Transport in Tanzania

Transport can be a most interesting experience in Tazania. From the daladala (mini bus) that you find in all of the major cities and towns, to the truck (hmm), piki piki (motor bike), to the bike taxi (you get to sit on the carrier).

Well most of the time you sit down, hold tight and pray.

More than once we have sat on the top of cargo in various size trucks and held on with grim determination. There is no exageration with this photo taken from a local newspaper. When you have little money, this may be your only option.

Mwanjelwa Moto Sana

Yesterday evening a fire broke out and consumed the main market in Mbeya – Mwanjelwa. It raged for over 24hrs before it was contained. Partly this was due to fire engine minus water. A fire engine had to come all the way from Iringa to extinguish it this morning.

We walked through the area with bro Jonathan and his wife Upendo this afternoon after our return from Sumbawanga. Upendo (who was the main breadwinner of the family) had a vegi stall in the centre of the market and we walked through a desolate area which was once thriving and bustling with shoppers. She was understandably in total shock and very distressed – we were able to help out a little. Unfortunately not only the fire, lack of water but looters also caused havoc. Truly the place is a pile of charcoal.

Our sister Matilda lives next to the market and we visited her and she is fine. Also our bro Mwakabana who also works in the market is fine and helping with the clear-up. We are keeping an eye on the situation as he eeks out an existance there (he suffers from TB).

Car Boot Load Full of Chickens (Chooks/Kuku)

Well where have we been now? Back to Sumbawanga for a quick visit to see whether our new school attendees are going well and our sisters settling in together. We stayed for one day and two nights and what a whirl-wind visit it was. We were initially hoping to distribute the outstanding portions of the ecclesial fund to all ecclesia’s (wine, biscuits etc) but instead were kept very busy indeed.

We had a talk to the two sisters about strategies for becoming self-sustaining, purchased some mosi nets, beans, hoes (very important), seeds (cabbage, beans, carrots etc), charcoal and chickens (three boys and five girls). The chickens survived the car boot along with the kerosene

Then came the school inspection. We had a look at Godfrey, Eliud, Veronika and Musa's school books, followed by a talk with the Head Teacher. They didn’t do very well in the exams, but overall they are all progressing well considering all the school they have missed. Their behaviour and attitude are excellent.

Sumry "Reclining" Class

Well we survived out trip from Sumbawanga back to Mbeya. Despite the road condition, rain and driver we arrived in one piece. We sat on the second last row this time which is better for peace of mind as you cant see what the road is like in front.

What you may (or may not) be able to work out from the photo is the fun we had because of our seats. Yes, this is Jonathon in the reclining mode. Our row (of three) already weakened by many backs and bottoms, started to recline an hour into the six hour journey. By the end we were in fits of laughter, the chair backs were touching the seats behind and (of course) the people behind had moved to safety. We called it "Half-Airoplane Class" in classic Tanzanian fashion.

Sumry High(Reclining) Class Bus to Mbeya

Sumbawanga

Picture 1: The chooks who instead of going into the cooking pot, will live at the ecclesial hall.




Picture 2: The new well at Sumbawanga hall (nearly completed)

Return to Mbeya

Well we have finished a week back in Mbeya. Its been very quiet and we have been able to get a lot of administration and translation done. Unfortunately very few bre and sis were interested in seeing us, but that is their decision. They are deciding who they want to follow - men or Christ.

We were however able to meet up with those that are ill/recovering and have memorial services with them these last two Sundays. There is sis Hilda (N'Gombo ecclesia who is recovering from a hernia operation), sis Matilda (who is recovering from long term illness), bro Mwakabana (who has TB) and a sis Ruti (previously AWOL).

<> is of a very dusty, curious little girl we met at Uyole. She had a teddy bear in a kanga tied to her back, in the same style that all mothers carry their young children.

Kyela and Killer Mangos

So here we are again in Kyela area in late November. There are 5 ecclesias in this area: Kyela, Tenende, Kanga, Ipinda and Makwale. It is mango season at the moment and that means happiness on the fruit front, although wariness when walking under trees.

We were able to meet with about half of the bre and sis as we had dropped in on them unannounced. We saw bro Michael from Makwale who had been recently discharged from hospital. He has a ulcer on his heel which is causing long-term problems and has just had 2 months in Matema Beach Hospital. We stayed one night at Matema Beach where we had fresh fish (one called Sam the Samaki was very tasty!)

We we blessed to be able to get transport from Ipinda to Kanga (5km). Previously we had hired bikes. But this time the heat and hummidity would have been a bit much for us. The transport turned out to be a pikipiki with trailer (ie something like a Tuk-Tuk). We were able to view the beginnings of the ecclesial hall and gingerly cross a stream on creaking bamboo. Unfortunately Carl took a great picture of me (see right - sigh)... mobile phone cameras should be banned!