Today we're enjoying a down day in Singida, a walk through the market place purchasing hand made kitchen tools, baobab fruit, and taking in the sights and smells of dried fish, freshly butchard animals hanging in the stalls, and the selling and bartering of the shop keepers and shoppers. Visiting the Rochester Farmer's Market is my favorite thing to do on Saturday mornings - this market of course is a bit different. There is a richness in the way life moves here in Tanzania, it's loud, noisy, full of a life and energy that transcends the weigh of poverty. Mark and I thought that some of that has to do with climate although I don't know what slows one down more, cold or hot.

So yesterday we drove to Shelui on our way to Tyeme Dispensary making preparations for Bethel Lutheran Rochester's May 2009 mission trip to the Central Diocese. The new tarmack road made the trip to Shelui quick, about 1 and a half hours. The passage down the Rift Escarpment is beautiful, through still fairly wooded hillsides though there were patches of recently burned over areas. The winding road follows the ravines where on ocassion one can still see evidence of the previous terrible road with the carcasses of over turned trucks rusting in peace. At the base of the escarpement the land as far as one can see is flat, with a savannah like landscape. At Shelui we ate chips and chicken with Pastor Gideon Magunga of Kisonga Parish. The parish has several sub congregations, Tyeme being one of them. The dispensary is also overseen by the parish and is currently being served by a part time doctor who bikes the 12 km from Shelui to the dispensary several days a week if he does not stay overnight in the village. The doctor's wife Elizabeth is one of two nurses and in addition there is a lab tech.

Many people are moving into the area evidenced by many new houses. Still the area is depressed. The dispensary, as most, serves a very large area. The building is, in everyone's opinion, not worth renovating due to large cracks caused by tremors common in the valley. Structurally the building does not meet the government standards for construction in this area and in order for the church to cooperate with the government for assistance the building must meet those standards.

We walked to the government center, an old three room building full of an interesting looking species of bats, to sign the register. We passed a large group of people gathered under a huge acacia tree having a community meeting. On our way back we were invited by the pastor, doctor and others to say a few words. So we did. The pastor and doctor asked if the community would make the burnt bricks for a new dispensary building. I think that was agreed on. So there is more work to do on making sure that the foundation will be done so that the group from Bethel will have a project to work on in May. There is no end to number one priorities and great needs. In the evening Mark and I rehash, review, and try to then put that days visits and information into a realistic picture of what our partnerships can support. It's exciting but exhausting.

Last night we were having supper at place we have been eating every night. We have come to know one of the waiters. However, last night at least two others were also trying to be our waiters and in addition to all three of those waiters the manager visited our table often asking us where we were staying and if the food was good. It was fun and funny. Mark called it in sports terms a "waiter press." I think that is a football thing? Whatever.............

Tomorrow we move to Nkungi Village to visit Iambi Hospital, Secondary School and other partner projects. We'll stay there until Sunday and then return to Kiomboi until we leave the Central Diocese on Nov. 17th. I will be returning to Minnesota with Pastor Roger Michaelson on Nov. 20, both of us returning about 3 weeks early because the school term at Kiomboi is over on Nov. 14th and me because we've gotten more done in shorter time - largely due to better roads, but also because of our knowing each other and the focusing we have done with our efforts. Still the visits here are critical to the continued strengthening of our relationships...and they all say that here, including the staff at Lutheran Mission Cooperation, Lars Hofgren and Harald Wilms. So, that is it for today and I have no idea when we will be able to write again...hopefully from Kiomboi.

Peace, Kathy