There and Back Again
Back at Mzenga at last! Let me tell you, I'd been dreading it for a while - after almost four weeks of electricity, warm showers, people cooking my food for me, and great company; going back to the cold showers, kerosene lamps, mud walls and people I can barely communicate with was not a prospect I was looking forward to. But by the grace of God we not only got back safely but were able to get right back into the swing of things.
We returned to a most warm reception, so warm in fact, that had it been any warmer we just may have melted. All our friends had certainly missed us and received us eagerly, but coming down from the cool Kenyan Highlands followed by the Northern Tanzanian Highlands, the heat in Mzenga as the hot season sets in was oppressive! Thankfully, it now rains every once in a while, and that cools things down a little.
Things here were largely unchaged - parts of our ceiling had fallen in, and some mice and a few dozen spiders made themselves at home in our absence, but those were soon dealt with, and before long our home was clean again and back to normal.
These last two weeks have mostly been spent in getting back into our groove- getting back in the habit of hanging out with people and not understanding everything they say, being laughed at a good deal but not quite getting the joke, being refused the chickens one asks for irrespective of how politely one asks, etc.
Probably the greatest highlight of our two weeks was a hospital run where we took a young pregnant lady who was having a difficult time with the delivery to the hospital. We had Monica, who's a nurse, with us, but I was still dreading the prospect of receiving a crash-course in obstetrics and gynaecology. Thankfully we got to the hospital in time, the young mother was fine, and the next day she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.
Otherwise, things have mostly been the same, with a couple of minor differences. Jeremy's taken to saying 'later' when saying goodbye to people (but in Kizaramo). Apparently that's become the new thing among the youth of Mzenga, they all say 'badaye' now, instead of the proper goodbye.
Our friend the butcher-with-the-hernia (he still has the hernia- we'd taken him to the hospital and he got some of it stuffed back in, but decided that since it was a result of a curse the operation probably wouldn't be much help, so he declined it. He now walks arounf like a cowboy. I mean literally, like he's just gotten off of a horse) has realized that he has an inflated market of Wazungu (foreigners) who all prefer fillet mignon, so now not all cuts of boneless meat cost the same- fillet costs 1000 shillings more per kilo (that's around 75c; a kilo of filet now costs just under $3.50). Still worth running over for though...
And lastly, one of our friends Mr Huluca lost his wife while we were away- she died of malaria, without ever having a chance to hear about Jesus, or of the abundant life that can be had in Him. More pass on every day... please pray that this may not be so for long! And then pray for us some more!
PS- I have a phone now! You can call me!! The number is 255-78233-9545.
We returned to a most warm reception, so warm in fact, that had it been any warmer we just may have melted. All our friends had certainly missed us and received us eagerly, but coming down from the cool Kenyan Highlands followed by the Northern Tanzanian Highlands, the heat in Mzenga as the hot season sets in was oppressive! Thankfully, it now rains every once in a while, and that cools things down a little.
Things here were largely unchaged - parts of our ceiling had fallen in, and some mice and a few dozen spiders made themselves at home in our absence, but those were soon dealt with, and before long our home was clean again and back to normal.
These last two weeks have mostly been spent in getting back into our groove- getting back in the habit of hanging out with people and not understanding everything they say, being laughed at a good deal but not quite getting the joke, being refused the chickens one asks for irrespective of how politely one asks, etc.
Probably the greatest highlight of our two weeks was a hospital run where we took a young pregnant lady who was having a difficult time with the delivery to the hospital. We had Monica, who's a nurse, with us, but I was still dreading the prospect of receiving a crash-course in obstetrics and gynaecology. Thankfully we got to the hospital in time, the young mother was fine, and the next day she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.
Otherwise, things have mostly been the same, with a couple of minor differences. Jeremy's taken to saying 'later' when saying goodbye to people (but in Kizaramo). Apparently that's become the new thing among the youth of Mzenga, they all say 'badaye' now, instead of the proper goodbye.
Our friend the butcher-with-the-hernia (he still has the hernia- we'd taken him to the hospital and he got some of it stuffed back in, but decided that since it was a result of a curse the operation probably wouldn't be much help, so he declined it. He now walks arounf like a cowboy. I mean literally, like he's just gotten off of a horse) has realized that he has an inflated market of Wazungu (foreigners) who all prefer fillet mignon, so now not all cuts of boneless meat cost the same- fillet costs 1000 shillings more per kilo (that's around 75c; a kilo of filet now costs just under $3.50). Still worth running over for though...
And lastly, one of our friends Mr Huluca lost his wife while we were away- she died of malaria, without ever having a chance to hear about Jesus, or of the abundant life that can be had in Him. More pass on every day... please pray that this may not be so for long! And then pray for us some more!
PS- I have a phone now! You can call me!! The number is 255-78233-9545.
posted by dan at 11/18/2007 10:45:00 a.m.
5 Comments:
Dear Dan,
Thinking and praying for you today. Thanks for keeping us updated and thanks for obeying the call to go where God sent you! :)
We'll pray for Mr. Huluca that he will come to know our Father if he has not yet heard.
Stories like this remind me of why we go and send people to reach the unreached.
Thanks, bro.
-Mel
oh yeah. forgot to tell you I changed the link of my blog to reachtheunreached.blogspot.com I changed it once Will and I got married b/c now it's our shared blog.
:)
Hey Dan
Great to read your blogs and see that God is not only blessing your ministry, but developing your character in this mission venture. I even think your sense of humor is developing (not that it was lacking before). And you'll be great at pizza-making when you return (for anyone that's willing to wait for you to make the cheese, build the oven, etc).
I know that God is working in you and through you each day, and we're continuing to pray for His blessing and protection on you.
We spent a couple of weeks in Brazil recently - lots of fun and some learning too (spent some time in a favella in Recife). Don't miss the fafora (sp?).
Blessings, Stan & Ruth
Hi Dan, I see we are the only two people o the blogisphere who have George Verwer as a favourite author.
Check out his website which you will get on my blog. Its worth joining. Keep glorifying God bro.
Andrw
Mel and Will! Congratulations! Thank you so much for your prayer- I really appreciate it. Mr Luca is actually pretty open to my praying for him in Jesus' name, which is wonderful! He's one of the guys we invited to our place for Christmas lunch, so you could pray for that meeting. Our grasp of the language is still very rudimentary, but we're hoping to read some passages from a Swahili Bible.
Mr and Mrs K, it's always a joy to hear from you- thank you so much for your support in so many ways. How did you enjoy Brazil? I should come visit you guys and make you some pizza from scratch someday... or perhaps you could visit me! :P
Mr Kenny, I checked out your blog- it's great to hear about your ministry in Belfast! That's quite an extensive list of favourite authors you have! Thanks for your comments.
ps- farofa ;)
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