We’ve finally made it to my sister’s house. For those that don’t know her, Liz is my older sister and has been living and working in Tanzania as a missionary for the last 7 years. So finally getting to this part of the world and spending a week with her is something I’ve looked forward to for a very long time. Rather than a blow by blow of each day, I’ll give you some of my lasting impressions of life in Western Tanzania near the borders of Rwanada and Burundi:
Liz’s house: A small 2 bedroom, 1 study brick house with a tin roof, the house is very comfortable and everything you’d expect to find back home ...... with a couple of exceptions. Firstly, the kitchen has a wood fire stove which comes in very handy for the second exception; there is no running hot water. Which means you heat water up on the wood fire stove, carry it into the bathroom and have a shower from a bucket standing in the bath and pouring water on yourself using a jug. Needless to say, showers are quick.
Liz’s help: Liz has a night guard (who doesn't seem to reaally need his bow and arrow but whose main job it seems is to screen the many visitors Liz gets), a gardener (she has a beautiful garden with 30 different types of flowers blooming everywhere) and Fidea, her cook. Fidea comes in 4 days a week and does the cleaning, washing and cooking. The quality of the food is very good and we make sure we keep her very busy this week. The homemade bread is superb, lasagne delicious, pizza scrumptious and various scones, biscuits and other constant treats always very welcome.
Life at liz’s place: It’s relaxed (for us) and comfortable but Liz is constantly busy with her work and has a steady stream of people coming to the house to see her. This can include people such as the local pastor coming to discuss new bibles, evangelists Liz is training, other missionaries and western workers coming over to watch a DVD in the evening, locals selling fruit and vegetables, students Liz is helping by giving odd jobs to so they can help fund buying their text books and a whole host of others who are just popping in to say hi or wanting to talk to Liz about her work. There would probably be at least 20 per day!
Trips to meet the locals: We venture out regularly to meet the locals and its always interesting and entertaining. One of the most immediate feelings we always get is how happy and welcoming these people (who have very little) are whenever they see us. We’re also a bit of a novelty which means people (particularly kids) will never hesitate to stop and stare and regularly crack up when we speak a few words of Swahili that Liz has taught us. One day we head to the local market to do some shopping (“fresh fish” delivered that morning lends the place a unique “atmosphere”), the next we’re off to a village on the border of Burundi to watch Liz in action with the local church and the day after we’re helping out giving English lessons at the local Bible College. Everyone is extremely friendly although the number of questions we get about when are we having kids (and how many) leads me to believe that, despite appearances they have very little knowledge of English and no ability to phone overseas, they have been in regular contact with our parents
The environment: This part of Tanzania is beautiful. It’s at a fairly high altitude so it’s a constant temperature in the low twenties all year round. The vegetation is lush and dotted with lots of little farms in the rich orangey red soil. Liz’s house, local church, schools and hospital are on a hilltop overlooking a valley that leads down to the river which forms the border between Tanzania and Rwanda. Clouds often roll over the hill and into the valley masking everything below, giving the impression that you are on a plane as you look out to the not too distant hilltops of Burundi to the south and the more distant volcanoes in Uganda to the north.
Liz: What’s great about this place is seeing just how relaxed and happy my sister is. Not that her life is relaxing. She’s constantly working and her mobile doesn’t seem to stop ringing but she always makes time to welcome the many visitors to her house with a long chat on the veranda. Each of the locals we meet that can speak English goes out of their way to tell us just how good Liz’s Swahili is and there is a real affection for her within the whole local community. She’s loves her work and the people she works with and I get the very distinct impression that feeling is mutual. A walk with Liz in the afternoon is a slow affair as you can only make it about 50m at a time before we are stopped and welcomed. Everyone knows Liz and she has to explain who we are, why we’re here and that we do not have any children, we haven’t decided when we will and we don’t think we’ll have six. I’m tempted to ask Liz to explain that we try as often as possible (insert wink here) but remind myself that such humour may not be appropriate in this good Christian society.
Liz’s house: A small 2 bedroom, 1 study brick house with a tin roof, the house is very comfortable and everything you’d expect to find back home ...... with a couple of exceptions. Firstly, the kitchen has a wood fire stove which comes in very handy for the second exception; there is no running hot water. Which means you heat water up on the wood fire stove, carry it into the bathroom and have a shower from a bucket standing in the bath and pouring water on yourself using a jug. Needless to say, showers are quick.
Liz’s help: Liz has a night guard (who doesn't seem to reaally need his bow and arrow but whose main job it seems is to screen the many visitors Liz gets), a gardener (she has a beautiful garden with 30 different types of flowers blooming everywhere) and Fidea, her cook. Fidea comes in 4 days a week and does the cleaning, washing and cooking. The quality of the food is very good and we make sure we keep her very busy this week. The homemade bread is superb, lasagne delicious, pizza scrumptious and various scones, biscuits and other constant treats always very welcome.
Life at liz’s place: It’s relaxed (for us) and comfortable but Liz is constantly busy with her work and has a steady stream of people coming to the house to see her. This can include people such as the local pastor coming to discuss new bibles, evangelists Liz is training, other missionaries and western workers coming over to watch a DVD in the evening, locals selling fruit and vegetables, students Liz is helping by giving odd jobs to so they can help fund buying their text books and a whole host of others who are just popping in to say hi or wanting to talk to Liz about her work. There would probably be at least 20 per day!
Trips to meet the locals: We venture out regularly to meet the locals and its always interesting and entertaining. One of the most immediate feelings we always get is how happy and welcoming these people (who have very little) are whenever they see us. We’re also a bit of a novelty which means people (particularly kids) will never hesitate to stop and stare and regularly crack up when we speak a few words of Swahili that Liz has taught us. One day we head to the local market to do some shopping (“fresh fish” delivered that morning lends the place a unique “atmosphere”), the next we’re off to a village on the border of Burundi to watch Liz in action with the local church and the day after we’re helping out giving English lessons at the local Bible College. Everyone is extremely friendly although the number of questions we get about when are we having kids (and how many) leads me to believe that, despite appearances they have very little knowledge of English and no ability to phone overseas, they have been in regular contact with our parents
The environment: This part of Tanzania is beautiful. It’s at a fairly high altitude so it’s a constant temperature in the low twenties all year round. The vegetation is lush and dotted with lots of little farms in the rich orangey red soil. Liz’s house, local church, schools and hospital are on a hilltop overlooking a valley that leads down to the river which forms the border between Tanzania and Rwanda. Clouds often roll over the hill and into the valley masking everything below, giving the impression that you are on a plane as you look out to the not too distant hilltops of Burundi to the south and the more distant volcanoes in Uganda to the north.
Liz: What’s great about this place is seeing just how relaxed and happy my sister is. Not that her life is relaxing. She’s constantly working and her mobile doesn’t seem to stop ringing but she always makes time to welcome the many visitors to her house with a long chat on the veranda. Each of the locals we meet that can speak English goes out of their way to tell us just how good Liz’s Swahili is and there is a real affection for her within the whole local community. She’s loves her work and the people she works with and I get the very distinct impression that feeling is mutual. A walk with Liz in the afternoon is a slow affair as you can only make it about 50m at a time before we are stopped and welcomed. Everyone knows Liz and she has to explain who we are, why we’re here and that we do not have any children, we haven’t decided when we will and we don’t think we’ll have six. I’m tempted to ask Liz to explain that we try as often as possible (insert wink here) but remind myself that such humour may not be appropriate in this good Christian society.
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