Tanzania Team Travels

One of the plans we have for Tanzania is to help the school at Kiomboi with their technology. Part of that plan is to use some of the funds which were donated to purchase wireless capability for the computers which Mount Olive bought and installed for the school in 2011.  In Arusha, after leaving the ALMC, we went to an electronics store to make our purchase. The  interior of the store looks much like such a place in the US. The neighborhood was more unusual, to us, but typical of what we saw throughout Arusha.  When we arrive in Kiomboi we will determine if there are other needs we can meet. The funds which were given and the budget for the trip are certainly generous enough to allow us flexibility. 

This morning, as we spent a few hours in Ngorongoro crater, it was quite cool. Now that we have left the high altitudes, and are driving to Sengida, here is the weather we have.  If I can get access to reliable WiFi, and if I have enough energy (these travels have been great but tiring!) I will post more about our safari. 

Our first day in Tanzania started with breakfast, and then we drove a very short drive from our hotel to the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. This hospital is supported by many ELCA churches, and its current status as one of the finest hospitals in all of Tanzania is a result of many people, but the leaders in this effort are Drs. Mark and Linda Jacobson.  Pastor Glenn had met them several times, and his congregation in Austin supported the ALMC financially.  We hoped to get a chance to meet them, but we found out they were out with other ELCA mission teams at the time.  Nevertheless, we were given a grand tour by a man named Simba, who is responsible for the facility.  We saw the IT area, the Ob/Gyn area, the imaging labs, one of the many laboratories, the ICU, the Emergency department, and probably more that I've forgotten. The single most impactful  area we saw was the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  We learned that the leading cause of death for children in Tanzania is pre

The Travelers arrived in Kilimanjaro airport on schedule after 24+ hours in airports and airplanes. We met Bashiri, the driver who will be our guide and companion through the trip, once we had our visas and luggage. By 10:30 PM we were at our hotel in Arusha. After devotions and prayers we went to bed. When we gathered for breakfast we were treated to a wonderful meal of fruit, eggs and tea.  We were grateful to have such a delicious, healthy meal to start the day.  After a pretty good night's sleep for each of us (somewhat longer for Pastor Glenn than for the rest of us ...) we headed out into the day.  More later!

When we travel to Tanzania, we will hear Swahili spoken frequently.  As Pastors Deborah and Emmanuel explained, Swahili is the language all Tanzanians learn in school. It is usually their second language, because each person first learned the language spoken by their ethnic group.  But, to have one country, where all people can understand one another, Tanzania adopted Swahili as the national language. Emmanuel explained that only people who have gone to high school will have had a chance to learn English formally - and the English  they learn is British English.  So, we will encounter some people who know English, and many who will want to speak with us so they can learn more. Nevertheless, we will hear Swahili most. As good guests, we will try to pick up as many phrases as possible.  For example, we are taught that "asante sana" means "thank you" and I am certain we will use that phrase very frequently. At the top of this post is the theme which the Central

Today, Sunday September 23, Mount Olive included a Sending of the Team. We dressed up in safari clothes and had photos taken. Here they are. That one was taken so that you can see our faces. But when we are in Tanzania we expect to need sun protection so here we are with our hats!

Many months ago, the goals for the trip to Tanzania were discussed and finalized.  On a trip such as this, goals are important.  If you have too many specific goals in mind, which are too granular or too numerous, you might miss the bigger picture.  But if you don't have any goals at all, it can be difficult to ensure you're working towards a valuable outcome.  The goals which we decided on, and which were presented to the congregation so that they understood and could support the trip, are these: 1.      Renew relationships with Kijota a.      Learn more about their ministry and get an idea of what a covenant agreement with the Central Diocese   of the ELCT would look like 2.      Get update and overview of Hull School in Kijota. 3.      Get overview of Bible Institute in Kiomboi and form relationship. 4.      Form Relationship with Tanzania Central Diocese Synod located in Singida a.      Worship at Immanuel Cathedral in Singida 5.      H

For those who are interested, here is the itinerary for our trip.  There might be some changes.  We will update our itinerary and our expectations as we go. Itinerary (as best we know it) September 25, Tuesday           Leave from the Rochester airport. Ticket prices were lower to leave from Rochester, which is a double blessing.  We'll fly to Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, and then head to Amsterdam                                September 26, Wednesday       It will turn into Saturday as we fly to Europe.  We will connect in Amsterdam, then board a flight to Kilamonjaro Airport, which will arrive there at 8:00 PM local time.  Tanzania is 8 hours ahead of Rochester, so it will be noon in Rochester when we land.  We'll have been traveling for more than 24 hours at this point.     Meet Bashiri, our driver, at the airport.  He'll help us exchange money and then we'll drive to Arusha, where we will overnight at the Jevas Hotel. Sept

On September 25, 2018, five members of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Rochester Minnesota will be traveling to Tanzania to spend time with our brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania.  This trip is the third trip by members of Mt. Olive, and the first one in several years. This blog is being created to communicate about the experiences we have, to share news, to document what we've done -- all with the intent that people back home can follow along, and that we'll have a way to remember the trip as well as possible. The members of the team are: Pastor Glenn Monson Sherry Sanden Will - Director of Missions and Service Mark Masbruch Karen Masbruch Steve Will  In future posts, we'll give information about the trip -- its schedule, itinerary, goals and so on -- and we'll share our thoughts on the trip.  If time and technology allow, we hope to share photos and stories as we travel, but like many parts of this adventure, we cann