Farewell to Tarime

I couldn't sleep my last night in Tarime. I'd become so accustomed to the quiet and darkness of Gamasara nights that the lights and noises of town were distracting. Besides, my heart and mind were full. I knew it was my time to leave Tanzania. I was ready to return to Missouri. Mom was dying, my kids and grandkids were missing me. I longed to trade the missionaries' cat for my dog, LaRussa. Yet I was torn. I remembered what I told Kennedy. Heaven is where there are no good-byes. Someday everyone I love will be together. But not yet. Now it was time for me to return to my other world.

We were supposed to meet at the mission house at 8:00, and I woke up around 6:00. The power was on, so I warmed two pans of water-one for tea and one to wash myself. The night before I had soaked my feet and given myself a pedicure, so I decided to continue the pampering with a warm bath. While the water heated, I washed everything I was leaving at the house-towel, bed clothes, my limp, stretched clothes. The heavens opened up, so I hung everything up in soaking rain.

When the tea was ready, ChaCha, the guard, and I shared some tea. The rain had slowed a bit by the time William and Meng'anyi arrived to take my luggage and me to the taxi. I gave the boys tea and bread and butter and went to the little duka across the street for some packages of snacks for the trip.

9:00. Still no Anna. Two young men and a goat arrived at the gate. ChaCha called me out to tell me the goat was from the mission house landlord, a gift for Angel House. She was so young and scared, I wanted to gather her in my arms and mother her. We moved her on the porch and tried to move away everything she might eat. Meanwhile, the neighborhood kids were making goat sounds and laughing at her replies.

I decided the time had come to call Anna and Marwa, using the goat's arrival as an excuse. Marwa was at the dispensary with amoeba and the baby! Hope, was also sick. They'd come to the house as soon as they could.

Finally, around 10:00, we loaded the truck and went to meet the taxi to Sarari. My hardest good-bye was to William. I still cry remembering our final embrace. His gentle smile at my tears still warms my heart. He is so much wiser than his seventeen years. Would I ever see him again?

I tried to memorize every detail of the landscape during the short taxi ride. We reached the border, dragged the suitcases into the immigration office, and filled out Tanzania paperwork. Then we walked to the Kenyan Immigration Office and bought a visa for that country.

We bought some sizzling hot chips and boarded the bus. During the 8 hour ride, we talked, ate, and slept. By the time w e arrived at the Nairobi bus stand after dark, we had called James, our taxi several times to arrange our meeting place. I was amazed how quickly he appeared in the chaos of Kenya's largest city. Suitcases safely stowed in the taxi, we headed for Hotel Kipepeo.

I was thankful the hotel restaurant was still open. Anna and I went down to eat while Marwa and 11 month old Hope rested in the room. We ordered food for them while we ate.

Fed and exhausted, we ended the day in the luxury of warm shower and clean linens. I slept like a baby!
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