Tanzania, Africa

We're leaving in a few minutes for the Houston airport to begin our trip to Tanzania, which is in eastern Africa. We've been there before and this time we're going into the bush to locate unreached people groups who have never heard of Jesus Christ. We're also taking clothes, shoes, small gifts and sewing kits to the villages we visit. We're scouting villages to see which ones our church can partner with and help in the future. There are 8 in our group plus Semeni and the driver. The driver, Abel, and Semeni will translate for us, as well as make introductions to chiefs and elders in the villages.
I'll try to update as we travel, however if it's too difficult I'll do it when we return.
So keep us in your prayers that we are safe and that we are able to witness to lots of people and tell them about Jesus.
mimi

finally, picture updates!

Alan and I had the honor of babysitting our granddaughter for the past 2 mornings. Judy drove Sadie out here to the orchard, and I drove her home after lunch. We were worn out! But she had so much fun playing in the pool, riding the tractor with Grammy and Pappy, and seeing Aunt B's horses and chickens through the fence, seeing the cows on the other side, and playing baby doll and farm. Whew! She's so funny. She found the tiny plastic farmer, he's about a 2" figure, and she rocked him then nursed him, then she wanted me to nurse him. She sees her mom nurse her baby sister, so that's a natural occurrence in her life. She loves the baby dolls that are out here, the ones her mom played with when she was little. We started the morning off with jelly toast. She's not a big breakfast eater, but jelly toast is always a favorite! This is her pose when she saw the camera.

And of course she loved playing in the pool, which she called either 'water' or 'bath'. Isn't she a cutie patootie? We loved having our SadieBug here!

mimi

Back in Texas and hot, hot, hot!

We've been back for a week and it's so hot here at home. This past weekend we drove to Sun City and Judy and the girls came with us. Mark was gone to a conference for work, so we had the 3 of them all weekend! They went to church with us and we had a great time playing in the rocks and in the yard. We tried to see Haley, Tim and Landon while there but they were out of town for a fun weekend. So back to the orchard we drove on Sunday after naps. And today, Tuesday, we had Sadie out to the orchard while her mama got some errands run and some major cleaning done at home. We had so much fun with Sadie. We bought a small plastic pool and Alan filled it with water early so it would warm up before Sadie got in it. Well, it was still too cold so sweet Pappy put hot water in it and then Sadie loved it. We also gave her a tractor ride in the bucket, on my lap, over to see Aunt B's horses and chickens. They were all up at the fence which made it easy since I was bent over with a metal bar in my back! I used to ride in the bucket when I was little, but I don't fit so easily any more!

Alan and I leave for Tanzania in east Africa on June 21st! We'll be gone for 2 weeks and this time a small group of 6 from church is going with us. We're partnering with Thirst No More who provides water wells and humanitarian aid to developing countries. This will be a scouting trip and Semeni, Alan's and my friend we met 3 years ago, will be traveling with us and helping with some of the translation. We have so little time and so many villages to visit. We're going to visit 4 villages in the western part of Tanzania and I think 2 villages in the southern part of Tanzania. The southern area near Songea is where Semeni is from, so we'll meet her mother and village friends. Our church will partner with 1 or 2 villages and start sponsoring them, helping with humanitarian aid and things in their village like clean water and building roads. This trip we're taking lots of clothes, shoes and socks, underwear, towels, so our suitcases should be full. I wish I had been collecting clothing and shoes a long time ago. Whatever I can get together, I'm sure they'll appreciate. I can't wait to see Semeni again.

I've misplaced my camera so as soon as I find it I'll start posting pictures again.

mimi