We Are Home

We are safely back home.  24 hours after we took off from Dar es Saalom we landed in Washington, DC.  A very smooth flight. We had a 3 hr. lay-over  which stretched to 4 hrs in DC then we boarded the plane for the 2 hour flight home.  Something was going on and we waited in line for take off for over an hour.  No problems until we get to the US. 

Don went to work this AM and I started unpacking.  Then I started packing because while we were in Tanzania we sold our house and will close on Nov. 12.  We will be busy the next couple of weeks.  We have purchased a condo in Prior Lake.  It was time to down size as this summer we built a house on our property in Tofte.  The house is now enclosed, just waiting for Don and I to start work on the inside.  That will be slow going.

God has blessed us with more than we need and we want to share it with others.  We feel privileged to be able to go to Tanzania and help people improve their standard of living.  We do not know what hunger is.  Not having enough food to feed your family one or two meals a day must be terrible for a parent.  We hope to help them learn better farming practices to produce a better and more abundant crop.

You can go to www.TumainiAg.com to learn more about the program.

Thank you for praying for us while we were gone.  We enjoyed reading your comments. Maybe some day you can make the journey and visit these beautiful people.

Karen Fehr

Last Day In Iringa

Today is our last day in Iringa.  It has gone so fast. 

I’ve learned that if I go back to the same people in the market to buy my fruits and vegetables I get a better deal each time.  They see me coming and a big smile comes on their faces.  Maybe they are thinking, ‘Here comes that wazungu and we will make some money today.’  My problem is that I buy too much stuff and then have to carry it home.  It’s a 15 minute walk.  A large pineapple, 2 kilos of carrots, 1 kilo onions, 2 kilos tomatoes, etc all add up.  Remember that 1 kilo is 2.2 #’s.  Then if I stop at the grocery and buy anything I add to the weight.  I’m getting a work out.  If we stayed longer I would have good biceps.  I am learning to cook the way the Tanzanian’s do by starting with fresh tomatoes and make spaghetti sauce, beans, etc. The secret to some of their sauces is ginger.

 

Coke Delivery to the Stores

My Pinapple, Mango, Melon Man

Part of the Market

It has been a very rewarding experience and we plan to come back again.  If we can help improve the lives of a few people it will be so worth the time.  I do feel we are getting more than we are giving.  I’m learning to appreciate the simple things in life and the slower pace and thank God for all He has given me.

 This will be the last blog until we get home on Sunday, Oct. 25.  We leave for Dar es Saalom tomorrow morning and board our plane Saturday afternoon for Minneapolis.  We fly Ethiopian Airline from Dar to Addis Ababa, Ethiopian, then on to Rome and DC.  Then home to MPLS.

 Thanks for your prayers and the comments many of you have left on the blog.  It’s so good to hear from home.

 

Karen

Endless Ride to Kivalamo

After breakfast of Mango juice, Mandazi’s (doughnuts without holes), banana’s and coffee on the balcony, we had devotions from Christ In Our Home. The passage was I Samuel 12: 1-25 and the highlighted verse was 21, “Do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless.” The author tells of toys his sons receive, play with and then quickly set aside. They would play for hours on the gravel driveway creating lakes, roads. etc. The children here do not have toys as in America but are happily playing with things available. A picture I missed was the District Pastor’s 3 year old son rolling a bike tire with a stick as fast as he could run. We have seen other children along the roads with a stick that has a wheel on the end and running it down the road. A few blogs back is a picture of boys playing soccer with a ball they made from plastic bags. These children are using God’s gift of creativity, they are not bored and they are happy. I urge you to read this devotional for Oct. 21. It has a lesson for us all on using the ability’s God has given us.

Yesterday we went to Kivalamo, about 50 miles from Iringa. Their partner is Elim Lutheran, Scandia. It took us 3 hours to get there. We traveled up and around the mountains, past the Red Forrest with red monkeys and on a ‘cow path’ the last 6 miles. Their weather is much different from most of the villages. They get more rain and it is a place that you can only reach when it is dry. If the roads were wet you would slip on the clay and right down the mountain. The village sits high on the mountain and we walked down to the valley to the plot. An elderly lady held my hand in some steep parts going down. I got my cardio exercise coming up. They had a good crop of corn last year, but the rains came and rotted the corn before it could dry. This year they planted earlier hoping to avoid that problem and now the rains have not come and the seed is not germinating. Very discouraging. We were served Taro, which is a root vegetable that looks like sugar beets. Cooked it looked and tasted just like white potatoes. It’s a vegetable that likes wet soil. I also saw coffee plants and we drove by a coffee plantation. They must export all the coffee because we were always served tea. I’m bringing some tea home because it is very good.

Walking Down to Plot at Kivalamo

 

View from the Church.  The plot is at the bottom, in the valley.  You can not capture the beauty on camera of this view.

On the way home the pastor’s wife, of one month, and another woman got into the back of the pickup for a 6 mile ride to Idente.  I guess it was better than walking and the men in the truck didn’t think anything of letting them ride in the back.  A different culture.  Don did drive careful over the rough ‘cow path’.

Karen

Social Weekend

I must hurry and blog before the electicity goes off again.  You learn not to put things off because you never no when you will be without power.

We are soon to come home and our social life is picking up.  Saturday night we were invited to Ibrahim’s home for dinner.  We had just arrived and the electricity went out.  If that would have happened to me my guests would have gone hungry.  Not in Tanzania.  They cook over charcoal so everything went of fine.  Candles were lite and 2 kerosine lanterns and we had a great time.  Toothpicks are a popular and needed item here.  The meat is very tough and everyone has a toothpick hanging out of there mouth after dinner.  This is Ibrahim’s 18 month old daughter who has to be like everyone else.

Caren

Sunday we went to Ihemi for church and fellowship.  Don was asked by the District Pastor if he would preach but he declined.  Mandazi’s, Chipoti’s, coffee and tea before church.  This was Pastor Upenda Sanga’s first Sunday back after maternity leave.  The service was very uplifting as it always is at Ihemi.  They are so filled with God’s love.  After the 2 1/2 hr service it was back to the District Pastors home for dinner. 

Ihemi Band, 1st row of choir and Pastor Sanga with baby

Pastor Sanga, husband Dr. Mtulo and Twilumba

Today we went back to Ihemi for a visit regarding the CVP plot.  Many good questions asked and the District Pastor is very supportive of the program.  He spoke to the people about the importance of record keeping and following the guidelines.  Off again tomorrow to Kivaloma.  This will be a long drive.

Karen

The Road Home to Iringa………………………….

As we prepared to leave the village of Mlafu yesterday afternoon, one of the Evangelists asked if we could give him a ride to town. In this country we are careful about picking people up along the road, but this man was the Evangelist from the Preaching Point of Masimike, about four kilometers from Mlafu. So we added him to our crew of four and started on our way.

A little about Evangelists. These are people, men and women, some old, some young, that have taken some training in theology, and serve the people in their community. Typically a village that doesn’t yet have a church. There can be just a few, or many, like ten serving from one Church. They work under the direction of the Pastor at their Church.  Picture a wheel, with spokes extending out to the surrounding areas where they erect small places of worship to bring the Gospel to the far corners of the world. I don’t know if they receive any pay, not likely. They will receive payment in due time.

Before we left Minnesota (cold there they tell me) our friends at River of Joy, a small ELCA congregation of the St. Paul Synod, asked us to purchase a bicycle for an Evangelist. Sounds like a simple task. The need here is great. Giving away a bicycle shouldn’t be much of a challenge! Our struggle was who to give it to? We visited congregations across the Iringa region, and always there were Evangelists in the crowd to greet us and listen to our advice on how to improve their yields from their fields. Then along comes Nenason Msola, delivered right into our vehicle for a ride to Iringa Town. How many times have I heard it, “God works in mysterious ways”.

I started asking questions as I drove down through the hills heading for the main road that would lead us back home, to Iringa Town. Nenason Msola is married with five children. His oldest is a son, 22, attending form 6, the equivalent of a senior in high school. A daughter of 16 is in form 4, sophomore to us. Three more 14, 12, and 11 all are attending school. Don’t be confused by the fact that a 22 year old is in high school, called Secondary School here. When the opportunity arises, you take it. Secondary School is not free, and few families can afford to send their children without help from a sponsor somewhere to help. This son had to take exams for a week to ten days to demonstrate his knowledge and move on from form four. Very difficult and tremendous pressure, as those who do not pass are done with their education.

I felt a little bad about giving this poor guy the third degree. I wondered what he thought, who is this crazy Wuzungu asking all these questions? I had Gabriel, our Tanzanian friend taking it all down for me, and told him about River of Joy. A small congregation, evangelizing, bringing the Gospel to corners of the world not so far as away. I told him they want to help him in his mission to preach the Gospel, because they are doing the same thing in Minnesota. First stop in town was the bicycle store, and we got the best one they had. Thanks to River of Joy!

Nenason Msola and His New Bike

Don

Church Bells

Saturday, Sunday and other days of the week church bells peel throughout Iringa. It’s a beautiful sound, calling people to worship. Soon after we hear the bells music comes from the churches. Oh how I love their music. There is a church a block from our apartment that has meetings every day and evening. They really rock at that church.

In the villages, their bell is a wheel rim. It is rung to call people to worship but also to call people to come to church for a meeting.  At several villages the pastor would invite us into his home for tea,  then ring the bell to let the people know we had arrived and that the meeting would soon begin.

Village Church Bell

What do we do with old wheel rims?

On The Road to Mau…………………….

Another beautiful day in Iringa. Woke up to about 60 degrees this morning. It does get warm pretty quickly, and by about 9:00 it is into the 70’s. Perfect weather for a Minnesotan, but serious parka (if you own one) weather for the locals. Our safari (Swahili for journey or trip) today is to Mlafu, a village about two hours northeast of Iringa Town. I am really enjoying driving through the countryside, rough roads, narrow (sometimes no) bridges and all. There are a lot of donkeys on the road today. Met a caravan of ten or twelve loaded down with sacks, probably corn coming from this area. They carry the heavy loads downhill, well, mostly downhill, as we are headed up into the high country.

The Road We Came On, The Road We Go Back On

Like nearly every village we visit in this high country, the Church is built on the top of the highest hill in the village. I am reminded of a reading earlier this week or last, that talked of the long past practice of making burnt offerings to God. I expect that those people were sending the offering to God through the smoke rising and blowing away on the winds. Did the Indians that built elevated platforms of wood on which to place their dead and then light a fire for the same reason? To release their spirits to the winds, God’s winds? Is this why these people choose the highest ground for their churches? Standing on the hill at the Mlafu Lutheran Church, looking out at the valleys and hills in every direction, with farms and villages dotting the slopes, I am once again in awe of God’s beautiful creation.

 We met in the church with the Pastor, three Evangelists, and other congregation leaders and members. After reviewing the printed documents outlining the farming practices we are working with them to implement, we went outside in front of the church and showed them how to measure out a 1/2 acre plot. This will be the demonstration plot for corn. They have another 1/2 acre plot beside the church that will be planted with beans as well. They had many excellent questions, as we would too, if some funny looking people from the other side of the world came over to tell us to change the way we have been doing things for generations. This is why the program calls for follow-up meetings, at least six each year, to reinforce the new methods.

A local government official came to see what we were doing. He was introduced as a government farm extension agent. I was able to tell him that I also work for the local government in the US, and that what we are bring to these people is farm extension, as it is done in America.

Tomorrow……….The road home with the Evangelist

Don

On the Road Again

Tuesday we headed out to Lulanzi Lutheran Church.  The  Ag. Inst. also has a farm in this area.  Lulanzi is the highest point in the Iringa region.  As we drove up and up I could smell the pine from new cut trees. It reminded me of Northern Minnesota. The air was also filled with the scent of Eucalyptus.  I have only seen this tall shrub growing in these higher elevations. 

We were late, as usual, and about 20 people were waiting for us in the church.  The excitement in the room was very catchy.  As Gabriel was giving his presentation I glanced out the church window and saw school children walking by.  A good picture I thought.  All I had to do to attract a large crowd was to take one picture.  Some of the children were caring large sticks to school for fire wood.  I had to hold them back so I could get them in the picture.

Children Going To School in Lulanzi With Firewood

When everyone went out to measure the plot (which was next to the church), I sat on a mound of dirt with 4 ladies who did not speak English.  Luckily one of the ‘Christian Members of the Church’, as he spoke of himself, could interpret.  They asked ‘are there any poor people in America or is every one rich’?  How was I to answer that. Rich to them is having the basic things in life, like being able to feed your children.

When the plot was measured and the hoeing demonstration finished we were invited into the pastors home for tea, dinner rolls, potatoes and warm hard boiled eggs.  This was an enthusiastic group.  There pastor is going to be moving to become the District Pastor so I hope the new pastor will catch the fever.  One last question on the rain gauge before we left.  This is really new to them.

Forgot to say that each meeting is opened with prayer and this group sang a song.  I just love their singing.

Yesterday we were without electricity from 6 PM to 10 PM so that put a bug in blogging.  These are like black outs in America when the weather is hot.  Most of the electricity is hydro power and the rivers are very low. That’s it for today. 

Karen

Fast Food – Tanzanian Style!!!

 I’m sure everyone has noticed there is no longer fast food in the U.S.? When’s the last time you went to McDonalds and got your food fast? Usually only one, or at best two taking orders, then get in line again for your food. They have the burgers cooked and in little drawers back there, so it isn’t like you are getting something made to order for your wait. Well in this regard Tanzania is way ahead of us in the good U.S. Last week as we driving up the escarpment, a very steep hill that trucks are in low gear to climb, on the main highway from Dar es Salaam, the same young fellow as usual ran right up to my door to sell me lunch, hot off the grill! You don’t even need to stop, just pay as you go! Their charcoal grill sits alongside the road and fresh ears of corn are roasting and ready to go. Sorry, I can’t tell you how much, but I would guess no more than a couple hundred shillings, about 15 cents.

It is common to go into a local café, order a drink, say a Coke. Then watch as the server goes back to the kitchen area and returns in a few minutes without your drink, and hurries’ out the door to find the nearest shop to buy your Coke. I have heard of tight inventory control, but this is pushing it.

Sometimes it is hard to understand how the small shop keepers can make a living. Anything you need can be bought on the street from the Walking Wal-Mart’s. Especially at points of traffic congestion, you can get everything from a drink of water to a new outfit. Any type of food you can imagine is available. While waiting at a construction site restricted to one lane a few days ago I watched the car ahead of us buy several small containers of yogurt. They finished them before we were released to move through the construction zone – I know because I saw the empties come flying back out the window.

The best of the entrepreneurs I have seen was the Traveling Victoria’s Secret Man. While far down a small dirt road a couple hours travel from the paved highway we passed a young man that had bras hanging from both arms. We laughed about that, but he got the last laugh. When returning later in the day, there he was standing in a village selling the latest fashions to a group of women!

Don

Sights in Iringa

6 AM in Iringa, Tanzania, the tea is steeping and day is breaking.  The roosters are crowing, the dogs have stopped barking, church bells are ringing, and the Muslim Call to Prayer is over.  It’s time to start another day, although Don is still sleeping.

The Muslim’s first Call to Prayer starts at 4:30 AM and goes for an hour.  The Mosque is two blocks away and they use the loud speakers to broadcast.  It is really pleasant to listen to if they do not have the speakers to loud. On the weekend of the end of Ramadan the speakers were turned up full blast.  People are already walking or riding their bikes to their work.  At 7 PM it is dark and the day is over for most people.  The shops close about 6 PM because most have no electricity.  Many shops are closed Sunday morning and people are walking by all dressed up for church.

This Sunday the power went out at 10 AM for 7 hours.  The Anglican Church had a generator going outside and as we walked by you could still hear the singing over the noise of the generator engine.  The music is great to listen to.  As I may have mentioned before, we have a 7^th Day Adventist church within view of our back windows and they have the most beautiful music coming from that church.  I’m tempted to slip into the back pew and listen.

A scene everyday in the Park, that I walk through to get to the market, is the Maasi men doing the women’s hair.  The woman sits on the ground and 2 – 3 men sit on stools around her and put extension in her hair and braid it.  They do not want their pictures taken or I would have one for you.

We took a long walk yesterday in the downtown area and ended up in the bus parking lot.  These are the large busses that do to Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, etc.  Around the perimeter of the lot people were selling anything you may need for your safari from water, soda, juice, soup, etc.  The local buses, the Dala Dala’s, are vans that are packed with people.  We learned that the drivers lease these buses and earn any money they make after the lease is paid.  They would not want to leave a bus stop with a half load so they wait until the bus is full.  At the next stop they just pack in more people.  There is no personal space here are a time schedule.

We are not sure what our schedule is this week.  Ibrahim is back from safari from his brother-in-laws wedding and we have not heard from Alfred, who schedules the visits.  The Prime Minister is coming Thursday and Wednesday is a holiday in remembrance of the 1^st president of Tanzania’s death.  Could be a week of reports, getting the flat tire fixed, etc. but hopefully we can get in a CVP visit or two in.  Time is running short and this time in 2 weeks we will be home.  

Yesterday we met and had dinner with Pastor Tom and Beth Hanson, who are here from White Bear Lake to cover Baga Kwa Bega and Pastor Lamont Koernor, from Inver Grove Heights who is here to teach at Tumaini.  There are groups from Arlington Heights Lutheran and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran but we have not met them yet.  Both were out at their partner churches for the weekend. 

I hear Don up now.  Mandazi’s and Papaya for breakfast.  The maid comes today to wash clothes and clean.  It’s hard for me to be home and watch her work.  I can’t get too used to this because when we get home I will be busy packing to move.  May wish I could take her along.

Thanks for your prayers and we are praying for you also.

Karen