This adventure started on September 17 with nine of us. The five Stiles, my parents Ginny and Dave, and Noel and Sharon Petit. We had lots of luggage and a few butterflies.
We spent some wonderful days together on Zanzibar playing in the sun and the Indian Ocean.
We arrived at our apartment in Iringa and met the gracious and welcoming people of Ilula Lutheran Church.
We travelled together for 5 long hours down a VERY bumpy road to an amazing experience in Ruaha National Park among the animals of Africa.
We visited Isamila Stone Age site and took time to get acquainted with life in Africa.
Then the group of Fish Lake arrived. It was joyful to reunite with them. We experienced Safari again with them. Had some sad good-bys as my parents left for Dar and then home to Minnesota the next day.
Annica had her 11th birthday on Safari and had dinner in a dry riverbed and was sung "Happy Birthday" in Swahili by all the waiters and porters. Definitely a night to remember.
It has been a busy week with the Fish Lake group highlighted by amazing worship with Wasa-the church with whom we partner.
One of my highlights has been watching my children interact with the Tanzanian children. Whether it is at Huruma Orphanage (the universal language of soccer and coloring crayons) or at Wasa or other churches we have visited. You don't need to speak the same language to play together.
Today the Fish Lake group left. It is very quiet-but yet feels like the timing is right. Time to start school (watch for the Stiles children's first day of school pic). Time to organize cooking and shopping at the market. (I already have had a lot of fun doing this and I will describe more at a later date.) Time for Dale and Noel to start teaching (as soon as a student or two starts showing up). Time to learn to communicate better with Mariam, our housekeeper. Time to develop a routine that includes good family time-the true meaning of sabbatical.
We miss you all,
Carrie
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