Safari Pictures - March- Experience a glimipse of God's amazing and beautiful creation

As we traveled through this national park where the animals are supposed to be protected and the plants are to be left undisturbed, I marvel at the handy-work of God.  I so look forward to seeing all the animals and plant in the earth-made-new.  Again the predators will eat grass like the bull as they did before the flood.  No animal will have to fear.  No animal or person will harm.  The landscape and plants will be magnificent without one dead leaf or branch.  My mind can't even comprehend it today, but my EYES will behold it someday. 

Why am I so confident?  Because I know and trust Jesus!  I have given my heart and life to Him.  I trust Him.  He is perfect, true, love, caring, powerful and so much more.  The devil's number one mission is to misrepresent God's true character.  To cause us to doubt, fear, even hate God because of false ideas, doctrines, theories, and more.  The devil confuses the mind to attribute to God, the devil's own character. 

Oh, what blessing and privilege to be God's child, to have complete trust in Him, to accept the pre-purchased (free to me) gift of salvation through Jesus (a true reflection of God the Father's character.)  God is Love.  Love is giving.  For God so loved He GAVE.  He has given everything for me.  Now I want to have His character and to be a giving, loving person as He lives in me through His Spirit.

I hope you will see a glimpse of God's beauty as you see some of these pictures, pictures of a few of His creature.  Even though 6000 years of sin and degradation have passed, there is still so much good and beauty to behold.  God has preserved so much beauty.

Heaven, living with GOD for eternity, beholding Jesus, face-to-face, experiencing His love and character without the blight of sin anymore - is worth EVERYTHING.  Heaven is cheap enough - even if costs EVERYTHING!

No camera can capture the magnificent beauty of the landscape!

The Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in all of East Africa (including Kenya and the other East Africa countries.)  They acquired another area in the last few years that made gave them this designation. 
Both times we went there last March, we saw elephant dung long before entering the official gates of the park and some of the wild animals in the few kilometers just before entering.  There are not fences to keep the animals in the park.

These pictures are from our second trip with Rita and Fletcher on the 30th of March.  (More pictures to follow if time and internet allows for the first trip.)

Our welcome committee at the entrance

Black-backed Jackal

This black-backed jackal is really pretty.

The Designer of this outfit is a lover of beauty!

This is one strange bird.  They run around like a kill-deer on the ground.  When I first saw them, I thought they were carrying something in their mouths.  When I zoomed in to take a picture and then looked at it, I see that it is just part of their anatomy!  They are quite fancy, indeed!

White-crowned Lapwing

There are many rivers in this park, including the Great Ruaha River.  In these rivers and along them we saw many hippos.  They are so HUGE!  They are second in weight for land mammals only to the elephant!  This one was directly below the bridge we crossed.  Joshua spotted it's back and said, "Is that a rock or a hippo?" 
I replied, "Hippo."  So we trained our cameras and waited.  Sure enough the head came up, but a lot further from the floating part that we expected.  So we re-aimed our cameras and zoomed out some and waited again to get the head and body in the photo.  WOW.  That is one big animal.  According to the books, they usually eat at night when it is cooler, but it was overcast a lot this day and we saw many a distance away eating grass along the river and into the fields.

This Fish Eagle didn't pay much attention to us.  He was very intent on watching the river for opportunities for breakfast.  He did fly a short distance up the river, but well within our view, still.  He was beautiful.  His colors are amazing.  I think he is even more beautiful than the bald eagle of North America.

African Fish Eagle

These less-than-quiet fowl are at home here in Africa.  Many people may not realize that Guinea come from Africa. 

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

As we were watching a crocodile and some hippos, we saw things floating in the water.  We realized they were weaver bird nests.  They must not have met the approval of the females, and they were quickly cut down to be replaced with higher standard workmanship.  I really enjoy the various woven nests we see throughout Tanzania.  I am unsure if this is the Black-headed Weaver or the Tanzanian Masked Weaver.  It almost appears between the two. 

Weaver bird and nests hanging over the river

We also saw many horn-bills, both perched and flying.  They are magnificent.

Horn-bill

Pied Kingfisher

These Bare-faced Go-away-birds are relatives to turacos.  The females and male resemble.  They can be noisy from what others tell me, thus their name.

Bare-faced Go-away-bird

There were many impala and grant gazelle in the park.  They are beautiful.  This buck was with his ladies, keeping an eye on them, and keeping them in line.

Impala

African Pied Wagtail

Magnificent scenery.  God is so powerful and majestic.

Long-crested Eagle

From a distance we were unsure if we were seeing nests or parasite plants in this tree (and others.)  As we approached, the sound indicated nests.  There were many, many birds.  These were indeed nests.  It was amazing to behold.  It would have been a nice place for a picnic, I think.

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver nest colony - Huge tree, huge nests. 

These elephants from a distance looked like great huge red rocks, until they moved.  On the previous safari, we saw MANY elephants, but this trip we probably only saw about 15.

pachyderm after a mud bath

Magpie Shrike

Horn-bill

We saw many, many giraffe.  We saw groups and singles, babies and adults.  These are my favorite animal.  I have been fascinated with giraffes as long as I can remember.  When they run, it looks like they are going in slow motion.  They are so amazing to watch.

Here is a very young giraffe with an older one

We met many giraffes blocking the road at various times on our journey through the park.

Road blocked ahead AND...

The road is blocked to the right!  SHARE THE ROAD!

Another two roadblocks.  These guys are funny.

This male was a massive bull giraffe.  He was standing still as many workers attempted to relieve him of ticks and other parasites.

Do you see all the birds on the Giraffe? 

Here is a closer look - Yellow-billed oxpecker

I think this is a thick-knee.

The sandgrouse are abundant and beautiful.  They often are in the road ahead of us and prefer to walk instead of fly.  Often they will fly only a short distance.  They are beautiful.  Something about them speaks "humility" to me.  I don't know why exactly.

Black-faced Sandgrouse

We have been watching for lions since the first day of arriving in Africa, but, alas, we have yet to see one in the wild.  BUT WE DID SEE FRESH TRACKS!  So we are getting closer, perhaps.  These tracks were huge.  I am taking the picture standing up in the back of the pick-up truck.  The white you see is the truck bed edge.

Lion or leopard tracks.  BIG ONES.

These lilac-breasted rollers are more magnificent than the camera can capture.  When they fly - oh my!  They are a beautiful spectacle to behold.  They are a magnificent color blue in flight.  They are quite abundant in the national parks where they are protected.  They are easy to spot in flight and at the top of large bushes.

Lilac-breasted Roller

This monitor lizard was huge.  They can be over two meters in length, but they are also FAST.  Joshua and I spotted this one as he got off the road quickly.   We asked Doug to drive up to where we saw him leave the road.  In the tall grass close to the road, I could see there was something.  I was hoping it was him and not a big snake.  Joshua bravely (or naively) announced, "I'm not afraid of anything.  I will scare him out."  He said this as he climbed out of the back of the truck.  There was a sandy spot on the other side of the grass and Joshua went there and stomped the ground.  Nothing happened.  Then he found a small twig and threw it into the grass.  He thought that wasn't going to work, so he stooped to get the same stick and the lizard came alive.  The lizard had been facing where Joshua was standing, so that wasn't his first choice.  So he did a turnabout in such a fury that Joshua about had a heart-attack.  I think Joshua was more afraid than the lizard.  The lizard was lightening fast.  He turned his huge body around like a tornado, shot under the truck and was out and going across the road, and disappeared in seconds.  I only got ONE picture of him.  I should have been taking a video of Joshua.  It was SO FUNNY.  Joshua kept saying how much he was frightened by the lizard for the next hour!  Maybe he is afraid of some things.

The monitor lizard that scared Joshua

As beautiful as our trip was, the road was very rough in places.  There were puddles we dared not pass through.  The sun often was quite hot, and we even got stuck.  This place was dry looking until we drove into it.  We immediately sunk.  Just before this, we were following another vehicle and it stopped.  The man driving said, we should not take that road or we would sink.  He pointed to this road.  We backed up and went that direction only a few meters before we sunk.  It goes to show in this world that has been violated by sin there are many dangers and trials.  There is still much of God's character to be found in His creation, even with all the effects of sin.  So we can focus on the trials or we can focus on God and the beauty He shares with us.

Stuck in the mud

We got out, by the way.  Doug got the shovel out and we were moving in a few minutes.  Four-wheel drive is not "optional" on many roads around here.  It is necessary.  Sometimes a shovel is too!

I hope these pictures encourage those who have viewed them to see a glimpse of our Creator in that which He has created.  He is a marvelous designer.  I am amazed at His love for beauty and diversity!  We serve the mighty, awesome Creator God!

March 2014 - Building the school, TWO Safaris, and guests

The group from the U.S. stayed until the 15th of this month. 

One-Day-School crew and some school staff

The building of the One-Day-School campus consisted of 12 buildings, 10 classrooms, a bathroom and a chapel/hall.  Jason (our director) and a crew of workers worked very hard for a long time to get the site ready before the group from America arrived.  They had to prepare all the foundations and do all the cement work.  Other arrangements had to be made before their arrival.  Jason and Antionette worked very hard to try to make this effort as successful as possible.  I praise the Lord for all that God accomplished through them.

Foundations are ready!  Thank you Jason and your crew.

Jason and Antionette - two big assets to this project. 

Joshua helped here and there.  He helped with the charging of batteries for power-tools.

Joshua running the battery charging station the first day.

First injury.  Dr. B put two stitches in Gary's finger

Behind the scenes we are trying to keep everyone fed

The group LOVED all the fresh fruit.

Things are starting to come together

More buildings framed

Sides going on

Roofs and doors on and some walls

Finishing touches to the outside

Doug helping to build some of the desks with Craig

The outsides are done!

Inside each class over the blackboard "Jesus Loves You"

Inside each class there are pictures

Jesus loves all the children

Jesus' return - the first resurrection (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Matthew 24:31; Luke 21:27; Rev 20:5,6; Rev 1:7

Buildings complete

We stayed in Iringa through the 16th to get most things wrapped up there.  We were thankful for lots of help from the Kibidula team to get the buildings finished.  
After the buildings were done, the group had a safari trip planned.  We got to go with them! 
After two years of living here and visiting Africa since 2010, we finally went on our first SAFARI!  And actually we went on safari TWO TIMES in this same month.  We enjoyed seeing many of God’s beautiful animals.  It was a huge blessing for us to have these gifts given to us.
Upon leaving, the group from the U.S. left many things that needed attention.  Kitchen things needed cleaned and packed away for next year.  The mosquito nets needed repaired and cleaned.  There were lots of clothes and bedding left behind to wash.  With it being the rainy season, it took me two weeks to get all that completed.  Sunshine is so helpful for drying things!  Everything is all packed away, ready for them when they come again next year.  We look forward to working with them again, if God allows.
Just three days after returning home, our friends Rita and Fletcher from Wisconsin arrived.  (We spent several days with Rita and Fletcher last year when we went “home” to the U.S. to visit.  They took us to the airport for our departure also.)  It was great to see friends again.  Fletcher will be staying here for a year or more to build the airplane.  We spent the next two weeks with them doing various things, giving tours, going on a safari and going on the return trip to the airport for Rita to Dar es Salaam. 
For the trip to take Rita to Dar es Salaam to return home, one day was scheduled for safari in Ruaha National Park.  Other stops on the trip included going to a beach for a few hours, as well as the Masai markets in Iringa and Dar es Salaam. 
At the Masai Market in Dar es Salaam, Joshua slammed the truck door closed on his right index finger as he was locking the door upon arrival.  I praise the Lord that we knew exactly where to get ice cold water (and ice) there in the market due to a previous stop in this market.  We immediately got super cold water from a vendor there.  We made Joshua keep his finger cold for about an hour (not without much protesting.)  After that, we hardly heard a peep out of him about it.  During that first 30 minutes, I wasn’t sure if it was broken or not.  He couldn’t control his crying for a long time.  It did look really bad for about 30 minutes.  His finger was severely compressed after we got the door unlocked and opened.  It was discolored on both sides and a small area where the skin was broken.  God had His hand over it and has brought FAST healing.  
We said good-bye to Rita at the airport with much tears and prayers.  We are thankful that she arrived home safely.
I saw more accidents and broken down vehicles on this trip to and from Dar es Salaam than on any previous trip.  I praise the Lord for His constant watch-care. 
I am so thankful for all the prayers of our friends.  God loves to answer prayers.  When we pray, it opens the opportunity for God to do that which He longs to do for His children.  He loves us so immensely.  We understand so little about how wonderful He truly is.  We only see glimpses of Who He really is.  He is WONDERFUL!
Satan is working so hard to deceive people into a false understanding of God’s true character.  I am so thankful for learning more and more about our Loving Heavenly Father, day by day.  He is so patient. 
It is such a privilege to be His child.
PICTURES TO FOLLOW ON THE NEXT POST!

February 2014 Rabid Dogs, accidents, teaching and trucks

We started February with a bang.
Sunday the 2nd of February, our students were to do their first health expo.  We decided to have them do it down campus for the agriculture students and anyone else that might want to come.
The same day, a semi-trailer load of tracts arrived to be unloaded.  It arrived at 7:15 a.m., and the health expo was to start at 8:00.

Unloading cases of bible studies and tracts

After unloading the truck for awhile, I called one of the leaders for the school, asking them to get the students started (unlock the room with the things, etc.) and he was not on campus but in TOWN!  So that limited our options.  I am not good at being in two and three places at the same time.  One of us had to abandon the unloading of boxes and help the students get started.  It was also a time when I could get a ride to town to get some needed supplies for the cooking classes that were to start the next day.  So I got on my bike and headed down-campus.  After getting the students started up and going, I caught the ride to town for the needed supplies.  It was a super challenging day.    There were more than 50 people that went through the health expo.  The students were excited and lots of people were helped.
Then to top it off, on our way back from town with a huge load of supplies (for many people and purposes) a huge storm with rain, wind and huge hail started.  We got soaked, as did many of the supplies.  After all this, we had our second campus meeting for our week of prayer and I had to cook some dishes for the cooking class that started the next day. 
I am glad that all days aren’t like this one was.
This was my first time to do cooking classes by myself in Africa.  I loved doing them in the U.S., but here it is challenging.  I wanted to use techniques that could be done here, and to use ingredients that were available.  Another challenge is some people are city people with electricity and others are village people without electricity.  The students are from all parts of the country and ingredients vary from region to region, also.  Some students are from larger cities where lots of things are available.  So it was very challenging to meet everyone’s needs.  I was very pleased with the outcome, though.  I prayed a LOT about it and during it.  I really wanted to teach things that would really meet their needs.  I have seen some cooking classes where the ingredients are not easily available and that seemed impractical to me.  I pray that it was a blessing to all (they seemed to love it) and that God was glorified.  They now have many healthy recipes and techniques that they can take home with them when they leave, and they can teach others.  The cooking classes wrapped up our health teaching session for this group of evangelism students.

Hands-on Cooking class with the evangelism students

Doug continued teaching at the agriculture school as it was possible.

We had a huge issue come up as a rabid dog showed up on campus.  It bit two people, several dogs and some of the sheep.  It really put everyone on alert.  Many of us worked together to try to catch the dog (and dispose of him.)  There were a few truck chases, and foot chases.  The dog was chased off campus (a long way) and within an hour he was back down-campus! Our chases were unsuccessful, so we were very thankful that word returned to us that the dog was found and killed in a village close by a day or two later.
Four of the dogs that were bitten by this dog did not have current vaccination records and had to be put down.  Poor Doug was the one asked to do the job.  I felt so bad for him.  I felt bad for everyone.  It was a very hard time for many of us.  I am so thankful that our dog was not bitten or put down. 
The two people that were bitten were rushed to town for shots, but were unable to get them that day.
The next day after much hassle, they got their first shots, but then they rushed to Dar es Salaam to get a very expensive human immunoglobulin shot ($1000 US each.)    They finished getting their rounds of shots over the next several days.
A week to the day after the rabid dog issue, there was an accident here on campus.  Two motorcycles collided.  We got the call to come help.  God really had his hand over our staff member who was hit.

Broken wheel and support

It was a miracle he was not hurt more badly.  The motorcycle that hit him and his bike was terribly torn up.  The front wheel was broken and it's support.  Both people only had scratches and strained muscles.  We were able to clean up the wounded people and haul the broken motorcycle to the garage to await pick-up.  Our staff member's bike was bent a bit, but drivable. 
On the 13th we had more excitement as the shipping container for Bill arrived with the printing presses.  We had the privilege to help with some of the unloading.

Unloading printing presses on the shipping container

We had several people coming to our house for medical advice and help this month.  We had diabetics, people with sores, and vitamin deficiencies to name a few.  Doug continues to help people with massages also. 
This month we got news that my step-mother, Barbara, is not doing well.  It was a year ago that she had a stint put in and by-pass surgery.  After one year the doctors found that she had 100% blockage of the stint and 90% blockage of the bypasses.  I was told that they put in four new stints instead of doing more by-pass surgery this time.   
Kibidula’s board meeting was this month, also.  So in addition to all the student missionaries, and other guests, we also had board members from various countries here on campus.  Doug is also on the board.  We had at least 19 visitors on campus at one time!  We have been taking turns making meals for various people.  It has been nice having visitors.
This time was also a sad time as we said good-bye to one of the families that has been here at Kibidula 5 ½ years.  They were the other American family with four children.  All of them are missed, and Joshua especially misses the boys.

Then on the 26th of the month, we left to help make final preparations for the group of 26 people that came from the Iowa-Missouri Conference with the Sunnydale Academy to build the One-Day-School campus buildings and do seven evangelism efforts.  Doug and I were the on-site assistants.  It was extra special for us being that this group was from “our” conference.  Our good friend, Pastor Craig Wiles, also came with them.  It was nice having a friend come to visit!
The group arrived on the 27th of February and left March 15th. 
I, Tamara, helped with kitchen work (cooking, cutting, cleaning, etc.), shopping trips, driving, translation, and odd-jobs.  Doug helped with the construction and much driving. 

Janurary 2014 Update

January brings beautiful flowers in our yard along with many other things.  This last January marked two full years of living in Africa. Two years ago this month, when we arrived at our new home, and we were greeted by many beautiful flowers like these that bloomed this January.

We started teaching the new session at the evangelism school early in January. 
Just before teaching started, Doug decided it was time to invest in some “wheels.”  After consulting with others around campus, we set out to get our “Toyo.”  It is a cargo-motorcycle.  The front is like a motorcycle and the back is like a trailer. 

Trying to find THREE paths to take it down is quite a challenge.  It is a rough, rough ride, but it has been a huge blessing!  It is a 200cc.  (Most motorcycles are 125cc around Tanzania!
We have been able to take people to and from prayer meeting.  We have been able to ride it to and from classes (3.5 km each way.)  Doug has used it many times to haul various tools to go and fix various issues around campus (solar, electric, etc.)  Doug hauled sawdust for the evangelism school.  He has hauled wood in it.  It has given us a level of freedom that we have really missed the last two years. 
The very next day after we committed to purchasing it, we received notification of a donation that was received for us for almost the exact amount we paid for it!  That was very encouraging to us, also!  God is so, so good.

Teaching at the evangelism school went very well.  The students asked many, many questions.  They are a great group of students.  There are 26 students this session.  Six are from Zanzibar (99% Mus|im population there), four are from the Masai tribe, and two are ladies.  They are learning many new things every day.  They are surprised at how much they didn’t know about nutrition, health in general, and God’s loving plan regarding health and healing.

Doug started teaching health at the agriculture school also.  They don’t have much time to give us, so he was trying to stay flexible and teach whenever an opportunity was given to him.  The times given him were before class or at the very end of the day, and out at the farm units (a distance from our home and the regular teaching locations.)    Carrying a generator and other teaching materials has been much easier with the Toyo than trying to do it by bicycle!

We have had a big influx of people into Kibidula since my last post.  So along with teaching there has been quite a bit of foot traffic around our place.  Sometimes we would have various people over for meals, internet use, along with the normal “adventures.” 

I decided to put our strawberries to use.  We had a bumper crop this year.  It was enough to put some in the freezer!  Last year we had a few handfuls, if that much.  So I was inspired to try to make a Tanzanian version of strawberry shortcake.  It was a hit.  We had several of the student missionaries over.  We had a very simple lentil soup, then we broke out the “good stuff.”  I made cornbread for both the lentils and to act as shortcake.  My cornbread is a bit on the sweet side. 
Then I blended cashews, coconut, water and a bit of sweetener. 
The strawberries were frozen, so I added water and a bit of sweetener to them also.
It was so good.  There were no leftovers. 
Since then we have tried it with peaches, also.  It is still good, but nothing compares to strawberries.

One of the student missionaries has volunteered to teach violin lessons!  We had just purchased two violins from the missionary family that is leaving Kibidula.  I love learning to play the violin.

Since we are home, I have started teaching piano lessons again to several people, also.  It seems that we stay pretty busy.  Piano lessons have now started at the primary school now, also.  I don’t have the flexibility to teach there consistently, so another of the student missionaries is teaching them.  She is using the materials that we got permission to use up there.  So all is going forward with that plan (just a different teacher.)

Some of the students are picking up on the lessons very quickly.  It is exciting to them and to us.
Brianna is also teaching many others violin, including students at the primary school.
The group of student missionaries that are here at this time are very musical.  We often hear beautiful music from flutes, piano, ukulele, guitar and violin. 
We are doing our best to add a little more music to this part of Africa.