Today as we sped along the rough, dusty dirt road to the health outreach, I
was thinking, if only I could record what I see and share it with others.
No camera can really take in what the eye sees it seems. At least not with
my amateur abilities! We sped past many groups of African people as many
stopped to stare at the white lady and child behind the driver of the
motorcycle speeding past. We could hear "wazungu, wazungu" being yelled as
children excitedly announced the sight of white people. Ladies are carrying
large buckets (5 gallon size) on their heads from the river back to their
homes. Many are washing their laundry in the same river. Some are carrying
large heavy loads on their heads, perhaps a large basket or even a log of
fire wood. Babies are tied to their mother's back, some sleeping and some
peeking out to see. Bicycles are being ridden or pushed with loads of
lumber, multitudes of bananas stalks, or large loads of pineapples.
The scenes that pass my eyes are common to me now, but what would they be
like to those who have never been to Tanzania or never left the "developed
Western world?"
We go by small mud-brick houses some with a metal roof but many with only
grass to keep the sun and rain out. In this area most are surrounded by
very tall banana trees with coffee bushes planted in between. It is very
different than any of the other places we have visited up to this time. And
the land is NOT FLAT in the least. I don't know when we have been on a
level piece of ground since arriving, come to think of it! It is very
mountainous and hilly here. If it weren't for the dust and smoke, the view
would be spectacular, I think.
The ladies wear such an amazing rage of colors and patterns.
Except for the children that are walking to and from school in their
uniforms, the children are in great need of baths, as their cloths and skin
match the color of the dusty roads and fields.
There seems to always be a small goat crying in the background, with its sad
whiney cry. I often have to listen to see if it is a child or a goat. Here
there are many cattle with BIG HORNS. Some are very impressive, and when we
are zipping by on the motorcycle, I am thankful they are accustomed to it
and barely give us a look, let alone a challenge or a start! The people are
taking them down to the valleys to get something to drink and for them to
find something to eat for the day. We see small groups of sheep and goats
along with many of the cows. There is one lone cow that goes by the church
each day. He moos and moos all the way. I wonder why each time. And since
we are in Tanzania, there are always chickens around. There are at least
four that stay around the church grounds where we are doing the health
outreach each day. One has a limp that appears to be coming from her hip or
upper leg, one is blond and the other two are lean and faster. They look
black, but when the light hits them just right, they are blue, green and
purple iridescent. I think it is just wonderful how God made even the
chickens so pretty. It made me think how amazed we will be when we get to
heaven and see the earth made new with no taint of sin or death. We will
delight over and over again at all the beautiful and wonderful things that
God has created!
So I hear the groups of people talking among themselves as they wait to be
tested or to receive health advice. I understand bits and pieces of some
conversations, but a lot is being spoken in the local tribal language which
I can only use to greet. "Mwakeye" Good morning "Mwidiwe" Good afternoon or
good evening. Most also speak Swahili, but among themselves Kiha is what
they speak.
So I think about all these sights and sounds which have become part of my
everyday life, and I think how strange this must all be to some.
When we travel back through another city with high speed internet, I will
try to post some pictures from here. By the way, we are in the Kigoma area
VERY close to Burundi (like about a mile away.) We can see it from the
church. We will travel back to Kibidula sometime next week. And next
month, we will be back in the USA for a visit. Looking forward to seeing
many of you then!
