Between our time in India and Tanzania, we spent a few days in Nairobi, Kenya with our entire squad. Some of the World Race staff came for this time of debrief which included incredible worship, solid teaching, setting team goals for the next few months, and some interesting cuisine at a restaurant called Carnivore where we ate a variety of game meats. My introduction into Africa included the sighting of two giraffes right outside of the Kenyan airport.
Day 126: Bus from Nairobi, Kenya to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Our 15 hour bus ride from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam included a 3 am border crossing on foot. I have officially had a passport stamp written in chicken scratch instead of being stamped in my passport.
Day 127: Bus from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Iringa Town, Tanzania
Each stop on our 8 hour bus ride resulted in men, women, and children standing outside of the bus selling various items from food to watches to toys.
Day 128: Iringa Town, Tanzania
We are greeted each day with children screaming “Mzungu” (white people) down the streets. This little girl in the middle was so excited when she saw us that she ran through her friends’ yards yelling “Mzungu, Mzungu” until she had gathered a small crowd and breathlessly cut us off at the end of the road wanting high fives and smiles.
Day 129: Iringa Town, Tanzania
Steven, our main translator for the month, took us up to the “speaking rock” (a rock that echoes…that took us a while to understand through the language barrier) in order to pray for the city of Iringa Town. Iringa itself is a large region of Tanzania, with Iringa Town, where we are living, as the capital of the region.
Day 130: Luang’a, Tanzania
We were split up into groups of 3 to go into various villages for the weekend. Shay, Stephanie, and I were stationed in Luang’a staying in a mud hut with a pastor’s wife and her four little children. This is our beautiful view from our house in the village. I was so humbled when the pastor’s wife gave up her twin bed for the three of us and she took the floor. The selflessness of those who have so little challenges me.
