As month 4 in India came and went so did 2011. Our last night in Ongole India was New Years Eve and boy did they show us a good time. We were served a buffet of Indian cuisine, served the Lord’s supper, got our own firework extravaganza, and had worship with 4 teams on A squad. I hated to leave, but I knew God has crazy things planned for Africa.
We flew out of Chennai early in the morning on Wednesday the 4th. We had a layover in Bahrain, during which I ate Chillis. We then flew on to Nairobi, Kenya. We stayed for 5 days in Kenya for de-brief before departing for Tanzania. Debrief is just a time to relax and process what all has gone on over the last 4 months. It was somewhat restful and overall good. My team also changed again (long story)ha-ha! Team SOAR is now down to 5 members.
Here is where I finally get submerged into African culture. 2 of our teams left out early in the morning of the 8 to head to Tanzania. Our bus was supposed to pick us up in Nairobi at 630 am heading to Dar es Salaam. We waited and waited and waited. Finally we got picked up at around 11 am by a temporary bus. This bus would only take us a few hours away and we were told our other bus would be there to pick us up. We arrive late in the evening to Moshi Tanzania. We were told to get off and wait for our bus. After l heard one African man telling the bus driver to just tell us the truth I knew it was not good. So we wait and wait and wait. About midnight our bus arrives to take us to Dar es Salaam. Let me mention that we were supposed to be in Dar es Salaam at 7pm that day to meet a contact. We were then going to get a hotel room overnight and catch a bus the next morning to Morogoro. After boarding our second bus we drive all night and all the next morning. We arrive in Dar es Salaam right before noon, praise God! After arriving we scurry to find sim cards and/or Internet to get in touch with our contacts. 3 of 4 phones were dead, but thankfully one was charged. If you did not know we missed our hotel and our bus.
We eventually get in contact with our guy in Kenya to call the guy in Dar es Salaam to come help us. We all wanted to just take a shower and pass out. After he arrives and talks with us we decide to just get on one more bus for 4 hours. This would take us to Morogoro, our place of ministry this month. So at about 5pm the day after leaving Nairobi we arrive in Morogoro. We were filthy, exhausted, and smelling like something dead.
So here I sit in Morogoro. My contact has left for a week and my team and me are just chilling. This is our week to get to know the city, perfect! We are also waiting on 2 of our other members to join us here. Angel lost her passport so she and Layne had to stay behind in Nairobi to get things squared away. For now it is just me, Emily, and root root (Ruth). We are twiddling our thumbs and waiting for something to do, but at least we get to rest.
PS: Africa is BEAUTIFUL, I do not care what you heard.
