Stops Along the Way

Needless to say, on an 11-hour trip, there must be several stops. The first photo shows our vehicle at the gasoline station. Debbie is beside the car.



The next two photos were taken at one of the pit stops along the way. There were vendors selling all kinds of African souvenirs. On the way back to Dar after our project, we bought several things here, including our Masai clubs (more about those later).
Bill, the missionary in Chimala, is in the first picture.





The next photos were taken at the restaurant where we ate lunch both on the way to Chimala and again on the way to Dar from Chimala. The temperature was so comfortable sitting in the shade. It made a very pleasant atmosphere for our meal time. Everything was clean and the waiters were very eager to please. The food was safe to eat, and some was good. One time we ordered cheeseburgers----and we got buns with melted cheese and tomatoes. They did not understand that we wanted meat on them! (They did bring us new ones.)
We liked the paintings on the walls and posts!








Ron



Jan, Ron, Eddie, and Bill

the playground

Next is a papaya tree.

Scenes from Dar es Salaam to Chimala

The drive from Dar es Salaam to Chimala is a very interesting and pretty drive. The scenery changes just about as much as the scenery does on a drive from East Texas to West Texas! The road is a two-lane highway which is traveled by many cars and trucks each day. The hills and curves make passing other vehicles "exciting". Because the road is not an easy drive and one wouldn't want to have a breakdown in the dark, there is pressure to make the drive quickly in order to arrive in Chimala by dusk. But the fast driving and the passing of trucks is not problem for an ex-racecar driver like Bill!
The photo at the top of the post shows a narrow section of the road---not really enough width for two cars! The following are more of the scenes along the way to Chimala. (I'm saving the best part of the trip for a later post!) As you will see, Tanzania is a beautiful country!

The final photo is of a truck loaded with bananas.
Tanzania grows many bananas!

Dar Es Salaam

We landed at the airport in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania early Sunday morning, June 7th. At that point we had been awake for most of 2 nights and one day----and we had an 11-hour drive ahead of us to get to Chimala!

We were very happy to see Bill at the airport to meet us! After exchanging money at the airport, we were on our way.

The name "Dar es Salaam" means "house of peace". It is located on the eastern coast of Tanzania, on the Eastern Indian Ocean. It's population is about 2.8 million, and it is 614 square miles in size. It is a government and trade center in Tanzania. It is close to the equator and has a hot, humid climate much of the year. In June the high is usually 84 and the low 68 degrees F.

It is a place of contrasts----large buildings, nice buildings, shacks, dirt, and pretty planted areas.

The photo at the top of the post is an aerial view of the city. The rest of the photos are ones that we took as we drove from the airport.

Chimala, Tanzania, East Africa

Ron and I hope that you will enjoy going along with us to Chimala Mission, Tanzania! It has taken us a while to begin the story of Chimala, because while we were there, the internet was not easily accessible.
We had heard of Chimala Mission for many, many years, beginning with the "Souls Not Cards" campaign in the early 1960's. That campaign urged everyone to send fewer Christmas cards and send the money saved to Chimala. The Chimala Mission has been supported by churches in Arlington since those early years.
When the missionary in Chimala, Bill Stinson, asked for a Let's Start Talking team to come there this year, Ron and I knew that we wanted to go!
The trip over was a long one! Debbie, Eddie, Ron and I left DFW on June 5 about 5:30 p.m. We arrived in London about 9 1/2 hours later and then had a layover until late in the day. We did not want to spend the day in the airport, so we took the underground into the city to see a few sights and to eat fish and chips.
The first photos show the street in front of Buckingham Palace. The guards were practicing for the arrival of a dignitary later in the week.







Next is Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.






London Bridge is in the next photos. Actually the name "London Bridge" is used for a modern bridge, and this one is named "Tower Bridge". It goes across the Thames River to the Tower of London.





Jan and Ron



Debbie and Eddie


This photo was taken on the underground on the way back to the airport.
Can you tell that it had been a long night and day! And we still had a 10 hour flight to go!

Leaving Dakar

We are boarding the plane for the long ride home. We hope that you have enjoyed your trip to Dakar with us!

This photo is of the "Departure" waiting room entrance; it is new and clean. This is such a contrast to the "Arrival" area of the airport. The "Arrival" area looks like it is from an era 60 years ago and that there has been no maintenance or cleaning done since. There is a screening process before entering the area; not all persons are searched or questioned. Not all baggage is searched.

When we left the terminal by bus, we crossed the airport runway to get to our plane. Notice that there is no weather protection for the passengers. But who needs it in a country where it does not rain for 9 months out of the year. Then, when it does rain, the rain stops everything; no one can travel anywhere. I doubt there are many flights out of Dakar when it is raining.

(Plans are for a trip to Tanzania this summer. Come back to join us! There will probably not be much, if any, posted until summer.)