More New Experiences in Tanzania!!

Mosquito nets and rice have become a regular part of my life, as well as very bumpy, twisty roads that lead to some way outback places where some very hospitable folks call home. Since the internet access has been almost nonexistant, I'll try to get a couple of thoughts off this Tuesday morning.

The last couple of days have again been out in the villages, and Sunday I was the pastor in a two point parish, the two churches are 40 kilometers (approx. 24 miles) apart. I had the privilege of preaching in both parishes with Wellington as my interpreter. The good news is if I messed something up, he could set the record straight. The first service began at 7:00 a.m. followed by a dedication of the pastor's new house, and the second one was to begin at 10:00 a.m. but we arrived at 10:45 to a church full of folks singing and praising God. Following that service we dedicated their new church building that is under construction. We had a lunch together (yes, more rice, chicken, spinach, and noodles). The balance of the day allowed us an opportunity to get to know a delegation from Sweeden that was spending a few days in the village before to going to a deaf school for schildren to volunteer for about 6 months. By the way, the first village was Mpwapwa, and the second was Kongwa, both part of the Mpwapwa District of the Dodoma Diocese.

When the Bishops re-joined us (they had been in another district) they returned with a live goat on top of the land cruiser as that was a gift for Bishop Ngowo from one of the churches. Wellington left for some time with his family on Sunday afternoon. We will surely miss his ability to connect with the people.

Today we will take a 6 hour bus ride to Dar, where tomorrow about midnight we will board a plane for Amsterdam, to Munich, to Bel Grade, for our arrival in Serbia.

God bless you, and thanks for your continued prayers. Praise God Dennis Maurer is running again on all cylinders!!

Pastor Dale