Neema Crafts

"...so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17

We arrived in Iringa about mid-day Saturday and our first stop was Neema Crafts. Neema is the Swahili word for grace and nothing could be more fitting. This workshop sponsored by the Anglican Church employed the deaf and handicapped. In Africa the handicapped are either left to die as infants or they are hidden away. Neema Crafts trains and provides an opportunity for work in weaving, papermaking, textiles, a small shop staffed as well sell the wares. We enjoyed our lunch at the first deaf staffed café.

While we were there we met a group from England that comes once a year to provide medical evaluation and hearing aides for the deaf. We also met lots of students from all over Tanzania who are working with the peace corps and congregating in Iringa for the Easter break. Most are serving as teachers in secondary schools.

The workshop has outgrown its current location and is building a new building adjacent to the Anglican Cathedral. What a wonderful witness and business! Plans are also in the works for a deaf staffed hotel, I hope tot be able to stay there one day as well!

Easter Sunday

“He is not here is has risen!” Luke 24:6

Easter Sunday was spent worshiping our Lord in Iringa, Tanzania, located about 5 hours south of Dodoma by car. The Area is beautiful, mountainous and supports a host of plants and trees I have not seen in the Dodoma region.

Our hotel was located at the top of one of the hills and you could see the city below and the mountains across. It rained almost the whole time we where there but none of us minded the refreshing coolness!
On the grounds we saw avocado , guava and citrus trees loaded with fruit, hollyhocks, lots of roses and dahlias to mention a few.

We attended Easter Service as the Anglican Cathedral where Archbishop Mtetemela was delivering the sermon, in Swahili. He paired us with a lovely New Zealand couple with four children ranging from 16-5! They translated the sermon and we where along to understand the message. The youngest was so cute and spent our time at tea in the pastors house in my lap! The hospitality was wonderful.

Outside we where greeted by Gladys, the Archbishop’s wife.

Rev. Dr. Carr and his wife also enjoyed the celebration and worship.

Night Rider

“…He causes Hi s sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” Matthew 5:45


I am not sure which of the category we fell into, but we definitely received the rain! As mentions in regard to the elephants… While having enjoyed a day at the game park, we where “hurrying” back to the Hotel trying to beat the DARK and approaching storm. There is no such thing as street lights once out of a city; only one road in Dodoma has lights. It is dark, very dark. The vehicle we were in was very old Land Cruiser, John guesses the 60’s, canvas covered. We watched as our diver twisted the two wires that where coming out of the “dash” together,..Volia lights-hit a bump, no lights,…oh there we go lights again. The entire instrument panel was non- functioning, no idea of speed, fuel, temperature or how much oil we where burning. But to be honest none of us cared! Then,….the wind and storm was on us! Well the canvas was keep in place in the front sides by shutting the door frames on them, the canvas there made up for no windows in the doors, I think we stopped twice in the POURING rain to catch and eventually hold the canvas down as we went along. The rain was coming in horizontally and straight over the windshield, we are all dying laughing. I look over at our travel companions and friends from St. John’s University, Dr. Neville Carr, Dean of Education and His wife Elspeth and could not resist a photo!

This is Dr. Carr, note totally cover and still wet, -wind!

His wife Elspeth!

John and I had opened an umbrella and had it in front of us deflecting most of the rain. It was so dark I could not even see what I was doing. Just pointed and shot the photos, delighted with the results! We laughed the whole way back at our “spa treatment”.

Me! Missed John!

Snake park

“ When I am afraid, I will trust in You” Psalm 56:3
I do not like snakes, but our hotel in Mukumi had a snake park, and I definitely needed to know more about the snakes in Africa. So in we went, early one morning before breakfast!

John “holding “ a cobra by the neck, well painting of a cobra, at the entrance to the park.

(Think Gatorland)

There was no information as to what is what on most exhibits, but I believe these to be the black and green mambas, DEADLY!

A nasty pile of green mambas.

These tree viper where by far the creepiest, you could NOT see them! They look exactly like thin branches. Only the head and eyes give them away and as we saw one at first we kept looking and saw the entire tree branch was draped with vipers. AUGH! We are sure we would never see one in the wild before they would see us.

Elephants!

“Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” Proverbs 4:26

This seems to be the motto of the Elephants!

And they are not kidding! This massive male elephant was NOT happy with the land rover in front of us on the road.

Quite scary for us in the “jeep” behind, as you can see from the photo, canvas on a simple welded frame, three of us sitting up on this high welded seat. Our driver/guide could not turn off our oil burning vehicle because we had already been jumped start by pushing with another vehicle at the Hippo pond moments before!

The elephant charged, raised and shook his head and then came face to face with the Land rover! As you can see from the size of the elephant that he could have easily pushed it over. Our driver reversed as that is seen as nonthreatening and we still smelled (oil) and where loud!

What we found out was there was one more left in his “group” that had not crossed the road! When she crossed, everything was fine, and we were able to drive on slowly past and then really left!

A bit further on we say the cutest/little frightening demonstration of elephant idea of family. What you can no see in this photo is a brand new baby elephant, no taller that the grass and all ears! SO CUTE!!!! We stopped took photos and one of the group auto flash went off. Well that was it- the mama would have none of that. What you see is her beginning her charge. Within seconds, literally the others in the group made a circle around the baby all facing out! You can see the formation, even a young adolescent, in seconds- you could not even see the baby. Completely organized, the mama only charged about 10-12 feet then took her place in the circle. We did not hesitate to move on, the sun was setting quickly and we all needed to get out of the park. More on that later!

“He wraps himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of His upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.” Psalm 104:2-3

The landscape was amazing, and the photos do not do justice to the expanse and awe one feels as you just stand there. The mountains in the back ground seem to surround the park on all sides, the clouds where very dramatic and the grass, about 6 feet high in most places was like a sea.

Mukumi National Park 2

“The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.” Psalm 104:21

Although we personally saw no lions, reports of four including two cubs was the hunt of the late afternoon. Our guide was quite diligent and we saw much of the park.

We finished the evening at the Hippo pond, where they usually exit the pond. The poor hippos where just exhausted, they had been laying in the pond ALL DAY, we saw almost every one of them yawn, even the little ones! What did you do all day!

This huge crocodile was living with the hippos, most of the time you could only see the backs or the just the top of the heads!

These baby warthogs reminded us our sweet little scottie dog, all head! Very cute!

“How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all: the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24

We decided to take advantage of the long Easter week-end to travel and see a bit of this beautiful country, Africa. Our first destination was Mukumi National Game Park, about a five hour drive from Dodoma and St. John’s University.

The Park is beautiful and we saw animals almost the whole day! Impalas and Storks!

Parliament

“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask more.” Luke 12: 48b

Dodoma, Tanzania is the seat of government. The Parliament buildings are very futuristic with beautiful grounds and well guarded. The building with the spire is where Parliament convenes. The wall surrounding the complex has vey interesting and unusual ironwork, arched frames and training Bougainville.

The future of Tanzania in determined behind these walls. The city becomes very crowded when the President, staff and members are in town. I love to see the all the SUV’s with the flags of Tanzania waving in the wind as the autos speed by.
A recent scandal removed the Prime Minister and several others, the Cabinet was shuffled, and a new Prime Minister appointed. The whole process was amazing, very orderly, very open and peaceful. Very impressive.

SJUT Chapel

“I rejoice with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122: 1

This is the Chapel located on the campus of Saint John’s University of Tanzania. Like most Anglican churches the “hangings” are changed to reflect the season, the purple is up as Lent begins. When we arrived the “hangings” and Altar hanging were orange. I am not familiar with the use o f that color in the USA

Retired Bishop Etiruka serves as the Chaplain for the University, officiates for the “English Service” and also joins “Pastor Frank” in officiating the Swahili service that takes place at the Chapel Sunday mornings. Two services take place each Sunday; the English Service begins at 7:30 and lasts about one hour. The Swahili service follows at 9:00 and last usually 2- 2.5 hours.
John and I have enjoyed the Swahili service and I find the singing very helpful understanding how to pronounce the words printed in the small paper song book. A lot of the songs I know in English and it are so nice to hear them sung in another language. “Great is they Faithfulness”, “Trust and Obey” and of course- “Amazing Grace”! We have just picked up a dual language Bible to help follow along, many of the westerners here have told us how much the Bible has helped them with their language. Still a real uphill for me! I am working on the numbers!

A Walk through Campus

As John and I walked in early one morning so too was a busy line of large ants, each carrying a load, heading back to the giant fig tree where they must live. Ants always amaze me by their order, focus and perseverance all things that reflect God’s might character in harmony!

"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers it's food at harvest." Proverbs 6:6-7

Water is still a problem in the dorms, problems with the valves and tanks and the city turning off the water has led to many attempts to solve the no water in the morning for the girl’s dorm. Please pray for this- it is one thing after another! Almost any day as you pass the girls dorms you see their laundry drying on the lines they have set up. Saturday is a big wash day, even the grounds and rocks and trees are covered with drying laundry.

Across from the female dorms is the SJUT Dispensary, wonderful to be able to get your medical needs meet right here on campus.