Just a quick update to keep
our support group aware of our activities here in Tanzania
Shortly after arriving at
O’Hare in Chicago , we were approached by a young
lady who, after inquisitively looking at our luggage tags, introduced herself
as one of the three female teachers joining us on the trip to Tanzania Madisi Secondary School
We reached the hotel with all of our luggage at 5:00, slept for five hours, and
were up for breakfast and lunch within two hours of each other. Mr. Edgar took
us on a harbor walk tour of downtown Dar, and delivered us back to the hotel
for dinner and an early bedtime.
Up at 4:30 a.m., we were loaded and
transported to the bus station for a 6:30 departure. The others dropped off at Mafinga, and we continued on, reaching Mbeya at 8:25 p.m. Although we’d been texting the folks at Idigima that we were on our way, trouble with the truck resulted in them not meeting us at the station until 10:15.
The staff had a
chicken dinner waiting for us at midnight, and the generator was left on for us
to dig a path through the luggage and storage bins to “find the bed.” By 2:00
a.m., we were finally back home in our own bed.
We arrived in time to
assist with the September Mid-Term examinations, although not as intensely as
in the past. Our typing classes for teachers paid off! By the time we arrived,
the teachers had typed their own examinations. All that was needed was a few
format adjustments.
Although there was a lot of
sign from rat activity in our house during our absence, one of the kittens we
left behind has been restored to us, and we haven’t seen hide nor hair of a rat
since our return. For those following our third generation cat saga, this one
is named Sassy.
Due to a back injury that had been plaguing Gary the last couple of weeks in the States and growing worse from lifting containers during our travels, we contacted our Registrar to assign a couple of “students in need” to help us with chores.
The boys, Danieli and Shukrani, are Form One students, orphans, and working hard to make good grades as well as earn money to pay their way through school. They’ve been hauling water for the house and garden, watering trees, fixing fences and preparing the garden for planting.
This dry season is not the time to be planting garden, but with their daily watering, we’re going to try to get some vegetables started. With
On a related note, we had a
wonderful blessing while in the States from the F.W. Schumacher Company, who
donated thousands of tree seeds for the reforestation of the Idigima Secondary School Gary
The Headmaster visited the project
yesterday and was very pleased with the prospect of having shade trees and
windbreaks for the campus.
Joanne is staying busy with
50 new students since returning and more coming nearly every day, and with new
students come the need for uniforms. Gary
We are so thankful for the
items donated this year. The students and staff are especially excited about
the number of soccer and volleyballs we were able to bring, thanks to the Iowa Mennonite
High School
The bottom line in all of
this, as always, is to build relationships for the communication of the gospel.
Just the other day, we had a student express interest in learning to use a
computer. His name is Ayubu, and he is a frequent chapel preacher. In the
course of teaching him basic typing skills, we learned that he has a younger
brother, Ronaldo, in school who does not attend church. We ask you to pray that
the Lord will open opportunities to influence this youth and others.
In God’s grace and service,
Gary & Joanne Grenell
Glad you're back safe and sound!
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