We arrived an hour early on the BA flight @6.30am, just after watching the African sunrise at 35,000 feet, spectacular! The night flight was passable, but with the numerous distractions and three hour time difference we hardly slept at all. We were warmly welcomed at the airport by Kathleen and treated to wonderful German hospitality with lots of fresh coffee. Slept off the flight then met up with the McFarlanes. It was great to see them and their boys, although we were late arriving as we had forgotten about Dar traffic which as usual was worse than London. The AC unit in the car was cooked and so did we! What a contrast from the autumnal colours of London to the dust, dirt and heat of Dar. We travelled back to Morogoro the same day, an uneventful 3 hour journey; Cath slept most of the way.
We were wiped out for much of Monday and Tuesday, the lack of electricity not making the transition any easier. I anticipated a long list of repairs, and sure enough, the bathroom was out of use, the place needed a paint, and when the electricity fitfully started it blew most of the light bulbs...Oh joy. Had to watch not to step on the tarantula who was disturbed by all the activity.
It was good to connect with friends and colleagues on Wed and Thursday. Those who had looked after the house, paying bills etc while we were away. Those who had kept all he seminars running, proving that the Institute can function without me... that is sustainability!
We hosted our first English speaking Bible study on Wed night, 10 people 5 nationalitites, inlcuding, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the UK. The world really is a village.
Some more challenging issues including another land dispute over our retreat centre, people who suddenly pop up out of nowhere and two years later claim part of the land as their own...very frustrating. Rumours that the Institute chair will be relocated to the north of the country for some misdemeanour and the next seminar is due to start on Monday!!
Some petty frustrations included being stopped by the police on Thursday for not having a fire certificate for my car's fire extinguisher...it would be laughable if they didn't take it so seriously! Ended up paying a fortune in fines and having to buy a bigger extinguisher...When I eventually calmed down I put it down to the cost of African motoring. We soon won't be able to see out of the screen due to the number of stickers!
I had left the 40 year old 1 tonne trailer at Sanga Sanga at my worker's home, only to hear that he had received all sorts of problems because of it. Apparantly the village chairman, a witch doctor, thought it should have been left at his house as sign of his importance...mm work that one out!
I have to travel back to Dar on Saturday in good time to collect Dean Chollar, one of our speakers for the evangelist's conference. He is coming with an engineer to help oversee the drilling of a well at Sanga Sanga. The only issue is his engineer will be arriving a few days later creating quite a logistical challenge, with another Dar trip.
On the psoitive side I have managed to get the back log of papers sorted, and have started addressing some of the AIM personnel issues that are bubbling away...all in all it is good to be back!
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