude's Primary. All was going well until the clutch went out on the truck. I was thankful we were only about 1/2 mile from Nkende Secondary and also that I had a cell phone to call for a pikipiki for our 2 remaining primary students. I left William with the truck and started walking with the rest of the kids. Just as the secondary students turned to go down the road to school, we saw Kennedy, our favorite pikipiki driver. I paid him to take Grace and Chuchu to school and started walking to town. When another pikipiki driver offered me a ride, I took him up on it. Kate was home when I got there, but Nate was on his way to meet William on another pikipiki. Kate called Kennedy, who took her to meet Nate. Eventually, everybody got where they needed to go. Nate hired a taxi to take the workers, William, and him to Gamasara; and the truck got to the shop to be repaired. I, being a bit older and less patient than the others, took 2 Aspirin and went back to bed!
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Thankful

I thank God every day for Goodwill Hospital, Tarime. It is an amazing place, and without it I would never have been able to stay in Tarime.

Dr. Mynani founded the hospital, and his daughter, who is a doctor in Australia, recruits visiting doctors to supplement the staff. I have been seen by all of the doctors on staff, and I've been very satisfied with their diagnosis and treatment.

The neatest thing about Goodwill is their lab. After seeing the doctor, I take the request for lab tests to the lad tech. She always let's me look through the microscope to see the critters who are causing the problem. Worms and amoeba look just like the biology showed. Interesting.

I must admit I get a bit nervous when everybody tells me they are very sorry just before they give my diagnosis! I always reply by asking, "Can we fix it? If there is a treatment, let's get started!"

So far, I've had worms, malaria, and amoeba/digestive track infection. I've also, on the other hand, been able to discontinue my blood pressure medicine because my pressure regulates itself here. With medication, it is too low.

I have so many blessings to be thankful for this year, and the opportunity to be a part of Angel House is a huge one. So it is as I eat my canned ravioli on Thanksgiving Day, I will praise God for good health care, hugs and kisses from the Angels, and the joys of family and friends around the world. Who could ask for anything more?
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Bibi Leah

We just found out Bibi Leah, our night matron, has decided to retire instead of moving to Gamasara. She recently had typhoid and more recently pneumonia and malaria at the same time. Bibi is 62. We will sorely miss your twinkling eyes and smiling face, but I do hope to see her at SDA services on Saturdays.

Kate has been surprised at what close friends Bibi and I have become despite the language barrier. However, everyone is drawn to Bibi from the first flash of her 1000 kw smile.

One time I asked Bibi about her family. I knew 4 of her grandchildren were orphans at Angel House. I also knew 3 sets of parents were represented by these kids. Bibi told me she'd mothered 7 children and buried 5 of them.

Shocked, I exclaimed, "Oh, Bibi! I'm so sorry!"

Bibi replied, "If I only had one child left, that would be enough for me." That is our Bibi. She doesn't have time for self-pity because she's too full of gratitude.

Bibi faces each situation with faith. One Sabbath, I told her my back hurt and I was having trouble sitting in church. She is an RN, and wanted to take me to get a malaria test immediately. I told her I couldn't go to the doctor without my medical paperwork, but I'd go soon. Several days later after I'd been diagnosed, Bibi said she'd known what I had, and she'd been praying extra hard for me.

When I told Bibi that her granddaughter (and namesake) had called for my help when she got into deep water at a swimming pool on our Mwanza trip, tears flowed down my cheeks.

As I struggled to keep Leah from pulling me under, I kept thinking, "How can I tell Bibi that I've lost her granddaughter?"

Just as I thought I was going to have to knock Leah out so I could rescue her, I was able to put my head above water and choke out, "Help!"

The next thing I knew, I was at the shallow end of the pool with Leah
and 4 people were telling us to take big breaths.

Bibi just smiled after she heard my story, saying, "God is good. He heard your prayers."

You never know who you'll meet when you go to a new place, but I can tell you this: My life would have been incomplete if I hadn't met Bibi Leah. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
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Gamasara Night

I spent my first night at Gamasara last night. The kids are amazing! They take so much pride in their new home. It's great to see the maturity they're showing, seeing things that need to be done and taking the initiative to do it. The shamba is yielding tomatoes now, with lots of other vegetables soon to follow.

Our staff really has stepped up to the plate, too. The kids get up at 5:00, and many are on the way to school by 6:00. They insist on keeping this schedule even on non-school days. They get up, straighten their rooms, wash and dress. On Saturdays, they work in the shamba for 3 hours before breakfast. The rest of the day is free. Sunday afternoons are set aside for big cleaning jobs. Every evening from 7:00-9:00 and every morning from 5:00-6:00, the generator runs. Just before lights out, one of the Angels lead the group in a devotion.

I know I'm prejudiced. These are my grandchildren, after all, but I think these kids are on the path God has planned for them. Best of all, three of the kids who were major behavior problems in town have really turned over a new leaf at Gamasara. I thank God for answered prayers!
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Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Yesterday, a local newspaper reporter arrived at Gamasara while Kate and Nate were busy buying supplies in town. Anna, the Mama at Angel House, and Abuid, our pastor, picked 2 kids to be interviewed. They introduced me, and I thought I was off the hook. Not so!
After Anna, Abuid, Bhoke, and Joseph were finished talking, the reporter called me over. He asked me why I had come to Tanzania and what my duties are. I enjoyed talking with this young man until he started taking pictures! How I wished Nate and Kate were there; they're much more photographic than me, and they deserve the credit for Gamasara, not me. ( I haven't had a haircut since August, and my shirt was so stretched it would fit a gorilla!)
I began grabbing Angels, strategically placing them in front of me as much as possible. I'm excited the newspaper is interested in Gamasara, and I hope to have Marwa, a local fundi, make a frame for the article with the picture of all of the Angels in front of Gamasara. I just wish Nate and Kate were in the photo, too.
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Gamasara Family

The kids and staff are working together as a united family. We are really proud of the way everybody has been pitching in and taking the initiative when they see something needs to be done.

Our littlest angel, Nosi, has been sick. We took her to the dispensary today. She was NOT happy when they gave her an injection for malaria. We hope we'll have a strong, healthy Nosi back really soon.

I must say medical care here in Tarime is impressive. I've never had a doctor see a child as quickly as this was got Nosi in. Everything was finished in less than an hour.

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Scholastic Adventure

Sometimes I think God sent me to Africa so He could have some good laughs. Today was one of those days.

I am the self-appointed truant officer now that we have moved to Gamasara. Today, I visited the last 2 schools where our students attend to schedule a time each week when I can check attendance. We are driving the kids to Tarime from Gamasara, and I want to make sure they actually attend school once they get there.

Nate and Kate dropped me off at the road for the first school after they picked up some staff members at our old building. The walk was pleasant, with frequent greetings by the locals. When I got to Nkende Secondary School, I was able to talk with several staff members, including the head mistress. I took photos of the school and even got help translating some Swahili I needed for my English lessons.

I called my favorite pikipiki driver, but the connection was bad. I thought he repeated the name of the school and said he'd come, but he never showed. Finally, I asked one of the teachers to call another driver. This one came right away, but he spoke no English. We were able to get a price on the trip to Nyandoto Secondary, I paid the driver, and we were off.

Turns out, there is a very good reason Nyandoto's school motto is "Climb to the top!". As I clung to the back of the pikipiki seat, I pictured God having a good belly laugh. The washed-out road was filled with puddles, and oft time the driver had to put his feet down to ease us through the worn path. Honestly, if I hadn't seen the school sign when we left the paved road, I'd have though the driver was going to leave me in the middle of nowhere or worse!

When we finally made it to the top, I received the wonderful news that my three Angels had perfect attendance, and it wouldn't be necessary for me to make weekly checks. I spent some time taking photos of the breath-taking campus and visited with the staff and students. The head mistress then told me she was taking a piki piki to town and would be glad to share a ride with me. Since I was going to Gamasara, that wasn't possible. Before she left, however, another driver showed up, and one of the students helped me secure a ride to the orphanage with him.

We traveled all sorts of back roads and ended up at a primary school which I swear had no name on the building. To top if off, there was absolutely NOBODY there. So, here I am in the middle of nowhere with this motorcycle driver I don't know.

Thank goodness for ATT! 2 phone calls and 2 different translators later, I handed the driver a huge tip and kissed the ground at. The orphanage.

I guess the pikipiki made it back to town. The driver only bought $1 worth of petrol when we started our odyssey.

I am so thankful God takes care of me, especially when I am scatter-brained and ignorant!
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Sleep in Heavenly Peace

We did it! The last truck load of stuff is at Gamasara. As the truck came down the long driveway, a joyful cheer echoed across the Tarime Plateau. Tonight, Nate and Kate are sleeping with the kids and staff at Gamasara. Me? After visiting the headmasters at 2 elementary schools and loading and unloading the truck, I just went back to the mission house to soak my feet. (I bet I get more sleep tonight than the residents of Gamasara!)
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Rewarding Day

I'm feeling very satisfied with the way this day has gone. First thing this morning, we picked up the fundis and went to Gamasara. I spent the cool hours of the morning moving office items into the office and cleaning out the dining area in preparation for the painting of its floor. The septic system is all but completed, and the rooms have beds and curtains. I had some time before going back to Tarime to teach English, and since the rain started pouring down, I decided to prepare tomorrow's English lesson. Unfortunately, it's impossible to get a pikipiki (motorcycle) to drive in the rain. Besides, it's really not safe.

The rain lasted for 2 hours, and by the time I was able to my ride, I was late for class. I still needed to take my suitcase to Angel House so Teddy, one of our cooks, could use it to move her things tomorrow.

I imagine the locals thought I was absolutely crazy dragging my suitcase and dodging mud puddles from the mission house to the orphanage. I didn't think too much of it until 3 young men stopped and stared at me. Finally, one of them asked me why I didn't take a taxi! I pointed to my legs and said, "I have two good legs. I'd rather tembeo." They shook their heads and walked off.

When I got to Angel House, I realized our littlest Angel, Nosi, was nowhere to be found. I sent the other Angels to search and they found Nosi at a friend's house. I got to thinking about how hard moving from town was going to be for the kids, but especially Nosi.

We sat down to andika Nosi's name and several other kids wanted to draw or write. So, I gave each a pen and paper and we had a little quiet time together.

I looked up and realized Robinson, a man I'd met at Angel House church service was greeting me. He asked me to come visit his wife before we moved to Gamasara. I always take an Angel with me when I visit in a home; and Nosi was looking pretty miserable, so I took her. Little did I know Robinson had invited me for supper! We feasted on ugoli (sort of like homemade Play Dough) and cooked spinach. It was surprising tasty, and the conversation was lively.

When we finished, Robinson said he wanted me to meet his sister who taught in a local school. We walked through the maze of Tarime's back streets until I was completely lost. Then we saw her coming out of the church that housed her school. We walked to her house, met her husband and son, and enjoyed sodas. All of the sudden, she looked at Nosi and said, "I know Nosi! I as the one who saw her mother leave her and her sister at the dump. Nosi was so little, maybe 18 months old. I took her to the police and then to Angel House."

I thanked her for bringing Nosi and Bhoke to Angel House. I told her she had saved their lives and given the girls a chance. I thanked God for this encounter with someone who was instrumental in the miracle that is Nosi.
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Organization and Management

Today Kate and I sorted through Angel House items and planned where we would store them. WE discovered many things we didn't realized we had and purged any damaged or unnecessary paperwork. We were almost finished when an Angel arrived on a bicycle and announced Anna was walking to Gamasara with all the big kids! Three other Angels arrived on bicycles before we could properly burn everything we's pitched, so Kate went into bulldog mode, telling the kids NOTHING out of the fire pile was going back into the house.

When the others arrived, they helped us clean and organize the office, pick (almost ripened) vegetables, and organize all personal property in one storage area. By the time we loaded 14 of us into our little truck, we were one tired group.

We were greeted at Angel House with the news that our pet dog, Blackie, had died. The kids took the news pretty well; they have all experienced death and/or abandonment already.

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Finale

We are moving into the home stretch at Gamasara. All the big stuff is moved, and the kids plan to sleep there Sunday night. They will each be assigned a section of the shamba (farm) and be expected to work in it and share the food with all of Angel House. Thanks to seed donations from generous people in The States, many new types of food will be eaten by our Angels in the coming months.

Today, I took Nosi, our youngest Angel, out for lunch. She has been working very hard during the move, and the best way to thank Nosi is through her stomach. You may recall she was left at the garbage dump as an infant and brought to Angel House by the police. No one expected her to live, but Nosi is a survivor! Her mischievous spirit and playful humor are evidence of that. She doesn't have an easy role as the youngest Angel but Nosy carries it off with grace beyond belief.

One of our new angels arrived today! Joseph Hula, 10 year-old brother of Rosie and Mwita, was sitting at the entrance when I arrived at the orphanage today. As soon as he told me his name, I saw Rosie and Mwita's reflections in his face. If he acts as much like his siblings as he resembles them in looks, we have a wonderful new addition to our family.

Every day, I thank God that I am here during the move to Gamasara. I also praise Him for the wonderful Goodwill Hospital in Tarime. They have treated me so often for malaria that they now call me "Mother Africa"! I suppose they think I'm a blood relation with every mosquito in Africa.
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We're on the Move!

We started packing and moving furniture to Gamasara yesterday, and we are SO excited! The kids have been great! Everyone, including 4 year-old Nosi has been helping pack, clean, and load the truck.

Today, we had a staff meeting during which we had to dismiss some workers. Presently, we have 2 sites, one for the girls and young boys and the other for the big boys. At Gamasara, everyone will be at one site. So, some workers will not be needed. It was hard to break the news, and there were tears at the meeting this morning.
Tonight, we met with the kids and explained their new schedule and responsibilities at Gamasara. We will be adding 2 new angels on Tuesday, a younger sister of 4 of our kids, and a younger brother of two others. It will be exciting to get to know these new Angels!

I have been watching the boys, trying to decided who will go on the safari with me in December. So many hard-workers without warnings to choose from! What a nice problem!
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Lake Victoria

I had a wonderful weekend in Mwanza, where I took 3 of my hardest-working granddaughters to see Lake Victoria. We were able to sample American and Thai food and take a ferry to Saanane National Park.

We saw herons, Agama Lizards, a snake, a family of monkeys, a Rock Hyraz, and impala. We climbed giant rock formations and viewed Lake Victoria from all sorts of perches. It was beautiful!

On the bus ride home, we saw herds of zebras, water buffalo, and a baboon. There were lots of mosquitoes, too, so I'm going tomorrow for another malaria test. I needed a follow-up this week any way.

The network has been down for almost a week, and tomorrow I reach the half-way point of my stay in Tanzania. Hopefully, ATT will have things up and running so I can send this long before I return.

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Kissi

We went on an all-day adventure to Kissi yesterday. That involved crossing the Kenyan border (where everyone is related to President Obama) and travel by a variety of transportation. We started in a taxi, continued in a bus, rode piki piki (motorcycles) and also used motato (a crowded van filled with commodities and people).

It was my first real look at Kenyan countryside, since I was a bit preoccupied during my initial trip in from the airport. We took our oldest Angel, William, with us. It was his first trip to Kissi, too, and we enjoyed sharing our comments about the sights.

Our final objective was to get to Nakumatt, a sort of Kenyan Wal-Mart, to get a few things not available to us in Tarime. We also wanted to price bedding items for the kids' Christmas presents.

At the entrance to Nakumatt, a statue of an elephant greets customers. The first floor is general household appliances, and food. We even got fresh veggie pizza at the bakery! It wasn't Pizza Hut, but it really hit the spot. I also picked up some cheese to avenge my craving for something different to eat.

Meanwhile, William priced bicycles. A quite conservative young man, he decided they were too expensive and he would just continue to walk. I went into Grandma mode when he said he wasn't hungry and insisted he choose something to eat and drink. What 19 year old isn't always hungry?! If there's such a thing as being too polite, William is just that.

We loaded our purchases on a bicycle at the border and walked to the motato. There the bickering over price began. My job during this procedure is to put on my teacher frown and pick up part of our purchases like I'm going to leave. I'm taking notes from Nate and Kate, however, so I'll be able to negotiate my way back to Nairobi when the time comes.

We were hydro-planing down the pavement accompanied by the stacatto beat of the driver's horn when a rear tire blew. We pulled over, a man went to the offending tire and managed to strip the loose rubber off. We went another quarter mile or so before the driver conceded the tire needed to be changed. They must have had a lot of practice because we were once again flying down the road in a matter of minutes.

We arrived in Tarime and were greeted by James, one of our favorite piki piki drivers who had supervised the repair of the mission house truck while we were gone. We got to see the kids at Angel House when we dropped off William, but it was getting dark when we got there.

It was good to be home at the mission house! I slept like a baby last night.
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