Tanzania: A Day Off

From Tanzania 2009 Photo Album

Up at 5:30 again. Usual breakfast. Dressed in our Sunday best for Mama's church marathon service. We enjoyed three choirs and they showed us Canadians how to properly sing well and sing loud. A beautiful three-part harmony by twenty-five African voices is very powerful to hear. We volunteers were called to the front of the church with Mama so she could explain why we were there and what our purpose was. Each of us introduced ourselves and Lisa and Liz even managed to say it in Swahili.

After our introductions, we moved to the children's Sunday School building. The excitement that ensued was overwhelming. Lots of hugs, handshakes, smiles and warm welcomes. The children then formed their choir and sang three songs of welcome accompanied by two boys on a drum. Their love of music and innocent voices were very touching. The drummer was a hilight for Gary.

Mama then surprised us by asking us come to the front and share a sample of a Canadian Sunday School hymn. Our quick thinking lead us to "Jesus loves Me." We then had the children come and join us and Dave was told to write the words in English on the back blackboard. His teaching years came quickly back to him.

As we left the building, there were more handshakes, smiles, and touching.

Mama then took us on a short ferry ride across the Bay to tour a former distribution site from five years ago. We stopped for some fresh local coconut juice direct from the fruit before catching the ferry back to Dar Es Salaam. We were the typical tourists who then went souvenir shopping and Gary, Bob and Lisa were successful in their bargaining powers. Linda was a quiet observer who is going to make her move later in the trip.

Love to all friends and family. We will catch up on Canadian news later.

Team Tanzania 2009

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