Our last week in Moshi for this Trip, and Amsterdam

Mehru at Sunset from Machame

The first thing that I have to say about this blog, is that I cannot compete with the bugs.  They were as far as I can tell a once in a lifetime experience, for which I am grateful forever.  Please refer to the previous blog for the purple legs of THE Bug, and you will know what I say.  This blog will include our last days in Moshi for this time.

It will not include my most wonderful experience, which was playing with Eija in Church for her last time (please say it isn't so) before she returned to Finland with Ric to seek new futures out of Moshi.  I cannot express my love of our playing together and my love of getting to know such a marvelous woman.  Not only is she a great musician, but a strong and brave woman, brought up by rigid Finnish Missionaries in Kenya, who eventually forged her own Christian path-- a far more peaceful and loving Christian who indeed pledged herself to an embracing wholistic church path that is far more difficult to follow than the rigid "good-bad" one.  Thank you Eija for giving so much of yourself to us, and allowing me to play and sing with you.

We did also have a fabulous picnic for Elizabeth and Coletta and children, and those pictures will have to follow as they seem to be missing tonight!  Suffice it to say that our team is amazing.  And though many are leaving nearly at the same time, Elizabeth has been the stalwart for 7 years in Moshi, the best learner in Kiswahili, and one of the most giving leaders we have ever had.  Her beautiful children ( will follow) and the rest of the picnic.  Wow.  What a great group.  We also lose Matt and Jess and the watoto watano.  I simply do not know what the compound will do without you.  Dr. John and Molly.... Alfred will really not know what to do., and Julia...gracious. It is a huge sad exodus of wonderful people.  Please come back . (Pics in next blog I promise)

As we wound down our trip, in addition to the best church service (only my note) and party (my note) we had the best hash (my note).  John and I scouted it the day before at our dearest friends Nic and Sylvie Emannual's house, and it was unbelievably beautiful.  When we set it, we knew that it would not be hard, it would not be long, but it would be so beautiful.  And that is what we planned. Most of the walkers knew the farm and most were grateful to be able to experience it one more time.

John scouting

John scouting hash

John walking cornfields

scouting near the cornfields

John Nikoli Bob

Kili after sunset

kili at perfect light

Tarija shares her hat

Trish and Terrie...best Moshi friends

So there we were.  We left the next day for Amsterdam, and had the opportunity to stay for two days.  Great times Rain, cold but the Riksmuseum was open for the first time in nearly 20 years.  Fantastic.  I had the great fortune to spend one day there and as well to get some good sleep at a great bed and breakfast.  What more can you want.

Newly renovated Riksmuseum

Three Sisters
 Surely these three sisters do not look like my own three daughters?

Issues about death and ressurection.... cannot tell what it means

Entrance Riks

My Fav Van Gogh....The Farm Cottages

My friend is very handsome and looks exactly like this pic

Delft ware mantle... I want one

So do you really want to see the Night Watch...Lineup

I do great selfies

Another good one

This could be my children feigning sickness before school

I have this print, but wept over the original
It is called St. Titus the Monk

Waterloo Picture

The beautiful Market (probably one of many)

Thank you for a wonderful time... Netherlands

And a very Happy Easter to all.  We can hope within the time of resurrection, that there is resurrection of peace and caring towards humanity, and at the same time a new care of our environment, our trees and animals and plants. 

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.