Tanzania Construction Team Update, September 18, 2010

Tanzania Construction Team
Saturday September 18, 2010

It is always a pleasure to wake at the Catholic guest house and especially after arriving in Dar at night as the grounds are a beautiful, peaceful respite as compared to the large sometimes cacophonous city. While we didn’t rush; we also didn’t waste any time in getting to breakfast and exiting our temporary sanctuary. Mr. Kazoka and his assistant loaded all but our day packs into the large van and left for the Lutheran Junior Seminary where we would be staying. The eight of us, Linda & Robert, Marilene & Scott, Mike, Earl, Tonya & I scrunched into the utility vehicle and headed into town.

Robert took us to the fish market which is across the ship harbor from the guest house. We traveled around the circumference and saw parts of open ocean, control towers, stacks of shipping containers, and finally ran into the smell of fresh fish. Robert guided us into a parking lot with rows of shops on the far side. By shops, I mean open air vendors packed tightly together like booths at the county fair selling sea shells, trinkets, smoked fish and assortments of other foods and beverages.

Across the street is the real action with covered halls of fresh fish, buckets of other catch, and down at the shoreline, boats with people unloading fish, crayfish, octopus and assortments of other sea creatures. There are no tools but hands, no carrying containers other than five gallon buckets. The amount of work being done is enormous. The number of people participating in both the work and purchasing is easily in the hundreds. All walking through shallow streams of dirty, bloodied water. The sight was dizzying and the smells almost overwhelming but we were too busy studying the multi colored catch, puzzling over the strange methods, and listening to the jovial, friendly locals to be deterred from enjoying each moment.

We began our journey to Lutheran Junior Seminary in earnest after returning to the car and “washing” our feet. The eight of us wedged our way into the van and talked and gawked at the sights as Robert drove. The town is crowded and the highway packed with vehicles. Last year, at this same time, I mentioned to Robert and Mike how much more traffic was on the road than 16 months earlier on my first visit. Now, the traffic has increased even more. Part of this is good news as it means that more goods and services are being moved from the seaport capital city of Dar to inner regions of Tanzania. Part of this is bad news as it comes with a price such as numerous overloaded vehicles playing cat and mouse down a two lane “highway.”

What used to take less than an hour, now takes almost two hours to get to Chalinze which can be thought of as the halfway point. Since we exited Dar later than normal our stop includes a lunch buffet of beans, rice, greens, French-fries, a tomato dish, cooked bananas, and soda. We enjoyed our meal and walked through the “mall” which consists of a half dozen people selling wood carvings, knives, signs, jewelry and other must haves.

About another half hour down the road we stopped at a very small village where our friend Luka Ramadhani is buried. He started working for Herb Hafermann and other missionaries as a helper, then as carpenter, and saw the love of Christians. He became a Christian and even became an evangelist helping in many church services and baptism ceremonies. Luka had a big heart and was always a joy to be with. Sadly, a liver disease took him from this world and left his widow with one child and another on the way. Additionally, Luka and his widow Emi had taken in four nieces and nephews from Luka’s brother Solomon as Solomon died two years ago. At another time I hope to pass on the encouraging parts of this story and how Robert and Linda bravely assisted in the final hours and the funeral services. The set of events are sadly beautiful as Emi, who was raised Catholic, was surrounded by dozens and dozens of family and friends before and after the funeral. Luka had a second ceremony of Muslim tradition as his family was of that religion. But the burial was fully Christian and his grave marked by a lovely white cross. The cemetery is unorganized, and a statement to the frailty of man, and temporary nature of our human lives. It is also a great statement of faith and courage as it marks the site of a young man who fought through tradition and found Jesus through the outreach of missionaries. Missionaries who are close to us and to the services of our church. If the only thing we could say at this sight was “another soul for Jesus” it would be enough, but we can say much more about Luka, how he came to know Christ, and how he is our brother.

The next few miles were a little quieter and we slowly began seeing evidence of the Uluguru mountains. After hurdling speed bumps at the next few townships we came to our temporary home. Fortunately we had just enough time to unpack before afternoon tea. We gathered in one quadrant of the dining hall and enjoyed a small snack and hot tea. This, of course, was followed an hour and a half later by dinner. Believe it or not, there were rice and beans with other items :). Though tired from our long few days, we were happy to gather and give praise to our wonderful God who provides us safety, comfort, and fellowship.

I am inspired by the team members and thrilled to be here with them. It is in great joy and thanksgiving that we pray to be part of God’s wonderful plan.