Last Week in Moshi--This Trip

The week has been busy and the next three days will be especially so. 

John and Leah our latest guest!

Some wonderful signs...this one at the YMCA

I still love bars in East Africa

This little guy has been staying around our house with her babies!

Our past week marked the usual countdown for when we begin to say “Tutaonana siku moja” or “We will see you again!” It isn’t always easy, particularly as this departure coincides with Easter.

We do “bless the rains down in Africa” as they are bringing many many plants up, bringing out the termites (which many people here love to roast and eat), and though causing quite a bit of inconvenience because of the mud, are making people believe that the year will be good.

Awesome Blandi

Old Trish, Young Ema

Melki Ema Bona

Young Melki Old Trish

Prisca Stella Arnold

Very Cute CAB Youth Girls!!!!

Ha ha, very cute staff, Trish and Bona

Trish and her girls

Awesome Vale

Board busy at work

In the beginning of the week, we had a great Moshi Community Advisory Board meeting.  As usual the conversations were spirited and left never a dull moment. There was an election, and there were reports about the marathon, and the three trips- Agnes to the US and Emanueli and Prisca to Durban.  The Youth CAB made a date to meet and all the young folks were thrilled to be able to plan something separately from the “old folks”.  The young CAB members were especially touched that there was to be fund raising activities to help them have their own special time to share their ups and downs and help them use the group to be strong as they face many difficulties ahead of them.

Marco Marieke

John Bob and Greg!

Alistar & Kate

This could be a Lonely Planet Advertisement for Wageni in Tz

Hashing can be for children!

Little ones have to do what they have to do!

you can barely see Kili through the church

Our friends Marco and Mareika set an amazing hash in Kibosho.  Though it was raining and incredibly muddy, the views were gorgeous and we could see that on a clear day, the mountain through the beautiful Kibosho Catholic Church would be spectacular. There were some special moments with children and our last hash before leaving this trip was memorable.

Brave singers

During the week (Holy Week) there were medications each day.  Because we have no pastor at this time, there were opportunities for St. Margaret’s community members to step up and offer thoughtful reflections on each day and wow, those of us in attendance were treated to some incredible short meditations.  Because I was in charge of the music for Easter Sunday, I had pulled together a mix of music (all of which I like of course, but which were also a mix of contemporary and old).  A group of six of us managed to pull together 4-part harmony, some solos, and on Easter day, I think some kind of spirit took over. Though we weren’t perfect we did our best and I had but to glance at an old friend and see her tears, the same ones  I had to know that we had helped to make the service something that would be remembered.  Our neighbor and fellow “Dukie” from the medical center gave an incredible sermon, the likes of which I am sure have never been offered here, and to top it off we had a wonderful brunch and Easter Egg hunt.

John at brunch

Casey with Egg Hunt instructions

Pretty cute egg hunters

Lucy and Trish

The wonder did not stop with the events of Easter at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church.  We had been invited to Nick and Sylive’s incredible home in Machame.  We had a fun round of football throwing, during which time I happily sprained my ankle (why I am so old and think that I am so young???? Or never think that you can stay ahead of an 11 year old who has a passion for running). But at sunset, the mountain came out and was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. There has to be some kind of karma in the world to allow us to find such wonderful friends.

A Machame Sunset

So for all the tragedies that did occur on Easter Day, the wreck on I-77, the broken leg of the Louisville Player, and though not a tragedy, a personal twinge for the Blue Devil Seniors, we all have a great deal to be thankful for.

I look forward to seeing my friends and family in the US, and our Duke Community Advisory Board, and of course the mountains!  And, then I look forward to my return to Moshi again.