2015 – Friday – More Words
Kasulu – We are home in the DWT compound in Kasulu and our current internet connectivity is limited to cellulart edgenet. I have issues even getting some text messages out on this network. So tomorrow I hope to find a wi-fi connection and add pictures!
When last we left our intrepid adventurers, they (we) were metaphorically waving farewell to the baboons sitting on the beach at Gombe and heading north up Lake Tanganyika to Kagunga. The morning was beautiful, calm and somewhat misty. Much of the vegetation on the hills had muted autumn colors from the stress of the tail-end of the dry season. The hills, I am told, will turn very green when the rains come in a month.
Baboons on the beach at Gombe
Bill was feeling very exhausted and not at all well and laid on the small side deck of the boat – in the full sun – dozing during the two hour journey. When he stood up after we arrived at Kagunga, he was not a happy camper, badly in need of some shade and fluids, which fortunately were what was next on the agenda. The parishioners who had gathered on the shore to greet us escorted us up to a lovely outside dining room with reed sides and a thatched roof. It was cool, shady and the chai was just what was needed. I enjoyed chapati, some fruit and a small piece of chicken. Bill stuck to a hard boiled egg.
Daudi and a beautiful morning on Lake Tanganyika.
The service (on a Thursday afternoon!) was attended by representatives from two or three other villages along the coast whose churches are part the of the Kaguna Parish. There was a combined choir that sang several songs including a great song with a spoken part in both English and Swahili about Jesus’s temptation by Satan. They also sang a song about us coming to visit them. We sang three songs, two of which had choruses that we had translated into Swahili (Imba qwa furaha). Bill and I both shared our testimonies and Daudi preached, because there ALWAYS has to be a sermon at a Tanzanian church service. As I listened to the sound of Daudi preaching (of course I did not understand what he was preaching about as I have almost no Swahili), I gazed out the open church door at the beautiful waters of Lake Tanganyika. If I did not know how difficult it is to get to Kagunga and what limited sources they have to derive income, I would have thought that I was in paradise, it is that beautiful. At the end of the service we were presented with gifts. Daudi was given a huge jug of coconut oil. I was given a Kitenge and Bill was presented with his very first chicken! Live of course.
The chicken was placed in the bow of the boat and we loaded a number of the people who had attended the service also piled in. We made four stops on our way south to drop them off. Along the way we also picked up two more passengers and took a small boat in tow. We dropped them off at our next stop as well.
The kitenge came in very useful as we were able to use it to make an awning that Bill could sleep under for the four plus hour trip back. By the time we had checked into the Coastal View Lodge and showered, he felt well enough to eat real food!
Our Captain and Crew
A local water taxi. The only way to travel from village to village.
This year we are staying in the German House. Andrea, the German missionary who is based here, is currently away, but is expected to be back next week. We took a tour of the Hostel they are building (our “Tanzanian Time Share”) and it is going to be REALLY nice. They still have a ways to go, but can really see what it is going to be like. In the mean time, the bed that we bought last year is in our room in Andrea’s house and we expect to sleep well tonight!
