An African Odyssey, Part 5

Sunday. Up at 5 AM to leave for church at 6AM. Today our work crew will be guests at Temeke Lutheran Church. Temeke is a companion congregation with Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Hancock, Michigan. Bob and Dolores had a pastor's stole to present as a gift from one congregation to another. Bob preached at both services, 7AM and 10AM. We were served breakfast between services and lunch after the second service. About 600 people worship at the 7AM service at Temeke and another 300 at the second service. A TV camera crew showed up for the first service, and we were told that the service would be broadcast nation-wide at 5PM later that day. The TV station tapes a different Lutheran Church every Sunday and broadcasts it later that day. Joyce and I arrive at Luther House early so we go inside Azania Front Lutheran Church to take pictures and climb the bell tower. Excellent view of downtown. We are transported back to Kisarawe and have dinner and devotions.

Monday June 23. Today is my Dad's birthday so I am thinking of him. It rained last night, the first rain since we've been here. The school needs the rain to fill the cisterns. It rained off and on all day, sometimes heavily, making lots of noise under the metal roof where we were installing ceiling board. We had a long but good day working on the house. The electricity went off at 9PM tonight, it was back on by 10:30. Even though this school has been operational for more than 10 years, they first got electricity less than a year ago. I can't imagine 300 students doing homework by candlelight.

Tuesday. We've become efficient installers of ceiling board. We are able to accomplish at least one room a day. That includes set up and takedown of our primitive scaffolding, wiring in the ceiling fans, and installing the board.

Wednesday. We finished ceiling boards today and I worked on the porch beam and posts. We want to set the posts on Friday so the concrete can dry over the weekend. Bob is part of the Tanzanian Economic Development Initiative, or TEDI, and he attended a meeting today. Tonight at dinner he told us about some of the TEDI projects. Sustainable fish farming and fish harvesting around Lake Victoria, and a peanut butter factory are two of the projects I remember. Today is also Bob and Dolores 49th wedding anniversary. Bob purchased cashews in town and picked flowers for Dolores. Next year Bob hopes to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the school.

Thursday. Frank, the electrician showed up today. He is part time evangelist and part time electrician. Bob and Dolores know him from previous trips. I was able to ask Frank some plumbing questions and he affirmed my designs and offered to purchase pipe for me. We started cutting steel mesh and mosquito mesh for the windows today. The steel mesh is to keep the animals out; you know what the mosquito screen is for.

Friday. Out of Control!! I wanted to install door trim today, but no nails, the dead bolt hardware arrived but no screws. Bob worked on the louvered block window that the contractor had botched, and I worked with Adam to install window mesh and screen. Just before lunch Adam and I worked on pouring a concrete step for the front of the house. Bob and I finished the step and mortared the sewer pipe into the septic tank. By 2 PM we get cleaned up and head back to Dar for the weekend with our host families. Friday night in Dar the pastor and I have dinner at a parishioner's house. Bob is planning to shop for more materials this weekend. The father of his host family is a contractor and knows where to shop and get the materials we need. Bob wants to finish the house. I'm not sure we will have time to install all of the materials we are purchasing.

click here to go to Part VI